“Don’t go,” she pleaded. “You have to stay. We need you.”

“Oh, Molly—”

“I need you,” she interrupted. “‘Specially since they’re not going to let me go back to school in New York.”

Harley reached out to tug on a strand of Molly’s warm brown hair. “I’m sure your dad will figure something out.”

“But I don’t want to go away. I want to be here with Dad. I want to live at home. And I like being here with you here, too. It feels... better.” Molly’s eyes filled with tears. “You make it better. You make it feel... good. ‘Cause you’re not like a housekeeper. You’re like a... mom. Or at least, like what I think a mom would be.”

For a moment Harley couldn’t speak. She swallowed hard, and then again, fighting the awful lump in her throat making it hard to breathe. “Thank you,” she said huskily. “That’s probably the nicest thing anyone could say to me.”

Molly sat down next to Harley on the bed, and looked at her, her small pale brow furrowing. “Don’t you want kids, Miss Harley?”

Harley nodded slowly, aching for all that was and all that wasn’t and all that could never be.

“But you want your own kids,” Molly persisted softly.

Harley bit down into her lip as tears filled her eyes. Her hand shook as she reached up to wipe beneath her eyes, needing to dry the tears before they fell. “I don’t know how to answer that.”

“Oh, I made you sad!” Molly leaned forward, her eyes searching Harley’s. “Don’t cry,” she crooned, wiping away a tear that had slipped free. “Don’t cry. I’m sorry. I always say the wrong thing. Mack says I always talk too much—”

“No, you don’t.” Harley reached out to cup the girl’s cheek. She held Molly’s gaze, her own expression fierce. “You’re perfect. Absolutely perfect in every way. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Molly nodded and hugged Harley, her small arms squeezing fiercely and Harley hugged the girl back.

“So stay with us,” Molly whispered. “I think you’re supposed to be with us, Miss Harley.”

“And how do you know that?”

“I can’t explain it. I just know so.”

There were no words.

There was nothing Harley could say.