Page 56 of Love in Riverbend
“Okay,” she says matter-of-factly. “I’m glad you’re mommy’s and my friend.”
I look at Joyce. “I can take her back to Kandace, if that’s okay.”
“Molly, is it okay with you if Dax takes you to your mom?”
Molly grins and nods. “Yep.”
When I stand, I pull a twenty from my wallet and lay it on the counter. “Thanks for a great breakfast.”
“I think it was the company,” Joyce says with a grin.
Before we’re out of the restaurant, Molly reaches for my hand as she did at the Tastee Freeze. Immediately, I can tell it’s sticky with syrup and simultaneously, I don’t care. As the bell above the door jingles, Justin Sheers walks in.
“Uncle Justin,” Molly says, letting go of my hand and running up to him.
He crouches down and lifting her, gives her a hug.
As he sets her down, he looks at me. “Richards.”
“His name isn’t Richards. It’s Dax,” Molly corrects. She reaches again for my hand and adds, “And he’s my dad.”
I swear on all things holy, my heart melts right there in the middle of the diner.
Sheers smiles at Molly. “And I’m your uncle. Don’t you need to get to school?”
“Yep.” Molly tugs my hand, and we make our way down Main Street to Quintessential Treasures. “Joyce usually uses the back door. This front one is locked until the store opens.”
I knock on the door again.
“Do you like this store?” I ask as we wait.
“Yes.” She looks up at me. “Mommy is going to make a house upstairs for me and her. I’ll have a playroom and a bedroom.”
The door opens and Kandace grins at both of us. “I smell syrup.”
“Yes, there was a lot of syrup,” I say.
She ushers us both inside and relocks the door. “Well, Miss Molly, let’s get your hands washed and teeth brushed.” Kandace looks at the bag in my hand. “Did Joyce send lunch?”
“It’s better than the school’s,” Molly says. “Their pizza is gross. And the apples have worms.”
“They do not have worms,” Kandace says.
“That’s what Tim said. And I tasted the pizza. It is gross.”
“It’s hard to argue with that,” Kandace says as she takes Molly to the back of the store.
This is the first time I’ve been in the storefront in years. Walking around the room, I notice the products. Not only the items themselves, but the way they’re displayed. It is new and inventive while still having the retro feel of nostalgia.
“Dax,” Kandace says from the doorway. “The store doesn’t open until nine. I’ll be back in ten minutes.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Help?” Her blue eyes shimmer. “I thought you were working.” She lifts her chin to the back room. “The totes and boxes you brought over are in the way. And I won’t need that merchandise for a few months. For now, I can store them upstairs. Do you know anyone who could carry them for me?”
“You’re really going to make me work?” I joke.
“Damn right. I recently found out my offer on this store has been accepted. My to-do list is a mile long.”
