Can't Look Away(90)
He hands her a mug of coffee. “So I’ll go in late this morning and stay with Stell while you’re out, yeah? You think you’ll be back by nine?”
She stares at her husband blankly, coils of steam rising in front of her face.
“Moll? ’Cause if it’s gonna be later, that’s fine, but I may have to drop her at my mom’s. I have a meeting at nine thirty.”
Molly fights through the thick layer of muck in her brain to try to remember what Hunter is talking about. It’s Monday. Where is she supposed to be on Monday morning?
Hunter sighs. “Just call me when you leave Dr. Ricci’s, okay?”
Dr. Ricci’s. The blood test. The pregnancy results. Today.
“Yes!” Molly exclaims, an octave too loudly. “No, that’s fine. If I’m not back by nine, drop her at Becky’s on your way to your meeting. But I’ll call you when I’m done, regardless.” She places her coffee on the counter and wraps her arms around Hunter’s neck. “I love you.” She kisses him, inhaling the minty aroma of his freshly shaven face.
The blood test is routine. A fast prick. Molly is all too familiar with the process by now.
Claudia, one of the nurses at the practice, removes the rubber band cinching Molly’s arm and smiles kindly. “Dr. Ricci will call you in a few hours.”
Molly’s heart feels heavy as she leaves the doctor’s office, the August sun beating down in sweltering rays. She is already dreading Dr. Ricci’s call. She doesn’t know how she and Hunter will bear another negative result.
She thinks of Sabrina, then, and wishes so badly that they could talk. But Sabrina still hasn’t replied to any of her texts, and now it’s been almost two weeks since Molly has heard from her. In her gut, Molly knows that something is up. She can’t imagine Jake telling Sabrina what happened between them at Skipping Beach; then again, what else would explain her friend’s silence? Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time Molly has been wrong about Jake Danner. There is only one way to find out for sure.
She climbs into her car and switches the AC on full blast. She touches the tender spot on the inside of her elbow where the needle went in, then digs her phone out of her purse and crafts a text to Hunter.
Just leaving doc, all went fine, they’ll call later. Can you take S to Becky’s after all? I’m going to stop by Sabrina’s. I haven’t seen her in a while and could use a friend right now.
Molly heads west, looping through the beautiful back roads of Flynn Cove. The lush green leaves of the trees envelop the streets, a majestic tunnel. There’s an old John Mellencamp song on the radio that makes Molly nostalgic for something she can’t quite identify. She cranks the volume, sings along.
She’s about to turn onto Sabrina’s road when she spots a familiar blond ponytail. It’s Whitney, pushing a double stroller along the shoulder of the road in big, dark sunglasses.
Molly slows the car to a stop and rolls down her window. She turns down the music.
“Whit!”
“Molly! Hi!” Whitney smiles her wide, generous smile, pushing her sunglasses on top of her head. “Meet Bea and Chloe.” She leans down and adjusts something in one of the bassinets.
“Oh, Whit. They’re beautiful.” The twins are burrito-wrapped in matching swaddles, sleeping peacefully. “They’re just perfect.”
“Three is a lot.” Whitney sighs. “But exhaustion aside, it’s been a pretty magical summer. Liam is so sweet with them.”
“I bet he’s the best big brother. I’m so happy for you guys.”
Whitney adjusts the strap of her workout top. “It’s great to see you, Moll. It’s been forever. Though I’ve hardly seen anyone since the girls were born, I guess. What’re you doing on this side of town?”
“I’m heading to my friend Sabrina’s, actually. Sabrina Danner. She lives right around the corner on Woodson. I don’t think you guys have met; she’s newish to town. You’d like her.”
“Ah.” Whitney nods. “We actually met briefly at the club the other day. Meredith introduced us.”
Molly’s stomach sinks. She wonders if Meredith told Whitney what happened between them on the Fourth of July.
“Actually,” Whitney starts, reading her, “Meredith mentioned that you and Hunter were at the fireworks with the Danners. I was bummed to miss it. That’s always such a fun night.”
“Yeah.” Molly manages a smile. “We missed you.”
“Meredith told me what Hunter said to her,” Whitney continues, and Molly’s stomach plummets even lower. “Well, she told me her version.” Whitney’s eyes narrow. “Between you and me, that woman needs to watch herself. I know she’s my friend, but she has no business bullying you guys into joining the club, especially in front of Stella. Hunter was right to give her a piece of his mind. Meredith’s just insecure at the root of it. That’s why she acts the way she does.”
Molly nods, the knot in her belly slackening. Relief. “Thanks for saying that, Whit. Seriously.”
“Of course. But anyway, yes, Sabrina seemed nice when we met. Although it’s funny, she doesn’t seem like the type who would want to be involved somewhere like the FCCC. I don’t mean to sound snooty—” Whitney pauses, clearly embarrassed.