A couple of days after their fun night out Molly and Chris enjoy a quiet night in with Josie. And somehow for the first time, Chris notices the new stuffed animal in the little one's crib.
"Where did that come from?" she asks noting Josie trying to keep it in her hand. "I got it for my birthday. And ever since I put it down with her, she decided it is her favorite thing to have around." Molly tries to keep her voice level and not show too much emotion. She remembers the morning after her birthday when she pulled the small box out of her purse. Reading the accompanying note still makes her heart swell and break at the same time.
Happy Birthday, I didn't know if I could give you something. So, I decided on a gift for Josie. -J
… without thinking too much she placed the small animal in the crib next to her sleeping daughter. And by the next day the stuffed elephant is her most precious thing. Molly knows she can't keep him in the dark for much longer. Jim deserves to know the little girl he has for some reason already grown fond of is his daughter.
"I am sorry, by the way for putting you on the spot with Bonnie." Chris's word pull her back to the present. Molly smiles a little remembering the tail end of Bonnies questioning which somehow had ended up with if and when Molly had dated a cop before. And if she would ever consider it again.
"Don't be. Bonnie was curious and I guess it is fascinating for her to hear those stories. Especially with her and Tan being really serious."
After a little while, they decide to turn on a movie and just relax like they had planned to do. But their quiet time isn't long for the world when Chris's phone dings.
"I thought you were off tonight?"
"I am." Chris replies slightly annoyed too, but she grabs her phone anyway. Molly can see her roll her eyes when she checks the message. "It's Street. Apparently, Luca is throwing a spontaneous barbecue and Street needs moral support. Ever since Luca came up with that food-truck idea he is doing that with a scary frequency."
Molly jumps slightly just at hearing the name but catches herself before Chris looks back at her. "You want to go? It's okay, I am beat anyway."
"Are you sure? We said we were gonna hang out tonight. Catch up after the wild week we had. You and your, crazy experiment with going somewhere without a police escort and me with well, almost killing myself falling down a flight of stairs."
Molly laughs a little.
"I don't mind. We can have brunch tomorrow and catch up. You still live here after all."
"You want to get rid of me?" Chris replies with mock horror.
"No, not at all. I finally feel really at home in LA again. And I don't want to lose you and readjust my life again. Not yet anyway."
"Someday, you'll have to. Josie won't be able to stay in your room forever."
Chris leaves Molly to ponder that statement and again she thinks about a way to work up the courage and tell the truth.
When Molly gets up the next day, she notices immediately that Chris didn't come home last night. It shouldn't be a surprise. She knows Jim and Chris are friends and they also have been hanging out at her apartment. Her mind goes back to that day a couple of weeks ago when she came home and found two dirty mugs in the sink and that lingering smell of his after shave. That had been a little shock.
After that she knew he had been over a couple of more times, but still Chris staying out all night was a new gut punch.
Molly shakes her head at her own thoughts. She should be happy for her friend. Chris deserves happiness in her life and Jim is a good guy. And he loves her. Molly's inner voice adds.
She has to wipe away a stray tear that somehow has rolled out of her eyes when her phone starts ringing.
"Good Morning," she answers with a fake cheery voice.
"Hey, I wanted to let you know I probably am going to be a little late for brunch... let's make it lunch and I might be able to eat something again." Chris is on the line.
"Okay.'' Molly can't help but feel disappointed. She had been looking forward to spending some time again with Chris. It was ridiculous but somehow, she felt like she wasn't important anymore and it felt like she was losing her friend. Her support, right about now.
"I am bringing leftovers so no need to cook. This stuff is amazing. I promise" Chris's voice comes through the speaker.
"Hang on a second" she continues and seems to put her hand over the mic, but Molly still can hear the conversation. "Street, leave the food alone. That's for me and Molly later."
