Never Too Late by Alyssia Leon Page A

know she’s still sniffing around Brian, as bold as rain.”
    All over the village? What the hell was Belinda talking about? Was this about Clara seeing Brian walk home with her the other day?
    “I know they were seen together, but Brian is head over heels in love with Abby and would never do anything to hurt her.” Kathleen’s tone was placating. “And Brian and Molly do have a history. It’s probably healthier if they talk and finish things properly.”
    Belinda snorted. “Finish things! She’s got her eye on a wealthy man making her future. If you ask me, Brian had a lucky escape, and you should keep it that way, if you know what’s good for your family.”
    “Well, of course I’ll keep an eye on—”
    “And now, you heard, she’s after Jake Hennessy, flitting about him like a honey-mad bee. But it sounds like that man at least has more sense than to fall for the likes of her.”
    Molly gasped and grasped at the sink edge with white-knuckled hands. She wanted to march out there and yell at them to stop, but her legs felt like they’d seized up and she remained locked in place.
    “Isn’t that a good thing?” Kathleen chimed in hopefully. “If Molly is preoccupied with Mr Hennessy, then you don’t have to worry about her getting close to Martin.”
    “It’s too late! Martin is completely besotted with her. It’s always Molly this, or Molly that. And now he’s taken to staying away from home some nights and refuses to tell me where he’s been. I never should have allowed him to hire her in the first place. But he’s a stupid old fool who can’t see her for the common slut she is.”
    “Oh, Belinda…”
    Shock propelled Molly from the sink.
    Martin besotted with her. How was that even possible? No. No way. That woman wasn’t going to drag her into her crazy delusions.
    Trembling with rage, she turned and marched out of the room.
    “Molly!” Kathleen Harrington turned crimson.
    Belinda’s eyes widened in guilty panic, then narrowed to defiant slits.
    Molly fixed her with a withering stare. “You are one nasty horrible creature, Belinda. Martin’s too good for you, and if he has any sense, he’ll get away from you as soon as he can.”
    Kathleen gasped and Belinda gaped in fury, but a strange elation surged through Molly, and with a satisfaction that raised her to the clouds, she strode away.
    But five minutes later she was firmly back on hard ground and holding back tears as she entered Barrowdene’s driveway. 
    The black night pressed in around her, and the weak puddles of brightness dropping from the dim globe lights on top of the gate pillars provided no relief. Even the moon and stars were hidden behind rolling inky clouds. She gathered the thin wool of her cardigan around her, the flimsy material and the thin cotton of her dress no real protection against the night’s chill, and walked on, head down, her thoughts loud against the quiet call of a night bird and the whisper of the breeze in the trees.
    Martin. She couldn’t believe it.
    All this time, and yet he’d never said anything to her.
    He’d always supported her, even encouraging her to finish her business skills course, but he’d never made a move that overstepped the boundaries of friendship.
    She shook her head as anger engulfed her. Belinda had to be lying. She had to be. But all those times that Belinda had showered her with hate, told a different story. The woman must truly believe Molly was having an affair with Martin, and was spreading that rumour around. How many people had heard by now?
    It was hopeless.
    Barrowdene house was as dark as the night, the windows soulless. Only the porch lantern glimmered, throwing pale golden shadows across the front door and steps.
    She’d never noticed how lonely the house looked like this.
    Was Jake in there right now?
    Was he alone too?
    Her steps faltered to a stop on the driveway. Did she have the guts to go to him now, take him up on his offer? She was already a slut in the