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It's Your Name He Moaned, Not Hers
Last Updated:
2025-04-08 06:43:42
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Whispers of the Heart The Walk Back Home
The conversation I had with Barb replayed over and over again in my head the entire walk back to the little white sided, three bedroom house with the white picket fence. Phil owned it or was in the process of owning it, I knew that. He made the mortgage payment every single month. It was a nice little starter home, nothing extravagant but comfortable and I had added feminine touches over the years to make it feel like a home. A nice place for Nate to grow up in and it was.Phil and I didn’t fight. Nate was healthy and had a happy childhood. Phil and I together, co-parenting, was all that Nate had ever known. He knew I was his sister but he slipped and called me “mom” as much as he called me Rory. Neither of us ever corrected him when he did, either. As long as he was happy. It was like all three of us had accepted that this was our family, our dynamic and it was, as long as it remained safe and platonic.Phil was hard working. He was the day shift crew chief down at our local saw mill.
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Whispers of the Heart Need to Figure This Out
I took a few calming, deep breaths as I swung the traitorous gate back and snapped the latch into place. As I passed underneath the plantar box edge I had filled with marigolds, I glanced up into the kitchen window and locked eyes with Phil as he watched me walk past. I offered him a small smile that he did not reciprocate. His face remained void of any emotion whatsoever. Maybe he was just as freaked out about this conversation as I was.“Only one way to find out”, I thought to myself as I climbed the three small steps and grabbed the door knob, twisting it and giving the door a gentle push. With one last deep breath, I crossed the threshold and closed it behind me before calmly walking into the kitchen and taking a seat at the retro red formica table with silver metal trim.Phil was still at the window, his back turned to me and I let my gaze trail down his body appreciatively. He was of average height, around six feet tall. His muscles were solid and his figure lean, just visibly de
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Whispers of the Heart His Closure
He turned to me and leaned back against the sink with his arms wrapped defensively around himself. He shrugged his shoulders before answering, “I don’t know. I was hoping you might be able to tell me. She just disappeared on me. Took you and left. I found out later from somebody that had seen you all that she was pregnant and I wanted to see if it were true and do the right thing so I started looking until I found her.I chased her down to see if Nate was mine, hoping if he was, that we could work it out and get back together but she didn’t want to have anything to do with me by that point. I’m sure you remember that fight that night. She even claimed he wasn’t my kid but I knew better so I pushed. I pushed for the paternity test. She pushed back for child support. I signed all the paperwork and I let her have whatever she wanted cause I figured that we would still end up back together at some point.I had heard through the grapevine that she got hooked on drugs again but I didn’t beli
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Whispers of the Heart Keep an Open Mind
“Let me ask you this,” he reached across the table and grazed my knuckles with the tips of his fingers. The act was innocent enough but never having had any physical interaction with someone of the opposite sex before, especially someone who had just admitted to finding me desirable, it sent butterflies through my stomach. “Do you find me attractive?”I looked up at him, meeting his intense stare and felt heat rush to my cheeks. I took a deep breath before speaking. “Honestly, I can say yes. Yes, I think you are a handsome man, an attractive man.”“But….”“But, I’ve never looked at you like that or thought of you in that way before today.”“Do you think you could?”It was my turn to stand up and pace. “I don’t know, Phil. I just don’t. This closeness now is having an affect on me but it's all so new that I'm not sure what I am feeling. I’m not even eighteen years old. I have been raising Nate since the moment he was born. I have never even had a first crush let alone a first kiss, a f
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Whispers of the Heart A Much Needed Nap
Turns out, that nap was exactly what I needed. I woke up a couple hours later feeling much lighter, much more relaxed and like I was in complete control again. I glanced at my alarm clock, surprised that it read 1:26. Apparently, the last few weeks of tossing and turning had really caught up with me and I just hadn’t realized exactly how exhausted my body and mind had become. It was like a weight had been lifted today, with Phil agreeing to take things at my own pace and not forcing any ultimatums on me.It was such a relief that I could cry but I managed to hold myself together from the dam that would burst if the tears ever started flowing. All the worst case scenarios I had plagued myself was nothing more than useless worrying. Phil had shown weakness and vulnerablility, two things men only ever care to display around someone they trust. I had the control here and I was going to try my best to make my decision as quickly as I possibly could so as to not string him along, one way or
