Chapter 10 – The Place She Thought She Lost

“No, sweetheart.”

Luca knelt in front of Molly.

She looked at him uncertainly.

“But Mommy isn’t marrying you.”

“I know.”

“Does that mean she’s not allowed here?”

Luca glanced toward Vanessa.

Then back at the little girl.

“Your mommy and I aren’t getting married. But that doesn’t mean you did anything wrong.”

Molly looked down.

“Are you mad at her?”

Luca took a moment before answering.

“I’m hurt by some things that happened.”

Molly nodded slowly.

“But that’s between the grown-ups.”

She considered that.

Then asked, “Can I still visit?”

Luca’s eyes filled.

“If you and your mom would like to visit, yes.”

Molly smiled.

“Can Grace be here?”

I laughed softly.

“I do work here, sweetheart.”

“Good.”

She slipped her hand into mine.

Luca smiled.

But Vanessa was crying.

I could see she was struggling with something.

Her daughter had spent months being taught that certain people wouldn’t want her.

Now she was discovering how easily Molly accepted kindness when someone actually offered it.

Vanessa crouched beside her.

“Molly, can we talk about something?”

The little girl nodded.

“Remember your bedroom at our apartment? The one with the yellow curtains?”

Molly smiled.

“And the stars?”

“Yes.”

“Is it still mine?”

Vanessa’s expression softened.

“Of course it is.”

Molly looked relieved.

“Can Buttons come home?”

“Absolutely.”

“And my shoes?”

Vanessa laughed through her tears.

“Both shoes.”

Molly looked toward the staircase.

“Can we go today?”

Vanessa hesitated.

“After breakfast, sweetheart. I want to make sure everything is ready.”

Molly nodded.

Then she whispered, “Will you stay with me?”

Vanessa’s face crumpled.

“Yes.”

“All night?”

“Yes, baby.”

Molly wrapped her arms around her mother.

I watched Vanessa close her eyes.

She held her daughter tightly.

For the first time, I think she understood something Luca had been trying to tell her all along.

Molly hadn’t been asking for a beautiful wedding.

Or an expensive home.

She’d been asking for her mother.

Michael arrived at breakfast carrying a small paper bag.

He was still wearing the same charcoal suit trousers from the night before, but he’d changed into a plain white shirt.

His eyes were tired.

Molly spotted him immediately.

“Daddy!”

He smiled.

“Morning, peanut.”

She ran toward him.

He knelt and hugged her.

Then held up the bag.

“I brought strawberries.”

Molly’s eyes widened.

“For pancakes?”

“If you’ll help me.”

She grinned.

Michael glanced toward Vanessa.

“Would that be okay?”

Vanessa nodded.

“Yes.”

Then he looked at Luca.

“Could I use the kitchen?”

Luca studied him.

“Of course.”

For the next half hour, Michael stood beside Molly making pancakes.

Mrs. Carter supervised from the other counter.

I watched from the doorway.

Michael poured the batter into the pan.

Molly frowned.

“That’s not a heart.”

He looked at it.

“It looks like a potato.”

I laughed.

Michael laughed too.

“You’re right.”

Molly took the spoon.

“I’ll help.”

They tried again.

This time, the pancake looked almost like a heart.

Molly cheered.

Michael smiled.

But when she reached for the plate, he stopped her gently.

“Sweetheart?”

She looked up.

“Yes?”

“I owe you an apology.”

Her smile faded slightly.

He crouched beside her.

“I missed things that mattered to you.”

Molly looked at him.

“Like my play?”

“Yes.”

“And my tooth?”

He nodded.

“And your tooth.”

She considered that.

“Were you busy?”

“I was. But I should’ve made time.”

Molly looked down.

“Mommy came to my play.”

Michael swallowed.

“I’m glad she did.”

Then he looked at her.

“I’d like to come to your next one.”

Molly nodded.

“Okay.”

He didn’t ask her to promise forgiveness.

And he didn’t make a speech about how everything would be different.

He simply finished cooking her breakfast.

Then sat beside her while she ate.

I thought that was a better beginning than any expensive present.

Later, Evelyn arrived to collect the shawl she’d left behind.

Michael met her near the dining room.

I was carrying folded linens when I heard them speaking.

“I made breakfast with Molly,” he said.

Evelyn nodded.

“Good.”

“She seemed happy.”

“I’m glad.”

Michael hesitated.

“Does that change anything between us?”

Evelyn looked at him sadly.

“Michael, one breakfast doesn’t erase three months of missed visits.”

“I know.”

“Then don’t ask me to decide what comes next because you made pancakes.”

He lowered his head.

She softened.

“I want to see you become a father Molly can depend on. Not for me. For her.”

Michael nodded.

“I understand.”

Evelyn touched his arm.

“Keep showing up.”

Then she left.

I continued carrying the linens.

But I kept thinking about what she’d said.

Keep showing up.

It sounded so simple.

And yet it was the one thing Molly had been waiting for.

That afternoon, Vanessa found me folding clean towels in the downstairs sitting room.

She stopped in the doorway.

“Grace?”

I looked up.

“Yes, ma’am?”

She glanced at my bandaged wrist.

“Does it still hurt?”

“A little.”

Vanessa lowered her eyes.

“I wanted to apologize properly.”

I didn’t answer immediately.

She continued.

“I grabbed you because I was frightened of being found out. Then I threatened your job because I knew you couldn’t afford to lose it.”

My throat tightened.

She looked at me.

“That was cruel.”

I nodded.

“Yes, ma’am. It was.”

Tears filled her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

For a moment, I thought about my grandmother’s bills.

The mortgage.

How frightened I’d been standing beside Luca’s dining table.

Then I looked at Vanessa.

“I hope you never make Molly feel that afraid again.”

She began crying.

“I won’t stop working to make sure I don’t.”

I believed she meant it.

But I also knew meaning something wasn’t the same as doing it.

So I simply said, “I hope so.”

That evening, Molly came downstairs carrying her blue school folder.

She looked much happier.

Her yellow suitcase was packed.

Buttons was sitting on top.

Both red shoes were safely inside.

“Grace!”

I smiled.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

She held out a sheet of paper.

“Mrs. Collins gave us this.”

I looked at it.

Family Breakfast — Wednesday, 8:00 A.M.

Parents and caregivers were invited to attend.

Below was a blank space.

My grown-ups are:

Molly held out a pencil.

Then hesitated.

She looked toward Vanessa.

Then Michael.

Then back at me.

Her little voice became uncertain.

“Grace, whose names am I allowed to write?”