Chapter Fifty-Nine

Jennifer stuck to her promise and started the job search the next day. While Molly was getting ready for her morning and afternoon shift, she went on the computer to find any open vacancies in Pleasanton and the surrounding towns. 

She managed to get a couple of interviews before they reached the weekend. It meant that her younger sister felt hopeful enough to not try to see Jake every day, not while it meant more lies and sneaking around because Jennifer was home at unexpected times. Molly knew that it wouldn't take her sister long to find another job, so she knew that she would get to see him plenty soon. It was a little annoying that her shifts picked up to full-time at the same time, but Jake just made sure to pick her up more often so they could spend a little time either in town or at the cabin together before he dropped her home. 

Within two weeks Jennifer was offered a full-time temporary contract until Christmas as an Office Manager, two towns over. The drive was actually only the same as she was doing before, but at least now she wouldn't be doing shift work or trying to run a shop with other assistant managers. She would be working 9-5 on the weekdays, which would make it harder for Molly and Jake, but they figured they could keep up what they'd been doing the past couple of weeks. 

They did lose Beth as an excuse from the second week of July, as school broke up for the summer. The only thing Molly could then say was that she wanted to just hang out with her, but Jennifer put a spanner in the works by inviting Beth over to theirs instead. They did have fun though and the oldest Matthews did insist that her sister walk her friend home, so Molly got to see Jake for a little bit then. It wasn't much, but it helped. At least they got to see each other during the day with Jennifer guaranteed out from 8 'til 6. 

What was unexpected and brilliant for the two secret lovers, was that Jennifer actually made a new friend at work within the first two weeks. Her name was Kayleigh and she lived near work. It meant that occasionally Jennifer would stay at hers for dinner, giving them a chance to have dinner together or go out into town without worrying she'd see them. 

As long as Molly wasn't working the evening shift at the café of course. 

The best news came when Jennifer told her over dinner that, for the 4th of July, she would be staying over at Kayleigh's for the weekend. Molly tried to keep her expression neutral, as she pretended to be a little annoyed that she was being left alone for the holiday, while her insides were throwing a little party. 

"I'd have thought you'd be happy you could spend it with your friends?" Jennifer said, "You don't want me holding you back." 

"Well now that ye put it like that," Molly turned it into a joke, making her sister laugh as well, all the while thinking that this couldn't have worked out better than if she'd tried; her sister had come up with the suggestion on her own, which meant minimal lying on her part. "Would ye mind if Hannah 'n Beth come over here?" she asked, thinking that way she wouldn't have to hide the fact that she wasn't intending to spend the whole weekend home alone or have to worry about hiding anything other than his presence and his clothes. 

"Sure, you girls have fun," Jennifer nodded as she continued serving potatoes onto her plate. "But don't let Beth drink, her pa would never forgive me if ye get her drunk," she added warningly, pointing the ladle out at her. She knew she hadn't met the girl's father yet, but at fourteen Beth was definitely too young and Hannah and Molly still young enough to potentially act a little irresponsibly. 

"Yeah, yeah I won't," Molly assured now, holding her hands up innocently. "Now, ye done pointin' so I can eat, or am I gonna starve?" she asked, seeing her sister's expression soften as she fought back a smile. 

"Well, I suppose it would be a shame to waste this food," she conceded, and handed the ladle over. 

As they ate, they discussed plans for the summer. Molly would need to start looking for a job that would start in September after the tourist season, to replace her job at the café. But there were also going to be summer festivals and stuff that would be fun to go to together before then. Those that were on during the week would be good for Molly to go to with Jake, so she could save any on the weekend as an activity for her and her sister. If Duncan didn't mind Jake skipping the odd day of his chores, which might be the case if it was a festival he didn't mind going to either.