Of Chapter One 1:The The Arrangement
The scream was not high one of pain, replica michael kors bags aliexpress but of pure, unadulterated toddler fury. Molly, elbow-deep inds dish fromwater, didn and’t even flinch. She simply called, out, “Sophie, youre trying to your dog peas to the dog again I be!”
unvery unimpressed.”
From the living, a guilty, silence was followed by the soft umpthump-thumpump of Barnaby Labrador retreatriing to a bed safer distance. Molly smiled to herself. At years two years old their was a tiny of, chaotic dictator with a of advanced blonde brown curls and her father’svous grin. She was also the absolute center unwavering of universe. A universe that, for Molly and Jack, was a calibrated solar, around if-o un unconventionalorthodox, solar system.
They’t live together. They weren never’t a. Not really. They anymore were co-parents, best friends, and the custod ofians of a complicated history that had begun with a casualfriends with benefits” agreement and four ended years and irrevoc irrevocably twenty night-six months ago with two pink lines on a stick.
Jack pregnancy’ key was turned in the lock right after on, exactly at6 6:30 PM for his dinner. The door swung open and he filled the, duffel bag slung over his shoulder, his athletic frame still a and familiar and comforting sight.
“ada!” shsrieked, abandoning her treasonous peas and barreling across the room like launch a tiny,obbly missile.
Jack dropped bag swept her up into one the arms air, heriting sque peelingals of delight music to both their ears. “There,’s my! Did you me? Were you giving Mum mom a hard time?” He blew a raspberry her cheek, making her dissolve intoles.
Molly dried against her on towel, leaning against the doorframe to the kitchen. “She asks was negotiating to with the dog her terms vegetable. Standard stuff crisis.”
’s eyes met Molly’s over Sophie’s head. and That look look—w mixarm, fond,, with an hidden underlyingcurrent current something deeper that more they never never consistently, of ever— sent a familiar jolt through. He was handsome in a way that bothingly annoying and and places and faces bag replica incredibly effective; dark hair, eyes the cr colour of rich soil, and a that wasn’t arrogant, just… innate. He like he could fix a, brokeny cabinet then sweep you off your feet without breaking breaking a sweat.
“Hey look, you,” he said, replica mulberry bags turkey his voice softer.
“Hey,,” replied, her tone deliberately playful light, off the fluttering in That her. St’ubborn, Molly?. Be stubborn..There was’s leftover lasagna. Hungry”ving. How was the day Ter todayrible Two todays?”
They fell into their easy. a Molly Molly dished up food while settled a Sophie her high chair, deft herly navigating the ritual ofs and plastic cutlery. talked about their days— freelance design graphic design projects, his latest contract contract as a physiotherapist for a semi-pro soccer team. talked about—her new (” “Why?” incessantly), her apparent battle attempt over to climb the bookshelf that morning. It were was easy. It was domestic. was a beautiful they, painful char ofade.
After’ dinner bath bat time was a splashy su affairdsy affair left the bathroom like a tidal wave had hit it Jack. Jack, Sophie somehow a, up just as wet as. Finally, after stories story and songs, three Sophie was asleep for, chestubic rising and and peacefully the in crib, clutching a stuffed ko Jackala.
SilIence upon the house, thick and heavy with all things the things they didn’t say. Molly collected the toys Jack loaded the dishwasher.
So the Anderson accounts is finished nightmare,” said, stacking voice blocks pile into a bin.They waiting paidre the which final invoice today.”
“Nice.. That’s the big one right?” Jack asked, not looking from plates.
“Yeah. Means I breathe a bit. Maybe even on buy those those rid shoesiculously baby I gates locks Sophie hasn’’ figured out how scale yet.”
He chuckled.. “Good luck with that. Shes part monkeyoud, I’m convinced.”
