She'd overcome her fear at the winter festival with Cord by her side. She had to do this.
For Cord.
She pushed open the truck door and got out on shaking legs.
The mother was walking toward the store, her infant in one arm, clutching the toddler's hand with the other hand. She looked over her shoulder at Molly.
Molly gave a halfhearted wave. "Had to psych myself up to go inside."
The mother gave a faint smile.
Molly took a cart from just inside the sliding glass doors. So far, so good.
The produce was much better than she'd expected.
As she went through the familiar motions of shopping, the choking fear faded.
She passed by the young mother every other aisle. And even that felt comforting, seeing a familiar face, a kind face.
Was this what it would take to overcome her fear entirely? Just moving through life like a spoon through thick molasses? Rinse, and repeat.
The cashier greeted her warmly, asked too-pointed questions. Who was she? What was all this food for? She was stayingwhere?
Molly smiled and evaded, even though her natural instinct was to open up. By now she knew why Cord didn't want anybody nosing into his business.
For a small-town girl, that was the hardest part.
And then she was back outside, a cart full of bagged goods in her possession.
She'd done it! Elation soared through her as she loaded the paper bags in the bed of the pickup and closed the tailgate.
She could do this. She could be normal again. Maybe not today, but eventually.
She'd returned the cart to the storefront and was on her way back to Cord's truck when she spotted the familiar red Mustang at the stoplight two blocks down.
No.
No, no, no.
Her heartbeat went into overdrive, and her pulse beat in her throat as her flight instinct kicked in. She sprinted the last few feet to Cord's pickup and vaulted into the driver's side.
Shaking, she ducked down, making herself as small as possible. It meant she couldn't see over the dash, but maybe it meant someone looking from the street wouldn't see her either. Had he spotted her? If it was Toby, he wouldn't recognize Cord's pickup. She still had the ball cap pulled low over her face.
Was it Toby?
Her hand was trembling so badly that it took two tries to turn the key. The truck rumbled to life beneath her.
What now?
Should she just drive off?
What if he was coming toward her right now?
She reached to slap the door locks, engaging them.
If he was heading this way, she should leave.
But she didn't hear an engine driving closer.
