Molly's Cop

by Joannie Kay

  Michael held Molly's hand as she absorbed the news and then watched with pride as she pulled herself together and went to Gram's bedside and started talking to her of all the wonderful memories she had with Gram, telling her how much she loved her, and letting her know that she would be fine and that it was time for Gram to let go of this world and go to the other side. Michael told Gram again that he loved Molly and planned to ask her to marry him so that he could take care of her for the rest of their lives together. Molly felt tears fill her eyes as she smiled at Michael, and when she looked back at Gram, she could swear she saw a smile on her lips.

  To Molly's surprise, both Mary and Seamus came a few minutes later, just to offer their support and love. Molly was positive that Gram was aware of the love surrounding Molly, and she quietly allowed her spirit to leave her body and go to the other side.

  Molly cried and Michael held her. Seamus and Mary offered their sympathy and support, too. Ellen couldn't help but shed a few tears, too, and told them how special Isabel was to her. Molly hugged her and thanked her for all the loving care she'd given Gram.

  Michael wanted to take care of all the arrangements, but Molly shook her head 'no'. "I have everything planned, Michael," she explained. "Gram and I talked about this before she was so ill she couldn't tell me what she wanted." Michael nodded, and then offered to notify the funeral home. Molly smiled through her tears and thanked him. Mary was holding her hand and Seamus was on her other side, hurting for her. Michael trusted his parents with Molly and he stepped out of the room to make the call. He also called the O'Keefe house, and Rachel answered. He told her what happened, and gave her the task of notifying the siblings. She promised to do so and asked how Molly was doing. Michael could hear the tears in her voice and spent a couple of minutes reassuring her that Molly would be fine. He then called and spoke to Drake Bridges and informed him that Molly lost her Grandmother and wouldn't be in for the rest of the week. Drake was sympathetic and understanding and bluntly asked if he was with Molly because she shouldn't be alone right now. Michael calmly answered Drake's questions and told him he was welcome to come to the O'Keefe house that evening if he wanted to see Molly. Drake promised he would be there, and if Molly needed anything, he wanted to know right away. Michael reassured him that Molly wouldn't need for anything.

  Molly felt numb. Michael didn't leave her side, and Mary and Seamus fussed over her as if she was a helpless babe. Kathleen and Lloyd were the first of the older siblings to arrive and she brought crock pots full of food. Bridget had been baking since Rachel told her what happened, and she informed her Mom that she and Kat talked on the phone and planned a late supper for everyone. Molly had food put in front of her and Michael whispered in her ear that it would make Kat and Bridget feel like they were helping her if she ate a few bites. Molly ate even though she really didn't feel hungry.

  Drake showed up just as he promised and gave Molly a hug. He reassured her that it was alright for her to take the rest of the week off, and even longer if she felt the need. Molly thanked him, and was surprised when he handed her an envelope. "This is to help with expenses, Molly, and please don't argue with me. I want to help and this is the only thing I can think of to do." She tearfully thanked him and gave him a hug before he left. It wasn't until later that Michael opened the envelope for her and realized that Drake was trying to pay for the funeral for Molly. He was shocked by the man's generosity, but not as shocked as Molly was when she saw the amount on the check.

  "I can't accept that, Michael!" she insisted. "It is far too much!"

  Seamus decided to add his two cents worth after looking at the check and whistling. "It appears to me that your boss cares a great deal for you, honey."

  "It's too much, Seamus!" Molly argued. "Michael, what do you think?"

  "I've told you before that I feel Drake has paternal feelings toward you, Molly. If he didn't want to do this, he wouldn't. It is up to you, however, whether or not you accept this money."

  "Do you all realize I could be a con artist and take advantage of all of you?" Molly asked with a grin, seeing the humor in the situation. "Seamus and Mary offered to pay for the funeral while you were making calls, Michael. Then you told me not to worry about the funeral expense; you would handle it. Kat and Lloyd offered, too. And now my boss...! Gram and I planned for this because she knew it was inevitable, and that included paying for it with the last money she had. There will be some expense, of course, but I can take care of it myself. You are all so kind to offer, though. You have no idea how much you all mean to me..." She started crying again, and Michael pulled her close to simply hold her.

