Almost a Family by Donna Alward

voice was low with warning. “You know why.”
    He looked over at Sara taking the puzzle apart to start again and then back at Molly. “Just an afternoon of something fun. Like sledding, perhaps. There’s this hill over at the university…”
    “I know the hill,” she answered sharply, a little too sharply. Of course she remembered the hill. They’d gone tobogganing there as students, getting cold and wet and, afterward, heading to the SUB—the student union building—for a hot drink. The two of them and some of their friends, laughing and having a marvelous time. Another on a long list of memories.
    “Forget it then.”
    “Jason, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be short with you. This is all just weird for me,” she tried, but knew it was a lame attempt at explanation.
    “The past is the past, Molly. I thought Sara might enjoy a fun day out, that’s all. Hey, for that matter, I can take her myself and then you can get some work done. Don’t worry about it.”
    Then why, suddenly, did she feel like she was being manipulated?

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Jason took advantage of his morning off to visit Kim alone. The hospital was hushed, with few visitors on her ward. When he slipped inside her room, she woke from a nap with a smile.
    “Hey, neighbor,” she said with a groggy tilt to her lips.
    “Hey, yourself. Sorry I woke you. Should I go?” He gestured back toward the open door.
    “Absolutely not.”
    He took off his coat, draped it over a chair and then pulled the chair next to the bed. “How’re you feeling?”
    “Stiff. Annoyed. I am not healing fast enough. I want out of here like yesterday.” She scowled.
    “You’re doing fine.” His gaze lit on the bouquets of flowers that were past their prime. “You want me to do something with those?”
    Kim followed his gaze. “Keep the cards for me? I’ll get housekeeping to do something with the vases.”
    He nodded, falling silent.
    “Something on your mind?”
    “Yeah. You can guess what.”
    Kim laughed a little, careful not to jar her ribs too much. “I figured as much. Surprised you haven’t been in earlier. She giving you grief?”
    “I know we needed her to help with Sara, but I wish she’d never come.”
    Kim reached over and took his hand, squeezing. “Dredging up the past isn’t fun, is it?”
    “It’s torture,” he confirmed.
    “We both know you can’t use me to hide anymore, though. Don’t we, Jason?”
    He looked down at her bruised, pretty, understanding face. Kim knew things. She knew what had happened six years ago, but she’d never assigned blame. She’d listened, making room for him in her life when he was lonely and full of wishes. She’d filled a spot in him and he’d tried his best to do the same for her. It hadn’t been easy on her, bringing up a baby all by herself. No father. No parents around, no sister to pamper and indulge her. In a way, part of the anger he felt toward Molly had to do with how she’d abandoned her sister as well. Like their mother had when she’d remarried after their parents divorced. And Molly should have known better.
    “I know that. I just…needed to see you today.”
    “What happened?”
    “Before or after I seduced her in the laundry room?”
    Kim coughed, choking on a sip of water. “You guys had sex?”
    “No…well…almost. It was a close thing.”
    “You stopped.” Her eyes narrowed. “Then what happened?”
    “I propositioned her. Suggested a fling, can you believe that?” His cheeks heated even as he admitted it.
    This time Kim couldn’t hold back the laugh. She snorted and grabbed her sore rib in response. “An affair? Oh, my. I wish I’d been a fly on the wall. And…”
    “And she turned me down flat. What was I thinking, Kim?”
    Using the bed rails, she pushed herself up to a half-sitting position. “You weren’t thinking. Or you were, but not with your head.” Her teasing grin faded. “You guys never said goodbye, so the past six years have been