I exhaled heavily. As hard as I’d worked at keeping it from happening, my past was still managing to creep into my present to cast its dark shadow.
“Why the big sigh?” asked Maeve, reaching the end of the cookie aisle. She pulled two boxes off the shelf and held them up while winking at me.
I took one from her and stared at the label, not really seeing what was there. “I was thinking about my mom.” I was lost in my memories and had just started talking without realizing what I was saying. Dammit. Too late to take it back. I hated sharing my past with people. It was embarrassing and made me feel second class to quality people like Maeve and her family. Shame burned my cheeks pink.
“Are you close with her?” She took the cookies from my hand and put them in the cart, either not noticing I was flustered or politely ignoring my distress. Either way I was grateful for it.
I looked across the aisle at the cereal, pretending to be interested in one of the sugary breakfast foods. “No, we’re not close at all. We were when I was younger, but she dated a guy who … came between us. I haven’t talked to her in years.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Maeve sounded like she really meant it and wasn’t just being polite. “Where is she? Does she live near you?”
“No, actually, she lives closer to you than me. In Seattle, last time I heard.”
“Well, why don’t you stop by for a visit before you go back East?” Maeve put her hand on my upper arm. “No matter what happened in the past, I’m sure she’d love to see you. Mothers never stop missing their kids, even when they’re just in the next town over.”
I grimaced. “No thanks. She’s not someone I want to spend my time with.” I almost shuddered, but stopped myself. No need to pull those particular skeletons out of the closet. I was already making a hell of an impression so far.
Maeve dropped her hand. “That’s too bad.” She pushed the cart forward and turned the corner, banging into something loudly.
“Oh!” she gasped, and then her tone turned to one of anger. “Hannah, what are you doing skulking around over here?”
“Skulking? I’m not skulking. I’m just getting my groceries!” Hannah Banana was the picture of innocence, her eyebrows so high they were practically at her hairline.
“Is that so?” Maeve looked pointedly in Hannah’s cart.
The entire basket was empty, and Hannah was already three quarters of the way through the store. I got nervous, wondering how much of my conversation with Maeve she’d overheard.
“Yes, it is so. I’m here to get barbecue meat for tonight’s dinner. I’ve got the old group coming over. Mack, Ian, Ginny, and me.”
Maeve snorted. “Are you throwing a party or a funeral?”
Hannah’s jaw dropped open for a second before she recovered. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Maeve shook her head, maneuvering her cart around Hannah’s. “Nothing. Nothing at all. Did you check with my boys before you made your plans? Because we have calves to work.”
“Not yet, but I’m sure they’ll come. I have a surprise for them.” Her cocky smile made me want to slap her. I got the distinct impression that she thought her influence over the MacKenzie men was stronger than their mother’s. I didn’t know them that well, but I couldn’t imagine that this was the case.
I caught up to Maeve in time to see her rolling her eyes. She was already moving down the next aisle. “Okay, well, enjoy your party,” she said without looking back.
Hannah looked at me, a saccharine smile stretching her lips as she spoke up loud enough for half the store to hear. “I’d invite you, Angie, but I have a really small place and Mack is not really into hanging out with strangers much. He likes to just keep it simple, you know?” Her head cocked to the side, as if she expected me to answer.
I stopped halfway down the aisle. “It’s Andie, not Angie. If you’d invited me I would have declined anyway. I’m leaving town after I talk to Mack today.”
“Awww, bummer. Okay, well, have a nice flight.” She wiggled some polished acrylic fingernails in my direction and pushed her cart away, disappearing around the end of the aisle.
Maeve was muttering to herself when I caught up with her.
“Anything I can get for you?” I asked, holding lightly onto the edge of the cart.
“No, I’m about done here. Just got the last ingredient for my famous lemon bars. Come on, let’s get out of here before I say something stupid to someone I should be ignoring. I’ll grab the cream cheese on the way out.”