Page 145 of Letters to Molly (Maysen Jar 2)

“A couple times when you were a baby. Your mom and I used to come up this trail a lot.”

“Why did you stop?”

“There were lots of other great spots to explore with you guys too.”

It was a partial truth. I’d done a ton of hiking in other parts of the valley with the kids, but I hadn’t brought them up here. It was a harder climb. And this trail was Molly’s favorite. It hadn’t seemed right to come here without her.

Behind us, Molly and Max were looking over a different part of the ridge. Max was standing on a tall rock, making funny faces as Molly snapped pictures of him on her phone.

“I love it up here,” Kali said quietly, more to herself than to me.

I hugged her closer to my side. She smiled up at me, then looked behind us as Max and Molly laughed.

Then she dropped her gaze to her feet. “They worked.”

“Huh? What worked?”

“The let—” Her body tensed. Then she was gone, twirling out of my embrace and hurrying over to join Max on his boulder.

“What the hell?” I muttered to the wind.

Maybe I was wrong, but my gut was telling me that Kali had just slipped up and almost said the letters.

I wanted to pull her aside and ask again, but I forced myself to let it go. For now. I’d ask her when we were home and alone.

After a family selfie, we made our way down the trail. The kids took the lead, setting the pace on our descent as Molly and I brought up the rear.

“That was fun.” She nudged my shoulder with her own.

“Yeah, it was.”

“Are you okay? When we were on the ridge, you looked upset. Is it Alcott? Because we can rip those papers up when we get to the Jeep.”

I pulled her into my arms, stopping us on the trail. “No, it’s not Alcott. It was nothing.”

“You’re sure?”

My answer was to put my lips on hers and kiss her breathless.

“Gross!” Max shouted.

Molly smiled against my lips. “He’s grounded.”

“For at least an hour. Kali too. Long enough for us to shower together when we get home.”

“You’re brilliant. I love you.”

“I love you too.” I kissed her again. “Race you to the bottom?”

“Oh, I don’t think we should. Your first hike out, you’d better take it easy.”

“No, I’m fi—” Before I could finish arguing with her, she’d shoved me away and was running down the trail. “Cheater.”

Her laughter echoed through the trees as she flew past the kids. “You’ll never catch me, Alcott.”

Max and Kali giggled as they took off after her.

I chuckled, jogging slowly along to give them a head start.