Letters to Molly (Maysen Jar, #2)(48)

“What are you guys doing up?” Molly asked, holding the sheets to cover herself. Her hair was everywhere, her cheeks crimson red.

“I don’t feel good.” Max held his stomach as he came to the bed, not caring that his parents were in it together. Naked.

“He threw up,” Kali said. “I heard him in the bathroom.”

“You’re sick? Oh, no.” Molly stretched for the throw blanket she kept at the foot of the bed. She yanked it up, replacing it as a cover for her chest as she slid out of bed. Then she wrapped it around herself like she did with her towel after showering.

I took the sheet with me as I stood, winding it around my hips and holding it up with a hand.

Molly rushed to Max, her hands going right for his forehead and cheeks. “You’re hot.”

He leaned his face into her palms. “Can I still go to camp today?”

“Sorry, honey. I don’t think so. Not if you’re sick.”

“Ah.” His face crumpled, his eyes welling with tears. “I really want to go.”

“I know.” She pulled him into her arms as he collapsed against her chest. “Let’s rest today and hopefully you’ll feel up for it tomorrow.”

He sniffled and nodded, his eyes drifting shut.

I walked over and knelt down, ruffling Max’s hair. “Want to come and hang out with me today? You can rest on the couch in my office and watch the iPad.”

Molly looked up. “I can stay home. Poppy can cover the restaurant today.”

“It’s up to you. If it’s easier for me to take him along, I can.”

She stroked Max’s hair. In just moments, he was practically asleep on her shoulder. “I’ll stay home with him.”

“Okay. Then I’ll take Kali to camp and pick her up tonight.”

Kali stood back from the three of us. Her eyes were full of confusion as they darted between me and Molly.

An invisible fist closed around my heart, making each beat hurt. The disbelief in her gaze. The hope. We were going to crush it.

Fuck. What have we done?

“You stayed here?” she whispered.

“I did.” I wasn’t sure what to say but the truth couldn’t hurt. Much.

“B-but—”

“Come on.” Molly stood up, cutting Kali off. She hoisted Max up with an oomph, his legs circling around her waist. He was too big for her to carry but her strength never ceased to surprise me. “Let’s go to the living room. Then we can talk.”

Kali spun around slowly then hesitantly led the way.

“I’ll carry him.” Though I wasn’t sure how, since I needed one hand to hold up my sheet.

“I’ve got him.” Molly shook her head. “You get dressed.”

But instead of finding my clothes, I followed her out into the living room.

Kali was perched on the edge of the couch with her arms wrapped around her stomach.

Max was in a daze as Molly laid him down next to his sister.

She kissed his forehead. “Be right back.”

Molly and I both rushed to her bedroom. She went right for the bathroom, grabbing a red silk Kimono robe she hadn’t had when we’d been married.

I scrambled to find my clothes strewn on the floor and pulled them on. “What are we going to tell them?”

She came out, tying her hair up as she walked. “The truth.”

We’d always been honest with Kali and Max, even when they were little. I don’t think either of them had really understood what it meant when we’d told them about the divorce. Max had only been two and Kali four. But they’d learned over time. When we’d had Mommy nights and Daddy nights, when good nights were done via FaceTime, they’d learned.

Molly and I shared a worried glance as we headed for the living room. The kids may have adjusted to our divorced lifestyle, but that didn’t mean finding their parents in bed wouldn’t have an impact. Goddamn it. This conversation was going to be miserable.

When we reached the living room, my heart sank. The distraught look on Kali’s face was the reason we shouldn’t have started up this affair. I hated that I put it there.

Molly sat in between the kids, taking Kali’s hand from her lap to hold it on her own.

I went to Max, picking him up so he could lean against my side. “Wake up for a second, big guy.”

He nodded, cracking his eyes open. Then I looked to Molly, hoping she knew where to start because I didn’t have a damn clue.

“Dad slept here last night. With me.” She cut right to the chase.

“Are you getting back together?” Kali asked.

“No,” Molly said gently. “No, we’re not.”

My daughter’s frame shrank, confusion becoming devastation.

“We love you both so much. I’m sorry if this is confusing.”

Kali didn’t say a word. Neither did Max.

Molly’s worried gaze met mine as we waited for the kids to say something. Anything. But as the minutes wore on, I realized there wasn’t anything more to say.

“If you guys want to talk about it, we’re here,” I told them. “Always.”

Kali stood and looked to Molly. “Can I stay home today too?”

“Sure, sweetheart. You guys can get snuggled on the couch. I’ll turn on a movie.”