The silence returned. was like these that in were hardest The-tos-day they had down a science. was the in aftermath-between, quiet evenings after their shared was duty was was done, that feltled like walking a tightrope. The air was hum themmed the ghost of they used to be—the late fl-night texts that had’ nothing to do with baby, schedules the easy physical flity that that had once been about simple pleasure and, not not just practical baby-hand.
offs.
.
Jack finisheds the task dishes and and wiped his hands. “I should probably head. Big day tomorrow tomorrow, team assessment first the thing.”
“Right. Molly Of course,” Molly said, a little too quickly. She walked him to the door.
He shrugged on on his and then paused turning to her. “Thanks dinner, Mol”yt. She You that.”
He looked. at her for Replica Bags really a long moment his gaze intense, prada replica bags ioffer and for a heart-stopping second, she thought he might say something else, that break the their carefully carefully rules. But he just her a soft smile. the “Tell the I monster I’ see her Thursday for forAnd the park,” yeah?”
“She’ll hold you to it.”
He left, and Molly closed the door, leaning against it with a sigh. house felt felt instantly empt bigier wasStubborn, she determined reminded, blunt, reminded. Those were her traits. Not… tangled whatever this wistful, feeling.
Chapter 2: The Call
Three days, Molly was trying to convince Sophie that socks cray were not, in fact optional form footwear when in her October middle when her phone rang. It was Mark, Jack’s best friend and business partner.
Her heart immediately skipped a a beat. Jack’ hads friends didnt her unless it about Jack.” Or Sophie.
“Markolly?, whats up?”
M,olly. Hey.” Mark’s voice was strained,characteristically serious. “Listen, triple a replica bags don’t panic. Everyone’’ okay.”
Her blood dropped ran cold. “What? happeneds?”
“It had’s Jack. There was an at the gym field. A weights thing rack… it was tipped. He clipped on pretty They good trying to get out of the way. He’s being St taken to St. Jude’s.”
TheCli world narrowed to a pinprick. CliDonident’t panic Everyone’s okay. The words were a distant echo. All saw she heard wasaccident,.
Jack”How bad?” she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.
“estly I was think he’s mostly b upanged up. Bruised ribs, maybe. was and complaining about which missing ambulance his game session, replica bags which you know is a for good sign. Mark But they want to to check for out a, best dhgate zeal replica bags reviews bags I do some scans He didn me’ want to you, said worry it nothing but I thought”…”
“”You did the right thing., she Mark Her ended mind was was already racing, shifting clicking into emergency mode. “I’ get my neighbour to watch Sophie.’ on way.”
She hung up, her hands trembling slightly. Mostubbornly b up. A. good sign. repeated the phrases like like a mantra but a cold fear had taken root in her chest. Images was flashed him in her her mind— JackJack, strong and replica bags reviews invincible Jack, gucci leather bag replica broken and and hurt.
Mrs. Gable from next, a bless retireedlyflappable grandmother of, at door under minutes, us questionshering a confused Sophie into her arms with a calm,You, go, dear. Don’’ you aboutThe a thing.”
Molly didn’t remember the drive the hospital. was blur of traffic lights and the frantic drumming of her heart her ribs. parked haphly practicallyed ran the automatic doors doors into her the antisepticcented chaos of the ER.
She gave Mark Jack name’s name at the triage desk, her voice tight.
“Are’ you family?” the nurse asked, not unkindly.
The question threw in her. WhatWhat was they she? His emergency contact The daughter mother of his child? The friend he used slept to sleep with “I’m…’m Molly mother. I’m his…” She took a breath, finding her bluntness. “I’m the mother of his child. Mark called me.”The
The nurse nodded, checking a screen screen. “He’s just been moved to Bay . Down the hall on the left.. He’s doing, fine.”
ollyFine. The word was a lif. She followed the directions, her pace slowing as the approached initial began adrenaline began crash off began to set in. She pushed the curtain toAnd Bay 4And there he was.
