If I Loved You

Natalie thought for a moment, then ticked off half a dozen names that Molly didn’t recognize. Her usual contacts—the day care parents and her friends—were a lot younger than Pop or Miss Brewster or the Colliers.

“Let me see what I can find out,” Natalie offered.

“Maybe you could give me their numbers, and I’ll call. That would save you the trouble.” But Natalie was having none of that.

“I left my phone on the charger at home, so I don’t have any numbers handy, but I’d be happy to let my fingers do the walking later,” she said with a gleaming, white-toothed smile. “Then I can come by to tell you what I’ve found.”

And have another excuse to see Molly’s father?

“Why not just call instead? It would save you a trip.”

“Nonsense. I only live across the street.” With a last, jaundiced glance toward the rear of the house, Natalie put a hand on the doorknob. “I’ll be back,” she said, as if it was a threat. “Once I set myself a task, I don’t waver.”

Molly did, though. Well, Pop would simply have to deal with his admirer when the time came. As she shut the door behind Natalie Brewster, she decided he was on his own—just as she’d teased Brig the other night.

And her thoughts returned to him.

Their time inside the darkened center, even with the baby between them and a bathing ritual for distraction, had been hard enough. Molly groaned. And unfortunately she’d already promised to start those lessons in infant care for Brig tonight.

* * *

“OH, BABY, IT’S all right.” Late that afternoon in the nursery Molly cradled little Ashley Jones to her chest, whispering words of comfort. They were for herself, too. She was trying not to think about a classroom accident earlier involving Debbie Crandall’s child and Ernie Barlow, and Molly’s spirit always ached whenever one of her charges felt unhappy or unwell. “It’s no fun cutting that tooth, is it?” she told Ashley. “But it will be over soon, you’ll see. And you’ll have a grand new way of dealing with the world.” She was about to comment on Ashley having her first solid food when Ann walked into the room.