Almost a Family by Donna Alward Page A

prolonging that. Neither one of you has a clue how to deal with the other, so you’re feeling your way around. And it’s probably easier to fool around than actually talk about it.”
    “How did you get so wise?” He crinkled his eyes at the corners. “You always could do that, put things in perspective,” he added. “And I love you for that.
    For the past two years, Kim and Sara had come to be family. He wasn’t such an idiot that he didn’t know why. Their relationship had begun with her as a replacement, a stand in, pure and simple. She was alone and raising a daughter, and at first he’d been happy to help. She’d always been nice to him when he and Molly had been dating, showing none of the baby sister jealousy he’d expected. After the break-up, he’d thrown himself into his studies, but once he’d come back home to start his own practice, he’d started thinking about family again. The family he wanted. The one he’d thought he would have with Molly. To find Kim next door with a baby had filled a need. At least then he’d been able to pretend he wasn’t alone.
    “Nothing going on in my own life,” she said, tongue firmly in cheek. “Makes seeing other’s lives pretty clearly.”
    Jason didn’t know how she did it. Work full time and raise a daughter, and do such a great job at it. He’d admired her so much at first that one night after fixing her washer, he’d briefly—ever so briefly—considered taking it further.
    He’d kissed her goodnight.
    On impulse he’d turned at the door and pressed his lips to Kim’s, hoping something would be there.
    Instead, she’d pulled away, confused, shocked and they’d both started laughing. It simply wasn’t right. She wasn’t Molly, and he couldn’t pretend that she was. Sara’s father still held a special place in Kim’s heart. They both had known it in that moment. And knowing there would never be anything physical between them, knowing they had their wounded hearts in common, had cemented their friendship. It went deeper than any friendship he’d ever had, certainly far more honest. He became Uncle Jason, getting his “family” fix from her and Sara, and being there to help Kim with the challenges of being a single parent. Now Sara was as dear to him as any daughter could be.
    “So what do I do now? Forget she’s here?”
    Kim sat up as her lunch tray was delivered, placed on the swiveling table to her right. “You get through it. You let her go, find a way to make peace with it. Because I don’t think she’s going to stay this time, either. She’s going to stay until I get out of here, and then she’s going to go back to that job of hers. I don’t want you to get hurt all over again. Either of you.”
    He knew by the sinking feeling in his heart that Kim’s warning was right. Molly wouldn’t stay, not unless he could show her what she’d missed. But did he really want her to? Or was he simply trying to resolve what had been left unfinished? Was he trying to prove to her that he’d been right all those years ago?
    “I can handle it,” he assured her, even though he wasn’t sure himself. “Listen, I’ve gotta go. I’m taking Sara sledding this afternoon.” He stood abruptly and snagged his jacket from the chair, avoiding her gaze as he left out the fact that Molly was going along with them. He leaned down to place a quick kiss on her cheek. “You’re a lifesaver, Kim.”
    Blandly she dipped her spoon in red Jell-O. “Yeah. And next time make it up to me with something edible, okay?”
    He flashed her a smile as he hit for the door.
     
    *
     
    At one o’clock sharp, Jason lifted the tailgate and slid the toboggan into the back of his SUV. Perhaps he was being stupid, or crazy, but he had a day off, Sara had been without her mother for what must seem like forever to a child, and the snow was perfect for sledding. If Molly wanted to act like she had a stick up her butt that was fine. He wasn’t about to let her stop him