She knew what she did was wrong.
Even as Chase pressed his lips against Molly's, the blue feather clenched in his fist, Molly knew what she did was wrong. It was a mistake. A terrible, horrible, completely regrettable mistake.
And he found out.
When she went to see him and give him some extra boiled spinach, she saw the hurt in his eyes. She was sure there was hurt in hers too.
She had tried to get him and Selena together, but it failed. He fell into a strange sadness that nobody could really figure out. Molly hurt. It was all her fault, and if she could, she'd go back in time to fix it.
The poor boy showed up to the wedding too. Molly had been full of joy as she'd twirled around in her wedding gown outside the church, but the joy drained when she started walking down the aisle and caught a glimpse of that unmistakable bandanna. He'd shown up. Why?
And when she kissed Chase at the altar, she swore she heard someone sniffling... and it wasn't happy. Maybe it was coming from her.
After marriage, she still went up to see him every day and talk, hang out, like normal. But their glances lingered too long on one another and their fingers so close if either one shifted an inch, they'd be holding hands. But they didn't dare. They couldn't. She was married and not to him.
And she knew it felt like a stab in the heart when he learned she was pregnant with her first child. Coming home late one day from the mines, she passed by the shop to hear him sobbing to his father. He revealed everything. And she started crying too. Chase was concerned, but she couldn't tell him. Not ever.
Yet, he still was the same. He'd gotten to be energetic, cheerful, and back to himself, just a bit. She liked seeing that. It made her feel happy inside as well.
But as much as the two of them joked, they both knew things weren't funny. They were heartbreaking, but what could they do?
Then, the baby was born. A quiet, healthy little boy she'd named Steve. Steve took after his father, definitely. Molly was so happy, and so was her husband.
As soon as she was well and rested, she picked up Steve and walked up to the store, pushing the door open.
"Hello- Molly?" Dale's voice was confused. She grinned.
"This is Steve," she said, showing Dale her baby. He chuckled.
"He has your eyes. Babies really do bring joy, don't they?"
Molly grinned. The door to the back was pushed open and boots stopped moving abruptly on the floor. She looked over to his wide eyes and watched a smile spread across his face.
"Is this your baby?" he asked, his voice so quiet and full of awe. She nodded.
"His name is Steve... Would you like to hold him?" she asked, her hands trembling. He reached his arms out and took Steve very carefully, cradling the newborn close to his body.
"Hi," he whispered. She folded her arms, watching happily. He looked like he was meant to be the father... of her child.
Steve's amethyst eyes opened and looked up at who was holding him, a tiny giggle emitting from his lips.
Luke looked up, blinking back tears, grinning. She grinned back and walked closer, refolding her baby's blanket. "I wish he was yours," she muttered.
He offered a sad smile, rocking the baby gently back and forth. "So do I..."