“Of course they’re honorable,” he grunted. “I went to bingo with her, didn’t I?”
“Congratulations, you two.” Gavin held his hand out to Charlie. “I’m happy for you both.”
“Well, this is something that will shore up our matchmaking story,” Molly said, a little numb. A little shocked.
Also, excited. Really, she was excited.
She hopped to her feet and moved to give Agnes the biggest of big hugs. “I love you and I’m glad you have this.”
“Good, because I love you, too.” Agnes squeezed her right back. She patted Molly on the back. Then she leaned away and studied Molly’s face. “You’re my Molly.”
Well, that was nice. She came in second to Charlie’s son now, but at least she had a place in the line of Agnes’s life.
“What’s coming next?” Molly asked, leery of the answer.
“Things change,” Agnes said. “Life pushes us forward.”
Molly did not enjoy change unless she needed a quarter and found one in the bottom of her purse. That was the only kind of acceptable change.
“You’re going to Minnesota,” Molly said. Her throat felt like she’d swallowed a handful of sawdust at the thought. But it’d be fine. Totally fine.
Agnes nodded. “To be with Charlie’s son and his family.”
Gavin’s hand found Molly’s and squeezed. She didn’t squeeze back because she couldn’t really get her muscles to move correctly.
“Charlie’s son moved to Minneapolis a few years back. His wife is excited to have us close and his kids are ready for their grandpa,” Agnes said, gently and softly.
“And a grandma,” Charlie said, not a touch of grumpy at all.
Molly was happy, really she was. But Agnes sealed the deal on her happily ever after just as Molly’s entire world opened underneath her.
Not literally, she didn’t pass out or hit the floor or anything like that. It just finally hit her like a load of brick emojis.
She just…
She was shaking a little.
Agnes was moving across the country?
Who was going to check her milk?
That perfect house didn’t seem so perfect anymore. It had been perfect because Agnes was close.
Also, the stove-pot-filling faucet.
Her whole life felt lopsided. Like the counterbalance was missing.
Then Gavin was behind her, his palm against her shoulder, pulling her to his chest, giving her something to lean on.
“You’re moving.” Molly said, going for cheerful, but, dammit, her voice cracked.
“I’m moving.” A tear fell down Agnes’s cheek. “Life pushes us forward.” Another tear chased the first over Agnes’s cheek.
No, Molly couldn’t have that. Couldn’t let Agnes be sad when her life was moving forward at full speed into happiness.
So Molly did what she did best. She shook it off.
“This is fantastic,” she said, smiling as broadly as her lips would allow. “You’ll be so happy. And you’ll have grandkids. They’ll be so lucky.”
