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“Your shoulders are red,” Molly said as she looked over at Hazel, who was sitting on the floor letting Bailey climb over her in delight.

“I know,” Hazel managed between giggles as Bailey tried to lick her face.

“I have some aloe vera gel somewhere. Check the medicine box.”

Hazel nodded as she gently pushed Bailey off her legs and stood. She skipped off to find the aloe vera. Hazel didn’t notice Molly’s eyebrows raise at her jovial movements.

Spotting the aloe vera bottle next to the medicine box in the linen cupboard, Hazel squirted some into the palm of her hand. She rubbed it across her shoulders, the cool gel instantly lifting the heat from her skin.

Heading back into the kitchen, she flopped onto a stool and rested her arms on the counter. She felt so depleted, but in the best kind of way. The way you feel after a full day spent outdoors, zero energy, but a full cup.

Molly stopped chopping and lifted her gaze. “Seems like you had a nice day?”

“Yeah. The best.” Hazel couldn’t help her lips curling up into a small smile. “Sam took me to this rock pool place. It was beautiful, absolutely breathtaking. We saw so many amazing animals, even a blue-ringed octopus!”

Molly smiled. “I hope you didn’t touch it!”

“Of course I didn’t! I’m not silly. Everyone knows they’re poisonous.”

Molly raised her eyebrows with a smirk. “Well, I’m glad you had a great day.” Molly listened as Hazel chattered on about the tide pool and how beautiful it was. She was glad her daughter was enjoying her time being back in Bells Bay. Hazel seemed happy here, and Molly hoped that meant she would stay in town.

Hazel suddenly stopped speaking. Silence filled the air. “Hey Mum,” Hazel began, her voice small.

“Hmm?” Molly hummed.

“Can I ask you something?”

Molly looked up and studied Hazel’s face. She looked guilty, as if she’d done something bad, or was about to. “Okay,” Molly replied, somewhat hesitant.

Hazel looked down, seemingly unable to look Molly in the eye. “I know it didn’t work out, but how did you know, with my father, how did you know it was,” she paused, searching for the right word, “real?” Her face turned quizzical. “Was it real?”

Molly didn’t know how to respond. She was silent for long enough that Hazel finally looked her in the eye.

“If you’re asking whether I loved him, then yes. I did.”

“How did you know, though?”

“Well,” Molly began. “With him it wasn’t an instant thing. I’d been in love before. I had a serious boyfriend before your father. With him it was… hard and fast. With your father, it was a slower burn, I suppose you could say. As time went on, I realised that I couldn’t picture my life without him.”

Hazel looked back down. She rarely asked about her father.

“But you know how that turned out,” Molly finished as she tilted her head slightly.

“Not really, actually. You hardly ever spoke about him.”

Molly pondered for a moment. “I guess that’s true.”

“And anything you did say was edited, I suppose. What happened between you two?”

“Oh, I loved him, thought he was the love of my life.” Molly sighed. “I never said anything because I knew the truth would hurt you.

“I never wanted to tell you this, as I don’t believe it’s something a child should hear. That’s why I was cautious with what I told you. But I think you’re old enough to deal with the truth now. I want to preface this with the fact that I never, not once, felt the way he did.” Molly put her hand up to her forehead. She massaged her brow bone before continuing. “He wanted me to choose between the two of you. He didn’t want children. My pregnancy was an accident. But as soon as I found out, I knew you were going to be the greatest thing I’d ever created. It wasn’t even a choice. You were always mine. My first pick.

“He couldn’t handle it. He stayed for a little while, thinking I’d change my mind. But I knew I wouldn’t, and I didn’t. So I told him to go. I told him that as much as I loved him, I loved you more and I would always pick you. Then one night, he left.

“His attitude towards you, towards the whole situation, was so bitter. I didn’t want anyone around you who didn’t think you were anything other than brilliant. I thought you were, and still are, the greatest gift on the planet and at that point I hadn’t even met you.”

Deep down, Hazel had always known this about her father, that he hadn’t been interested in her. She’d connected the dots when she was younger. But what made her so emotional now was hearing her mother talk about how much she loved her. “I didn’t know you loved me that much, to pick me over the love of your life,” Hazel whispered, her eyes welling.