Letters to Molly (Maysen Jar, #2)(96)

Alcott had been the dream. I’d achieved more success here than I ever could have imagined, but it had come at a price. Molly’s heart.

Somehow, I’d been lucky enough to win it back. And I wasn’t going to risk losing it ever again.

The room was quiet as I set the pen down. We sat there, listening as the air whirled.

“I feel lighter,” I confessed.

She met my gaze, her brown eyes swimming in tears. “So do I.”

We took one last moment to look around the room, then I stood and went to her chair. I took Molly’s hand and led us outside. We got into the Jeep, smiled at the kids and left Alcott behind.

The life I’d had was in the rearview mirror.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.





“Pretty spot, isn’t it?” I asked Kali as we stood on top of the ridge we’d hiked. Beneath us the entire Gallatin Valley was spread out in a carpet of green fields and golden hills. The trees were a fall mix of deep green, lemon lime and cherry red.

“Have we ever been up here before?” Kali asked, leaning into my side.

“A couple times when you were a baby. Your mom and I used to come up this trail a lot.”

“Why did you stop?”

“There were lots of other great spots to explore with you guys too.”

It was a partial truth. I’d done a ton of hiking in other parts of the valley with the kids, but I hadn’t brought them up here. It was a harder climb. And this trail was Molly’s favorite. It hadn’t seemed right to come here without her.

Behind us, Molly and Max were looking over a different part of the ridge. Max was standing on a tall rock, making funny faces as Molly snapped pictures of him on her phone.

“I love it up here,” Kali said quietly, more to herself than to me.

I hugged her closer to my side. She smiled up at me, then looked behind us as Max and Molly laughed.

Then she dropped her gaze to her feet. “They worked.”

“Huh? What worked?”

“The let—” Her body tensed. Then she was gone, twirling out of my embrace and hurrying over to join Max on his boulder.

“What the hell?” I muttered to the wind.

Maybe I was wrong, but my gut was telling me that Kali had just slipped up and almost said the letters.

I wanted to pull her aside and ask again, but I forced myself to let it go. For now. I’d ask her when we were home and alone.

After a family selfie, we made our way down the trail. The kids took the lead, setting the pace on our descent as Molly and I brought up the rear.

“That was fun.” She nudged my shoulder with her own.

“Yeah, it was.”

“Are you okay? When we were on the ridge, you looked upset. Is it Alcott? Because we can rip those papers up when we get to the Jeep.”

I pulled her into my arms, stopping us on the trail. “No, it’s not Alcott. It was nothing.”

“You’re sure?”

My answer was to put my lips on hers and kiss her breathless.

“Gross!” Max shouted.

Molly smiled against my lips. “He’s grounded.”

“For at least an hour. Kali too. Long enough for us to shower together when we get home.”

“You’re brilliant. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I kissed her again. “Race you to the bottom?”

“Oh, I don’t think we should. Your first hike out, you’d better take it easy.”

“No, I’m fi—” Before I could finish arguing with her, she’d shoved me away and was running down the trail. “Cheater.”

Her laughter echoed through the trees as she flew past the kids. “You’ll never catch me, Alcott.”

Max and Kali giggled as they took off after her.

I chuckled, jogging slowly along to give them a head start.

I’d catch her, all right. I’d never stop chasing.





“Hey.” Cole saluted me with his bottle of beer. “About time you got here.”

“Sorry. We got delayed at home.”

We were late for the barbeque at Cole and Poppy’s place, but it had been worth the scolding from my sister. Molly and I had showered so long that we’d run the hot water heater down to cold.

“Beer?” he offered.

“Please.” I followed him through the house, away from the noise of the kids playing and the adults visiting in the kitchen. He kept his stash of beers in a mini fridge in the garage, as well as the car he was currently rebuilding in his spare time. “How’s the ’Cuda coming along?”

“Great. It’s going to take a year or so to finish, but it’s been fun to tinker on. My dad’s been helping too. I heard you’re unemployed.”

“News travels fast.” Though it came as no surprise that Molly had already told Poppy.

“What are you going to do?” Cole asked.

“Enjoy life.” I sighed. “Buy Molly a diamond ring. Drive the kids to school every morning. Mow the lawn in the summer. Shovel snow in the winter.”

“Good for you. I’m glad for you guys.”

“It was the right move.” I took a sip of my beer. “I owe you.”

“For?”