After they had hung up Molly goes about her morning as usual. Getting herself and Josie ready. Molly sits on the sofa waiting for Chris to come home sipping her iced tea when she hears the key in the lock. "Moring. New sunglasses?" she greets her friend and stops talking when she sees the cringing on Chris's face. "God, how much did you drink last night?"
"Too much. But I am looking forward to the food now." Chris replies and sinks down on the sofa.
"Let me grab plates and aspirin for you." Molly walks away chuckling. The last time she had seen Chris this way had been a long time ago.
When she walks back Molly asks, "Did you sleep well then?"
"Oh, yes. That I did. Street's bed is comfortable." Chris replies stretching and adjusting the sunglasses by pushing them up on her head.
Molly can't stop the small gasp from escaping but has enough control of her face to only raise her eyebrows in shock. Chris must've spotted that. "Don't look at me like that. He can be a gentleman if he remembers his manners. He was on the couch."
Chris grabs the glass of water and the small white tablet and takes that before she starts opening the paper bag and plating up the food.
"Be careful with those. I think Luca used too much chili, but they are fantastic." she motions to one batch of dough pockets.
After a couple of minutes of silent munching Chris opens the conversation again. "Now Molly don't think I forgot what I wanted to talk to you about last night. It's been a while since I last asked but have you talked to Josie's dad?"
"What do you mean by talked?" Molly tries to evade the line of questioning. Would it really be fair to talk to Chris first?
"Come on it has been weeks, months even since you told your dad the man knows you are in LA with her, but you tell me he doesn't know about her..."
Molly looks down and fidgets with her fingers. How is she supposed to answer that without lying or giving Chris even more hints?
Through her silence she hears Chris continue after taking a breath.
"Wait a second. Is he here? In LA? Did you move here to fix things?" Molly nods her head. She feels the tears building and tries swallowing them. She really doesn't want to tell Chris more.
Molly feels herself being pulled into a hug. "Hey, come on. You can still fix it. Just talk to him."
"I don't... I can't. Chris, he moved on. And" Molly looks up and lets a small smile form on her face. "I told you before I know he moved on. And I don't want to be the reason that doesn't work out. He deserves to be happy."
Chris takes a moment and furrows her brows before she says something else. "Have you seen him since you came back? Has he seen Josie?" Molly can hear the disbelief in Chris's voice, and she silently nods her head. It is the truth after all.
"You can't be serious. And he hasn't asked about her?" Molly could swear she heard the word idiot there at the end.
"Can we change the subject? Please. It is my fault that there is nothing to repair. I could've just agreed to move here last year."
"Why didn't you?"
"It's gonna sound selfish but I didn't want to jeopardize my career."
After that Chris doesn't object to a change in topic but Molly continues to think about what to do.
A couple of days later Molly comes home from work already excited. She wants to talk to Chris, who had a free day after having worked the night shift before, about how she could tell Josie's dad and probably tell her too. Could she tell Chris first?
When she pushes open the door to her apartment Molly calls out "Chris, are you home?" and she hears. "We are in the living room." In return. Molly smiles thinking about the picture that will greet her. Chris playing on the rug with Josie. But when she rounds the corner to the living room her smile falters.
She sees Jim laughing with Chris and Josie in her playpen. Without thinking she plucks her daughter, presses a kiss to her head and reaches for the diaper bag and stroller: "I am going to have dinner with my dad. Enjoy your evening and thanks for picking Jo up from daycare."
After rushing out of there and into the still ready elevator some tears spill out of her eyes.
At the drive over to her fathers place she berates herself for being emotional, jealous even. She has no right. Molly still didn't know how she managed to pull herself together enough for the drive to her father's place. The tears had started again as soon as the door to her room had closed. She knows her father has seen the dried tears. He only took his granddaughter and had handed her a cup of tea.
She is chiding herself for reacting this way.
Seeing Chris and Jim that close to each other, that friendly with each other it had just brought up the reasons she should've stayed away.
But now she is in LA. And she has to live with that. Seeing them together, possibly caring for Josie - together.