The police left quickly after gathering Molly's final statement, and not long after the Wilkins arrived, clearly concerned by the whole situation and confused about Molly's long presence in the mansion.
"We didn't mean'ta be bad," Molly explained sheepishly, speaking to both the Warbucks and the Wilkins over a cup of hot chocolate. "I just wanted to stay with Annie,"
"We don't have any intention of fully separating you from Annie, sweetheart," Mrs. Wilkins, Esther as she told Molly to call her, took Molly by the hand. "In fact, once we speak to the Board of Orphans and start the paperwork to adopt you, we plan to cut our stay in Connecticut short so you can remain together longer."
Molly looked down into her hot chocolate mug. " If you become my mama, am I gonna be in trouble?"
Mr. Wilkins, John, smiled gently. "We may have a chat with you about not running away again, but we don't want you to be in trouble right from the start."
"Are you mad?"
"Just a little confused," Esther shook her head. "Was meeting us scary to you? Is that why you ran away?"
"Kind of," Molly nodded. "But, I just really wanted to be with Annie and Mr. and Mrs. Warbucks. They're really good at being а mommy and daddy."
"I think Mr. and Mrs. Wilkins will be a good mommy and daddy, too," Grace said. "They care very deeply about you, Molly. Very deeply."
Molly thought about this a moment trying to decide if she believed this statement. It was true that the Wilkins only seemed relieved she'd been found safe. But they were strangers—she knew the Warbucks.
She took a sip of the hot chocolate. "What if I have a bad dream? I know some adults get mad about that..."
Esther smiled gently. "We'll only be worried about making sure you're alright," she said. "Do you have bad dreams often?"
Molly blushed. "Sometimes."
"We all have them," John said. " It's quite alright. Esther speaks for both of us when we say we just want you to be okay."
Molly paused. That was a breath of fresh air—most adults she'd met didn't really care that way, bar the Warbucks, her own parents, and now the Wilkins. "What happens if I say yes to you bein' my mama and papa?"
"Well, we'll sign the adoption paperwork and start getting this sorted out legally," Esther smiled, as well.
"Then, we'd like to take you back to the orphanage to gather up all your belongings from there. You must have had to leave some things behind when you ran, didn't you?"
Molly looked down. She had—she'd been missing her favorite toys, but didn't want to have to carry them on her way to the mansion.
"Then, I go back to Connecticut with you?"
"Just for a couple days," John reassured. "Esther and I have to tie up a few loose threads over there. Then, we'll come back here, and get you enrolled in school. Have you ever been to class before?"
"No, sir," Molly shook her head. "Miss Hannigan never let us."
"Call him John, honey," Esther placed her hand on Molly's arm. "We don't want you to have to treat us so formally."
"John," Molly replied quietly. She liked calling him that, for some reason. It felt comforting to be given the permission not to treat Esther and John as a 'sir' and 'ma'am'.
"Would you like us to adopt you, Molly?" John asked now, kneeling down before Molly so they were eye-to-eye. At the question, Molly looked around, looked at Oliver and Grace and the room they were sitting in. If she said yes, she'd be giving up the mansion. She'd be giving up the chance of ever being Annie's sister. But had the ship already sailed? Was she too late? If she said no, would she only go back to the orphanage, only go back to being lonely and sad and without the chance to get Christmas or birthday gifts and be tucked in at night?
She'd grown so used to being outside the orphanage: she didn't think she could ever go back.
Plus, the Wilkins were so nice…
"Okay," Molly said after a moment, talking quickly and trying to stop herself from getting the chance to change her mind. "Okay. I want you to be my mama and papa."
Esther and John looked at each other. Smiled wide.
They were finally getting a child, after all.