She told him she thought she’d make herself a cup of tea, and Richard followed her to the kitchen. He kept listening for the front door, wondering what her daughter would think to find him here, but Molly didn’t seem to be worried.
Conversation strayed while they waited for water to boil and then tea to steep. He told her he’d been the electrical contractor for this development and done the work personally on some of the town houses. “Not this one,” he said, looking around a kitchen with pale cherrywood cabinets and countertops of a granite warmed by gold and pink tones. “I keep my hand in, though. Sitting in an office all day doesn’t suit me.”
“I never thought it would suit me, either,” she said, handing him one mug. They moved toward the dining nook and chose seats across the table from each other. “I loved teaching,” she said, her hands cradling the mug. “Honestly, I’m still of two minds about whether I want to stay on the administrative track or go back to the classroom. The pay is better now, though, and that counts when you’re a single parent.”
“Cait’s father doesn’t pay child support?”
“Sure he does, but so much and no more. Braces? My problem. Do you know what braces cost these days?”
“To the penny,” Richard assured her. “Trevor didn’t need them, thank God, but Bree did. After that hit, I added some orthodontic insurance for my employees. Some of them have kids.”
“Those braces came close to taking Colt’s entire year of child support checks.” She shrugged. “I’ve been trying to build a decent college fund for her.”
He saw her flinch as it occurred to her that fund might not be needed now—or, at least, not for its original purpose.
“Oh, Lord,” she whispered.
He felt compelled to offer reassurance. “Things will work out,” was the best he could come up with.
Her eyes flashed indignation. “What does that mean?”
He had to laugh. “That things will work out somehow or another? It doesn’t promise that they’ll work out well.”
“Thanks a lot!” But she was smiling, too.
She stiffened at the same moment he heard the sound of the front door opening. “I’m in the kitchen,” she called.
Richard found himself hoping the kid would go straight up to her bedroom, the way Trevor usually did. No such luck. She appeared in the kitchen, pretty and ridiculously young, wearing jeans and a shiny pink leotard.
“Mom, Sabrina told me…” Her eyes widened. “What’s he doing here?”
“Cait!”
Her face got mulish. “Well, what is he doing here?”
“Talking to your mother.” He drained the last of his tea and stood. “We have some feelings about what’s happened, too, you know. Sometimes talking them out with someone who understands can help.”
She’d been raised to be polite, he suspected, because now she flushed. “I’m sorry,” she muttered.
He smiled at her. “It’s okay. Looks bad, I know. Two adults, alone in the house…” He shook his head solemnly, pleased when she laughed. If she only knew, he couldn’t help thinking. She sure as hell wouldn’t like the way he’d contemplated her mother’s toes and what they’d be capable of doing. He didn’t suppose that she saw her thirty-five-year-old mother as a sexual being. Which made him reflect on what Trevor would say about his father lusting after the mother of his former girlfriend. Probably nothing very nice.
“Thanks for the tea, Molly. And for letting me drop in.”
She stood, too. “No problem.” She glanced at her daughter. “Let me walk Richard to the door, hon.”
“Richard?” The kid sounded outraged.
Even laughing, he felt every year and then some as he headed for the front of the town house.
“Your daughter is a puritan,” he suggested to Molly, while she got out his parka.
She laughed—okay, giggled—and then pressed her fingers to her mouth to hush herself. “Possibly. I’d never noticed.”
“There’s a certain irony.”
“No kidding.” There was the grown-up, sardonic. And then she gave him an uncertain smile. “Thank you for coming, Richard. And for listening.”
“No problem.” Not letting himself hesitate, he took a chance, stepped forward and kissed her lightly on the cheek. “Call anytime,” he said, and went out, not looking back. He felt a little uneasy to discover he took with him a whole lot of sensory impressions: the velvet texture of her skin, the gentle, pillowy feel of her cheek beneath his mouth, the tickle of her hair and an illusive, sweet scent. And his last glimpse—those long toes curling, because he’d kissed her.