Molly
It's been almost two weeks since Christian and I got together and things are going so well that it's scary. We just work together in almost everything that we do, the kids and I are bonding amazingly and considering there are three children in our relationship we still seem to make more than enough time for some adult fun and God is it incredible, I swear it just gets better and better every time. If we keep things going like this then I see a very happy and bright future ahead of us all.
Christian spoke to Amy's sister yesterday and found out that she has now fully recovered from her fall however she has sadly been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has been placed in a mental health hospital to receive the help that she needs and despite everything that's happened I hope she gets better. After her fall Tom found her bag with the one million dollars still inside and we donated it to the town to help families who were affected by the Tornado, to help them rebuild, or just cover expenses if they are unable to work right now.
A door slamming somewhere in the house brings me out of my thoughts and has me dragging my ass out of bed. It's way past my usual get-up time but Chris insisted that I sleep in this morning while he took the kids to school, he insisted I needed it after he kept me up half the night and he was properly right. We have spent every night together since that first night and I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't loving it.
I drag my aching body downstairs and head for the kitchen. Chris is working my muscles to the max and my body is in desperate need of coffee “Good morning Molly, how are you doing sweetheart?” Ruby is sitting at the kitchen table with John who gets up to greet me with a kiss on the cheek. "Good morning darlin', I need to head out to the farm with Zack but I'll see you both later." I go to move towards the coffee machine but Ruby beats me to it and quickly hands me a cup full of beautiful coffee.
"Do you need to leave right now John, or do you have a few minutes? there's something that I wanted to talk to the both of you about." He nods before taking a seat next to Ruby. "Of course, I've got time. is everything ok?" They both give me a concerned look but settle back down when I give them a reassuring smile. "Yes, everything is fine. I just... I had an idea about the house rebuild and I was hoping to talk to you before any work starts.
"We are open to all ideas honey, please tell us what you are thinking," Ruby says as she brings her own cup of coffee to her lips and blows on it to cool it down. "Well, I was thinking about how the house has had to be rebuilt twice, all that hard work gone in just a matter of minutes. All that damage and repair costs along with the rest of the farm must be expensive and tiring and losing all of the previous stuff that you do... Well, I can only imagine the heartbreak. Anyway, I was thinking what if you were to rebuild the house with bricks this time? It would be way more solid and would have much less chance of getting so destroyed if another Tornado hits."
"We have considered that, we spoke about it last this happened too but to build a house the size we need would cost more than we can afford, way more." John's sad look tugs at my heart. "But it's ok, we'll rebuild and if it happens again well, we will just rebuild again I guess." Ruby tries to sound optimistic but the hurt in her voice is clear. "I want to help with that. I want to pay for the build. You can build it however you want, there's no budget. I want you to build the perfect home for your family."
They both stay silent while staring at me like gold fish making me smile and hold back a laugh. "No... no Molls, you can't do that!" John stutters. "Why not? I want to. You have welcomed me into your family both as Tom's friend and now with Christian. You knew bout my past and never judged me. I want to do this for you, please let me."
We spend the next ten minutes going back and fore before finally they give in and agree to the build and I'm so glad that they have, I meant what I said, I want to do this for them although what I haven't told them is that I also plan to have a house build on one of the fields that no longer gets used for Christian and the kids. They need structure and I know not having a home for them hits him hard so I can't wait for him to see what I have built for him, I will tell the others my plan including Ruby and John but I'm not telling Christian until it is completed and he can't refuse it.
"Before I leave you to carry on with your day I have something for you. I reach into my pocket and pull out the envelope that I've been hiding since yesterday. I hold it out and after a few seconds, Ruby takes it from me. "What is it?" She asks as she stares down at the envelope. "Open it and see." Finally, they do while I wait anxiously hoping that they will like it. "What is all of this?" Neither of them has a clue about what they are reading and it's quite funny watching them as they try and figure it out like a toddler learning to count.
"It's tickets and confirmation for your holiday. Two weeks in Costa Rica. Christian mentioned it was somewhere that you both hoped to visit one day. The hotel is 5-star and you will have a car at your service while you're there. I have also arranged several days out for you and the hotel has all the information for those, they will give it to you when you arrive. Oh, you're also in first class for your flight."
