“Yes, you have taken care of everything.”
“And now Molly’s here, which is what you were worried about the most,” Jane said, offering Molly a genuine smile.
Which made Molly feel even worse, because Jane and Chelsea didn’t pass judgment on her stupid idiosyncrasies. Like her abject fear about returning home.
“Emma, can you come here for a minute? Aunt Louise wants to take a picture of you with all of us.”
Emma shot a panicked look at all of them before smiling and standing. “Sure, Mom.”
After Emma went inside, Jane turned to them. “I’m glad Will and I did the small wedding. Between his job and mine, and both the kids, we had enough to deal with.”
“Hey, you had a party at the house, at least,” Chelsea said. “It was a great one, too.”
“Yes. With catered barbecue.” Jane looked to Molly. “I got barbecue sauce on my dress. There are lovely photos of a very inappropriately placed stain.”
Molly laughed. “But did you have fun?”
“We did. Our friends were there, our families were there, we love each other, and it’s done. Now we’re one family—me, him, and my kids. Correction—our kids.”
“How’s the adoption process going?” Chelsea asked.
“Good. Faster than I thought it would.”
“You’re adopting?” Molly asked.
Jane shook her head. “Will’s adopting my kids from my first marriage. Long story short, my ex abandoned us, he lost his parental rights. Will loves those kids like they’re his, and they love him as well. He wants them to be his.”
Molly sat back. “How do the kids feel about him adopting them?”
“We had a lot of heart-to-hearts. They’re sad about their father, but they understand now that he’s not coming back into their lives. And they love Will. He’s their father now. They want him and they want his name. It’s what I want as well, but ultimately, the kids had to be on board with it. Even though they’re young, they had to believe in Will and love him like a father, which they do.”
“Sounds like you have a perfect family.”
Jane smiled. “Oh, far from it. We’re a work in progress, but it’s right for us. There’s a lot of love, and that’ll get us through anything.”
Molly once thought love was enough as well, but it hadn’t been. It hadn’t even been close. Then again, she’d mistaken something else for what she thought was love. Passion and the stupidity of youth.
She wasn’t a teenager anymore but she wasn’t stupid, either. She’d grown up a lot over the years and she’d learned to be more cautious. She’d never confuse passion with love again. Too many mistakes could be made.
“So, how are you liking Austin?” Chelsea asked.
“I love the pace there. It’s very hip and music oriented. I think I might stay there awhile.”
“That would be a first for you, wouldn’t it?”
Taken aback, Molly could only stare at Chelsea.
“Sorry, I tell it like it is. I don’t mean any offense. But you move around a lot, don’t you?”
“That’s true. I’ve got a case of wanderlust, I guess. I always think a place is the perfect fit—until something better comes along.”
“Kind of like Chelsea and men,” Jane said with a smirk.
Chelsea shot Jane a look. “Hey. I am not at all like that. Besides, it’s been three months since I’ve been out on a decent date.”
“Uh-huh,” Jane said. “Define decent date.”
“Dinner and a good movie. Followed up by drinks at his place or mine, and a hot kiss to end the evening.”
“Or hot breakfast the next morning?” Jane waggled her brows.
“No, that would be a perfect date. I’d be satisfied with decent at this point.”
Molly laughed. “A bit of a dry spell?”
“Honey, you don’t know the half of it. It’s like every available man in this town has pulled up stakes and moved to Alaska.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Jane said. “I’ve fixed you up with several eligible men. You’re just too picky.”
Chelsea studied her nails. “I am picky. And I have high expectations.” She fluffed her gorgeous red hair. “But I’m worth it.”
“There you go,” Molly said, taking another sip of her coffee. “Never settle for less than the best.”
“Is that what you’re looking for, Molly?” Jane asked. “The best?”
“Me?” She laughed. “I’m not looking at all.”
Chapter 4
HANGING OUT WITH the guys was so much more fun than dealing with women and all the baggage they brought to the table. Carter knew he’d be hung from the nearest tree if his mom ever heard him say that—or any of his ex-girlfriends. But none of them were here right now. Just his best friend Luke, Luke’s brothers, Reid and Logan, and Will Griffin, all of them groomsmen in the wedding.
They were currently sitting in the No Hope At All bar, run by Sebastian Palmer, or “Bash,” as everyone called him.
“This round of tequila shots is on me,” Will said, ponying up the money.
Bash lined up the shots, including one for himself. He’d closed down the bar for the day, since he was in the wedding, too.
“I’m monitoring all your drinking. If you show up drunk for the rehearsal dinner, it’s my ass on the line,” Bash said.
“To Bash,” Will said.
They all downed their drinks. “No, wait,” Will said. “That wasn’t my toast. Another round.”
“You all suck,” Reid said, shaking his head. “You can’t even get drunk right.”
“Oh, and you can?” Luke crossed his arms. “Wait. Tell me. They drink better in Boston, too.”
“Hell yeah.”
“You wanna take him out back and beat the shit out of him?” Logan asked.
Luke laughed. “That might be fun.”
“You two don’t scare me anymore like you did when we were kids. Besides, I can drink you both under the table and then kick both your asses.”
Logan snorted. “I’d like to see you try.”
“I’ll lay money on Reid,” Carter said, giving Reid a critical once-over. “He looks like he’s been doing Krav Maga. His arms are beefier than the last time he was here.”