“First we want to talk about the article,” Blue says. “Have you read it? Did you get a copy?”
I shake my head. I know Molly sent a copy to everyone from the group, including Dad, but she didn’t send it to me. Dad offered to let me read it, but I declined. Still, I know it’s grown into something much larger than Molly anticipated. She’s sure to get that job at Rogue Word now.
The day after my talk with my dad, I went to Alice’s parents’ house to tell them about their daughter’s affair. I would have preferred for them never to learn the truth, but I figured it would be better for them to hear it from me than to read about it online.
“We know,” her mother had said, a wadded tissue in her hand.
My mouth had fallen open. “What?”
“Her boyfriend came to us after the funeral. He told us they’d been together for over a year, and they’d planned to get married as soon as Alice asked you for a divorce. He wanted us to give him some of her things. Gifts he’d given her that she’d hidden at our house.” Her voice broke. “I did it to keep him quiet. I didn’t know that you knew.” She paused then, taking a long breath. “You were already hurt enough. I didn’t want to make things worse.”
We’d both spent three years stewing in our grief and pain, trying to protect one another. After I left that visit with Alice’s parents, I almost called Molly to suggest that she tell Maisie about her dad. Her sister might not know or suspect the truth, but there was a chance she did.
But a week has passed since then, and I still haven’t tried to contact Molly. Nearly two weeks have gone by since our breakup, and I haven’t heard from her…not that I blame her. Has she given up on me?
Something else was unleashed in me after my talk with Alice’s parents. I dug out some of my woodworking equipment and set it up in the garage. It’s been three years since I’ve used the tools not related to the utilitarian work I do for Bear and Son, so the machines needed some oil and TLC, but a few days ago, I made something that came from my soul. A wooden pen. Now I realize I didn’t make a random pen. I made it for someone specific.
I made it for Molly.
Will I find the courage to give it to her?
Blue looks at me now, kindness and warmth in her eyes. “Cal, I’m not sure what happened between you and Molly, but please don’t be mad that she did this exposé. The truth needed to get out.”
“No, I gave her my blessing.” I leave off that I wasn’t that kind about it. Or that it’s been eating at me for two weeks.
“Then what’s the problem?” Dee asks. “Why aren’t you with her?”
I could tell her it’s none of her business, but I’ve helped them all with their issues and relationships, so it’s only fair to let them help me with mine. Even if it likely can’t be helped. “Lots of reasons. One, she’s going back to Seattle and then likely moving to LA.”
“She left for Seattle this morning,” Harry says with a glum expression. “And Rogue Word is offering her a lot more money than she expected.”
“Well, there you go,” I say, my heart aching. “We would have never worked.”
Nicole stops slurping her drink and asks, “Did you at least apologize?”
I avert my eyes, my face burning.
“I’ll take that as a no,” she says as she puts down her drink, then glances around the table. “Where are the chips and salsa?”
We all gape at her.
“Seriously?” she grumbles, raising her hand as though she’s in school trying to get the teacher’s attention. “This is not me being rude. Whoever heard of sitting at a table at a Mexican restaurant without chips and salsa?”
She has a point.
Nicole grabs a passing waiter and demands chips and salsa, then turns back to me. “Look, I know I’m a bit rough around the edges.”
“You think?” Harry asks.
Nicole gives him the side-eye before continuing. “But even I know that you probably said some things you regret.”
“So you know how the conversation went?” I ask, feeling slightly betrayed that Molly is telling people, but then I suppose I deserve it.
“I don’t know details, but your dad told us some stuff. I know that Augusta told her that you had an affair and you got pissed when she asked you about it.”
It’s useless to protest. When I look at it in the simplest way, that is indeed what happened.
“She believed Augusta,” I say, but it sounds pretty weak, even to my own ears.
“Did she, though?” Dee asks. “Or was she just telling you what she heard, and you took it as an accusation?”
I replay that night in my head again, even though I’ve been trying my best to forget it. When I look at it from this angle, I can see that there might be some truth to that. Molly was upset, very upset, but she asked me whether it was true—she didn’t confront me with it as if it were a fact. “Shit.”
Nicole releases a grunt of triumph, but Dee, Blue, and Harry aren’t gloating. They just look sad.
“You deserve to be happy, Cal,” Harry says. “You tell me that all the time, so why isn’t that true for you?”
“I never said I didn’t deserve happiness,” I gripe, but there’s not much force behind it.
The waitress appears with two glasses and another pitcher of frozen margaritas, and Nicole immediately tops off her glass.
“Are you ready to order yet?” the waitress asks.
“Not yet,” Dee says, reaching for both glasses.
“Give us a minute,” Blue adds.
As she walks away, Nicole taps her chin with a finger while holding her glass up. “What was it you’re always telling me?” Her brow shoots up. “Oh, yeah. Actions speak louder than words. And from where I’m sitting, you’re wallowing in unhappiness, buddy.” Annoyance crosses her face. “And so am I, because I’m so busy schooling you that I forgot to remind the server about the chips and salsa.”
Harry makes a face. “Sorry, Cal, but I have to agree with Nicole on this one. Although not the chips thing, obviously.”
I know I’ve been putting off my personal wants for years, and I let my guard down my weekend with Molly. I realize I’m scared to get hurt again, though I’ve been telling the people around me for years that pain brings growth. I have to take a chance or I’m just a hypocrite.
“I think I really fucked this up. All the way around.”
“No,” Blue says, putting her hand over mine. “You can consider us your sponsors right now, and it’s not too late to make things right with Molly.”
“You don’t know the horrible things I said.” I stare down into my drink. “She’ll never forgive me, and why should she?”
“Maybe you should let her make that decision,” Dee says, “instead of making it for her.”
She’s right. At the very least, I need to apologize and let Molly decide what to do with that.
Still, I’m not sure there’s a future for us. My life and business are here, and working for Rogue Word is her dream job.
But she was talking about staying in Asheville.
Is there a chance she’ll not only forgive me but move back to Asheville? Is there a sliver of hope that we can be together? All I know is that I’ve never been happier than when I was with Molly. She pushes me more than anyone ever has, and I need someone to hold me accountable just as I’ve done with the members of the club.