  Michael didn't leave her side through the visitation and the funeral and the dinner at his parents' home afterwards. He held her when she cried; he lifted her spirits as best he could; he assured her that Gram died happy. Molly leaned on Michael and permitted him to be strong for her, but when he tried to get her to take another week off from work, she flat out refused. She told him that Gram would expect her to dry her tears and get on with living. Michael didn't argue, but he made a private call to Drake to ask him to keep an eye on her for him. Drake promised, and Michael knew he was a man of his word.

  Molly knew the first few minutes back at work would be awkward, and they were. Her co-workers were quick to offer condolences, even the ones who came to the funeral home to pay their respects. Molly put on a brave smile, but the minute she was alone in her office, she cried. Of course, Drake Bridges came in early and caught her crying. He simply put his hand on her shoulder and offered comfort. Molly pulled herself together and took the envelope he gave her out of her purse and handed it to him. "I want to thank you for this, Mr. Bridges, but I can't accept your money. Gram already paid for everything in advance, and I was able to handle the flowers and the other things on my own," she explained.

  "Are you sure, Molly?" he asked. "If I call the funeral home and ask, would I hear the same thing?" he wanted to know.

  "Seamus O'Keefe and Michael already did that," she said with a grin. "They both learned it was true, so you can call, too. I am sure that Mr. Jefferson has never had so many people calling him to make sure a funeral was paid for..." She smiled at Drake. "I think it was so kind of you to write this check, and I do appreciate it so much, but I cannot and will not take advantage of you, Mr. Bridges."

  "I am going to save this, Molly," he said decisively. "It will go toward your wedding dress and cake when you and Michael get married, and that is final, so do not argue with me on the subject."

  "But..."

  "No arguments or I will forget you aren't my daughter and turn you over my knee!" he promised, but only the teasing light in his eyes told her he wasn't serious. The humor faded and Drake turned serious. "Molly, I've watched you day in and day out, working so hard, your attitude respectful to one and all. You've given the clients a shoulder to cry on when they needed it. You've known when to shuffle my schedule if someone truly needed to see me immediately. And that was all while you were taking care of your Grandma, and dealing with problems that most young women your age don't have to deal with. You never made excuses when you messed up; you owned your mistake, and did your best to correct it. I admire your work ethic. My clients love you; so do your coworkers, Molly. When Dad comes in, you make him feel like a valuable asset to the firm. He told me that you wouldn't accept anything from him for saying my life..." Drake looked at her and shook his head. "I don't know how he decided the amount I'm worth," he said, shaking his head and grinning.

  "That check was for a LOT of money!" Molly said, her eyes wide. "Of course I wouldn't take it."

  "I know. Your Gram raised you to be a wonderful person, and if my kids turn out half as well, I will be proud. Molly, I'm not trying to pay you for saving my life; I want to do something special for you because I genuinely feel you have made my life better for knowing you. Will you give me the joy of helping you with your wedding?" he asked.

  "Michael hasn't asked me yet," she answered.

&nbs
p; "He will," Drake spoke with confidence. "Will you accept this later... for your wedding?"

  "If you truly want to do this, I will accept," she tearfully promised.

  He nodded in satisfaction. "Thank you, Molly." He looked down at her and said, "Are you sure you're ready to work?"

  "Yes." Drake wasted no time in giving her several tasks that needed to be done as soon as possible, and told her that he was thrilled to have her back because the temp who filled in for her was an air head. Molly giggled, and got busy.

  Michael was not pleased when six o'clock came and went with no call from Molly. She'd been working late all week and he sensed it was to keep from grieving for her Gram. When she was home, she was short-tempered with him. It was almost time for dinner, and unless she walked in the door soon, his Pop was going to be upset with her for not calling to let Mary know she was 'safe'. Pop hated it when his wife was upset, and every one of his children learned that lesson young in their lives. His cell phone rang, but it wasn't Molly calling. It was work, and he was needed on a crime scene immediately. He apologized to his Ma for leaving, and told her to have Molly call him when she got home. Mary said that she would.

