Molly knocked hesitantly on the door to the Brooklyn lodging house, hoping
that her brother would be the one to come to the door.
Shadow answered. "Who 'round here knocks- oh, hey."
"Where's Andrew?" Molly asked with a sniffle.
"Playin' cards with 'Sippi... What's wrong with you??"
"I need to talk to him..."
She opened the door further and let her in. "Blank!" she bellowed.
"What?" he hollered back.
"Molly's here! She wants to talk to you! Despite the fact that I'm family too!" And she led Molly deeper into the room.
"Can I talk to you...alone?" Molly asked her older brother,
He tossed his hair out of his eyes and regarded her thoughtfully. "All right."
She led the way into the kitchen and began to pace nervously.
"What is it? Did Chris do something to you? If he did... I'll kill him."
"It's not Chris..."
"Then what?"
"I can't stay there anymore," she said, wringing her hands.
"Did Rae and Spot kick you out?" he tried again. She wasn't making this easy for him.
"No...Rae tried to stop me from leaving..."
"Then tell me what is wrong! I'm out of guesses," he said.
"I can't stay there anymore...and watch Kendra...and hear her call Rae, Mommy...."
"Then, why don't you tell her the truth?" Blank asked.
"She'll hate me...maybe not now...but when she's older and can understand it all..."
"She will not, Molly." Of course, he didn't know this for sure, but he said it confidently anyway.
"Can I stay here for a while?"
He was quiet for a moment. "Well, it's not up to me... I'll be leaving soon..." He blushed a bit.
Her head jerked up, "Leaving?" she croaked.
"Yes... well... I... North Wayne- you met her, right?... She and I... are... getting... er... married." His blush deepened.
Molly's face fell. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it just happened yesterday... The engagement, I mean," he added quickly.
Molly sighed. "I'll catch a train home in the morning..."
"I'm sure Hades would let you stay in my place... Besides, I'm not your only family here... You seem to have forgotten Shadow..." He smiled a little.
"She doesn't like me very much. She's likely to tell Spot and Rae and Chris where I am."
"Well, they're not stupid- well, Chris might be, but Spot and Rae aren't. They'll figure it out."
"Don't you see? I have to leave town."
"Molly, you're being foolish."
"I'm just doing what I think is right, Andrew!"
"How is it right, Molly?"
"It's what's best for everyone."
"Everyone? Has anyone said they wanted you to leave? Or do you just think that?"
"It's not what I think, it's what I know!"
Blank shook his head. "And what do you base this on?"
"I don't want to talk about it!"
"Molly...." Blank sighed. "You can't go on feeling inferior because of your past... North had a very shady past as well, but look, no one hates her for it, not a bit. She's even getting married... Just because something happens to you, it doesn't mean it's the end of the world!"
"I'm not your stupid girlfriend alright!" she snapped.
"I know that!" he yelled back. He was rather scary when he got mad. "I'm trying to make a point, Molly!"
Molly sighed in frustration. "I don't want to talk about it anymore tonight."
Blank shook his head. "When are you going to talk about it then?"
"Hopefully, never."
"Molly... you can't run away from everything."
She turned and headed toward the door. "I'm really tired, Andrew."
He shook his head. "Fine... be stubborn."
"Only the stubborn survive."
Blank leaned against the wall. "Whatever you say."
She stood for a moment with her back to him. Slowly she turned and threw herself into his arms, bursting into tears. He hugged his sister tightly, stroking her hair gently. "I'm so confused," she whispered. He kissed her forehead. She heard a knock on the front door. She looked up at him desperately. "Please don't tell them I'm here," she pleaded.
"Molly... you can't run forever..."
"I can't face them tonight. Especially not Chris."
"Could I at least ease their worries and let them know you're here?"
She sighed. "Yes."
With a nod, he left the room and answered the door, before Shadow could bite someone's head off. Molly stood and listened from the doorway.
"Evenin' Chris," Blank said.
"E-evening..." Chris said. Blank scared him. A lot. "Is Molly here?"
Blank nodded. "Yes."
"Oh good! ... Can I... can I talk to her?"
"I'm sorry, Chris. But I can't let you."
"Why not?"
"Because she doesn't want to see anyone tonight."
"But... I have to talk to her!"
"I'm sorry, Chris. You'll have to come back tomorrow."
