Molly was glad to see that she hadn’t made a complete mess with the name of the pub. Or, at least that he was willing to overlook it. Molly stuck out a hand and easily caught the glass headed her way. She looked up at Thomas with surprise and smiled. She hadn’t figured him for a drink slider. He really was a veteran. Molly found more joy in that simple fact than she was willing to admit. She took another look around the place. Yes, it was different, but there was an element of…joy? fun? life? Molly couldn’t describe what it was exactly, but it was here.
While all this processed through her mind, he put the question to her. Would she stay? “Well,” she said, taking a sip of her water and then twisting the mug around in her hand, “I don’t really know yet. I’d, um, have to find work.” She glanced up and around the bar. God, she hated herself sometimes. Here she was being all coy and wistful – everything she hated about her gender. She took a breath and tried again. “I mean, that I am in the market for a job. If I can find one here, then I plan to stay and see how things go. I had thought about asking here at the pub, but if you’ve no openings, I won’t waste your time.” There, that was the plain truth. Even if he turned her out now, she could respect herself for it.