Butterfly Kisses Read online

  Molly felt like crying. She hated being here. She just wanted to sleep in her own bed. “What would I need to achieve to be able to go home?”

  He glanced through the chart again, Molly knew it was to buy more time before answering. She doubted he took such considerations with other patients and knew it was because of his growing relationship with Tiffany that he even sat with her now.

  “I can speak to the orthopaedic surgeon. If he thinks the fracture in your pelvis is on track, I’ll see about separating the cage down your right side. After that, I want to see you be able to stand on crutches and move from the bed to a wheelchair. Only then would I consider discharging you.”

  Molly did cry then. If it was only her right leg that was the problem she would be able to use crutches without issue. However, with her left knee the way it was, no way she would be able to put any pressure on it for weeks. It was hopeless. She felt Doctor Miles take her hand, another gesture she was sure was reserved for her only.

  “I know this is hard for you, but you need to give it time. If you leave here too soon you could be doing long-term damage. I promise the minute I think it’s safe I’ll let you go.”

  “Thank you.”

  He squeezed her hand then stood and left, leaving Molly even more depressed than before he arrived. Maybe she could get Tiffany to bring things from her cottage to help this hell-hole feel more like home?

  An hour later Jac arrived carrying a cardboard folder, the sight of her causing Molly’s gut to clench. Since Jac had arrived back in Wolverhampton she had steadily put on weight and the hollow look she had in her eyes had vanished. She looked like the Jac Molly used to know, and for just a second, the stirrings of arousal that had long been dead made itself known. Molly glanced away, reigning in her hormones. She had asked Jac for friendship, she couldn’t muddy that request now by allowing her old attraction to surface.

  “Hey, Mol,” Jac greeted as she bent and kissed Molly’s forehead. It was a familiar gesture that Jac always used to do. Molly didn’t think Jac even realised she had done it. “I’ve got the contracts drawn up for you to look at. If you’re happy with them, I’ll set a meeting up with Barry.”

  “Thank you. What about Ralph?”

  Jac looked away and cleared her throat. “I, uh, haven’t spoken to him yet.”

  “Jesus, Jac. Why not? He isn’t going to like you avoiding him.”

  “I know, but I really don’t want to speak to him yet. I want to make sure you and Tiff are protected before I contact him.”

  “Do you think he’d cause trouble for us?” Jac glanced away again, her lips frowning. “What aren’t you telling me?”

  “Molly, you already know what an ass of a company he runs. He isn’t shy about using dirty tactics to get what he wants.”

  “Did you used to do the same?” Jac wouldn’t look at her in the eye, her skin flushing. Molly knew Jac well enough to know she looked ashamed. “Tell me. I won’t think less of you.”

  “Yes, I did. I was his best negotiator.”

  The way Jac muttered the words sent a chill through Molly’s skin. How could the woman she married turn into someone so cold? But then again, Jac had been nothing but generous and caring since she’d been back. Tiffany had told Molly that more than once Jac had been spotted helping Gabe and Jay pack things up, always willing to help. Molly couldn’t reconcile this Jac to a cold, blood-thirsty taker. Molly asked the most important question, Jac’s answer would be the deciding factor on whether Molly could completely forgive her.

  “Did you enjoy it?” Jac’s gaze flew to Molly, the intensity of her stare chasing away the cold out of Molly’s body.

  “Never. Not once. I did it because I had to, and if I ever found a way to do the things I needed to nicely, I did. I was alone, Molly. I had lost you. I lost myself. But I promise you, I’m done being like that. I’ll never hurt anyone like that again.”

  “It’s okay, I believe you.” And she really did. One thing Molly could always do is read Jac’s eyes. She had never looked so sincere. She held her hand out. “Let me take a look at what you’ve drawn up.” Jac passed her the file and for the next twenty minutes, Jac explained all the stipulations she had come up with. She had done an amazing job. If Barry and Ralph signed it, Bloomin’ Butterfly would be protected for four months and both Barry and Billings & Lloyd wouldn’t be able to come on the property or harass Molly or Tiffany in all that time. If they had any queries, they would need to refer to Jac, she would be acting as their company solicitor.