"But..." Then he sighed and nodded. "All right..."
Blank closed the door on the boy and walked back into the kitchen
"Well... I sent him off." Then there was another knock at the door. "Does that boy not get it?" He turned and walked back to the door.
"Please, Blank- Andrew... whatever you call yourself now... I have to talk to Molly...Tonight..." Chris pleaded, when he opened the door again.
"Look, kid...I told you...she doesn't want to talk to you."
"I. Have. To."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"I'm not letting you in."
"I'm not leaving until I talk to her."
"Do I have to beat it into your head or something? She doesn't want to talk," Blank stressed.
Chris plopped down on the doorstep. "I'm not leaving."
"Well then, sweet dreams. It's not so great sleeping there at night."
Chris merely crossed his arms.
Shaking his head, Blank closed the door again. "Stubborn old mule," he muttered.
Molly peeked her head out of the kitchen. "Is he gone?"
"Not... quite. He's apparently going to sleep on the stoop until you decide to talk to him."
"I don't WANT to talk to him."
He shrugged. "It's yours and his funeral then." She made a face. He patted her shoulder and went into the parlor.
She slowly climbed the stairs and slipped into one of the spare rooms.
Out on the porch, Chris sat with his hands folded over his knees, determined to sit right there until she came to talk to him. She would... wouldn't she? He leaned his head against the wall, determined to stay awake all night, if that's what it took.
But why did she run away in the first place? He wondered. He had already told her that her past didn't bother him... She had promised she'd be there for him through this ordeal with Julie, and then here she was, running away from all of it. He sighed. Girls were just too complicated.
A few passersby gave him a funny look.
Upstairs Molly threw herself onto one of the beds and buried her face in the pillow. Why did he have to come after her? Why didn't he stay home? Didn't he understand she didn't want to speak to any of them?
She sighed. It was bound to get cold out there tonight. The least she could do was give him a blanket right? Even if she didn't want to talk to him. She stood up and looked out her window. He was directly below her. She didn't even have to go down and see him. Just open the window and drop a blanket down to him. Not at all difficult, right? She grabbed a blanket and crept over to the window.
"One two three throw... it's not that hard Molly," she murmured to herself. She opened the window and held the blanket out. Taking a deep breath she dropped it.
Down below, Chris gave a squawk of surprise and he floundered a bit when the world fell dark and warm over his eyes. Then he realized someone had thrown a blanket at him. He looked up to see a window on the second story closing. Smiling, he wrapped the blanket around his shoulders. Molly may have said she didn't want to talk, but he was sure she'd come around soon.
* * *
Hades burst into the spare room the next morning. "What is that boy doing sleeping on my doorstep?" she demanded.
Molly blinked sleepily, waking up with a sluggish start. "What?"
"Why is that boy sleeping on my doorstep, Molly?"
"What boy?" she asked sluggishly.
"Chris," Hades said with an exasperated tone.
"He's... he's still there?"
"Sleeping quite soundly."
"Stupid... ugh, you think he would've gone home by now..."
"You knew he was there?!"
"Y... yes..."
"Get him off my doorstep. NOW!"
"But... I can't, Hades..."
"If you expect me to let you stay here...you will do it."
She whimpered a bit. "You don't understand," she said quietly.
"And I don't want to. Now move it!"
With a sigh, she pulled a blanket around her shoulders and headed downstairs carefully. She paused for a very long time near the front door. She REALLY didn't want to talk to him...
Hades, who was watching from the top of the stairs, cleared her throat.
"Right..." Taking a deep breath, she seized the doorknob, turned it, and pulled the door open. And then she jumped back, startled when Chris' sleeping body tumbled inside.
He sat up quickly, looking around.
She blinked once or twice at him before stammering, "Um... Hades... wants you to leave."
He stumbled to his feet. "Not until you talk to me."
"Chris... I can't. Nothing is going to change my mind."
"At least give me a chance, Molly."
"Just go, please."
"I need you, Molly," he begged.
"No... you don't. You don't need me Chris."
He reached for her hand. "Molly..."
"Chris please..."
"I'm not leaving, Molly."
She sighed a little. "Why are you trying so hard?"
"Because I love you, Molly," he blurted out.
"Wh.... what?"
He took a deep breath. "I love you Molly."
