"What do you think?" Molly asked. "Would you allow dad to come?" Angela looked up from the breakfast she was cooking. Molly hadn't said a word about their father in two days. Angela had not pressed her, knowing that she needed time to make her decision.
"I don't think I can make that decision for you," Angela advised.
"That's not what I asked!" Molly insisted.
"Molly this is your decision," Angela replied.
"I'm just asking what you'd do," Molly said. She looked at Angela earnestly. Angela sighed. What would she do if the decision was hers to make? She wasn't sure how to respond to Molly, knowing her response would surely influence Molly's decision.
"If he's really clean, I don't know if I could say no to him coming," Angela conceded. She did not add that she didn't think he was really clean.
"I just don't know!" Molly said. "Why did he have to show up?"
"You know our father, he never thinks of anyone else when making his decisions," Angela sighed. In truth Angela felt like throttling him. He had done selfish things before, but this was possibly the worst. If she wasn't worried about what Molly might regret later, she would have run him out of town by now. The man had done everything he could to ruin their lives, and was apparently still working at doing it.
"I think I might let him come," Molly sighed. "But I just don't know yet."
"Take your time," Angela advised. "This is not a decision to make lightly. I think you might want to ask your fiancé what he thinks."
"Oh you're right! I didn't even think of that. You are so smart Angie." Molly said. "I'll ask him this afternoon when I go there."
Angela smiled. She was not so sure she agreed. If she were smarter, she wouldn't necessarily be in the position was in.
XxXx
"What do you think?" Molly asked Chase. "Should I invite my father?"
"Do you want him to come?" Chase asked. They were sitting on his couch together. She looked into his eyes. She wished she knew the answer to that for certain.
"I don't know, if he's clean yeah, but I don't think he is. Angela doesn't either, even though she won't tell me," Molly stated. "She is too unselfish to say something like that. She wants me to make the decision."
"She cares for you," Chase replied.
"She does, she's amazing Chase. She's the reason I am who I am today," Molly admitted. She now knew that to be the truth. Angela was an integral part of Molly's life. She had never appreciated it before, but she was learning more and more all the things Angela sacrificed for her happiness. She was certain that there were more things she didn't even know of.
"We don't need to make the decision about your dad right away," Chase said.
"That's exactly what Angie said," Molly said, her brow furrowed in consternation. She would have to give it some more thought.
XxXx
Angela found herself wandering in the Mount Gelato area. Before she even realized where she was heading, she was there. A part of her wanted to see Gray, and she was hoping he'd be there. She was honest enough with herself to know that. It had been a while since she had seen him. She wanted to apologize for the way she had acted while drunk, then subsequently hungover. She saw him walking towards the mountain path he had taken her on. When he heard her behind him, he turned around. An unreadable expression came on his face.
"Hello," she said lamely.
"Hi," he said back. The fact that he sounded equally as nervous as she was, calmed her down a bit. Goddess he was handsome.
"I'm sorry..." They both started at the same time. Angela laughed, and Gray smiled. She loved the way he looked when he smiled. His entire face lit up.
"Go ahead," they both said.
"Ladies first," Gray insisted. This comment brought a smile to Angela's face. There was something very charming about him, even with his gruff exterior.
"I'm sorry for the way I acted that night," Angela started. She could see by his face that he knew exactly what she was talking about. "I guess that morning I was just so embarrassed."
"It's okay, I'm sorry that I was rude that morning, I could have been more understanding," Gray replied.
"Friends?" Angela asked holding out her hand. He looked at her hand, that unreadable expression on his face again. He accepted her hands.
"Yeah, sure," he answered. Friends? Gray thought. Of course that is what she thought of him as. She was gorgeous. She no doubt would be good on the arm of someone like Calvin who was suave and worldly. He could be her friend that would have to be okay with him.
"Your hair is down," Gray commented.
"Well as a wise person said to me, it is Sunday after all," she teased. He chuckled. He was learning that there were many facets to this woman. She was fascinating.
"Want to join me on Mount Gelato?" Gray asked. He held out his hands. Friends could hold hands right? She accepted his outstretched hand as he led her up the mountain.
