Christian
The moment Molly's out of the room everyone at the table turns their attention towards me.
“I already know what you are all thinking so save it. Yes, I was a dick to her ok but I still know that I’m right!”
“Christian, what is it you think you know?” Tom's voice is more calm than before but I know him well and I know that it won’t take much to piss him off again.
“That she’s hiding something. That the fact that one minute she doesn’t remember coming down here last night but then the next minute she does seems strange. Also don’t think I haven’t thought about the fact that she just upped and left both her and Archie’s family’s after the funeral and hasn’t bothered to even go back there to visit them never mind living there. And there’s also the fact that she doesn’t have a job but never seems short on money which makes me believe that she’s spending yours and I won’t have her rinse you for everything you have. No way, you worked too dam hard for that!”
The more I speak the redder Tom's face gets and as much as I feel bad about it I have to get this off my chest because I need the truth and I need Molly gone. She’s messing with me in more ways than one and I won’t allow another woman to do that to me or my kids ever again.
“You think you know everything but you don’t. You have no idea about what that girl has been through. How she’s still standing and smiling I will never know because I can tell you now that if I had been through half of what she has this past year then I wouldn’t even be half as stable as she is now Christian.”
“Then tell me, Tom! Tell me what’s going on, I deserve the truth! I have kids living in this house, kids that I am fighting to keep here permanently, and I can’t have any skeletons in her closest coming out and biting her and me in the ass and risking my kid's safety.”
By the time I’ve finished speaking, I’ve lost all my anger, all I feel is sadness but for the life of me, I don’t know why.
“Do you really think I would have her here if she was a danger to your kids or any of you for that matter? Do you really think I would do that Christian?” Tom sounds hurt and I get it but still, I can’t shake this feeling.
“No, I don’t Tom but what if it’s more than you even know. She’s your best friend and you trust her but what if she’s hiding more than even you know? Have you thought about that?”
“Christ-“
“He knows everything about my Christian. Everything, and I assure you that I am no harm to your children or family.” Molly's soft voice pulls everyone’s attention toward the stairs where she’s standing. She’s dressed in jean shorts and an off-the-shoulder tee shirt. Her hair is up in a messy bun and she has bright pink sandals on her feet. I’m angry as hell with her and yet still instantly attracted to her. Fuck my life.
I can’t let my feelings take over my judgment here though. I have to know the truth even if part of me doesn’t want to. “Molly I kn-“
Knocking on the front door stops me from talking, pissing me off even more. Who the hell is that at this time of the morning?
“I’ve got it.” Callum heads for the door while I find myself still staring at Molly while she looks anywhere else but at me.
“I’m looking for Miss Molly Jefferson?”
“Who are you?” This guy sounds formal and must look it to have Callum questioning him instead of calling Molly. Wait… who even knows she’s here? She’s not been here long.
“I’m Molly Jefferson. How may I help you?” Molly walks to the door as she speaks before stopping aside of Callum.
“Molly Jefferson. You have been served.” What the fuck? Everyone at the table instantly stands and heads for the front door while Molly stares down at the large brown envelope that’s been handed to her.
“What’s this about?” Tom calls out to the guy that’s heading for his car but he ignores Tom and is soon driving away.
Molly seems to regain her senses pretty quickly and opens the envelope then brings out a stack of papers. I watch her face as she quickly reads through the papers and she honestly looks confused at what she’s readying causing a worrying feeling to settle in the pit of my stomach. What the Fucks that about?
“Molly, what’s going on sweetie?” Tom wraps his arms around her shoulders and gently squeezes her.
“I’m being sued.” She has a lost look on her face and all I want to do is comfort her but I ignore it and stay where I am.
“I don’t understand… by who?” Tom asks her but instead of answering him she hands him the papers and again I watch as his face reflects the same confusion as Molly's did just movements ago.
I don’t get this… Molly, did you know about any of us?” She looks up at him while silent tears stream down her face. “No. No, I didn’t. I don’t understand. How could he do this to me? Did you know about this? Please tell me the truth, Tom?”
“Jesus Christ, no I didn’t have a clue, sweetheart. Believe me, if I had known then I would have told you straight away. I would never have kept something like this from you!” She gives Tom a nod of understanding while trying to wipe away her tears but she’s unable to stop them.
Before I even have time to consider my next step I find myself standing in front of Molly after literally pushing Jack out of the way. “What’s going on?” She looks up at me before taking a deep breath.
“I’m being sued for half of Archie’s life insurance.”
“But that doesn’t make sense… who would do that?” Now I’m just as confused as both Tom and Molly.
“A Miss Joanne Nelson.” She looks back at the papers that Tom's still holding before returning her look to me. Her eyes are bloodshot red and all I want to know it hug her right now but I hold myself back.
“Why is this woman suing you, Molly?”
“She’s suing me on behalf of a Miss Kelsey Nelson. She's suing me…”
She stops talking and turns her body so that she’s facing Tom, he instantly hugs her giving her the comfort that she clearly needs while whispering in her ear while a pang of jealousy rushes though my body at him giving her comfort.
He whispers to her some more then she nods her head before hiding it in his chest. Tom looks up and around at everyone that has now gathered around them.
“This Joanne Nelson is suing Molly because she is claiming that half of his life insurance belongs to her daughter Kelsey. Her daughter that she is claiming that she shares with Archie.” Oh shit!