CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“Molly, I hear there’s someone you want to introduce me to!”
Stanley’s voice boomed through the gift shop. But this time, instead of jumping away from Harry, Molly could barely make herself shift out of the circle of his arms. Every time he touched her, another part of her heart lit up that she’d thought would remain forever dark.
She felt his hand stroke her hair, and then they separated. Only, as soon as they were apart, she wanted to reach for his hand again.
Just because she knew better than to start another romantic relationship with Harry, that didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends, did it? In fact, wouldn’t it be best for Amelia if they were?
Pushing away the thought that being just friends with Harry was bound to be impossible, when it wasn’t only her heart lighting up whenever he touched her, she turned to Stanley. “I’d like to introduce you to Harry Sullivan, Amelia’s father. Harry, this is Stanley, my boss and my good friend.”
The two men shook hands, then Stanley said, “Greta filled me in on some of the details. Sounds like both of you have been thrown on a roller coaster right at the loop-de-loop.”
“That’s exactly what it feels like,” Molly agreed.
“You could have called us, you know. We would have dropped everything to be there for you.”
“You and Greta are both so sweet to offer.” She’d spent so long going it alone, that even after years as part of a generous community, it was still hard to remember she could ask people for help—and that they would come. “You won’t be surprised to hear that Amelia is absolutely thrilled.”
“I’m sure she is, finding out her father isn’t some deadbeat, after all.” Stanley turned back to Harry. “Unless you’re a deadbeat who scrubs up real good, that is. What do you do for a living?”
“I teach history at Columbia. At least, I did until yesterday, when I took a leave of absence.”
“To come here and be with Amelia and Molly?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Any other children? Wife or girlfriend?”
“No, sir, on both counts.”
Molly had never been in a situation like this, where her father vetted a potential suitor.
Okay, so Stanley wasn’t actually her father—and she and Harry weren’t dating. But from where she was standing, it still felt the same. Embarrassing…and also really nice. Just to have someone care about her enough to look after her.
At last, Stanley softened toward Harry. “You be sure to let Greta and me know if you need anything. We’ve always looked out for Molly and Amelia—at least, when they’ll let us. We’ll do the same for you.”
“Thank you.” Harry looked at her and smiled. “Fortunately, the three of us seem to be doing a good job so far of working things out as they come up.”
“In that case,” Stanley said, “maybe you can help convince Molly to take my offer.”
“Which offer is that?”
“Stanley—”
He plowed on despite Molly’s attempt to stop him. “Our historical archivist has recently left to work in Europe. I’ve been after Molly to take the job, but she keeps turning me down.”
“Stanley,” Molly said again, “we’ve already talked about this. You don’t need to bring Harry into it.”
“I wouldn’t need to bring him into it, if you would just see sense!” Stanley’s voice boomed out, loudly enough that several customers looked over to see what the commotion was about. “You’re great at managing the store, and you’ve been instrumental in helping us keep on top of the latest digital technologies. But we both know where your heart really lies. With history, not retail. And no one is more enthusiastic about the history of Boldt Castle than you are.”
Greta called from across the room, “Stanley, your next meeting started five minutes ago.”
“Darn it, the donors are going to get restless if I’m gone any longer. But I’m not letting you off the hook with this, Molly.” He put a hand on Harry’s shoulder. “I hope you won’t either.”
As soon as Stanley walked away, Molly picked up her tablet and started counting coloring books. But when she kept losing count, she knew it was no use trying to concentrate. Not with Harry’s gaze trained on her. And not when she knew exactly what he wanted to say.
Before he could ask why she hadn’t taken the job, she said, “It’s more hours, and I’d need to travel to conferences throughout the year, which won’t work because I need to be here for Amelia.”
“Does she know they’ve offered you the job?”
“No. I asked Stanley and Greta not to mention it. I don’t want her to think she’s holding me back. I guarantee she’d be all over me to take the job if she knew about it.”
“Of course she would. Because she loves you, she wants you to be happy, and she knows it’s exactly the right fit for you.”
“I’ve already told you why I can’t do it! Who is going to be there for Amelia if I’m not?”
“I am,” he said simply. “I know you’ve had to be both mother and father to her for fifteen years, but I’m here now.”
“For how long?”
For a moment, she held her breath, hoping he might say forever. But she knew better than that, knew that even if he did, it wouldn’t necessarily mean anything. Just because people wanted to make promises like that, didn’t mean it was always possible to keep them.
“I won’t leave Amelia. Not now that I’ve found her.” He moved closer and lowered his voice. “And I don’t want to leave you again, Molly. I never wanted to leave you in college either. I’m so sorry that I did.”
Her chest felt so tight she could hardly breathe. “We’ve already talked about this. You did what you had to do.”
“And this time, I’m going to do what I want to do.”
She was caught in his eyes, in his words, already wrapped up in his spell. Right smack dab in the romantic dreams she’d once had. Dreams she knew better than to believe in.
She decided it would be best to approach this from a wholly sensible standpoint. “What about your job? You worked hard to get where you are.”
“I’m not worried about my job. I have tenure, which means I can take some time to research and write. And if I want to get back into the classroom, I’m sure I can teach at a sister university nearby.”
Since sensible hadn’t worked, she had to remind him, and herself, “We have to think about Amelia. You can’t do anything—we can’t do anything that could hurt her.”
“Do you really think my falling back in love with her mother will hurt her?”
Molly opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. How could it, when she had no idea how to respond? No idea what to think, or how to feel, after hearing Harry say that he might be falling in love with her again.
“How’s inventory going over there?” Greta called from behind the register.
Her friend must have noticed her fumbling from across the room and was trying to save her. But whether from Harry, or from herself, Molly honestly didn’t know.
“I’m guessing that’s my cue to get back to work and give you a breather.” But before he walked away, he leaned in close and said, “I meant every word, Molly. I’m not here for a vacation. And I’m not here to play at being a father. Now that I’ve found my daughter—and now that I’ve found you again—I’m here to stay.”
* * *
Epiphanies, Harry now realized, were funny things. They didn’t creep up on you, so much as bash you over the head with an emotional two-by-four.
Manhattan had been his home for more than three decades. Less than twenty-four hours ago, he’d packed a bag so that he could be with his daughter in Alexandria Bay.
Harry had never been the crazy Sullivan. He’d never been the impetuous one. And he’d certainly never been the one who wore his heart on his sleeve. Yet, already he knew that this was where he would be staying for good. He wouldn’t regret giving up his job, if it came to that. He wouldn’t regret leaving behind a successful career. He wouldn’t regret leaving the nonstop activity of the city for the slow, quiet pace of a small town.
The only thing he would regret was not being there one hundred percent for Amelia.
And not giving every last piece of his heart to Molly.
He’d made so many mistakes when it came to love. In college, he hadn’t had enough faith in his relationship with Molly, hadn’t believed they could stay the course.
But Amelia had changed everything. Not only by ringing his doorbell and giving him the best news of his life, but by proving to him that Molly had the most steady, most faithful heart of anyone he’d ever known.
Molly was his first love.
Harry knew without a shadow of a doubt that she would be his last.