  Seamus answered the telephone when Molly finally called after nine o'clock. "Young lady, do you know what time it is? Mother waited dinner for you, and she tried to call." He listened and then said, "I do not want to hear excuses, Molly. We will discuss this when you get home." He hung up the telephone.

  "Seamus, Molly is not our daughter, and she is an adult," Mary said softly, trying to calm the big man.

  "Molly was told the house rules when she moved in here and she agreed to them, Mary. I'll not be letting her put work before her family."

  "She has had a difficult two weeks, darling," Mary implored him to listen to her. "Losing her Gram and going back to work to face a backlog... She is a good girl, and she's been wonderful about calling."

  "She needs a reminder that we have feelings, too. I will not be letting this pass, Mary."

  "Yes, you will, Seamus O'Keefe! Molly belongs to Michael, and he will not be happy if you take your rotten temper out on her. You are not going to spank Molly as if she is a teenager staying out past her curfew. She is a grown woman, working overtime to catch up on work. She is not a thoughtless child who is out with friends and losing track of time; she is a busy young woman with a lot of responsibility."

  "Molly has a responsibility to this family, Mary. If Sabrina did this you would expect me to remind her of the house rules. It will be the same with Molly. She lives under my roof, and she will abide by the rules we all live by."

  "Seamus, if you dare to touch that child you will be sleeping on the sofa in the den until I decide to forgive you!" Mary threatened, and then saw his eyes narrow in disapproval and wished she'd come up with a different threat. She'd pushed her husband too far and knew it only too well.

  Chapter Eleven

  "Michael, your Pop is mad at me," Molly said in a small voice. "I forgot to call until after nine o'clock, and he said we would discuss it when I got home. He is not a bit happy right now, and I feel terrible that I upset your Mom." Michael listened to the voice mail a second time, and then played it again, trying to guess where Molly would go, and wishing he'd been able to answer Molly's call. He tried calling her back again, and she still wasn't answering. She wasn't home, and it was after midnight! His folks were worried sick, and his Ma was blaming Pop for upsetting Molly. Michael couldn't believe that Molly was so afraid of facing his Dad that she ran away! It just didn't sound like her, but where was she?

  He'd driven past the law firm, checked the parking lot, and it was empty. He'd considered she might go and hide out at Kathleen's, but Lloyd and Kathleen's house was dark, and Molly's car was nowhere close. He'd even considered she might have gone to the Steak 'n' Shake where his Aunt Jenny worked. She hadn't seen Molly, and now he'd caused one more person to worry. Michael didn't want to issue an APB for her; Molly wasn't a criminal, and, as far as he knew, she could simply be driving around, trying to find enough courage to face Pop. He knew firsthand how stern his parent could sound, and for someone like Molly, who grew up without discipline, Pop probably sounded like he was going to kill her!

  Michael suddenly realized there was one place he hadn't thought to check, and he headed for his own home. He thanked God when he spotted Molly's red car in his driveway. Once he was parked, he took a deep breath and let it out slowly, combating the urge to go inside and deal harshly with her for scaring him half to death. He took out his phone and dialed his parents. Pop answered on the first ring. "Pop, Molly's car is here at my house. I'm going to go inside and find out what in hell possessed her to do something like this, but I want you and Ma to know she is safe... for now."

  "Son, I didn't mean to frighten the girl. Tell her that." Seamus sounded weary and upset. "I'll apologize if it will help," he offered.

  "Pop, it's Molly who will be doing the apologizing in the morning. You and Ma go on to bed now. It's late, and I'll be putting Molly in the guest room for tonight."

  "Don't be too hard on her, son," Seamus advised. "She's had a lot to deal with lately. I should have thought of that before I scolded the girl."

  Michael said goodnight, and then eased himself from his car and walked to the door and let himself inside. Molly wasn't in the living room or the kitchen. She wasn't in the bathroom or his bedroom, which left the only other room with furniture... the guest room. To his surprise, she was curled up on the bed, sound asleep. Her cheeks were stained with tears, and she hugged a pillow protectively. She'd helped herself to one of his shirts, and he swallowed hard at the sight she made with her long legs all bare and her hair spread all over the bed. He saw her cell phone lying on the table beside the bed, and it was shut off. When he tried to power it on, he discovered it was dead. Molly must have forgotten to charge it again. With a sigh, Michael decided to let her sleep. He took a blanket from the foot of the bed and spread it over her so she wouldn't get cold.

