Molly still is frozen in his grasp for a second but then almost violently pushes herself free employing one of the moves she trained with Rocker and Chris. He can't deny he is shocked that she feels that threatened by him to react this way and it freezes him for a moment.
"Please don't lie to me." he can hear the tears in her voice even though her back is turned to him. "You don't have to say that to me. I know you don't truly mean that."
"Why do you think I am not telling the truth? You just saw my face. I would never lie to you." Jim doesn't care anymore if he has to focus on fixing this thing with Molly now and not spending time with Josie, he will do that. He can't let her stay in that spiral thinking he doesn't love her anymore.
"I heard you talking to Chris, and I know you have feelings for her. So again, please stop lying to me."
Jim lets out a sigh.
"I don't know what Chris told you. I guess, yes when I met her, I hit on her and I can't deny I wanted to explore that, but we are just friends now. Nothing more."
"I am not talking about two years ago. I meant 2 months ago. I heard you. Please, if you don't want me to leave you have two options now: you either spend time with your daughter or leave." her voice is firm even though her eyes shine with tears.
Molly quickly disappears into, what Jim assumes, is her bedroom and he sinks back onto the sofa. Trying to process what just happened. How had she even heard?
Somehow Josie doesn't seem to have registered any negative energy and is gurgling happily. He moves to pick her up.
"Hey, sweet girl. Your mom and I never seem to get the timing right. And I am out of ideas right now to show her how serious I am."
He is playing with Josie for a while until the front door opens and Chris walks back in the apartment with a smile on her face. But the smile disappears quickly when they share a glance. She seems to instantly understand and pulls him into a hug. And although he stiffens at first it is also the moment, he can't hold back the tears anymore. Right now, he needs his friend even if it would lead to Molly drawing the wrong conclusions again. Seeing them like this.
"What happened?" Chris pulls back and he swipes at the tears and steps out of her hug, glancing to the closed bedroom door ever so often.
"I really don't know but she doesn't believe me when I try to tell her what I feel."
"You just have to tell her every day, and not only tell but show." Chris steps closer again and pats him on the back. "It will work out."
After Chris has closed the front door behind Street, she knocks on the bedroom door. "Hey, it's me. Can I come in?"
Molly still is wearing the same things she left her in, but her face is covered in tears. "What happened?"
When her friend just wordlessly walks out to her daughter's playpen Chris's heart breaks for both of them.
"Molly, why can't you believe Jim when he tells what he wants? That he loves you."
"I just, Chris I heard his voice and I have seen how he looks at you. I can't get that out of my head, and I am afraid I never can. I know that I sound jealous and that is because I am. And I am sorry for that. This is not fair."
"Is there anything he can do to make you believe?" Chris asks softly and takes a seat patting the spot next to her. "I don't know. I don't think so. Not right now anyway."
Molly's voice still betrays her tears and then suddenly Chris has an idea.
"Sit, I'll make us some tea and then I'll tell you a story. One that has to change your mind."
Minutes later, with two cups of steaming tea they find themselves on the sofa again.
"When you were in the hospital, the day after I read your letter I went in before shift to visit you. Do you want to guess who was already sitting at your bedside?" Chris can see the disbelief and surprise in Molly's eyes. "He has been there every day. He has taken every bit of teasing from the guys, ever since Christmas last year in stride. He never corrected any of them. He has kept your secret."
Chris takes a break to let that sink in but before Molly can even utter a negating word she continues on:
"Do you know why we always hang out here? Because he wanted that. I think he just wants to feel close to you again. He comes here to spend time with Josie, even before he knew she is his. He loved her for being your daughter because he loves you."
"But he was on a date instead of coming to my party!"
"I don't believe for a second he was on a date. Come on. Molly that is ridiculous. Why would he have a present for you in his pocket when he is on a date?"
Chris smirks at the shocked expression she can see now and answers the unspoken question: "Yes, I saw him slip that little box in your purse."
She leans over to give Molly a hug and whispers in her ear: "Can you believe him now?"
Molly had needed a day or two to let the realization sink in that maybe she needed to reevaluate the situation with Jim. On Friday she finally had been brave enough to text him and invite him to brunch. Technically she still owed him dinner but brunch on a lazy Sunday would have to do.
Even though she hadn't received a confirmation via text, the simple fact that Chris had announced she would be out without needing to be prompted told Molly there was at least a possibility she wouldn't eat alone, well with adult company.
She knows it is unrealistic to think everything will magically solve itself. They have still a lot to talk about, but maybe now she can be more relaxed and not feel so insecure.
When the doorbell rings her nerves come back in full force and it feels like an army of butterflies is in her stomach. She wills herself to open the door and she is rewarded by a soft smile. Molly can feel the blush in her cheeks and turns her head a little while stepping aside to let him through.
This time the silence isn't strained or awkward and somehow Molly knows if they both try to understand the other more. Talk and actually listen and believe in each other it can work out.
Maybe the third time really is the charm.
For Josie's sake, Molly is determined to work through her fears and letting Jim back into her heart.
They slowly rebuild and try to spend time as a makeshift family whenever Jim's schedule permits.
A few weeks later Molly finds herself looking around in her father's office Molly could see the teams moving in and out of the rotunda below. She hadn't exactly planned this visit, nor talked more about it with Jim but she wanted to be honest with her father.
"This is a nice surprise?" she hears her father's voice from the door. "Did I forget we had...?"
"No. I wanted to come by and just... Chris mentioned you know Josie's dad." her voice gets so quiet in the end; Molly isn't sure why she is concerned. If her father had a problem with what he thinks he knows he would've interfered or spoken up a while ago.
"Molly, I am not blind, but shouldn't he be here right next to you when we talk about that?" the nonchalant glance at his screen and subtle reach towards his phone tell Molly that Jim should be close by. Still, the whole statement puts a smile on her face. "You know. He said almost the same thing when we last broached that subject."
After studying her fingers for a little while and absentmindedly playing with her jewelry she looks up again: "Dad, how long have you known about Jim and me?"
"You are together then?"
"That was not the question, and no. Not right now. We have a lot to work out to try that again. We are friends and as much as the word is stupid co-parents."
He must've heard the sadness hidden in her statement because he is quick to get up and pulls Molly into a hug. "Sweetheart, he will come around. And you need to remember the good times. Give him a chance."
A knock at the door startles them. Molly tries to pull herself together quickly and spins around surprised when her father says:
"Come on in. Just the man we've been waiting for."
Just so you know, we are heading for the end of this. 2 Chapter to go :) Thanks for sticking around.