She smiles, eyes crinkling at the corners. “You know, I think I do if the gossip Annie and Ceelie were foaming at the mouth over is true.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Who now?”
She leans forward like she’s telling me a secret, so I lean forward too. “The pack gossips. Nothing happens around here without their knowing and they saw you come in with Clyde and Thorne last night.” She sighs wistfully. “That Thorne though? What a tall drink of water, eh? I’d like to take a drink out of him if you get what I mean,” she tells me with a salacious wink.
I have to bite my tongue to not say anything along the lines of ‘been there, done that’ and opt for a snarky, “Yeah, if you like poisoned water.”
The woman throws her head back and cackles. “Oh, I like you. You’re going to do just fine in the pack,” she says. “Fit right in with us.”
I frown and look over my shoulder where I see a few pack members eyeballing us. “I don’t know about that.”
“What’s wrong, dearie?”
“Everyone is just staring at me. They won’t speak to me at all. You’re the first person to speak to me this morning.”
She narrows her eyes and leans to the side to look at a couple of women that have made camp by the fountain and are slowly edging our way. “See anything interesting this morning, ladies? Not very good manners staring without a greeting between the pair of ya!” She calls out to them and they scatter like leaves in the wind.
I smile. “Thanks.”
“No problem, I’m Esme. Esme Stonecutt.” She holds out her hand in greeting and I take it with a grateful smile.
“Cordelia,” I hesitate and then I use the name Ronan gave back to me last night. “I’m Cordelia Fireheart.”
Esme cocks her head and gives me a funny look. It’s the same look Maud gives me when she knows the answer to something I’m getting wrong but she’s trying to work out how I got to the answer I have. Esme doesn’t push me along to the right answer like Maud does though and the look is gone as quickly as it came.
She inclines her head. “So you are. A pleasure to meet you, Cordelia Fireheart.”
“You, ah, wanted to see me though?” I ask, reminding Esme that she called me over.
Instantly, Esme brightens and claps her hands. “I did, I did! I couldn’t help myself when I saw Amara’s spitting image appearing like a vision.” She motions for me to follow her into the bakery so I do. The scent of fresh baked bread and warm sugar hits my nose the second I set foot across the threshold. Esme’s claim that I look like my mother rocks me in the very best of ways. Her words soothe the sting of being ignored by the other pack members.
“It smells amazing in here,” I say and take in another breath.
“I’m glad you still think so,” Esme says and bustles behind the counter. “You always did love how it smelled.”
“Wait.” I freeze when she says that. “I’ve been here before?”
“You have. With your mother. She used to help me in the bakery on Saturday mornings and this,” she pulls a tray out from behind the bakery and sets it on the counter with a flourish, “was your absolute favorite treat.” I stare at the tray loaded with crescent shaped moon pies and it’s like a key sliding into a lock while Esme chatters away. Her words fade away into the background because it’s not her voice I’m hearing anymore when she sets the tray down in front of me.
“You can have one, that’s it, Cordy or you’ll ruin your dinner.”
“But mama…”
I stumble back and have to catch myself on the doorframe behind me. “Blueberry filling” I say and look up at her with a smile. “You made the best chocolate and blueberry moon pies.” It’s true, Esme did. I take in a quick breath and walk towards her and the pastries. Two soft-baked chocolate cookies with sweet blueberry filling piped in between the cookies.
“The trick is to pick the blueberries when they’re perfect. No rushing that,” Esme tells me and motions for me to take one. “Take one. When I saw you, I thought you might want one. A little welcome home treat.”
I nod and blink back the tears that burn my eyes. “T-thank you. That’s very kind of you.” I take one and my hand shakes when I do. I can feel my mother here. Suddenly, the bakery isn’t just pastries and sugar. It’s her. She smelled like cinnamon and sugar, like a cookie. I remember now. I loved the way she smelled.
I take a quick bite of the moon pie and groan with pleasure. “Damn that’s good.”
“Hasn’t changed a bit over the years. Kept it just the same.”
I lean against the counter and savor the treat. It’s sweet and tart and soothes away the screaming voice demanding that I run, the one that swears everything is going to be the same as it was in Frostclaw.
“I needed this. Thank you,” I tell Esme and take another bite. This bite is better than the last.
Esme beams at me. “Of course, Cordy. We’re all so happy you’re home. You’re the only one that returned, you know. It gives us hope.”
