Page 21 of The Voices are Back

Well, a walk through the air-conditioned grocery store, but still a walk.

Normally, I saved myself the time and the hassle by ordering my groceries for pickup, but today, I wanted to get out. Experience life. And not stare at my four bare walls on a Saturday morning.

It was early. Way earlier than I would’ve liked to be up on a Saturday, but with my opening the coffee shop so early, it was downright impossible for me to sleep in past six in the morning anymore.

Grabbing my ride-on scooter from the front of the store with its basket, I ignored the ugly looks I got. Everyone saw a young woman with no visible ailments when they saw me on the motorized carts. They automatically assumed that I wasn’t going to need the cart.

Well, joke was on them, because I did.

If I did any sort of shopping that was going to keep me on my feet for a long time, I rode in the cart. It was easier that way than to admit at the back of the store that I really did need the cart, and wish I had it.

I was thirty minutes into my shopping trip when I heard his voice.

I paused with my finger poised to press the throttle, and listened to the rough velvet of his voice say, “Where are the black trash bags located?”

I felt a delicious shiver roll down my spine.

Instinctively, I hunched down, bending over the front of the cart and leaning forward to ensure that he didn’t see me.

Except, I didn’t realize that by leaning forward and bending close, I was practically waving a red damn flag at him to get him to notice me.

But I was.

And he did.

“Hey, Mama,” I heard him say.

Hey, Mama.

Every single thing inside of me lit up like the Fourth of July with those words.

I hadn’t heard that stupid name in so long.

Hey, Mama.

Hey, Mama.

Jesus. H. Christ.

Years ago, in what I thought was then a deep voice, Aodhan had first called me “mama” and I’d thought it was the best thing ever.

Why did he call me “mama”?

Because he said that I was a mama bear. All growly and protective.

I couldn’t even remember what I’d been protecting at the time.

What I did know, was now—with his rumbly, deep voice that was most definitely deep now, but wasn’t actually so deep then—I couldn’t resist him anymore.

I couldn’t actively ignore him without hurting my heart anymore.

“H-hey,” I said, still tongue-tied at the way he called me “mama.”

His eyes warmed at my attention, and I felt like my world had just imploded.

“Where ya zoomin’ off to?” he asked. “You looked like you were ready to break land speed records.”

I rolled my eyes, unable to stop the smile that was forming on my face.

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