The Escort

Chapter 28

Oliver and I approach the door to go back inside because I can no longer stop shivering. Now he's pressed against my back, arms enveloping me, chin tucked on my shoulder, in his oh so lovely way of attempting to warm me up. But we're surprised to see Jimmy and Teddy fall flat on their faces as soon as we swing it open. Everyone in the entire speakeasy is gathered by the door, but is now trying to casually walk outside or go back to their seats.

Molly jumps out, stepping around her brothers, looking hysterical. "Annie! Ollie! We're so glad you're still here! When you first got out here, no one was talking, so we thought you ran off! But then you said something and it got quiet again. Then you guys were talking and shouting so we thought you were fighting and were going to run in the middle of it. But then we heard you shout you loved Ollie, Annie! We were all excited for you. But Ollie sounded sad, so we were sad. Why were you sad?"

"Wait, wait, wait, Molly. So you all knew she loved me?" Oliver looks around everyone for an answer. "I thought this was a set up so I could possibly have a talk with her. Why didn't anyone tell me? That would have saved me a lot of trouble."

"Oh yeah, we all knew. We just wanted you to tell each other. It was much better. And where would the fun be if we told you?" Molly shakes her head and hands. "Back to the story! After Annie stopped you from leaving, you guys were shouting and talking again. And then we heard shout you loved her! That's when people started coming to the door. It was like listening stories on the radio! And then you wouldn't stop talking, Ollie! She was trying to say she loves you, but you kept interrupting her! I nearly opened the door to tell you to listen myself, but Mommy stopped me! I'm glad she did now. Because Annie, you got to tell him again, but why did you suddenly stop talking? You were saying you were madly, stupidly, completely then nothing. I almost thought you ran away again and I was going to open the door again, but everyone told me not to go out there. What was happening? Because you started talking again, and then it went quiet again. Was there something scary out there?"

"Molly, they were kissing," says Jimmy picking himself up off the ground.

"Oh!" She covers her mouth with her hands, turning a light shade of pink. I blush too, and out of the corner of my eye, Oliver is a bit red as well. Molly recovers quickly from it. "Okay! So are you two in love? For real?!"

Oliver tightens his grip around me and laughs. "Yes, Molly. This time it's for real."

She throws her fists in the air, "Yes!" She runs into me and throws her arms as far around us as she can manage. "You two can never ever break up for real!" I really hope so. I really, really hope so. She looks up at me and whispers, "My mommy was right, wasn't she?"

"About what, Molly?"

"About falling in love with someone just like your daddy?"

What?! No, no, no! Don't say that! Don't say something that plants ideas in my head. I just got him back, don't make me paranoid! Does she not remember me this morning saying that my father was a horrible man? This is a six year old, for crying out loud! Of course not! She had probably spaced out by then. It's not her fault, but now… this idea is stuck in my head. I remember that dream from yesterday night when I was my mother and I had a daughter who was just like me. And Oliver was just like my father. He would never do that, would he? If we ever did get married, he'd treat me right, and not just for the first couple of years. Always, especially when- I mean if- we have kids, if we get married.

"Annie, is something wrong?"

"No," I put on a convincing fake smile. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

"About what?"

"Things that don't matter right now."

"What doesn't matter?" I had forgotten Oliver is right there. How could I forget? I'm still tingly and toasty warm because of him. I shouldn't have said anything to Molly. I should've lied.