“No, probably not, Toby.”
“Why not?”
Molly pasted on a smile as she looked over her shoulder. “Because I’ll be back in Florida by then, Toby.”
“Uncle Richard, does Molly have to go back?”
“Toby!” Molly exclaimed before Richard could answer. “I have to go back. There will be other children who are hurt and need me.”
“But I need you.”
“No, you have Richard and your grandmother, Toby. Remember?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” he said sadly.
“Your grandma has planned a nice day for you, Toby. Don’t ruin it for her,” Molly said gently.
“No, I won’t. Thank you, Grandma.”
“Toby, look, there’s where we’re going,” Richard said, pointing out a large ball up in the air, sitting on concrete pillars.
“Do we have to walk up there, Uncle Richard?”
“No, there’s an elevator.” He pulled the car into the driveway of the Hyatt Regency Hotel and stopped. “We’re doing valet parking, so hop out, everyone.”
Molly got out, but she didn’t want to. She wanted to offer to drive around the block a couple hundred times until they came back down, but she knew Richard wouldn’t allow that.
He led the way down a long escalator and Molly wondered why they were going down when the restaurant was up on top. But then they reached a bank of elevators. When the doors opened, Richard led them in.
Molly faced forward, prepared to close her eyes until they reached their destination. Behind her, Toby was chatting with Elizabeth.
Suddenly he said, “Look, Molly!”
Immediately Molly turned around only to see that what she’d thought would be the back of the elevator was actually a bank of windows that looked down on the quickly disappearing ground.
Just as her knees buckled, Richard’s arms went around her and he pressed her face into his chest. “Don’t look, Molly. Just stay here with me. We’ll be there in a minute.”
“I’m sorry to be such a coward,” she whispered, on the verge of tears.
“It’s not a problem. Toby doesn’t understand. Neither does Mom.”
“Why do you?”
“I’ve had an illogical fear or two. My dad insisted I get over them. As much as I tried, I couldn’t.”
“No, it’s not something you can control.”
“I was watching you, afraid you’d get upset, so I knew at once when you turned around, you weren’t going to make it.”
“Can I go back down?”
“Not now. We have to eat first. But don’t worry, you won’t have to sit by the window. I’ll sit there, and I’ll keep you safe.”
“Thank you.” Just as she said that, she heard the elevator door open. She raised her head and looked over her shoulder just as he eased her forward and out the elevator door.
Richard gave their name to the hostess who took them to their table. Richard held Molly back and let his mother and Toby go first.
When they stepped down on the lower level of the restaurant floor, Richard kept his arm around her and he steadied her with his other hand when she realized the floor was moving.
“Easy,” he whispered. “We’ll be at the table in a minute.”
When they reached the table, Richard went in first so he had the window seat opposite Toby, and he pulled out the chair next to him for Molly.
“Richard, you should give Molly the window seat. She’ll want to see everything,” Elizabeth told him.
“Mom, Molly is afraid of heights. She’ll be all right in the chair she’s in. If she wants to see anything closer, all she has to do is tell me.”
“Oh, Molly, why didn’t you say anything?”
“I—I didn’t want to spoil everyone’s fun,” Molly said.
“Poor dear. Do you want us to leave now?”
“No, it’s all right. Richard has promised to make it easier for me when we go down, so we might as well eat before we do that.”
“You’re being very brave. Isn’t she, Toby?”
“Yes, but it’s my fault,” Toby said, tears forming in his eyes. “I told her I wouldn’t come without her.”
“Toby, it’s okay,” Molly said, reaching across the table to touch his hand.
Richard looked at the boy. “You need to be more thoughtful of others, Toby.
“Richard, don’t. He’s just a little boy!”
“Yes, but I don’t think he realized how difficult it would be for you.” He stretched his arm around her chair, as he had the night they’d watched the lights together.
“He’s just come through a terrible ordeal. He’ll be more thoughtful in the future.”
“Okay, buddy,” Richard said, reaching over and patting Toby’s arm. “I know you’re just a little boy. But part of growing up is learning to think about others.”
“Okay,” Toby whispered.
“Good, now we need to order,” Elizabeth said. “Toby, what do you think you would like?”
“A cheeseburger,” he replied without hesitation.
“You know what, Toby?” Molly asked. “I’m going to have the same.” She smiled at the little boy.
The waiter came and they placed their orders. He brought their drinks at once and Molly took a sip of her Diet Coke. It helped her feel a little better.
“Uncle Richard, did you look for the amusement park?”
“Not yet. Let’s see, there’s the Trinity River, so we’re facing south right now. When we rotate west, we can look for it.”
“How will we know?” Toby asked.
“There’ll be a sign painted on the wall that says West.”
“Okay, I’ll watch for it.”
Now that Toby’s attention was off her, Molly slumped in her chair.
“You okay?” Richard whispered, leaning closer, his breath warm on her skin.
“Yes, but you shouldn’t have blamed Toby,” Molly returned.
“I won’t have him spoiled by you and my mother. He has to learn to be responsible for his actions.”
“I agree, but it seems a little harsh so soon after he lost his parents.” She should know; she’d experienced that first-hand.
“I didn’t beat him, honey. I just pointed out what he had done. I don’t think that’s too harsh.”
“Well, I do, honey!”
“But you’re not in charge of him. My mother and I are.”
Molly’s gaze fell to the table. She refused to look at him. She knew she wasn’t in charge of Toby, but she cared for the boy. Surely Richard knew that. At the moment, she disliked Richard. And truthfully she didn’t want to leave Toby with him.
“Was that truth too harsh, too?” Richard asked, watching her response.
She nodded, trying to hold back tears. She knew she was too emotionally involved with Toby. Even with Elizabeth and Richard. Especially