"W... why?"
He gently drew her closer to him and kissed her.
When the kiss ended, she pulled back. "Chris... I can't... You deserve someone better than me..."
"I don't want anyone but you, Molly girl."
She burst into tears, falling into his arms. Her arms tightened around his neck and she sobbed on his shoulder.
"Please don't cry..."
"I- can't- help it," she hiccupped.
"Why?"
"Because I love you too..." She hiccupped and hugged him again. "I don't want to leave you."
"Then come back with me."
"I can't..."
"I don't understand, Molly..."
"Don't you see? Kendra is growing up.... It hurts me to see her call Rae Mommy.... I can't stand it!"
"Then tell her the truth!"
"I can't! Kendra will hate me for it!"
"You don't know that."
"I'd rather be safe than sorry!"
"If you don't go back with me, I'll tell her myself."
"Well, at least she won't vent at me and tell me how much she hates me..."
"So you won't come with me?"
She hugged the blanket tighter around her and looked away. She wasn't sure anymore.
"Molly...she's too little to understand hate the way that you and I've seen it...she deserves to know the truth..."
"But she'll grow up and hate me..."
"Not if you come with me...show her how to love..."
She shook her head and leaned against the wall. "I don't know if I can..."
"Just try..."
With a quiet sigh, she relented and nodded. "All right..."
"Here's your bag, kid," Hades said, walking into the room.
Molly looked down. "Thank you, Hades."
"Now both of you get out of here..."
They scooted out the door. "She doesn't like us, does she?" Chris asked.
"No."
"Why?"
"Who knows."
Chris shook his head. "Women confound me." Molly laughed. He gave her a bit of a smile. "Well, it's true."
"Men are just as confusing."
"We can't be nearly as confusing..."
She snorted.
"What was that for?"
"I've given up trying to figure you out, Chris."
"What? What's there to figure out?"
She stopped suddenly. "I can't go in there," she said, looking at the house.
He sighed and turned to her. "Why not?"
"Because Kendra's in there."
"So?"
"I can't tell her."
"You don't have to now. You can wait."
She took a deep breath and moved slowly toward the door.
Like a gentleman, he opened the door for her. "Go on," he said encouragingly.
Shadow answered. "Who 'round here knocks- oh, hey."
"Where's Andrew?" Molly asked with a sniffle.
"Playin' cards with 'Sippi... What's wrong with you??"
"I need to talk to him..."
She opened the door further and let her in. "Blank!" she bellowed.
"What?" he hollered back.
"Molly's here! She wants to talk to you! Despite the fact that I'm family too!" And she led Molly deeper into the room.
"Can I talk to you...alone?" Molly asked her older brother,
He tossed his hair out of his eyes and regarded her thoughtfully. "All right."
She led the way into the kitchen and began to pace nervously.
"What is it? Did Chris do something to you? If he did... I'll kill him."
"It's not Chris..."
"Then what?"
"I can't stay there anymore," she said, wringing her hands.
"Did Rae and Spot kick you out?" he tried again. She wasn't making this easy for him.
"No...Rae tried to stop me from leaving..."
"Then tell me what is wrong! I'm out of guesses," he said.
"I can't stay there anymore...and watch Kendra...and hear her call Rae, Mommy...."
"Then, why don't you tell her the truth?" Blank asked.
"She'll hate me...maybe not now...but when she's older and can understand it all..."
"She will not, Molly." Of course, he didn't know this for sure, but he said it confidently anyway.
"Can I stay here for a while?"
He was quiet for a moment. "Well, it's not up to me... I'll be leaving soon..." He blushed a bit.
Her head jerked up, "Leaving?" she croaked.
"Yes... well... I... North Wayne- you met her, right?... She and I... are... getting... er... married." His blush deepened.
Molly's face fell. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because it just happened yesterday... The engagement, I mean," he added quickly.
Molly sighed. "I'll catch a train home in the morning..."
"I'm sure Hades would let you stay in my place... Besides, I'm not your only family here... You seem to have forgotten Shadow..." He smiled a little.
"She doesn't like me very much. She's likely to tell Spot and Rae and Chris where I am."
"Well, they're not stupid- well, Chris might be, but Spot and Rae aren't. They'll figure it out."
"Don't you see? I have to leave town."