  “This all looks good. You’ve done an amazing job on it.”

  “Thanks.” Jac took the contract back and placed it into the folder. “I’ll arrange a meeting to take place here somewhere with you, Tiffany, Barry, and Ralph. They might want to change a few things, but I won’t let them. If they want the lease broken, they’ll have to sign.”

  “What’s your fee for doing this?”

  “Don’t insult me.” Jac narrowed her eyes but then softened her features, reaching out to take Molly’s hand. “Family takes care of family. You and Tiff are my closest and only friends. If friends can’t do you a favour then it’s a bad job.”

  Molly was touched that Jac would do this for them, more proof that Jac wasn’t the horrible person Molly had once thought. Not for the first time she regretted kicking Jac out all those years ago.

  Not wanting to talk about her doomed business any longer, she said, “I asked Doctor Miles if I could go home.”

  “Oh yeah? What did he say?”

  Molly relayed what he told her, her frustration growing with every word. Jac waited patiently for her to finish then sat thinking for a long while. Eventually, she nodded and smiled, as if she had considered options and had reached a decision.

  “Do you think he would let you home if your bedroom was decked out with all the necessary hospital equipment? You know, like a bed, hoists, ramps, shower stall, things like that?”

  “He might. But he’ll be concerned about getting me back here for appointments and rehab.”

  “I could hire a private ambulance to make sure you’re secure and have a rehab specialist come out to see you. You can do the same exercises at home as you can here.”

  “Jac, that all sounds wonderful, but I can’t afford to do all that.” If she had the funds she would jump at the chance to go home, but it wasn’t feasible. If any money was made from the sale of the farm it would all have to go on paying bills, as well as the rent she would have to pay wherever she chose to live. She wouldn’t be able to work for a while and certainly couldn’t afford to buy a place. No, as much as she wanted to go home, the funds just weren’t there.

  “I’ll pay.”

  “What? No way.” Over her dead body would she be beholden to Jac. It was one thing to offer herself as free legal counsel, quite another to stump up thousands of pounds for Molly’s after-care. “You’re crazy if you think I’d let you pay for that.”

  “I can afford it. And besides, we’re still married in the eyes of the law. What’s mine is yours.”

  “No.” Jac folded her arms across her chest, clearly angry Molly wouldn’t accept her offer. Molly didn’t care how angry she got, she wouldn’t take her money. “Jac, we’ve only just started to be friends again. I don’t want to ruin that with money.”

  “The way I see it, it’s my fault you’re in here anyway. If I hadn’t have come back, you wouldn’t have been driving angry and upset. This is the least I can do.”

  “No. You’re not using money as a way to ease your conscience. You have nothing to feel guilty about. I was the one not paying attention. It was an accident. No one is responsible but me.”

  Jac glared at her for a moment then sat on the bed, careful not to jostle it too much. She ran her fingers through Molly’s hair, Molly closed her eyes at the gentle caress. “How about this? Why don’t I sell the Triumph? You can use that money and it won’t be coming out of my personal bank account.”

  “You still have that?” The Triumph had bee
n a graduation gift from Jac’s father for passing the bar exam. The last time Molly had seen it, Jac had driven away from her for the last time.

  “Yeah. It’s kept in my garage. I haven’t driven it for five years.”

  “The day you left.”

  Jac nodded as a lone tear rolled down her cheek. “I parked it up as soon as I got to London and rented a space for it. I couldn’t bear to get back in it.”

  “Oh, Jac. I’m sorry.” Molly knew how much that car meant to her. Not only was it a gift, but it was also the last thing Jac’s father had given to her before he died of cancer. Jac had loved that car and it crushed Molly to know she no longer drove it. “I can’t let you do that, not for me.”

  “Please, Mol. Please let me do this for you. You mean more to me than a car sitting collecting dust.” Jac looked so earnest and desperate to help that Molly found herself agreeing.

  “I’ll pay you back, every penny. Don’t argue with me about it.”

