Molly had chips of clear nail polish on her lips. She had bit her nails down to the quick, thinking about the visit.
"Mol, you don't need to worry. She'll like you! And if she doesn't, we can always elope." Mal laughed, studying Molly for signs of emotion. Molly kept her eyes on the road.
They had been half-seriously talking about marriage since they were thirteen; only now was it really looming on the horizon. They were both seventeen, and planning to be camp counselors the next summer with the other three girls. Molly didn't know if they would ever get engaged; they weren't much for tradition.
Molly gripped the steering wheel tighter. "She is...okay...with you, right?"
"Yes. She's known since before I met you."
It was common knowledge between them that Molly's parents didn't accept her or Mal. But Molly had never met Mal's mom before, and feared the same reaction from her.
"Cool."
"Hey, turn up here."
Molly pulled the car around the corner, to a dead end shrouded in trees. She started to put the car in reverse, furrowing her brow.
"No, wait."
Mal took Molly's face in her hands and kissed her forehead, her expression turning to one of worry.
"I promise my mother will accept you." She took a deep breath. "I know your parents don't love every part of your identity, but you know I do. And for some crazy reason she tries to turn us out of the house, I swear I will call on all the mythical creatures we've ever met, and ask them to attack her for you." Molly laughed.
"Molly, there is so much out there for us. So many people who will love and embrace us- Jo, April, Ripley, Jen-"
Mal smiled.
"-I can't wait to start my life with you."
"Thanks, Mal." Molly smiled, looking down at her hands. "I was just worried about being rejected again. I know I shouldn't have to worry, but..."
"Yeah, that's usually my field of expertise. Leave all the worrying to me, okay?"
Molly laughed, kissing Mal over the hum of the engine. They broke apart, grinning at each other like idiots.
Mal shrugged. "Actually, I can't wait to start our lives together. I guess now is as good a time as any."
Molly's eyes widened, her smile disappearing. "What? What?"
"I wasn't planning to do this today, but you were never one for letting me carry out my plans, were you?"
Out of Mal's pocket came a small wooden box, the kind they made in Woodworking at camp. Out of the box came a small, delicate ring, and how had she not seen this all before?
Their fingers were laced together, Molly's hand grasping Mal's like she was the last thing on Earth. Mal gave her a comforting squeeze. They smiled as the door swung open.
Mal's mom looked just like her, Molly realized. Molly's parents looked like her, but they seemed different. Mal had told her she looked softer than them, in pictures she'd showed her.
"There's just something you have that they don't, Mol."
"Yeah, a soul, maybe."
The woman wrapped them up in a hug, talking a mile a minute. Mal cleared her throat, and her mother stepped back and smiled at the girls.
"Mom, this is Molly..." Mal grinned, holding up their intertwined hands. They were wearing identical rings.
"...my fiancée."