Molly had enjoyed their shopping as much as the other two. Because she had no family, she usually only decorated a tiny tree that sat on her dining table. She was excited just looking at all the ornaments they’d bought. A big tree, with presents under it, filled her with an anticipation that she hadn’t experienced since she was a small child with her parents.
Her parents had died in a car accident, much as Toby’s had, but she’d had no relatives to take her in. She’d spent the rest of her childhood in foster homes. None of them had celebrated Christmas as she’d remembered it with her parents.
Now, though she was alone, she tried to make Christmas special for those around her. She’d already purchased Secret Santa presents for the patients in the hospital. Since she’d left early with Toby, she’d left the gifts with another nurse to pass out for Christmas.
She usually did a lot of baking, taking goodies to her friends at the hospital and neighbors in her apartment building. She would miss baking. Unless she could convince Toby to make Christmas cookies with her.
She smiled. She wasn’t sure Delores would let them invade her kitchen.
When Toby woke up, Molly kept him busy by playing a game with him. She had a deck of cards with her and together they played more hands of Battle and Go Fish than she could count.
At five o’clock, Louisa knocked on Toby’s door. Richard had called to tell them he would be there in half an hour to go find a Christmas tree. Could they please be ready?
“Yes, of course, Louisa. Have you told Mrs. Anderson?”
“Yes, ma’am. She said she would be ready, too.”
Molly put the deck of cards away, reminding herself to buy some games the next time she had a chance. Toby was a smart little boy. She didn’t want him getting bored. According to Elizabeth, he wouldn’t be going to school until after the New Year, since most of the schools in town had ended their semester this week.
Toby could hardly contain his excitement. Molly took the child down early to wait in the garden room and discuss where they thought the tree should be placed.
When Toby finally decided on the corner of the room, she reminded him that Elizabeth and Richard might decide otherwise.
“Yeah, but I think Grandma will agree with me.”
“You think so, do you?” Molly asked him with a grin.
“She’s nice, isn’t she?” he asked, smiling back.
“Yes, she is. You’re a lucky little boy.”
Toby’s blue eyes clouded over. “I’m not lucky ’cause my mommy and daddy died.”
Molly hugged him. “I know, sweetie, but the same thing happened to me, and I didn’t have a grandma to take me in.”
Her revelation caught Toby’s attention. “Your mommy and daddy died, too?”
“Yes, when I was seven.”
He immediately hugged Molly. “I’m sorry.”
“Thank you, Toby, but it was a long time ago. I told you so you could appreciate your grandmother and uncle taking you in. That makes you a lucky boy.”
“Did you have to live alone?”
Molly laughed. “No. I might’ve been better off if I had, but I was put in a foster home.”
“What’s that?”
With a sigh, Molly said, “It’s a family who gets paid to take care of you. Usually they have too many people in the house and they don’t have time to make you feel special. Like your grandma.” Or even loved. In the two foster homes she’d lived in, they had assigned chores, but they hadn’t shown appreciation or love for what she did. She’d almost felt faceless.
“That must’ve made you sad,” Toby said solemnly.
“Yes, it did. But I—” She was interrupted by the sound of a car pulling into the driveway.
Toby rushed out of the room, calling over his shoulder, “I bet that’s Richard!”
Molly sighed and followed him more slowly. The last thing she wanted to show was enthusiasm for Richard’s arrival.
Elizabeth was coming down the stairs as Molly reached the hallway.
“Is that Richard?” she asked.
“I believe so. Toby went to see. He’s very excited about the tree.”
“I am, too, for the first time in years.” She reached the hall and took on a wistful look. “You know, we gave up decorating a real tree after the children went to college. It just didn’t seem worth the effort without a child to enjoy it.”
Molly smiled. “But you do have a Christmas tree in the living room. It’s quite beautiful.”
“Yes, but it’s not the same. Now with Toby, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life. It’s invigorating.” She returned the smile and grabbed Molly’s hand. “Let’s go see if it was Richard.”
The two ladies went to the side entrance and found Toby telling Richard about all their purchases that day.
“You must’ve shopped all day!”
“Not quite,” Elizabeth said as she and Molly arrived in the doorway.
Richard stared at his mother. “You sound like you went with them. Are you too tired to go out now?”
“Absolutely not!”
Richard frowned as Toby and Elizabeth went out to get in his car. “I thought I warned you not to let Mom overdo it,” he said harshly, blocking Molly as she started to go past him.
How dare he accuse her of not doing her job! She’d done as he’d requested—even if it hadn’t been part of her employment arrangements. They stood mere inches apart, so close Molly could feel the cold emanating from his overcoat. But she didn’t back up. She raised her chin and looked him square in the eyes. “Did she sound exhausted to you?”
Richard held her gaze a few seconds, as if measuring her resolve. Then, finally, in one swift motion he turned and went out the door. “I’ll hold you responsible if she has a breakdown.”
Chapter Four
MOLLY pressed her lips together. She knew she had done all she could to protect Elizabeth. The lady was talking more and taking more interest in her grandson. If Richard thought that was going to damage his mother, well, he was dead wrong.
Molly knew then and there the only way she’d survive this assignment was to avoid the man altogether. That conviction lasted until she got to the car and saw Elizabeth had left the front seat for her—next to Richard.
Elizabeth must have seen her disgruntled expression, because she said, “I’m going to ride back here with Toby so we can discuss the tree he wants to buy.”
Richard slanted at look at Molly. “Join me, won’t you, Molly?” he said, sarcasm in his voice.
Okay, so he’d seen her reluctance. It didn’t matter. She wasn’t here for him. “Thanks,” she muttered and circled the vehicle to climb in the front passenger seat.
Molly stared straight ahead. After last night, and again just now with Richard, she intended to keep her distance from this man.
“What kind of tree do you want us to buy?” Richard asked his mother.
“One that pleases Toby,” she said.
“Do you have any preferences, Molly?” Richard asked.
“Not in regard to trees,” she muttered, hoping that would be the end of any conversation.
“Do you always decorate a tree in Florida?”