  “Okay.” Jac stood from the bed. “I’ll go track down Tiffany’s boyfriend and see what he says.”

  Molly watched her leave then she closed her eyes, her head still tingling from Jac’s fingers. It would be so easy to fall back in love with her. Jac had always been kind and compassionate, barring the last few years, and it was getting harder to resist not giving in and letting herself feel all the things she had before. The sooner Molly got back on her feet, literally, the quicker she could stop feeling like her life was no longer in her hands.

  ***

  Three days later Molly’s mood had improved. Doctor Miles had finally conceded to letting her go home. The full-length cage was set to be changed this morning. The radiologist found no reason why her pelvis needed to be restricted as the fracture wasn’t near her hip joint, this would allow Molly to sit up at an angle and not flat on her back. Doctor Miles had warned her though to lay as still as possible for the next week or so to allow more time for the fracture to heal. Molly would do whatever he said if it meant she could go home. He had told her she had to stay one more week, to give Jac enough time to install everything he suggested at her cottage before she could leave. Jac had promised everything would be ready in record time and had already started ordering supplies and a contractor to do the work. A sudden thought hit her. Jac would be going into her cottage, the home they once shared. A home Molly hadn’t changed in the five years since Jac had left.

  She reached over to the roller-table and grabbed her mobile, dialling Tiffany’s number. She answered on the third ring.

  “Tiff, I need your help,” she said without preamble.

  “Of course.”

  “I need you to go into the cottage and remove as much of Jac’s things as possible. Pictures of us and other trinkets that were part of our life together.”

  “What are you talking about, Mol?”

  “Tiff, I haven’t changed the place since she left. When she goes in there to install the hospital stuff she’ll see it all. I don’t want her getting the wrong idea.”

  “And what idea would that be?”

  Sometimes Molly just wanted to slap Tiffany upside the head. She knew damn well what idea Jac would get, that Molly wasn’t over her yet like she had said. Jac would have to be stupid not to notice the photos of them lining the walls, the shell collection they built together from all their holidays, Jac’s leather jacket still hanging by the door. There was so much of Jac still in there it was like she had never left. That was the way Molly wanted it. Although she had been the one to end the relationship, that didn’t mean she wasn’t still in love with her. Having all her things about her comforted Molly on the long lonely nights when she thought she would never heal from the loss of her. Over time it just became easier to leave it all where it was. After all, she hadn’t expected Jac to ever come back. The only person who ever went inside her home was Tiffany and she was her best friend, so she didn’t mind her knowing Molly couldn’t throw it all away.

  “Please, Tiff. Don’t wind me up. I can’t have her seeing it all.” Tiffany was silent for a long time that Molly thought she might refuse, but then she heard her sigh down the line.

  “Molly, you know I’d do anything for you, so yes, of course, I’ll hide everything, but would it really be so bad if Jac did see it? I mean, you still love her, right? Maybe it’ll be a good thing.”

  “No. I can’t go there, not yet. There’s too much going on and I need to concentrate on getting better. If she sees it all she’ll think we have a chance. I don’t want to give her false hope.”

  “Okay. I’ll do it. When is she coming over?”

  “Tomorrow morning, first thing.”

  “I’ll go there tonight then, once I’ve finished at the farm. You owe me. I was supposed to be going on a date with Craig tonight, but I’ll have to cancel.”

  It took Molly a moment to realise Craig was Doctor Miles, she felt instantly guilty. “I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”

  “No worries. You’d do the same for me. I’ll text you when I’m done.”

  “Thank you. You’re the best.”

  “I know.”

  Molly hung up and sighed, relieved that Jac wouldn’t see how sad Molly’s life had become. She should have thrown it all out the minute Jac left, but to do that Molly would have had to admit their relationship was over for good, and that was something she couldn’t do then and hadn’t been able to do in the years since that day. Even though Jac had moved miles away from her, she was always in Molly’s heart. Molly knew she always would be, but as long as she kept her feelings in check, and her libido under control, she would be able to maintain a friendship with Jac and let any notion of them living the rest of their days together go.

