I grabbed Liam by the hand, leading him toward the refurbished garage. “Close your eyes.” He did as I said.
I opened the door, flipping on the lights. Everything was in its place, the neon signs we’d hung up earlier gleaming on the walls. I guided Liam down the steps and into the garage, turning him so he’d be facing everything Jace and I had worked on all day.
“Okay, open your eyes,” I said, anxiously anticipating his reaction.
Chapter 28 – Liam
I opened my eyes like Molly told me to, not sure what to expect. I could tell she’d led me into the garage, so my mind raced through possibilities—tools, storage, maybe another half-finished project she’d been tinkering with.
A fully furnished man cave was not on that list.
I stepped farther inside, turning slowly as I took everything in… the seating, the lights, the details she’d clearly put so much thought into.
“You built me a man cave?” I asked, totally confused. “Inyourhouse?”
“Well, I know once the baby arrives, you’ll be spending a lot of time here, so I figured you’d want a space you can call your own.”
She looked down at the floor, like she was embarrassed. “It’s just a thought I had. The man cave has no strings attached. Whether we’re together or not, I want you to have a space here that makes you feel welcome. One day this baby won’t be a baby anymore, and it can be a place where you two hang out or tinker on your random projects. We don’t have to be together to be good parents—I totally know that. So pleaseunderstand I’m not saying wehaveto be together, it’s just… like an idea I had when I was—”
“Molly, breathe. You’re rambling.” I smiled down at her like she was the cutest thing I’d ever seen because she absolutely was.
“Oh. Yeah, uh—sorry,” she said, pushing out a low, embarrassed laugh.
“I love this space you created for me,” I said, cupping her face in my hands and pulling her into me. My words and my kiss caught her off guard, but she still melted into it, grabbing onto my arms, holding me in place, and lingering in the kiss a little longer.
When we finally pulled apart, our bodies still pressed together, I said, “I have a surprise for you too.”
I opened the garage door and walked to my truck, pulling the paintings from the back seat. As I set them gently on the couches, Molly walked up behind me and peeked over my shoulder to see.
“My mom painted these for the nursery.”
Molly studied each painting. “Is that me?” she asked, pointing to the one with the woman standing in a patch of wildflowers. I nodded, confirming her suspicion. “And is that the treehouse you played in when you were little?”
“Yup.”
“I’m confused about the goose one though,” she said, studying it longer than the others.
“When my brother and I were little and did something funny, my mom would call us silly gooses,” I explained.
“Liam, these are gorgeous,” she said softly. “Your mom’s watercolor abilities are amazing. They’re so detailed and colorful.”
“She would’ve given them to you herself, but she’s out of town for a little while. She finally filed for divorce from my dad—left a note with the paintings to let me know. Leaving town was her best option until it’s all over, but it still annoys the shit out of me that she had to go.”
Molly placed her hand on my shoulder. “I’m sorry she has to deal with that. No woman should have to go through that. It reminds me of what happened to Ellie.”
“Luckily, Ellie had somewhere safe to go when she left. I just keep thinking about my mom out there, wherever she is, alone. She might be gone for months—hell, even years—depending on how long my dad drags this divorce out in court. I hate him so much. Everything he touches goes up in flames.”
“Based on what you’ve said about him, I feel like he won’t spend any of his precious time looking for her. There are deals to be made, business contracts to sign. It seems like he only focuses on things that make him money, and that’s not your mom.”
“Do you want the paintings?” I asked, trying to change the subject. If I thought about it much longer Imight do something irrational—like hunting my dad down and punching him again. This time, instead of fighting for Molly, I’d be fighting for my mom.
“Of course I want them. Why wouldn’t I?”
“I guess I just wasn’t sure. They hold a lot of sentimental value for me, but not necessarily for you. Maybe you don’t want them hanging up in your house,” I explained.
“What’s important to you is important to me, Liam. Because what’s important to you will one day matter to our son. He’s half of me, but he’s half of you too,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek.
Chapter 29 – Molly
