Page 55 of Chasing the Sun

They sat down, and she clasped her hands tightly in her lap. Trace seemed friendly enough, but she still felt uncomfortable. She’d rather be in the back with Bryce and Molly, but she was relegated to the waiting room like an extra in a school play.

“So what happened? Bryce didn’t say much on the ride over.”

“She was riding her bike on the driveway, and she said, ‘Look, Mom, no hands.’ The next thing we knew, she was sprawled face down on the ground. She got a bad cut on her forehead that requires stitches and some other scrapes, but she’ll be fine.”

Trace had a calmness about him that made her feel better. Of course, he wasn’t Molly’s parent, so maybe that was why. She couldn’t help but compare him to Bryce, and she noticed how different they were physically. Bryce was lean, with dark features, while Trace had light brown hair and hazel eyes, and he was shorter and stockier.

“No broken bones, though?”

“No.”

She sighed with relief.

“Molly tells us you’re teaching her ballet.”

She smiled. “I am, and she’s a terrific student.”

“She invited us to come and watch her recital,” he said with obvious enthusiasm.

“She needs a few more weeks to practice, but we’ll definitely invite you.” Chloe was glad that Molly had so many people in her life who cared about her, and she was one of them.

She thought about how close she’d become to Molly and Bryce, which reminded her of what had happened in the kitchen. The way he’d been talking, they might have done a lot more than kiss if they hadn’t been interrupted. She felt a flutter in her stomach just thinking about it, but then she reminded herself that Molly came first. She and Bryce wouldn’t be able to resume their relationship until they made sure Molly was okay. In the meantime, she’d have the memories of their kisses to keep her warm.

She and Trace made small talk for the next twenty minutes, and then Victoria, Bryce, and Molly emerged from behind the “Patients and Staff Only” door. Bryce was carrying Molly, and she broke out in a huge smile when she saw Chloe.

Chloe hurried over and rubbed her arm. “Are you okay, sweetie? We were really worried about you.”

Molly nodded and held up a giant sucker. “I’m okay, and the nurse gave me this!”

They all laughed, although Bryce still wore a serious expression.

“We reminded Molly that she should always wear a helmet, even if she’s biking on the driveway,” he said.

Victoria sighed. “It was my fault for not reminding her.”

“Can I go home with Daddy and Chloe tonight?”

“I’m okay with it if you are,” Bryce said to Victoria.

Victoria hesitated for a few beats and then said, “I guess so, if that’s what you want.”

Chloe noticed the look of disappointment on Victoria’s face, and she couldn’t help but feel it too. For whatever reason, Molly wanted to be with her dad tonight, and Chloe had to accept that. She was learning what life was like with a child and that their needs usually came first. If nothing else, it would prepare her for when she had her own child someday.

On the drive home, Bryce relayed the doctor’s instructions, and Chloe listened closely. He finished with, “She won’t be able to practice ballet or go swimming for a few days.”

“That’s okay. We’ll find other things to do, won’t we, Molly?”

She nodded since her mouth was filled with the sucker.

“At least she didn’t break any bones,” Chloe said.

He still hadn’t looked at her much, and she’d hoped that would change now that he knew Molly was okay. The set of his jaw and the stiffness of his posture told her otherwise. A prickly sensation went down her spine, and she wondered if he blamed himself for what had happened, even though it had nothing to do with them.

She willed him to look over and smile at her like he had earlier, but there might as well have been a cement wall between them. It was almost like what had transpired in the kitchen had been a figment of her imagination. Yet she could still recall the heat of his body against hers, his lips on her neck, his arousal pressing into her.

She glanced in the back seat and saw that Molly’s eyes were closed even though the sucker was still in her mouth.

“Bryce? Are you okay?” Chloe ventured.