Page 32 of His to Mate

15

“Mom! I’m here!”Ann called out the next day as she walked into her mother’s home.

“We’re in here, dear,” Amanda called back from the living room, and Ann followed her voice. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“No, it’s fine, come in, meet the other ladies.” Mary started to introduce women that were either married in the old-fashioned way to other mayors or were mates of lower-ranking soldiers in Rager’s force.

Ann smiled politely and greeted each one as she was supposed to, with a nod and a slight dip of her head. It was the way she’d learned to greet the women that came to her own luncheons. She hadn’t known her mother still had the same thing with the lower-ranked officials of their sector.

There wasn’t really a hierarchy set in place to follow, and now that she thought about it, she understood that it had been the ladies themselves that had created it. She’d soon put a stop to that. There’d be meetings of all the women soon, she thought, and decided that part of the empty hospital would serve her purposes.

She wondered now how Skye had ended up at the meetings and figured it must have been something Rager had suggested. She made a note to ask her later and went about the business of being sociable. An hour later, the women started to gather together and say goodbye. Each one was pleased to speak to Ann, and they all walked away with little smiles on their faces.

Ann knew Rager had to maintain his image as the leader of the new world they were creating, and that hierarchy would naturally evolve, but this ass-kissing didn’t suit her. She hated to see so many intelligent women turned into simpering simpletons. It just wouldn’t do.

“Let me help you, Amanda,” she said as Amanda began to clear dishes away. Ann noted that several women stopped to stare at her as she picked up dishes to take to the kitchen to be washed. Fuck them, she decided. She would lead by example, and if they didn’t like it, they’d either get in line and learn or they’d fall out of that line. It was their choice.

“Thank you, honey, but you know you don’t have to help.” Amanda quickly glanced behind them at the women that now whispered behind their hands. “You don’t want to cause yourself problems.”

“As I was recently reminded, I’m basically the queen of our world now, Amanda, and I can damn well do as I please.” Ann winked at her old friend and walked ahead of Amanda to put the plates down. She walked back to the living room and picked up glasses and more plates to carry back. When she came back to the living room from dropping those off, she saw a couple of the women had picked up a few dishes too and now carried them back to the kitchen. Good.

Ann smiled and by the time all the dishes were gone the women had said their final goodbyes and left. Ann was up to her elbows in soap bubbles and dishwater when her mother finally came in to sit down. “Thank you, honey. I appreciate that.”

“You’re welcome, Mom. How are you?” Ann had noted Mary looked a bit pale and seemed tired today. More than normal, and she remembered her suspicion. She looked intently at her mother and saw her mother blush before she grinned.

“I have some news, baby. News that might seem dreadful to you, but, well, you’re a big girl.”

“What? What is it, Mom? Are you ill?” The idea had finally occurred to her, her mom might not be pregnant but sick! Ann rushed over, her hands wrapped in a towel as she sat down by her mother. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, Ann.” Mary laughed and brushed hair back from Ann’s cheek. “I’m pregnant, honey.”

“Oh.” Ann had suspected, but to hear her mother confirm it was another matter. “I’m going to be a big sister?”

“Yes, you are.”

“Oh.” Ann was stunned, even if she had suspected. “That’s so lovely, Mom. Are you okay?”

“I seem to be. I’ve waited to make sure, but well, it’s been a few months now. I think it was when we were in the bunker. Oh, listen to me, I’m babbling. Anyway, I’m fairly certain now. I’ve waited long enough, and well, I’ve got this.” Mary stretched the loose summer dress she wore over her stomach and Ann saw the bump that had started to form there.

“Mom!” Ann’s hands came out and she wrapped them over the slight bulge. “It’s so little.”

“I never did get very big with you, this is a lot bigger already than I was with you, so it doesn’t seem little to me.” Mary laughed and touched Ann’s cheek. “You’re happy about it?”

“I am, Mom, as long as you’re healthy and the baby is healthy.”

“I’m an older woman, there are risks, but I should be okay. Amanda and I are keeping track of everything now.” Mary looked at her friend and Ann could see the bond they had. It was a special one, and Ann was glad her mom had Amanda.

“And Dad? What does Dad think?” Ann could just imagine him, he’d either be quiet and ponder it studiously, or he’d be ecstatic.

“He’s worried about me, my age and everything, but he’s happy too. We always wanted you to have a sibling, but it was hard in the old world. So much time away from home with work, just to keep a house and the bills paid. Now? We don’t have to worry about that, do we?”

“No, I suppose you don’t. I’m happy for you, Mom.” Ann leaned over and kissed her mom. When she turned around, she saw Amanda with a note in her hand. Amanda put it away, but Ann saw the symbol on it, the symbol she’d seen on the buildings, a wolf in a circle. Ann watched her, but turned back to the dishes, to see what she’d do. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Amanda back up to the fire and drop something in before she quickly moved away.

“And what about you, Amanda, have you got news for us too?” Ann heard the way Amanda inhaled quickly before she sat down with Ann’s mom.

“No, nothing to report for me. I never was very good at doing what I was told to do.” Amanda played it all off, and laughed. “I can take orders here, but it doesn’t mean I’m great at following them.”

“I hope you’re careful about that,” Ann hinted, her eyes on the glass she now washed. “There are rumors going around, and I’ve heard there’s trouble brewing.”