She had to snap out of this. Move on and accept it for what it was.
“Hi, Cassidy,” she said, slipping into the fun Molly of her web show. The one everyone liked. The one it was much easier to be when things got hard.
Like, for example, now.
“Hi.” Cassidy stared a little too long at Gavin before moving her gaze back to Molly. “I see you guys everywhere, huh?”
“Yeah.” Molly really wished she had something to do with her hands. Maybe she’d given up too easily on the knitting. “Look, it’s Cassidy,” she said to Gavin. “Isn’t that great?”
Gavin’s expression did not imply that he thought it was great—which made sense. This was probably awkward for him. She didn’t need to make it more awkward.
“It’s good to see you again, Cass.” Gavin said the words, and he seemed genuinely happy to see her. He also set his hand on Molly’s shoulder and gave it a not-very-friendly squeeze because it was more of a like-a-lover squeeze.
“Did you knit that?” Cassidy asked, moving toward the scarf on his chair.
“Gavin knitted it,” Molly clarified. “Gavin is a knitting master.”
His scowl deepened, and she swore he growled.
“Aren’t you, Gavin?” Molly asked, looking up at him. Finally able to shove herself deep down inside so she could be perky and likable and not at all jealous. “Do you knit, Cassidy?”
“I do.” Cassidy nodded. “I love to knit.”
Of course she did. This was something they could do together. Cassidy wouldn’t even just sit aside and watch. She’d get right on in there with him.
“It’s a hobby,” Cassidy continued. “I’ve been doing it for a few years now.”
“That’s great.” Molly nudged Gavin with her elbow. “Isn’t it great?”
“Totally great.” Gavin didn’t move his hand from Molly’s shoulder as he said, “What are you working on, Cass?”
“She’s making me a sweater,” the little mini-Cassidy said. “A pink one. With a unicorn.”
“The unicorn is up in the air,” Cassidy said, reaching for her mini-me’s hand and swinging it between them. “I’m not convinced I can pull it off.”
Seriously, could these two be any cuter?
“I’m sure you’ll make it happen.” Molly grinned even though she felt a lot like vomiting in Gavin’s new knitting basket.
“Who is this?” Charlie asked, gruff as ever, but with enough kindness that Cassidy didn’t grab her kid and run out of the room.
“This is Cassidy,” Molly said. “And her daughter. I didn’t catch your name?”
“Gabby,” Cassidy said. “Gabby, this is mommy’s old friend Gavin and his friend, Molly.”
The kid’s name was Gabby? She may as well have named her Gavin, Jr.
Was it hot in there? Yes, it was getting hot. Molly was feeling very warm.
Agnes was now intently observing the interaction. The pointed glance she gave to Cassidy’s empty wedding ring finger had her scowling deeper than Gavin had at the beginning of this conversation.
“Oh no, no, no.” Agnes stared knitting needle daggers in Molly’s direction. “Molly, don’t you do it.”
Molly whispered to Gabby like they were conspiring together, “They’re being so silly because they think I don’t know what’s best for everyone.”
“Do you know what’s best for everyone?” Gabby asked with the innocence of a tiny human.
“I do.” Molly nodded. Because, well…she did.
