How Sweet It Is Read Online Free PDF Page B

in.”
    Jordan nodded eagerly. “We got here yesterday from California. My name is Jordan. What’s yours?”
    “Molly. Nice to meet you, Jordan from California. I’m sure I’ll see you around. Take it easy on that ball, okay?” She waved once and went back to washing the car. But Jordan wasn’t quite ready to leave her new friend. So far in Applewood, she’d yet to lay eyes on anyone younger than her parents.
    “Hey, um…need any help?”
    Molly considered the offer, then reached into the bucket and tossed an extra sponge her way, dribbling water across the driveway and a little onto Jordan. “You can take the right side if you want.”
    She dropped the ball in the grass and eagerly went to work on making the blue Volvo shine. For whatever reason, she wanted to impress Molly, and it seemed to work.
    Once they finished drying, Molly walked around the car and stood beside her. “Wow. Nice job, kiddo. I’m guessing you’ve done this before.”
    “I help my dad sometimes. He’s a doctor.”
    “Cool.”
    “So’s my mom. I might be too one day.”
    Molly nodded. “Ambitious. I’m gonna have some lemonade. Want a glass? You’ve earned it.”
    “Definitely.”
    They sat in Molly’s front yard drinking their lemonade and trading stories about Applewood and California. Jordan was having the best time and felt incredibly worldly hanging out with her new, older friend. Molly was pretty cool, she decided easily. She may like this place after all. “So what’s school like here?”
    Molly considered the question. “Pretty laid back. I think you’ll like it. I’m going to guess third grade?”
    “Fourth. What about you?”
    “Tenth.”
    “Like my sister.”
    “Oh yeah?” Molly seemed to perk up at this new information.
    And just the mention of Cassie seemed to conjure her up. “Jordy!” she yelled as she jogged up the sidewalk.” Mom’s been calling you for the past ten minutes. It’s time for dinner. You need to come home.”
    “Hey,” Molly said, standing.
    Cassie paused. A slow smile formed on her lips as she stared. “Hi.”
    And that was the moment Molly stopped being hers.
    She wasn’t complaining. At least not entirely.
    Cassie and Molly had connected from that first moment, and she believed that things had worked out the way they were supposed to. They’d been friends first and started dating late in their junior year. All three parents were concerned at first and even held a few meetings, but as time went on, they grew to accept Cassie and Molly for what they were. The perfect couple.
    But none of that changed the special place Molly had in Jordan’s heart. She’d been a gentle influence on Jordan over the years, listening when she needed advice and never judging her too harshly for some of the poor decisions she’d made as a teenager. Instead, she’d talked things out with her in a way no one else would. Pointed out how the things she did and said affected others.
    Molly had meant a lot to her and still did.
    Yet another thing that hadn’t changed.

Chapter Four
     
    The next day was about as beautiful as they came. It was April, and in Applewood that meant an even seventy-one degrees with a pleasant breeze moving the trees in delicate patterns. Jordan looked forward to spending the next hour or two outdoors. Already she could tell it was going to be a great day. There was just something about it.
    She set out for Molly’s house just after four. While she’d never been there before, she knew the neighborhood well enough, so it didn’t take long to locate Molly’s block. The quaint street felt lived in, comfortable, and screamed of backyard barbeques and block parties. She kind of liked it. Along her route, she passed overturned tricycles beneath shady oak trees, sturdy houses with colorful doors, and more “welcome” signs than she thought to count. It was a happy place and it fit Molly to a tee.
    Upon arrival, she didn’t knock immediately and instead took a moment to study