Molly
I step inside the shower as the hot water steams up the glass door. I adjust the temperature so the water is as hot as I can stand. I'm not sure why I'm doing it. There's a part of me that's hoping that the hot water will burn away all the crap that has happened, while another part of me hopes that it will clear my head because right now I feel like it's going to explode. The past twenty-four hours have been more than anyone should go through, it's more than anyone should have to deal with.
As long as everything goes to plan, then Katie will be back with Christian and his family tomorrow, which will be a huge relief, but for me, things are far from over. I still need to figure out this lawsuit and if it's all true, well, I'm not sure how the betrayal is going to affect me. Right now I'm managing to keep it at bay because I don't actually know the truth yet or have it in black and white, but if I find out it's true, which I suspect it is, then I'm not sure how I'm going to deal with it. Then there are my plans for leaving. When do I go? Where do I go?
"Molly, Tom is here darling!" Penny's voice rings through the bathroom, startling me from my thoughts and causing me to almost end up face-planting the shower floor. I knew I would regret showering here when there is no lock on the bathroom door, but I couldn't stand another moment of not showering or trying to find somewhere to shower.
I pop my head through the shower meanwhile keeping my body hidden to be greeted by Penny's beautiful smile, Jesus, that woman always has a smile on her face and it's so warming and loving that it warms my heart every time I see it. “Ok, I'll just be five minutes. Just need to wash up."
"Take your time darlin', I'll keep Tom company." She leaves the bathroom and I make quick work of getting washed and dried before heading into the bedroom to get dressed. "Shit!" I don't have any clothes and I really don't want to put my clothes from
Yesterday back on. A knock on the door yanks my attention away from the pile of clothes that are sitting on the floor. "Molly dolly. Can I come in?" It's not even been a day since I last saw him and yet I've missed him. I'm so used to having him around all the time that it feels like I've lost a limb when he's gone. How am I going to manage without him when I leave?
“Yes." he steps inside wearing new clothes and his hair still wet from what I'm guessing was his morning shower. "I've got some clothes here for you darlin'." Oh, bless this man, he is a goddam angel. He empties a bag onto the bed and starts showing me everything that he's got me. "There are some shorts and tank tops, two dresses, some comfy leggings and baggy sweatshirts because I know you love them and also two pairs of pyjamas plus underwear and two bras."
"You are a goddam star, Tom." I give him a quick hug before grabbing some leggings and a baggy-looking sweatshirt. The boy knows me too well, including knowing how much I love comfy clothes. There's also a perk to having a gay best friend, he always remembers your sizes, including your bra size, which comes in handy in situations like this. "When did you get these for me? You didn't have to. I can only imagine how busy you are."
"It's no problem. Christian and I went into town early to get the kids some emergency supplies and grabbed everyone some stuff while we were there." I feel myself stiffen at the mention of Christian, but Tom just acts completely normal like he didn't see what happened, like he didn't watch me embarrass myself and I'm insanely grateful to him right now. Even if he knows that I feel awkward about it, he doesn't shy away from mentioning him nor does he make me talk about it and that's one of the many things that makes him one incredible best friend.
I don't say anything instead pick out some underwear and start getting dressed while Tom takes a seat on the bed. "How are the kids?" There's an instant sadness in his eyes that has me worried about his answer. "Brody is fine. He asked after Katie last night, but Jack, bless his soul, picked that moment to walk in with a box of cars that he found in the garage, so thankfully, he quickly got distracted and didn't ask again. Sophie, however, the poor baby didn't sleep much and kept having nightmares. I found Christian downstairs with her at five this morning so she wouldn't disturb Brody. Not that he slept much himself."
“Oh, that poor girl, I swear every time I think about what Amy’s done my hate towards her gets worse. The sooner she's back with her dad the better!" Tom smiles, which I find strange given the conversation we're having and my confused looks clearly tell him that. "Hearing you call Chris her dad, it warms my heart. He may not be her dad by blood, but he is in every other way, in every way that counts."
"He is." I mean that he really is. "Molly, I've not had the chance to properly say this so I'm going to do it now before we head out. I want to say thank you, really thank you for what you're doing. I’ll never forget it or ever be able to repay it. I know we're best friends, family even, but still, what your doing is so much. It's so much money and I don't think you even realise what you're doing."
My heart pounds at his words and seeing the look of honesty in his eyes brings tears to mine. “I'd do anything for you, Tom, for your family and I would give that bitch every single penny if it meant that Katie got to be with Christian and the rest of you." He walks over to me hugging me so tight he takes my breath away " I love you, molls.
"I love you too, Tom." He steps back a little but takes my hand in his. He doesn't say anything as he stares at me, but he doesn't need to. I know what he’s thinking, he’s thinking about how hard it will be when I leave, but I don't see how there's any other choice.
He must sense that I know where his mind has gone as he shakes his head a little and plasters on a big smile. "Come on girly, let's go." He starts heading towards the door, dragging me along with him. "Go where? I don't want to go anywhere today. I want to stay in my comfies and hide away from the world and the truths that I need to face.
"The farm. we’re meeting everyone up there." He looks at his watch and winces slightly. "Actually we're late, everyone will be there now." Of all the places that he wants me to go, he picks the farm I love him, but that doesn’t mean that I don't want to murder him sometimes. "Before you give me shit, we're meeting there to see what we can salvage before any work starts on the farm.
"can't you keep anything you find of mine and bring it to me later?" I try the old-school eyelash fluttering but it doesn't work. "Nope. Molly dolly. You are coming." A whine is my response to him. Yep, I'm twenty-nine and snorting and whining like a child, but I don't care.
"You just need to stomp your feet now, Moll’s, and you will have accomplished a full-on Five-year-old tantrum." His smirk is annoying but still, a laugh escapes my lips. "Fuck off!" I try sounding serious but as always, it never works when I’m trying to be mad at Tom, the guy makes it impossible to ever be mad at him.
"We can talk on the way but you're not getting out of it. Besides, the kids have been asking for you this morning." Oh, no he didn't.
"Tom, you can't use those kids to get your way!" His cheeky smile appears as he steps closer to me. "It's the truth, Moll's, I wouldn't make something like that up, not that it matters, because we both know that it is working." He winks at me before turning to face the door and walking out once again pulling me behind him. Here we go.