Chapter 42

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

MOLLY

Ellen left me two hours ago to get a diet soda from the vending machine down the hall and she hasn't returned yet. I finally decide to go search for her, but she's not on our floor. I find her sitting in the great room, talking to Ben and his parents.

Walking over to them, I look at her and say, "I thought you were coming right back."

"Molly, hey! I was, but then I ran into Francie, Ward, and Ben." She smiles at them all.

Francie says, "Sit down, we have something we want to ask you."

I sit in the rocking chair next to my sister. "What's up?"

Ward says, "We'd like to thank you for taking those beautiful pictures of us and putting them in a frame."

"We'll cherish it always," Francie says, her voice choked with emotion.

"You're most welcome," I tell them. "And honestly it wasn't that much."

"We got some good news this morning," Francie says. "Ben has been accepted into a clinical trial in New York. We're going to leave right after Christmas."

That must be the trial Trina told me about. "That's wonderful news!" I tell them. Then I look at Ben and say, "You'll love New York. Try to go ice skating in Central Park if you're up to it."

Ben looks tired but he still manages a small smile. "That sounds really cool. I've never been to New York before. I think they have a big apple there. I'd like to go see that."

Ward playfully pats Ben's arm. "New York is called the Big Apple. There's no real apple that I know of." Then Ben turns to me and says, "We just scored some courtside tickets to the Bulls game on Christmas Eve. We were wondering if you'd like to join us."

Basketball really isn't my thing, but I really like these people, especially Ben. "I'd be honored to join you, but wouldn't you rather take a friend of Ben's?"

Ben says, "You're my friend, Molly. So, I would be taking a friend."

That has to be the sweetest thing I've ever heard. "In that case," I tell him, "I'd love to come."

"We're leaving earlier than we'd planned so we can get home and pack for New York," Francie says. She hands me a piece of paper with her phone number on it. "Text me your number so we can arrange all the details." Then she stands up and signals for Ward and Ben to do the same. "Come on, gang, we need to make tracks."

Ben runs over to me and throws his arms around me. "Bye, Molly! Thanks for everything! I'll see you at the game." Then he hurries off with his parents.

"What a nice family," Ellen says. "They told me what you did for them. You're a good egg, Molly."

"I do my best," I tell her. "Do you think Mom and Dad will be mad that I won't be home for Christmas Eve?"

"Not at all. Especially when they find out why you won't be there. "

"What about you?" I ask. "Where are you spending Christmas Eve?"

"With Mom and Dad, of course."

"Ellen," my tone carries a warning, "what about Henry and the kids?"

"What happened to not talking about Henry and the kids? Besides, I'm still thinking about that," she says. "I liked Melissa and Sammy, and you're right—they make step-parenting look like a dream—but Henry has three kids and an ex-wife who hates him. That's a whole different story."

"You're a piece of work, Ellen," I tell her.

"I'm the one who has to live my life, Molly. So, please let me make my own decisions."

"Fine," I tell her. "I need to go talk to Trina about a few things. Why don't I meet you upstairs in a couple of hours?"

Ellen stands up and surprises me by reaching out to give me a hug. "I don't mean to be grumpy; I just want to make sure I make the best decision for me."

I watch my sister walk away. She should make the decision that's right for her. The problem is that I don't think she will. At least not without a little persuasion. Walking toward the far side of the great room, I sit down next to the singing chipmunks and pull out my phone.

I couldn't get a hold of Henry last night, so I hit the icon with his face on it.

"Molly? What's up? Is Ellen okay?"

"She's fine, Henry. How are you?"

"Did she tell you what happened?" he asks carefully.

"She said that you proposed and she accepted in the most unenthusiastic way possible."

He snorts. "That's about it. I mean, who says, ‘Why not?' when the person they love proposes to them?"

"Ellen," I tell him laughingly.

"I thought she'd be so happy. I mean, we've talked about having more kids together and time isn't exactly on our side. "

"She's scared," I tell him. "Don really did a number on her."