"Molly, you're being foolish."
"I'm just doing what I think is right, Andrew!"
"How is it right, Molly?"
"It's what's best for everyone."
"Everyone? Has anyone said they wanted you to leave? Or do you just think that?"
"It's not what I think, it's what I know!"
Blank shook his head. "And what do you base this on?"
"I don't want to talk about it!"
"Molly...." Blank sighed. "You can't go on feeling inferior because of your past... North had a very shady past as well, but look, no one hates her for it, not a bit. She's even getting married... Just because something happens to you, it doesn't mean it's the end of the world!"
"I'm not your stupid girlfriend alright!" she snapped.
"I know that!" he yelled back. He was rather scary when he got mad. "I'm trying to make a point, Molly!"
Molly sighed in frustration. "I don't want to talk about it anymore tonight."
Blank shook his head. "When are you going to talk about it then?"
"Hopefully, never."
"Molly... you can't run away from everything."
She turned and headed toward the door. "I'm really tired, Andrew."
He shook his head. "Fine... be stubborn."
"Only the stubborn survive."
Blank leaned against the wall. "Whatever you say."
She stood for a moment with her back to him. Slowly she turned and threw herself into his arms, bursting into tears. He hugged his sister tightly, stroking her hair gently. "I'm so confused," she whispered. He kissed her forehead. She heard a knock on the front door. She looked up at him desperately. "Please don't tell them I'm here," she pleaded.
"Molly... you can't run forever..."
"I can't face them tonight. Especially not Chris."
"Could I at least ease their worries and let them know you're here?"
She sighed. "Yes."
With a nod, he left the room and answered the door, before Shadow could bite someone's head off. Molly stood and listened from the doorway.
"Evenin' Chris," Blank said.
"E-evening..." Chris said. Blank scared him. A lot. "Is Molly here?"
Blank nodded. "Yes."
"Oh good! ... Can I... can I talk to her?"
"I'm sorry, Chris. But I can't let you."
"Why not?"
"Because she doesn't want to see anyone tonight."
"But... I have to talk to her!"
"I'm sorry, Chris. You'll have to come back tomorrow."
"But..." Then he sighed and nodded. "All right..."
Blank closed the door on the boy and walked back into the kitchen
"Well... I sent him off." Then there was another knock at the door. "Does that boy not get it?" He turned and walked back to the door.
"Please, Blank- Andrew... whatever you call yourself now... I have to talk to Molly...Tonight..." Chris pleaded, when he opened the door again.
"Look, kid...I told you...she doesn't want to talk to you."
"I. Have. To."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"I'm not letting you in."
"I'm not leaving until I talk to her."
"Do I have to beat it into your head or something? She doesn't want to talk," Blank stressed.
Chris plopped down on the doorstep. "I'm not leaving."
"Well then, sweet dreams. It's not so great sleeping there at night."
Chris merely crossed his arms.
Shaking his head, Blank closed the door again. "Stubborn old mule," he muttered.
Molly peeked her head out of the kitchen. "Is he gone?"
"Not... quite. He's apparently going to sleep on the stoop until you decide to talk to him."
"I don't WANT to talk to him."
He shrugged. "It's yours and his funeral then." She made a face. He patted her shoulder and went into the parlor.
She slowly climbed the stairs and slipped into one of the spare rooms.
Out on the porch, Chris sat with his hands folded over his knees, determined to sit right there until she came to talk to him. She would... wouldn't she? He leaned his head against the wall, determined to stay awake all night, if that's what it took.
But why did she run away in the first place? He wondered. He had already told her that her past didn't bother him... She had promised she'd be there for him through this ordeal with Julie, and then here she was, running away from all of it. He sighed. Girls were just too complicated.
A few passersby gave him a funny look.
Upstairs Molly threw herself onto one of the beds and buried her face in the pillow. Why did he have to come after her? Why didn't he stay home? Didn't he understand she didn't want to speak to any of them?
She sighed. It was bound to get cold out there tonight. The least she could do was give him a blanket right? Even if she didn't want to talk to him. She stood up and looked out her window. He was directly below her. She didn't even have to go down and see him. Just open the window and drop a blanket down to him. Not at all difficult, right? She grabbed a blanket and crept over to the window.
