This Is Happening: Molly's Story.

03:Shouldn't This Be Happening?

03: Shouldn't This Be Happening?

Jordan settled onto the Red Line. The work day went relatively smoothly. Charlie seemed satisfied with the line cooks, and they were able to prep and stock the market for the next couple of days. As both her body and mind began to unwind, her thoughts drifted to Boone, Kaitlyn, and landed on Molly.

"Hey kiddo I'm heading home"

"Still want to talk tonight?"

Jordan scrolled through her apps and opened up Spotify, waiting for a response.

"Omg! yes! Please"

"Lab reports my eyes crossing"

"I miss you!"

"15"

Jordan relaxed into the ride and her music. She was looking forward to talking to Molly. Over the years, they had bonded in a way that was special. Jordan spent an intense period of time with Kaitlyn's younger sister after she was hit by a car five years earlier. The accident wasn't serious but the near-tragedy scared everyone, and Molly found Jordan's ability to connect with her was an important part of her recovery.

By 11:00 PM, Jordan was sitting at the kitchen counter, laptop open, waiting for the connection. Just a few moments passed before Molly's face appeared. "Hey, kiddo! How are you?" Jordan spoke softly and used earbuds so they wouldn't wake Boone or Kaitlyn.

"Oh hi! I'm good! I miss you." Molly took a breath and tried with effort to calm herself. "Is Kate-Kate sleeping?"

Jordan furrowed her brow slightly. Molly sounded stressed and Jordan could get no emotional taste over the computer. Her mind was blissfully quiet and usually she enjoyed talking to Molly like she was a normal person. But at that moment, she wished she could "taste" Molly's emotions. "Yeah, Mol, she's sleeping. She had a long day with Boone. He's getting so big, and fast!"

Molly grinned. Both joy and sorrow reached her eyes and she felt them burn with emotion. Jordan saw the response and sat up a little straighter. It really wasn't in Molly's nature to be extremely vulnerable. "Molly? Kiddo? What is it?"

Molly leaned back from her computer. She pulled her gaze from the camera and looked over her small shoebox of an apartment, trying to reset herself again. When she turned back, she looked a little more settled. "I'm sorry, just a hard week. Work." She took a breath and smiled weakly. "I talked to Pay. New York is not Philly. I'm loving the job at Columbia but ..." Molly stopped again and Jordan let her have the time and space to get her thoughts together.

"Jordan," she began, tears threatening again,"I think I'm lonely. It's different now. I'm not a student. I have a 'real' job. Jesus, I'm a fucking PhD now. I'm a grown up."

Jordan winced quietly. She remembered well her first years in Chicago: Alone, young, trying to survive with very little support system. Green eyes flashed again through her mind's eye. For a split second, she longed desperately to go seek out Kaitlyn in their warm bed.

"Oh, Mol, I know it's hard." Jordan smiled softly. "And you'll always be my 'kiddo.' It's just a little different for you now. This is the first time you've lived alone and had real responsibility." Jordan smirked. "It is awesome, but scary as fuck too."

Molly smirked back into the camera. "Feeling the pressure, Jordan? End of quarter?"

Jordan chuckled. "Yeah, it's been really good but the margin for profit is always so tight. We're lucky to be hanging in there. And, we have everything invested in this. We'll be fine, but Boone's preschool cost is insane. And he's only part-time.