  Molly woke when she felt something settle over her body. It startled her and she immediately sat up and saw Michael, and everything came flooding back. "Oh Michael, I've ruined everything!" she exclaimed. "Your parents hate me now!"

  "They don't hate you, Molly. They've been worried sick over you," he said, trying to keep his temper under control. "Why didn't you at least call them and tell them you were here? The landline is working, even if your cell phone is dead... again!"

  "I had nowhere else to go," she said in a small voice. "I should have done something, but I panicked. I tried to call you but my cell was dead, and, I came here... You weren't home, so I let myself in, and I borrowed a shirt because I felt dirty and I needed a shower. Your Mom must hate me so much! How could Seamus do that?" she whispered, and then she started crying.

  "Molly, you aren't making much sense right now," Michael told her, putting his hands on her slender shoulders and giving her a gentle shake. "Why would Ma hate you, and what did Pop do besides scold you for worrying Ma?" he asked, clearly puzzled.

  "He had a right to scold me, Michael. I was late, and I forgot to call and tell Mary, and she was worrying about me. I knew I was in trouble, and I called you before I left for home and told you I was in trouble. I wanted you to hear it from me first..."

  "Okay." He nodded. "There is more to this...?" She nodded solemnly. "Well, tell me, honey. I can't read your mind," he said, frustrated.

  "I got home and expected your dad to be waiting for me, but he wasn't. No one was downstairs but Bridget, and she was on the telephone." Molly sniffled again. "I decided Seamus and Mary went on to bed, or were angry with me and didn't want to talk to me right then. I went upstairs, and I heard them fighting. Their bedroom door wasn't completely shut; Mary's been complaining that it doesn't always stay shut..."

  Michael nodded. "And you overheard something you weren't meant to hear?" he guessed.

  "Worse... Mary was furious with Seamus, and they were fighting about me. He accused her of 'trying to manipu
late him with her threats', and that he 'wouldn't stand for it.' Mary told him he was 'a stubborn fool', and then I heard them struggling... Your Ma told him to 'let her go', and he said 'not on his life'... and he spanked her, Michael! She was yelling, and I didn't know what to do! So, I ran here and hid. I feel terrible. It's all my fault, and your Mom is going to hate me forever. What if they get divorced over this?" she asked, bawling.

  Michael pulled her close and hugged her tightly. "Honey, they have had a lot of fusses in their years of marriage. Right now they're worried sick about you; Pop thinks he frightened you so badly you didn't come home. I'm glad that's not true."

  "I deserved a scolding," Molly admitted. "But your poor Mom didn't deserve a spanking because I made Seamus angry!"

  "Pop wouldn't spank Ma because of you, honey. Ma probably said something she shouldn't have said and Pop dealt with it. Ma told you about her temper, didn't she?" Molly nodded. "Then believe me when I tell you that this has happened before, and it will probably happen again. She's not upset with Pop... she's upset because you gave her a bad scare when none of us could find you."

  "Ohhhh noooo!" Molly rested her head against Michael's chest. "I didn't mean to do that!"

  "You grew up with your Gram, Molly. You haven't been around parents having a fuss before. It happens. I'll tell Pop he needs to fix that door right away. It wouldn't be good for the younger kids to hear a private moment between the two of them, and I'm sorry you did."

  "I feel awful," she admitted, and he noticed she was shaking. "I feel like I did something too horrible for words, and I feel guilty. Michael, I really need a spanking!"

  Michael was shocked and he said, "You worked late, honey. You forgot to call Ma. You earned a bit of a scold, yes... Maybe a few swats because you are working too darn hard right now... but you didn't do anything to feel so guilty over, and I can't spank you because Pop spanked Ma. That wasn't your fault, honey." Molly looked stricken at his words and she hugged herself and started crying. "Molly, don't cry."