“Let me know what time and what store you’re planning to meet at.”
“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Sally admitted. “But I will soon. Thanks again, Molly. I love you.”
Her heart almost folded in half at the second shocker of the day. “I love you, too,” she managed to choke out.
“Bye, Molly.” After her sister had hung up, she stared at the phone for several moments before she set it down, grinning like a fool. She’d mentally prepared herself to be left out of the wedding party, had even wondered if she’d make the invite list. But thanks to Dan, Sally had realized that being sisters was important.
Maybe their relationship wouldn’t be completely fixed overnight, but this was a good start. A really, really good start.
Her smile faded. She wondered who in Dan’s life had made him aware of how important he was? Certainly not his ex-wife. And he didn’t have any brothers or sisters, because he’d mentioned being an only child.
The ache in her heart returned, and she wondered if she’d been too hasty in her refusal to see Dan again.
Molly looked for opportunities to have a personal conversation with Dan, but as the week went on she hardly saw him at all. According to Josh, his dad had been on call again, leaving Mitch to spend the night and subsequently accompany Josh to therapy.
She should have been glad to hear Dan hadn’t used her as one of his nannies but instead she couldn’t help feeling guilty at how she’d left things between them.
Telling herself that putting distance between them was for the better was one thing. But the lingering doubts wouldn’t go away.
After rain during the week, the sun came out by Friday and according to the weather reports, temperatures were supposed to get up as high as sixty degrees by Saturday. Perfect weather for Josh’s surprise birthday party and the wheelchair football game.
She’d been thrilled to see Dan on Friday afternoon, but he was all business as they stored the wheelchairs in the truck he’d rented.
“That’s the last of them,” he said, stepping down from the truck. “Thanks for your help, Molly.”
She tried to smile, even though she missed the easy camaraderie that they’d once shared. “No problem. I’m going to head out to the park early to hide the prizes. What time are you going to have Josh there?”
“The party starts at one, so I thought we’d get there about one-fifteen.” They’d already agreed that the other kids should all be there, holding a big birthday banner, before Josh arrived. “Unless you think we need to wait a little longer?” he asked uncertainly.
She pursed her lips, considering the timeframe. “No, I think one-fifteen should be fine. I suspect some of the kids will get there early, anyway.”
Dan reached out to take her hand in his. “Molly, I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said earlier this week. If you don’t want to help me with this party, I can handle it on my own,” he said, his eyes dark and serious. “I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you.”
“You’re not taking advantage. I want to help. I want to be there for Josh.” Seeing him now, after missing him for several days, she wondered if she’d been wrong to compare him to James. “Besides, I owe you for the way you stood up for me with my sister. She told me what you said to her in the cafeteria.”
Dan scowled. “She needed to hear the truth. But that doesn’t matter, because there isn’t a score card, Molly. Friends help friends without expecting anything in return.”
“I know.” She kept the smile on her face, even though she feared her cheeks might crack from the pressure. Her instincts were screaming at her that she’d been wrong, but this wasn’t the time or the place to discuss their personal issues.
He let out a heavy sigh. “I have to go, but I hope maybe after Josh’s party you and I can talk. There are … some things I’d like to share with you.”
Now he’d intrigued her. “All right.”
He flashed a lopsided grin and then nodded. “See you tomorrow, Molly.”
“Until then, Dan.” She couldn’t understand the sudden sadness that nearly overwhelmed her when he walked away.
She had trouble falling asleep that night, thinking too much about Dan and Josh, and then overslept. When she realized it was almost ten in the morning, she shot out of bed like a rocket.
Thankfully, she’d already wrapped her present for Josh, hoping he’d like the Yankees sweatshirt she’d bought him, a miniature replica of his father’s. She’d been tempted to get the full uniform, but since she knew he wouldn’t be playing much this year, she’d chosen the sweatshirt instead.
But she still had dozens of gifts to hide near where they were going to play wheelchair football. She quickly showered and changed her clothes. Once she was ready, she tossed the items in a large reusable grocery bag and then headed down to the subway.
The ride to Central Park didn’t take long, and she relaxed when she realized she had almost two full hours to get the gifts hidden and the banner ready. Hiding the gifts didn’t take long, and she spent some of her extra time lining up the wheelchairs into two teams.
As she’d suspected, several kids came early. “Where’s Josh and his dad?” the first mom asked, craning her neck as if to search him out.
“They’re not here yet. He’s bringing Josh at one-fifteen. The party is a surprise.”
“Oh.” Her face fell in disappointment.
Molly tried not to scowl at how the woman was clearly interested in Dan, considering she’d shown up at the birthday party dressed to kill in cream slacks and a red blouse that dipped low enough in the front to show off a fair amount of cleavage.
“I guess I can wait, then.”
Molly’s gaze narrowed but she simply shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
“What did you say your name was again?” the woman asked as she turned to greet the next child.
“Molly Shriver.” Maybe it was small of her, but she didn’t label herself as Josh’s physical therapist. She turned to the next new arrival. “Hi, welcome to Josh’s surprise party. Thanks so much for coming.”
By ten after one a large crowd of kids had gathered in the park in front of the wheelchairs. Molly took charge, unrolling the banner and getting all the kids together to hold it up for Josh.
When Dan and Josh arrived, Josh’s eyes widened in shock as everyone yelled, “Surprise!”
“Happy birthday, Josh,” Dan said, as he got Josh’s wheelchair out of the trunk. “Guess what? We’re going to play wheelchair football.”
“We are?” Josh looked as if he was shell-shocked as the kids crowded around and wished him happy birthday before picking out their own wheelchairs.
“We are,” Molly said, crossing over to give him a hug. “And you’re going to have the advantage in this game,” she whispered, giving him
