'This is impossible. It can't be! That is not HE!' she shouted to herself inside.
Reverend O' Brien just came in and noticed that something was wrong.
"Ms. Hooper, is everything okay?" he asked, slightly worried.
But Molly did not answer.
Her eyes turned to a person standing at the end of the cemetery talking to Ella Nolan.
'No, this can't be. What is he doing here?' she thought now.
In disbelief, she wiped her hands over her eyes. Perhaps her vision was only clouded by the many tears and her mind was playing tricks on her?
But even after she had wiped her eyes several times, the person was still there. She apologised to Father O'Brien and then walked slowly and with shaky legs towards the person. The person herself was standing with her back to the church and so could not see her.
On her way she paused briefly and took in every single inch of this person.
The tall stature, the incomparably dark and so soft curls and that characteristic long coat. Yes, Molly was sure. It had to be HE.
Her heart stopped for a moment and suddenly all the memories of the past years came back. The day she solved crimes with him or all those little moments when he smiled at her. But also the pain when he humiliated her again and again or only complimented her when he needed something. This pain of unrequited love and which her heart always felt whenever she was near him.
Molly thought about turning back for a moment but the curiosity was stronger.
"Sherlock?" she then asked cautiously as she stood directly behind the person. Ella Nolan had now said goodbye and Sherlock, still standing with his back to her, was now typing something on his phone.
When he heard her voice, he suddenly stiffened. Then he slowly turned around.
And there in front of him, stood Molly. His Molly.
He looked at her with a slight uneasiness and then formed her name soundlessly with his lips.
She seemed changed. Her eyes were slightly watery and reddened. She had been crying. Her hair was tied together into a small bun, only a few strands fell out at the side. Her hair was shorter. Her body, her wonderful curves were wrapped in black. Apparently she had just come from the funeral that Mrs. Nolan had told him about.
Molly also stood before him petrified and looked at him with big eyes. She was nervous and didn't quite know what to say. Again and again a voice in her head shouted 'What is he doing here?! and just run away!
"Sherlock, what are you doing here? Wait, are you here because of me?'' she asked, slightly insecure, and when the words left her mouth she was already beating her hand against her forehead.
Sherlock opened his mouth slightly and closed it again. He thought about what he should say.
"Um... actually I'm here for Mrs. Kelly and I've just heard that she's dead," he replied, hoping that she wouldn't be too disappointed.
'Aaargh, stupid, so stupid, Molly! Of course he's not here for me. Of course there's another reason!' she screamed to herself in her head and continued to beat her hand against her forehead.
But what did he want from Ida?' she then asked herself.
Sherlock saw her questioning expression and went on immediately.
"Mrs Kelly had asked me for help a few weeks ago. But the news reached me only a few days ago. And obviously I'm too late," he explained, pointing towards the grave.
"But wait. Do you live here? Here in Dunmore? I thought you lived in Waterford?"
Sherlock knew she lived here, of course. But he needed a little more time to prepare for her reunion. He had expected to see Molly here again, but not immediately in the first few hours of his stay here. Actually he had planned to visit her briefly at the end. Just to avoid the subject of her kiss for as long as possible.
"Uh, of course, that's what I told you the night of the party. I only work in Waterford," she replied. There was a trace of confusion in her voice.
"Ah okay. I probably didn't hear that then. So many people had spoken, so I probably filtered it out.''
"As if you would ever listen when I tell you something," Molly thought during the conversation.
Suddenly his expression changed. In his eyes, which he now squeezed together slightly, lay a trace of annoyance. His jaws were tense. Molly noticed his sudden change and then it suddenly occurred to her.
"Oh no, did I say that out loud?" she then asked in horror.
"Obviously" he replied unemotionally.
An uncomfortable silence spread between them. No one knew what he should say now. Molly didn't want to embarrass herself like that again and Sherlock was obviously a little hurt by her words. Although he knew it was her right to say so. After all, he had really always behaved like an ass towards her in the past years. Nevertheless, he was also surprised by her.
Then gradually his face relaxed again and he tried to make it clear with a little smile that he would not hold it against her.
Molly noticed that Sherlock relaxed a little and he smiled. There it was again. That wonderful sweet smile that always made her knees go soft. She sighed softly and took another deep breath.
Don't go soft again now'.
"Okay,and what did ida,uh, want from you?" she then tried to distract you somehow.
Sherlock suddenly took his eyes off her and looked around.
"Is there somewhere round here we could have a cup of tea?"
Molly was a bit confused. Did he say WE?
"Um, yes, of course. There's "The Bay". Oh, no, wait. That's closed for the funeral today. But there's also the lemon tree. Oh, wait, also closed."
Molly kept thinking.
"What if we just went to your home?" Sherlock then asked.
She gave him a startled look.
"You... you mean my house?" she stammered.
Sherlock smiled slightly and then nodded at her. Molly had to swallow lightly. Actually, she only moved to Ireland to keep Sherlock Holmes away from her and now, now he's here with her in Dunmore and wants to have tea at her house. No, that did not go at all as planned.
But what could she say? 'No, Sherlock, you can't. Have you forgotten, I only moved to Ireland to forget you?!'
Instead, Molly smiled slightly hesitantly and then pointed the way to her house.