Ruby looks at me with tears in her eyes and it takes all I have to hold back my own at just how grateful they both are. "Why are you doing this Molls?" That's not hard to answer. "Because I want to. Tom mentioned that you two are working on your marriage which I'm so glad to hear and I just thought that maybe some time away from all the stress here would be good for you both. I want you to go and relax and have a fine, Don't worry about anything here, everyone will be fine."
They both get up and pull me out of my seat right before squeezing the life out of me. Once they are done they push me back a little to look at me. "You Molly are such a beautiful girl, inside and out and we are both so grateful for you coming into this family. Tom told us you know... about all the nights that he would wake up with nightmares after that god-awful tour in Afghanistan and you would sit up with him all night. And now you've come along and saved Christian from a lonely life. We know you don't have parents of your own but we hope that you know how much you mean to us, how much we consider you one of our own."
After more hugs and tears from all three of us, John leaves to meet Zack while Ruby goes to get dressed for the day and I find myself out on the back porch drinking my third cup of coffee and silently crying tears that have been building up for a long time. "Hey, Molly dolly!" I look up to see Jack heading my way from around the side of the house only I'm not quick enough to hide my tears and he's soon running toward me.
"Hey, what's wrong sweetheart?" His soft tone only makes me cry harder and within seconds I'm a blubbering mess while he holds me tight to his chest and rubs my back." Talk to me, darling." I want to but the words are stuck in my throat, besides, I'm just having a feel-sorry moment for myself, this happens every now and again, and usually, once I've had a good cry I feel better again.
I feel someone come up behind me then I'm turned around and different arms wrap around me only this time they begin to Christian and I feel myself instantly relax. How has he become my safe place so fast? "What's wrong baby?" He keeps one hand around my waist as his other hand goes to the back of my head gently playing with my hair. I manage to get some control over my tears and pull my head out of his chest so that I can see him while putting on the best smile that I can manage right now. "I'm ok."
He raises one of his eyebrows silently calling me out on my bullshit. "Talk to me beautiful. What's going on in that head of yours?" He takes my hand and starts walking me over to the pouch swing before sitting down and pulling me onto his lap while I take some deep breaths and I try to control my tears once more.
"I'll be ok, I promise I will. This happens sometimes but I'm always ok after a good cry." A choked laugh rips from my throat as more tears make their way down my cheeks. "While I'm glad to know that you will be ok, I'd still like to know why you are upset babe, clearly this isn't the first time that this has happened."
I take a deep breath as he starts to rub my back again. "I was talking to your parents earlier, I mentioned my idea about a brick house and they were just so kind and sweet to me that it stirred those old feelings. I haven't thought about it in so long and it kind of threw me." I had already spoken to both Tom and Christian about my idea and they were both on board with the idea. "What thoughts did it stir sweetheart?"
"My parents. My birth parents. I just... I don't understand... Why didn't they want me, Chris? Why wasn't I enough?" The tears start flowing once more as I lose all control. "Oh, baby!" He tightens his hold on me and gently rocks me against his chest for a few minutes. Once I get control of myself he moves me so that we are face to face and places a gentle kiss on my forehead. "I wish I had the answers for you baby but I don't and I think that even if I could give you those answers they wouldn't help you, only those people could do that."
"Your right, I know you are because I've pretty much told myself the same thing over the years." He leans down and places just one single kiss on my lips. "I don't know why they did what they did darlin' but what I do know is that I'm so fucking glad that you were born, I'm so glad that you're here. I want you, Tom wants you and so do the kids and the rest of my family. We'll always want you darlin'. If anything you're too good for this family."
"Dam right!" My head snaps up to find Tom heading our way. He's been through this more than once with me so he already knows what's wrong here. "Come on Molly dolly, it's the re-opening night for the bar tonight and we need to get shopping!" There is no time to say anything as Christian quickly kisses me just before Tom grabs my hand and pulls me inside the house and through to his truck. "I need to get my credit card!" He continues to pull me along making me laugh. "I've already got it." I love this guy!