Michael did a series of hand motions.
“Daddy says you’re one of my uncles,” she frowned. “I never met you before.”
“No, you haven’t,” Molson looked at Michael in surprise at being labelled an uncle to this girl. Michael gave her a kiss on the top of her head before going into the kitchen to feed the dog.
“My name’s Amy,” she piped up, picking a new crayon. “What’s yours?”
It would be rude not to answer, Molson told himself. “My name is Molson.”
“Hi Uncle Molson,” Amy smiled at him.
“I should get going,” Molson ignored the twinge in his chest. With Jana banning him from her life, he’d never see Jenny, Cara or Miguel again. He loved his nieces and nephew.
Michael shook his head, indicating that he wanted Molson to stay. He came to the living room, pointing to a plaque on the wall.
Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Michael made a motion with his hand.
“Daddy says you’re his brother,” Amy clarified.
“Are you his interpreter?” Molson asked her, trying to ignore the emotions such a simple gesture wrought. He swallowed thickly.
“Yes,” Amy nodded in all seriousness. “It’s a very important job.”
“It is,” Molson agreed quietly.
“Do you want to see the babies?” Amy asked him.
“The babies?” Molson was confused.
“My baby sisters,” Amy explained. “They’re sleeping in their crib. If you’re really quiet, you can have a look at them. Only if you’re quiet though.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Molson started to say but Michael was there, steering him along again. This time, Amy joined them. “I wasn’t expecting an invitation.”
“Shall I tell Mommy?” Amy asked.
At Michael’s nod, she ran down the hall ahead of them, the dog following her.
“Michael, I appreciate the sentiment of what you’re doing,” Molson tried one last time. “You can’t want to introduce me to your kids and wife. I gave you a bunch of reasons not to on the beach.”
“It’s Uncle Molson, Mommy.”
Molson could hear Amy’s high-pitched little voice as she told her mother who he was. He braced himself for the look of fear on Ann Ramesly’s face when she saw him. No matter what her husband thought, Ann was likely to want him out of the house and away from her children as quickly as possible. Mothers tended to guard their young.
He was pushed into the room where a lovely, but tired looking woman looked up at him in surprise. She looked at him assessingly.
“You’re the one who helped to get Michael out of prison,” she said softly. Coming forward she gave Molson a hug.
Not sure what to do, he carefully patted her shoulder.
She drew back, tears in her eyes. Ann went to lean on Michael as she talked to Molson. “I want to thank you. Without your efforts to get those men to testify, Michael would still be in prison. He would have been there for the rest of his life. We can’t thank you enough for bringing him home.”
Michael wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back as she wiped her eyes. It was easy to see the affection between the couple.
Molson had never felt so uncomfortable in his life. Uncomfortable in a good way. People usually weren’t thanking him. He cleared his throat, shoving his hands in his pockets and hunching his shoulders a little. “I just wanted to make it right.”
“Anytime you need anything, you let us know,” Ann insisted. “You’re invited to all the holidays and birthdays. You and your brother. Didn’t someone say that you had a sister?”