  Chapter Ten

  Jac pulled her car up outside Molly’s cottage and smiled, it felt good to see the home she had once shared with her again after so many years. Although the cottage was on the property of Bloomin’ Butterfly, it was set back at the far end of the land and gave Molly the privacy she needed from the business, but was close enough to be on-site if she was needed at any time of the day or night. Even though Jac had been to the farm plenty of times over the last couple of weeks to help Tiffany, she hadn’t ventured this far. She exited the car and just stood looking at the quaint home. It looked very much the same as when she had last seen it. The bushes and flowers that boarded the small garden where all neatly trimmed and in full bloom, Jac knew it was Tiffany’s touch that had them blossoming so well. She went to the boot of her car and opened it up, pulling out the planks of wood she was going to use to build a ramp for the front door. She told Molly she wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow morning, but she wanted to get a head start before the contractors came to outfit the bathroom. She wanted to be inside watching them, making sure they did everything right, instead of being out front.

  She had just dumped the small toolbox by the front door when a noise from inside caught her attention. Jac glanced behind her before moving her head to the wood panelling to listen closely. The sound of grunting alerted her that someone was definitely in there. She grabbed a wrench from the toolbox to use as a weapon then slowly twisted the handle, biting her lip as it turned easily and opened. Her heart rate increased as she gradually pushed open the door. She stepped over the threshold and into the lounge. A figure dressed in khaki trousers and a Bloomin’ Butterfly T-shirt had their back to her by the large bookcase, reaching for Jac and Molly’s wedding photo from the top shelf.

  “Tiffany?” Tiffany whirled around, the action causing her to drop the collection of photo frames she was holding onto the ground, the sound of breaking glass making them both jump. “What on earth are you doing?”

  “Jac, you scared the crap outta me,” Tiffany said, her hand going to her heart.

  “Sorry. I didn’t know you were in here.” She put the wrench by the door. “What exactly are you doing here?” she asked as she came back into the room. It really wasn’t her business what Tiffany was up to, after all, it was Molly’s home, but the guil
ty look on her face told Jac something was up.

  “Molly said you weren’t coming by until tomorrow.”

  “I wanted to get a head start on the ramp out front.” Jac glanced down at the pile of broken frames. She bent and began picking them up. All the photos were of Molly and Jac. She quirked an eyebrow, glancing back up to Tiffany who was looking everywhere but at her. She stood and placed the frames onto a nearby end table. “Tiff, look at me.” Tiffany glanced at her quickly but then looked down at the slate floor. Jac stepped closer to her and tilted her head up by the chin. She didn’t say anything, she just kept eye contact. Finally, Tiffany blurted it all out.

  “Molly wanted me to come and get rid of all the things to do with you.”

  Jac frowned and dropped her hand from Tiffany’s face. She looked around the small lounge noticing it looked exactly the same as when she last lived there five years ago. She spun in a slow circle taking it all in. “Why would she keep it all like this? It’s like I died, and she couldn’t bear to throw any of it away.” She stared at Tiffany. “What’s going on?”

  Tiffany took a deep breath then slumped on to the couch, she chewed her lip for several seconds as if deciding whether to break Molly’s confidences. “Jac, you know what this means.”

  “I truly don’t.” The way Molly had kicked her out left no doubt in Jac’s mind that Molly would have burned all her stuff, the hate and anguish she saw in her eyes told her she would never be welcomed here again.

  “She never stopped loving you. That’s why it all looks the same. She couldn’t bring herself to get rid of any of it.”

  “Then why are you doing it now?”

  “She didn’t want you to see it. She didn’t want you to know that she was still in love with you.”

  Jac looked around the room again, the joy of learning Molly still had feelings for her was quickly overshadowed by Molly’s need to hide that fact. It didn’t matter if she was still in love with her, Molly clearly didn’t want a romantic relationship with Jac again and she needed to respect that. She glanced at Tiffany. “Go find some boxes and I’ll help you pack it all up.”