I grin back. Of course, it was my mother.
While money ran deep on my father’s side, my mother’s family had come from a humble background, working tirelessly to build generational wealth. It wasn’t until my mother started modelling—that the extended family began to thrive. My grandparents, always savvy, funnelled her income into manufacturing organic goods. By the time demand surged in the early ’80s, they were ready to deliver. The company thrived, and my uncles now run it with ma taking a cut of the profits.
They’d invited Peter and I to join them, but there were enough cousins and extended cousins to fill any leadership gaps. Besides, we had our own legacies to build.
“What are your plans this weekend?” Molly asks, licking the tines of her fork clean.
It takes more effort than it should to tear my gaze away from her tongue and answer the question. “Pete said we’d do something. I’ve got a video catch-up with Sam, a script to start, and Ma wants me to attend confession. I assume it’s because she’s worried for my eternal soul and not because she wants me to donate to their new school.”
Molly giggles, soft and sweet. “You’re not getting out of that.”
“Never,” I say, grinning. “I respect the back of my head too much.”
I can’t count the number of times her palm met the back of my head growing up.
“You deserved to be spanked,” Molly says with a snort.
“I did,” I admit, smirking. “Every single one.”
“Especially the one after finding Felicity in your room during junior year,” she teases, raising an eyebrow. “Remind me, what exactlywereyou two caught doing again?”
“A true gentleman never kisses and tells,” I say, pretending to zip my lips.
“You know,” she says, leaning forward just slightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief, “for the number of times you got caught, I would’ve assumed you’d learn to lock your door. Unless…” She quirks an eyebrow. “You enjoy exhibitionism?”
“Wow.” I lean forward too, lowering my voice. “You’ve caught me.”
She laughs, her cheeks flushing slightly, and I can’t resist adding, “And I like that you did.”
The waitress approaches, breaking the moment, but the laughter lingers between us.
“Anything else?” the waitress asks, clearing our empty brownie plate.
I glance at my watch, then back at Molly. “Another brownie?”
She nods without hesitation.
Soon, a warm, gooey brownie arrives on the table, and we dive in as the conversation shifts to my work.
“Sam’s got things under control in Alaska,” I say, breaking off a piece of brownie with my fork. “But I need to do something different with our next project. As much as I love the heavy dramas, I’m feeling…” I trail off, searching for the right word.
Molly props her chin in her hand, tilting her head as she watches me. “Not to go all Marie Kondo on you, but what’s sparking joy?”
I chuckle, rolling the brownie across my tongue while I think about her question.
I swallow. “There is one project I’ve been thinking about lately,” I admit.
Her eyes light up, and she leans closer, her voice soft with curiosity. “Mm? Tell me.”
I set my mug down, lowering my voice like I’m sharing a secret. “Have you heard of Joy Harris?”
She blinks, her mouth falling open. “Urma the Unicorn?”
I grin, slapping my hand on the table and pointing at her. “Exactly!”
Molly leans in even further, excitement flushing her cheeks pink. “IloveUrma. Every comic is hilarious!”
The Unicorn is a webcomic by Australian writer and illustrator Joy Harris. It follows Urma, a scruffy, sarcastic unicorn living among her perfect, pastel-colored peers. Dark, ironic, and biting, the comic’s humor has made it a cult favorite. It isn’t afraid to tackle tough or controversial topics, and its fanbase is as loyal as it is vocal.