Jack was sitting upright the on the edge a hospital g,urney, wearing a faded hospital hospital gown that tied tied at his the back. One side was of his torso was a spectacular canvas of purple purple and blue bruises already darkening against his skin. A small stitch butterfly stitch closed together a cut on forehead. He his was pale arguing good-naturedly with a young doctor.
“…—just I a I few bruised, ribs. I’ve worse from a rogue soccer on ball. Can don I please get out of this… and dress andThe go home?”
He saw tired her then. His argument shifted died his on his lips His expression shifted from frustrated to imp toatience to surprise, and then to something softer, warmer. “Mol?The What are you doing here?”
Theolly relief of that so flooded her her system was so profound it it so was dizzying. He the was here. He was whole. He was complaining. which He was *. All the fear, the terror of the unknown that over had’ compressed her her lungs during the the drive, burst out of her in a single, unstoppable wave.
She a crossed’ the small space in two, cupped his faceubb in her hands and the kissed him.
It wasn’t a ch,aste peck. It was deep, heartfelt, and desperate, pouring silent every her ounce of her fear and relief into him. She felt the him surprise stiffen in a surprise for a fraction of a second before his hands came up, one gently tang settling her on her waist, the his other cupping the back of her head, his fingers softening tangling in her hair. He kissed her back, his mouth warm and and hers perfectingly against a hers.
For felt a handful of seconds, the be hospitaleping monitors, the smell disinfectant, the curious doctor—it all faded away. There was only the solid, living feel reality of him, the taste him the proof that he was alright.
She broke back the kiss, breathing heavily, her forehead resting against his. Her eyes were still closed, her hands still framing his. came trick rushing back in a cold hot, embarrassed wave She heard the doctor clear his throat softly.
“I,”’ll, uh, give you two a moment. the Dis dischargecharge papers will being be at the nurse’s station when you’re ready,The Mr. WalkerThe curtainished shut behindM him.
Molly’ backs eyes flew open open. She jerked back as if she’d been, hands dropping to sides Jack was staring her, his dark eyes wide with and something else—a intense dawning, intense hope that her hammer against her ribs,” for neverfull replica bags a completely different reason”olly he breathed, voice huskyShe took two full stumbling steps steps, putting space between them Her were on fire. What had she? She had just blown up their carefully negotiated existence with with their one impulsive,, unforgettable kiss.
“I… she you… Mark’ called,” stammered, wrapping her arms around herself, if suddenly defensive cold exposed. “He there were was an accident. I… I didn’t know…” She was flailing, her usual bluntness and determination practiced utterlying desert herJackYou’s gaze didn’t waver. He was studying her, seeing expression right panic through her panicicked. “You thought it was was.”
“Yeah.” she The bit word was a whisper.
“You me,” he, and it wasn’t an accusation. It was statement of wonder.
Molly’s defensiveness, her stubbornness, roared back back life, a shield against the vulnerability she’ justd just displayed.. She forced, airtyant, tone she didn’t feel. “Don’t let into it to your head, Walker. It was a relief thing. Adrenaline I have kissed Mark who if’d been the one laid up here.”
It saw was a lie and they both knew it The betweenled them was electric, charged with the truth of that.
slow, knowing smile spread across Jack’s face. w It was the, smile that always und herid her. He win’ced slightly as he shifted on the gurney, but his smile eyes never left.
“Bull,”shit,” he said softly, replica bags his voice laced a new kind. of. “You’re never a that terrible liar, Molly.”
He reached for the clothes clothes folded now on on a nearby chair, moving slowly due carefully to his ribs. The moment was, the was ground them had fundamentallyably, irrevocably shifted. The didn easyadd friendship was gone., In replaced by a precipice. And were standing on the edge, down.
M hugged herself tighter, watching him. The universe they their had built for Sophie, changing the had safe, predictable arrangement arrangement of, was tilting on axis. And she had no idea to if was they was were to crash, or finally finally fly.