"One two three throw... it's not that hard Molly," she murmured to herself. She opened the window and held the blanket out. Taking a deep breath she dropped it.
Down below, Chris gave a squawk of surprise and he floundered a bit when the world fell dark and warm over his eyes. Then he realized someone had thrown a blanket at him. He looked up to see a window on the second story closing. Smiling, he wrapped the blanket around his shoulders. Molly may have said she didn't want to talk, but he was sure she'd come around soon.
* * *
Hades burst into the spare room the next morning. "What is that boy doing sleeping on my doorstep?" she demanded.
Molly blinked sleepily, waking up with a sluggish start. "What?"
"Why is that boy sleeping on my doorstep, Molly?"
"What boy?" she asked sluggishly.
"Chris," Hades said with an exasperated tone.
"He's... he's still there?"
"Sleeping quite soundly."
"Stupid... ugh, you think he would've gone home by now..."
"You knew he was there?!"
"Y... yes..."
"Get him off my doorstep. NOW!"
"But... I can't, Hades..."
"If you expect me to let you stay here...you will do it."
She whimpered a bit. "You don't understand," she said quietly.
"And I don't want to. Now move it!"
With a sigh, she pulled a blanket around her shoulders and headed downstairs carefully. She paused for a very long time near the front door. She REALLY didn't want to talk to him...
Hades, who was watching from the top of the stairs, cleared her throat.
"Right..." Taking a deep breath, she seized the doorknob, turned it, and pulled the door open. And then she jumped back, startled when Chris' sleeping body tumbled inside.
He sat up quickly, looking around.
She blinked once or twice at him before stammering, "Um... Hades... wants you to leave."
He stumbled to his feet. "Not until you talk to me."
"Chris... I can't. Nothing is going to change my mind."
"At least give me a chance, Molly."
"Just go, please."
"I need you, Molly," he begged.
"No... you don't. You don't need me Chris."
He reached for her hand. "Molly..."
"Chris please..."
"I'm not leaving, Molly."
She sighed a little. "Why are you trying so hard?"
"Because I love you, Molly," he blurted out.
"Wh.... what?"
He took a deep breath. "I love you Molly."
"W... why?"
He gently drew her closer to him and kissed her.
When the kiss ended, she pulled back. "Chris... I can't... You deserve someone better than me..."
"I don't want anyone but you, Molly girl."
She burst into tears, falling into his arms. Her arms tightened around his neck and she sobbed on his shoulder.
"Please don't cry..."
"I- can't- help it," she hiccupped.
"Why?"
"Because I love you too..." She hiccupped and hugged him again. "I don't want to leave you."
"Then come back with me."
"I can't..."
"I don't understand, Molly..."
"Don't you see? Kendra is growing up.... It hurts me to see her call Rae Mommy.... I can't stand it!"
"Then tell her the truth!"
"I can't! Kendra will hate me for it!"
"You don't know that."
"I'd rather be safe than sorry!"
"If you don't go back with me, I'll tell her myself."
"Well, at least she won't vent at me and tell me how much she hates me..."
"So you won't come with me?"
She hugged the blanket tighter around her and looked away. She wasn't sure anymore.
"Molly...she's too little to understand hate the way that you and I've seen it...she deserves to know the truth..."
"But she'll grow up and hate me..."
"Not if you come with me...show her how to love..."
She shook her head and leaned against the wall. "I don't know if I can..."
"Just try..."
With a quiet sigh, she relented and nodded. "All right..."
"Here's your bag, kid," Hades said, walking into the room.
Molly looked down. "Thank you, Hades."
"Now both of you get out of here..."
They scooted out the door. "She doesn't like us, does she?" Chris asked.
"No."
"Why?"
"Who knows."
Chris shook his head. "Women confound me." Molly laughed. He gave her a bit of a smile. "Well, it's true."
"Men are just as confusing."
"We can't be nearly as confusing..."
She snorted.
"What was that for?"
"I've given up trying to figure you out, Chris."
"What? What's there to figure out?"
She stopped suddenly. "I can't go in there," she said, looking at the house.
He sighed and turned to her. "Why not?"
"Because Kendra's in there."
"So?"
"I can't tell her."
"You don't have to now. You can wait."
She took a deep breath and moved slowly toward the door.
Like a gentleman, he opened the door for her. "Go on," he said encouragingly.
