Page 17 of The Housekeeper's Billionaire Boss
For the first time in her life, Molly loved Thanksgiving. The food was delicious, Josiah’s family was awesome, and she felt…wanted. Although, as she thought about it, wanted didn’t seem to be the right word.
Her mom never made her feel unwanted, but maybe the right word was inconvenient. Molly felt loved, but at the same time, she also felt in the way of what her mom wanted. After marrying young, her mom had Derek and then her. Not long after Molly was born, her parents’ marriage had started to have trouble.
More than once, Molly suspected that her mom regretted getting married and having children. She’d been kept from the dreams she’d had for herself, and her kids were constant reminders of that.
In contrast, Josiah’s parents acted like having a family was the best thing to ever happen to them. They were only a couple of years older than Molly’s mom, and when they looked at each other or their children, they seemed to see their lives as full and happy. Molly wasn’t jealous of Josiah, but it did make her wonder what life would have been like if she’d had a similar experience.
“What’s got you so deep in thought?” Carrie Anne asked.
The sound of her voice brought Molly out of her thoughts, and she smiled. “Just the holidays when I was young. They weren’t like this.”
Somehow, Molly had found herself talked into going Black Friday shopping while Josiah watched Ellie. They’d left while it was still dark, and now they were having lunch. From what Molly understood, this was fuel for the second round of shopping. She’d never shopped like this. When it came to Black Friday, her opinion was that it was to be avoided at all costs.
Josiah had made the argument that Ellie needed a baby monitor and a crib. That way she could safely sleep upstairs. It wasn’t until Molly pulled the envelope out that she realized he’d stuffed it with way more money than the two items required. She’d texted him, and they were going to have a long talk when she got back to the ranch. His reply was sending her a text with him giving her a goofy grin. Over the last few days, as fantastic as his other smiles were, the goofy one was her favorite.
“What were they like?” asked Pauline.
All the women had gone out of their way to make Molly feel welcome and included. Talking to them felt like talking to people she’d known forever. They’d all just clicked, and Molly had no explanation.
“Well, my dad divorced my mom when I was young. I barely remember my dad. We kept in touch a while, but then he got remarried, and communication dwindled from there.” She picked a little cheese from the wrapper and nibbled it. “My mom was kind of a serial dater. Not that she was trying to date a lot. It just happened. Sometimes, her boyfriends would invite us to family things, but it was always weird and awkward.”
Caroline shook her head. “That’s tough.”
Shrugging, Molly said, “It’s okay. I love my mom, and I know she worked hard to give us a good life.”
“I don’t doubt that at all,” Josiah’s mom replied with a smile.
Reagan tilted her head. “How did you meet Josiah?”
Molly chuckled and told them the whole story, including how his messes were staged. “He’s a sweet guy.” And one of the reasons she’d felt she could take care of Ellie, because he paid her well. Not six-bedroom-mansion well, but comfortable, especially given the fact that she hadn’t divulged she even had Ellie. If Molly had, her pay would have increased. Of that, she was positive.
Carrie Anne laughed. “That sounds like Josiah.”
Caroline nodded. “It really does. That boy…Bear is stubborn; Wyatt is wild and spontaneous—”
“That’s the truth,” Gabby added, laughing.
“Hunter is driven, and Josiah is quirky.” His mom took a deep breath. “Yes, we’ll go with quirky.”
Carrie Anne rolled her eyes. “You mean weird.”
Without thinking, Molly said, “He doesn’t like that. Being called weird. It hurts his feelings.”
“What?” Carrie Anne asked, her eyebrows drawn together.
“You hurt his feelings. I don’t think you saw it, but he frowned the other night when you called him weird.” Molly held Carrie Anne’s gaze.
Carrie Anne’s forehead furrowed. “I wasn’t trying to. Weird isn’t bad. It’s just…weird.”
Gabby bumped her shoulder against Carrie Anne’s. “Yeah, but he’s always been sensitive.” She looked at Molly. “He’s got a big heart. He’s easy-going and simple.”
Nodding, Reagan said, “I have to agree with that. Josiah, Hunter, Bear, Wyatt…all four are good men.”
Carrie Anne returned Gabby’s shoulder bump. “And you chose the craziest West of them all.”
“You mean I chose two of the craziest,” Gabby said and burst out cackling.
“Shut up.” Carrie Anne poked Gabby in the side.
