Molly had woken up that morning and everyone in the house had been out doing their own thing. With no crisis to attend to, she had been forced to take a good long look at herself and her life.
She didn’t like what she saw. She was alone in her father’s house, without a nine-to-five job to head off to. She was a twenty-nine-year-old woman with her favorite clothes hidden in her closet because she’d covered up her real self in order to be liked and appreciated. Meanwhile, the one man who’d accepted her, really accepted her without reservation, she’d let walk out on her.
Not that she’d seen it that way at the time. When Hunter first left, Molly’d convinced herself that he was the one running home without facing what could be between them. She’d rationalized that his departure had everything to do with how she’d walked out on him the last time and told herself he was the coward.
Then she’d had that unexpected moment with her mother, where she found herself taking Hunter’s advice and setting down rules that she could live with. She’d taken control.
Which led to the realization that what might have worked for her before her father’s murder case was now a stale excuse for living since she’d tasted life with Hunter in it.
Molly knocked on her father’s office door.
“Come in!” he called.
She paused just inside the doorway. “Can we talk?”
“Of course.” He rose and met her in the middle of the room. “Let’s sit here.” He gestured to two leather chairs across from the desk.
They settled in and her father spoke first. “Well, look at you.” His gaze took in her red blouse, tight jeans and red cowboy boots. Did I ever tell you I love that color red? Your mother was wearing it the first time I met her. It’s one of the better memories of her I have,” he said, laughing.
Molly smiled.
“I’ve seen the boots before but not the rest of the outfit. Is it new?” he asked.
She clasped her hands in front of her. “Not new to me. Just new to you. You see, the thing is, I haven’t been totally honest with you.”
He narrowed his eyes. “About what?”
“About who I really am. Or should I say who I was before I settled in here with you.” She abruptly rose from her seat and began to pace the room, more comfortable moving while she explained. “You might have noticed I have acceptance issues.”
Frank spread his arms out in front of him. “Who wouldn’t, given how you were raised?” He spoke with calm understanding.
Molly was grateful for his support. It was one of the things she loved most about him. His unconditional love. She only wished she’d trusted in it sooner. “Well, when I found out I had a father out there and a family, I wanted so badly to fit in I would have done anything to make sure it happened.” Her face heated at the admission.
Her father rose and stepped closer. “This family has had its share of scandal and problems. I’m sure nothing you tell me is going to be all that shocking,” he assured her.
Molly paused in the center of the room, looked at the general and laughed. “No, it’s going to sound very immature considering that kind of lead-in.” She ran a hand through her hair and sighed. “I’m not a conservative dresser like Sonya and Robin. I love bright bold colors. I’d rather be more outspoken than accepting, and the first eight months here, holding my tongue while Jessie steamrolled over me, went against everything in my nature.” She finished her explanation with a long gasp for air.
“And you thought by hiding these sides of you, I’d…what? Love you more?” He raised his eyebrows, his forehead wrinkling more than usual.
“I was afraid if you knew the real me, you would love me less. Or worse, you wouldn’t love me at all. Don’t forget, I’m not a child you raised, who you bonded with and loved from the beginning, flaws and all. I’m an adult who showed up on your doorstep, fully formed. You’d have every right to not like me, if that’s how you felt. I just didn’t want to give you—or Jessie or Robin—any ammunition.” She swallowed hard and met his gaze.
Amusement swelled in his expression. “I notice you didn’t mention the commander as one of those people you feared disappointing. Am I right in thinking that in my mother, you knew you’d found the one person that would understand you?”
Molly nodded. “She’s most like me.”
“So is Jessie. I’m not sure if you realize it yet.”
She laughed. “She tried to blackmail me into lending my clothes and chose my favorite yellow sweater to hold hostage. I think I figured that out by now. We made unbelievable progress until I told Hunter what she confided to me.”
The general placed his hand on her shoulder. She appreciated the warm, supportive touch. “Jessie knows you saved Seth’s life by doing what you did. She’s a smart girl. She might try to make you pay for the hell of it, just to see what she can milk out of you using guilt. But in her heart, you’ve proven yourself to her.”
“Maybe.” Molly met his gaze. “But whether I have or I haven’t, I’ve decided to be me.”
“That’s all anybody wants you to be. We’re not like your mother. There’s no expectation to be anything other than what you are. Seth accidentally shot his father and didn’t confess even after I was arrested and he’s still my family. There’s nothing about you that could make me—or your sisters—turn you away.”
She nodded, her throat too full for her to speak. She pulled herself together and said, “I know that now. Maybe it’s late but I finally get it.”
Her father pulled her into a long hug. “I love you, Molly.”
She smiled. “I love you, too. Which makes what I have to say that much harder. I can’t go into business with you.” She’d use her lawyer skills, Molly thought. Just hopefully not with her father. Hopefully somewhere in Hawken’s Cove, Hunter’s hometown. She swallowed hard.
He stepped backward, his hands on her arms. “Because?”
“It’s time for me to try to put my life in order.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Does this restructuring include Hunter? I couldn’t help but notice how miserable you’ve been since he’s been gone.”
She smiled grimly. “That obvious, huh?”
The general nodded. “Unfortunately, yes.”
“Well, I don’t know if he’ll have me or if it’s too late, but I have to try.”