Three Makes a Family--A Clean Romance Cari Webb (short books for teens txt) 📖

“Meet you at the front.” Drew headed off and wove around the tables, in search of the fountain.

Molly walked through the swinging door and located Gina at the bar. “Our meal was excellent, and I appreciate the collection of balloon animals.”

“They are always a favorite of the kids.” Gina filled a glass with the soda sprayer. “I’m sorry I can’t help you or offer any more information for Drew’s situation.”

“It was a long shot.” Molly set a business card on the polished bar top. “This is my information. If you think of anything, please call me.”

Gina ignored the business card. “I was just an admin assistant. There’s not much to tell.”

“Drew told me you would’ve been an outstanding paralegal. You were always astute, alert and quick on your feet.” Skills Molly imagined served the former administrative assistant well in her work and life.

“That’s kind.” Gina filled another glass and set it on a serving tray. “Those are skills that come in handy here at our family’s restaurant.”

“And when raising a child alone.” Molly hated that she might have to expose the hardworking single mother. She considered Drew’s reaction. But she also knew she might not have a choice. She had a job to do and she had to accept the cost. “I know the struggles of single parenting. I’m living it.”

“Then you also know every decision we make is for the benefit of our children.” Gina picked up the tray and held it over her shoulder. “Family has to come first.”

“Always,” Molly said. Everything she did was for her family.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

MOLLY BLEW BUBBLES as she sat on the large blanket she’d spread out on the grass in Brooke’s backyard. Hazel reached out, trying to capture the bubbles. Each one she popped brought a burst of giggles.

Brooke and her best friend, Nichole Jacobs, had arrived earlier with the five puppies and their mom that had been rescued yesterday. Brooke had agreed to foster the family. Dan had carried the mother dog into the house to keep her from putting any pressure on her broken hind leg. Brooke and Nichole had taken over puppy care.

After introductions, Molly shared the names Ella and she had come up with for the puppies. They settled on Nala for the mother. And Wish for the mostly black puppy with the one white paw and clear blue eyes. The other puppy names they agreed Ella and her friends would choose.

Nichole stepped out onto the back porch, Brooke beside her. The two women hurried toward Molly and Hazel.

“The puppies are settled in,” Brooke announced. “Nala is comfortable and resting. The family is together in the laundry room.”

“I got my puppy fix. Now I’ve come to sweep up all this cuteness.” Nichole dropped onto the blanket and scooped Hazel into her lap. “My son, Wesley, is twelve. He’s a good kid and funny, but the preteen attitude is not so cute.”

“Molly and I are going to decorate the alcove in her apartment tonight.” Brooke sat beside Molly. “Transform it into Hazel’s happy nook.”

“I can help.” Nichole walked Hazel through the motions of patty-cake to Hazel’s obvious delight. “Please let me help. My house is boys, soccer and football. I want to see happy in the form of pink, sparkles, and sunshine.”

Molly replaced the cap on the container of bubbles. She was truly grateful, but she’d been in Brooke’s apartment less than a week. It didn’t feel right to make too many changes to a temporary place. “It’s just a small space.”

“But it’s Hazel’s special space.” Brooke touched Molly’s arm, her voice sincere. “It has to be perfect.”

“I don’t want this to be a big deal.” Molly ran her hands over her yoga pants. Changes that could quickly be reversed would be fine. Her parents had never allowed her to fully settle in anywhere as a kid. They kept their apartments sterile to ensure the return of their rental deposits. “We’ve been living out of suitcases for quite a few months.”

“Hazel hasn’t had her own nursery?” Brooke asked.

“My boyfriend and I broke up when I got pregnant. I left him the same night I told him about the pregnancy. The same night he told me not to expect him to participate in my idea for a little family.” She’d returned the following day only to pack the few clothes she’d left at Derrick’s condo. Then she tossed her keys on his sleek non-kid friendly kitchen counter.

“Wow. That was brave,” Nichole said.

“My pregnancy wasn’t easy. Neither was the delivery.” Derrick and she had planned to buy a house together—modern, efficient, expensive. That had never happened. Instead she’d stuck to her rented, furnished town house. She added, “Decorating a room for Hazel kept getting put on hold.”

“I had Wesley by myself. I moved across the country when I was four months pregnant.” Nichole frowned, then shifted until she was eye to eye with Hazel. She sang a couple more lines of pat-a-cake in an exaggerated voice, earning Hazel’s rapt attention. “But the reward is our kids,” she said as she continued to clap the baby’s hands. “They make it worth all the struggles.”

“They certainly do.” Molly’s smile grew along with her daughter’s. But it wasn’t only Hazel’s happiness that filled her with joy. She’d also felt an instant affinity to Brooke and Nichole.

“And you have us.” Brooke looped her arm around Molly’s shoulders and squeezed her. “And soon, the perfect happy nursery in the making.”

“Then it’s settled,” Nichole said. “It’s girls’ night after we get the kids off to their Spring Dance tonight.”

“I’ll text Sophie and tell her the plan.” Brooke pulled her cell phone from her back pocket and glanced at Molly. “Wesley, Ben and Ella are best friends and go everywhere together. They’ve been talking about the dance all week.”

“Hazel and I have a gift Ella might like for the dance.” Molly grinned and stood up. “Let me get it.”

“No, wait. You can give it to her tonight.” Brooke tapped her phone screen. “We’ll do pictures here