Page 147 of Letters to Molly (Maysen Jar 2)

“Not my smartest move,” I muttered.

“Honestly, at the time I thought it was smart. You and Molly were divorced. You were moving on. Eventually she would too. Poppy had such a hard time with it. She knew you both still loved each other and thought you were wasting love.”

And for a woman who had lost love unexpectedly, it was no surprise Poppy had taken it hard.

“Our opinions swapped, Poppy’s and mine,” Cole said. “At first, I’d thought it was a good thing. Poppy struggled with it. Then she started to accept that you and Molly were through. The more I was around you both, all the years you’d look at each other across the room and smile, forgetting for that split second you were divorced, it started to make me crazy. But I didn’t want to get involved.”

“Then you found the letters,” I guessed.

“That’s right. I found those and took a wild guess that Molly had never seen a single one. I figured, maybe if she did, you two would stop fucking around.”

I chuckled. “Quite a gamble.”

“Nah. I knew you two wouldn’t let me down.” He brought his bottle to his smiling lips. “How’d you figure out it was me?”

“After Kali said that today, I knew it had to be someone close. I started thinking back to all the times Molly and I confronted you guys about the letters. Everyone denied it. Over and over. Everyone except you. You evaded.”

Cole had acted shocked. He’d had alibis for his whereabouts every night. But he’d never actually come out and said No, it wasn’t me.

“I don’t know what to say,” I admitted. I set my beer aside and stretched out my hand. “Thanks.”

“Do right by Molly. And by yourself.” He shook my hand. “That’s all the thanks I need.”

The door to the garage opened and Poppy poked her head outside. “Cole, you can start the grill.”

“Okay, beautiful.”

Cole and I left the garage with fresh beers. While he went to the grill, I found Molly standing in the kitchen, eating chips and salsa.

“Hey.” She took my beer away for a healthy swig. “Poppy and I were thinking of throwing you a party to celebrate your ‘retirement.’ We could have it at the restaurant. You could invite anyone from Alcott. What do you think?”

“I’m game.”

She smiled. “Good. We’ll get planning.”

The kitchen was buzzing with activity as people gathered around the spread of appetizers Poppy had laid out. My parents were here. Cole’s were too, along with his sister’s family. It was guaranteed to be a fun night, but before we got to the good times, I had to talk to Molly.

I had to tell her that Cole had been the one to send the letters. For that, I didn’t need an audience.

“Come with me for a sec.” I grabbed her hand, threading our fingers together as we snuck away to the front porch. Then I told her about how Cole had sent the letters and how Kali had helped.

“A part of me wants to hit him upside the head for putting us through everything. But I’m grateful. So very grateful.”

“Me too.” I pulled her into my arms, resting my cheek on the top of her head. She gave me her weight, settling into the embrace like we’d done a hundred times. Like we’d do a thousand more. “I’m not going to stop.”

“Stop what?”

I held her tighter. “The letters.”

From now until the end of our days, Molly would get my letters.

_

Darling Molly,

* * *

I just might have to marry you. Again.