We sit and watch the women and kids for a few more minutes. Gray’s pretty much been stuck to Jenna’s side the entire time. When he picks a flower and hands it to her, Bryant laughs low.
“Looks like I might have some competition there,” he says, jutting his chin to the pair.
I let out a small laugh. “The boy’s always had a crush on Jenna. Even when he was a toddler, he’d follow her around everywhere.”
Jenna leans over and kisses his cheek as she thanks him for the flower.
Bryant grins. “Well, it’s a good thing she’s already accepted my ring. He may have stolen her away when he was old enough.”
I laugh again and shake my head.
Molly gets up, and she and Jenna walk our way carrying the small buckets with barberries. They get plopped down on the table. Before Molly can take a seat in the chair beside me, I pull her down on my lap.
“Having fun, baby?”
She pecks my lips. “Absolutely.”
Jenna takes the seat on the other side of Bryant, and he immediately grabs her hand, lifting the back of it to his lips.
“Is there anything I need to worry about with you and Gray?” he asks, his eyes dancing.
She giggles, then reaches over to pat his cheek. “You treat me right and you’ve got no worries. If not, I may have to go search for a gray-eyed, thirteen-year-old boy to replace you.”
We all laugh and settle back, watching as the kids play the last few minutes before the sun sets.
“I’ve got news,” Bryant announces a few minutes later. Once he has Jenna’s attention, he continues. “Remember a while back when I told you Brushay Inc. was putting in a new massive office building out east?”
Her brows pull together for a moment. “Yeah,” she says slowly. “I believe I remember you mentioning it. You said they were taking a few people from your office and sending them to the new one.”
He sits up, leaning toward her. “It’s in New York City.” Her brows go up. “And they want me to be the new financial manager there.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah.” He smiles. “What do you say to moving back this way?”
Her smile starts out slow, but then engulfs her whole face. Her eyes move to Molly for a moment, before going back to Bryant.
“I say when do we start packing?” she answers.
Bryant laughs and palms the back of her head to plant a kiss against her lips. “Not sure on when yet, but it should be fairly soon.”
“The sooner the better.”
I glance up at Molly and see her focus on the two of them, her beautiful smile in place. Sensing my attention is on her, she looks down.
“You doing okay?” I ask gently, pushing a few strands from her cheek.
“I am.” She slides her eyes back to Jenna and Bryant for a moment. “Much better knowing Jenna’s moving back here.”
At the mention of her name, Jenna suddenly squeals and jumps up from her chair. She comes around the table, her hands reaching out to pull Molly up from my lap. Both women laugh as they hug each other. Bryant and I look at each other, shaking our heads at their silly behavior.
“I’m moving back!” Jenna yells, pulling back from Molly about a foot.
“I know!” Molly responds, just as happy as her friend. “I’m so excited!”
Jenna’s expression sobers, and she gently cups Molly’s cheeks. “It may take me a little time to move, but once I’m here, I’m going to be with you every step of the way.”
Molly’s eyes glisten, and she smiles sadly at Jenna. “I know you will.”
The women hug once more before Molly drops back to my lap, and Jenna retakes her seat.
“I’m taking Bryant to meet Mom and Dad tomorrow. You, Lincoln, and the kids are more than welcome to come along,” Jenna suggests.
“How long are you here for?” Molly asks.
“A week.”
“How about we wait for your sssecccond—”
Molly freezes, her eyes widening in horror, while the rest of the table turns silent. It’s not often her speech slurs, but it’s hard on her when she does. Her eyes meet mine, and my chest fractures at the helpless look on her face.
“Hey, it’s okay,” I soothe, rubbing my hand up and down her back. Jenna wouldn’t dream about remarking on Molly’s slurred speech, and I don’t take Bryant for the type to either, but I know Molly’s embarrassed by it.
She closes her eyes, inhales a deep breath, then opens them again. She gives me a slow nod before looking at Jenna and Bryant.
“Sorry,” she says slowly, fearful it’ll happen again. “It doesn’t happen often, but my speech is impaired sometimes.”
With eyes filled with sorrow, Jenna reaches out for Molly’s hand. “Don’t you dare apologize, Molly. None of this is in your control.”
“She’s right,” Bryant says, drawing our attention to him. “There’s nothing to be sorry for.”
Molly nods. “I know. I jussst—” She pauses again and swallows thickly. When she speaks again, she does so even slower. “I feel like I’m losing control of my whole body.”
I wrap an arm around her waist and tug her body closer to my chest. Her arm goes around my neck, but she keeps her head up.
“I can’t imagine how hard this is on you.” Jenna looks from Molly, to me, and back to Molly. “On both of you. I can’t….” She shakes her head and starts again, her eyes turning glassy. “I don’t know what you’re physically going through, but I do know I hate this as much as you. If there’s anything I can ever do, even before we move here, you better tell me. Actually,” she licks her lips and looks at Bryant, “depending on when Brushay wants to move you out here, I may bring Violet and come early.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Molly says quickly without any problems.
Bryant ignores Molly’s statement. “I’ll miss you like crazy, but if that’s what you want to do, I’m okay with that. It might work in our favor anyway. You could find us a house while you’re here.”
Jenna gives him a smile and swings her head back around, grinning at Molly. “It’s settled then.”
“Jen—”
“Nope, don’t even think about it. This is my decision to make. Right before I met Bryant, I was already playing with the idea of moving back here, so….” she trails off with a shrug.
Molly laughs, the sound strangled, but happy. “You’re the best friend a girl could ever have. You know that, right?”
Jenna nods primly. “I do.”
We all laugh, and the mood lightens. We spend the next few minutes talking about what Jenna needs to do to move her and Violet out here. It’s not much longer before the kids come barreling onto the patio to tell us about the fireflies.
I relax back in my chair with my arms still around Molly and enjoy the camaraderie of our group.
Chapter Twenty-One
MOLLY
Making myself a cup of hot tea, I notice the window in the kitchen is open when a gust of wind comes through the window and drops of water hit my face. I slide it down and lock the latch. I like for it to be open while I’m moving around the kitchen and must have forgotten to close it earlier. It’s pouring outside, and it’s not supposed to let up until tomorrow morning. I love the sound of heavy rain hitting the roof, especially at night when I’m in bed. It’s soothing and calming. What I don’t like—and haven’t since I was a child—are thunderstorms. Unfortunately, one is headed our way. Tonight’s going to be a rough night.