"If I ever run into that guy, I hope I'm in my car so I can do the most damage."

I totally understand Henry's anger. He's such a sweet man, but Don's actions have a way of bringing out the Incredible Hulk side in all of us. "I have an idea, Henry."

"What's that?"

I grab a throw on the back of the chair I'm sitting on and lay it across my legs. "What do you say you and the kids go to my parents' house for Christmas Eve dinner and surprise Ellen?"

"I don't know about that. I mean, Ellen might not be receptive. We didn't leave things on a good note."

"I'm with her now," I tell him. "We're at a lodge in Wisconsin."

"She's not in Chicago?" He sounds surprised and a little hurt. "She never leaves town without telling me."

"How about if you come up here?" I ask him. "The two of you can talk about everything away from your home base. Sometimes that's all we need for clarity."

"I'm pretty sure wherever you're staying is booked up this time of year." He sounds nervous but hopeful.

"It's completely full," I tell him. "But I'll leave the day you arrive, so you can stay with Ellen in my room."

"I don't want to kick you out," Henry says haltingly.

"I need to go home anyway," I tell him. "Things didn't go well for me here and I have a lot to think about."

Luckily, Henry doesn't ask me what happened. Instead, he says, "Thank you, Molly. I appreciate everything you're doing."

"I want you for a brother-in-law," I tell Henry. "You and Ellen are perfect for each other and I think you just need a few days away from everything to realize that."

"Text me the info. I can be there tomorrow."

I say goodbye to Henry and then text him the deets on the Elk Lake Lodge. My next stop is Trina's office. I'm nervous to see her because, between me and Blake, she wanted him to stay, and he's the one who left. Now, I'm about to tell her that I'm leaving too. Knocking lightly on the door, I say, "Trina, it's me, Molly."

"Come in," I hear her call out.

I open the door to find her sitting at her desk surrounded by studio lights. I turn to the side and see a guy about my age standing behind a camera. He's taking pictures of Trina.

"I can come back," I tell her.

She stands up and gestures me toward her. "Don't be silly. This is Noah. He lives in Elk Lake, and I just hired him to take pictures for us at the lodge."

Noah smiles shyly and waves. "Hey."

"That was fast work," I tell her.

"There's no sense putting off the execution of a good idea." She turns to Noah. "Can you give us a few minutes?"

Noah puts his camera down on her desk. "No problem. I'll just be outside when you're ready."

After he leaves, Trina says, "He's taking some headshots of me for our brochure. He'll take some of Heath when he gets back from the city." I was wondering why I hadn't met Trina's fiancé, and now I know why.

"I'm planning to go back to Chicago today," I tell Trina.

Sitting down again, she says, "But you don't have to go now. I understand that Blake left."

"I'm certainly not going to stay and keep going to your event," I tell her. "And I finished the report for your gift shop. I emailed it to you this morning."

"I saw it and it looks great," she says. "But why don't you and Ellen stay on and have some fun?"

"Because," I start to say before taking the chair across from hers, "Ellen's boyfriend is going to come up and take my place." I explain, "They broke up when he proposed last week. Ellen loves him, but she's scared."

"Oh, I see." Trina turns to her computer and starts to type. "What's his name?"

"Henry," I tell her .

"And what are Ellen's and Henry's favorite foods, do you know?"

I list several of Ellen's favorite things before asking, "Why?"

Trina smiles mischievously. "I'm going to do everything that I can to make sure they have the stay of their lifetime."

"Trina, you're too good." Then I tell her, "I want to pay for their room."

"Nonsense," she says. "We expected you to be here for at least four more days, so there's no new guest expected for that room."

"Yes, but you shouldn't have to pay for Ellen and Henry."

"It's Christmastime, Molly," she says. "Christmas is the perfect time for happy endings."

My heart sinks into my chest. She's right. Christmas is a time for all good things to come to fruition. Too bad that's not how it's working out for me.