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Whispers of the Heart Mrs. Jackson and Melanie
I felt the heat rising in my face as I glared at her, something inside of me snapping at the way this woman was judging me without knowing me. “Well, yes, I would be. But, if you would take the time to actually READ the card there, you would see that my last name doesn’t even match Nate’s so how could I be his mother?”She looked down her glasses at the card, ignoring the sarcasm and thinly veiled hostility in my voice. “Aurora. Such a pretty name. Pity.” She handed the card back to me with a fake smile and overinflated ego. “Aurora Butler, though. That’s fitting. Okay, Aurora Butler. What is your relationship with the child you are collecting?”“Well, Ms….?”“Jackson. Mrs. Jackson.”“Well, honestly, Mrs. Jackson. I don’t see that to be any of your business.” I answered with my sweetest, diner approved smile. The one that says ‘I’m telling you to go screw yourself in the nicest way possible.’ My smile continued as I tucked the ID card back in my pocket. “You see, I have provided you w
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Whispers of the Heart Nate's Excitement is Contagious
“So, buddy, how was your first day?”“It was great!” With that, he launched into nonstop chatter about everything he had experienced from the moment I dropped him off until I picked him up again. He had to tell me all about the rules, the classroom, the breakfast, the lunch and especially his favorite time of the day, recess.We made it home and he was still talking. I learned about all his classmates, including a little girl named Zaniyah that stood with him in the walkers pickup line. I am hoping that is Melanie’s little girl as I asked Nate if he liked her and he said that he did and that she was one of his best friends already.We sat at the kitchen table together as he ate the snack of grapes, cheese cubes and Goldfish crackers I fixed for him as I filled out the additional mountain of paperwork the school had sent home with him. He chatted away and I listened as I jotted down his social security number for the fourteenth time. I wanted to make sure everything was completed and i
Last Updated : 2025-04-10Whispers of the Heart Swamped at Work
As Phil and Nate dropped me off at work, I found we were unusually busy. The parking lot was packed and I could tell even as I walked around to the employee entrance that most every booth was filled and the stools around the counter area looked crowded, too. Slipping in the back door, I quickly grabbed my apron off the hook and tied it on as Barb peeked her head around the corner.“Thank the Lord you are here! It’s been a madhouse since four. Darcy is gonna stay on until we calm down a bit but the other girls are cashing out right now as I speak.”“What’s going on that we are this busy?”“School’s back in session, hun. Guess everybody in this damn town decided they were too tired to cook tonight and for some reason greasy diner food is what they settled on.”I patted John on the back as I headed past him toward the front. “It’s because everybody in this town knows there’s not a better cheeseburger to be had than one grilled up by my ole buddy, John.”That earned me a gruff growl as he
Last Updated : 2025-04-10
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Whispers of the Heart Having People That Care
Having sent those texts, I was already blushing to almost on fire when I met Owen at the door. I knew he was just on the other side waiting for me, that heart stopped gorgeous dimpled grin spread across his perfect face. I knew he would give me that look that made my knees weak and as I swung the door wide, I was not disappointed. The butterflies danced away inside while goosebumps raced their way up and down my arms just from the smoldering gaze I encountered as we locked eyes and for just a few seconds, time seemed to stop.He held out his hand for me and as I took it, he pulled me slowly out the door. I pulled the door back, leaving it open just a crack and leaned in to listen, to make sure Nate hadn’t stirred. Satisfied that I wasn’t hearing any sounds, I stepped away from it and back toward Owen.“Don’t worry. We are just gonna be next door here and we can keep the door open. If he wakes up and calls for you or comes out into the hallway, we can hear him.”“Thanks and thanks agai
Whispers of the Heart Sweet Dreams
Owen waved his hand in front of my face with a devilish glint in his gaze, letting me know how much he was enjoying this. I hadn’t heard a word he said to me. Not one word. Not only that, I had been caught brazenly staring at his naked delectably muscled chest and become so lost in the appreciation of the view in front of me that I had totally zoned out.I tried to comprehend what was happening and what I had missed as I looked at his outstretched hand, holding several books out to me but that made me even more confused. What had he said? I looked up into his eyes and must have had a ‘deer in the headlights’ look. Just as the roaring rush of my heart beat calmed, he flashed me another brilliant smile and the room was suddenly way too hot and he was standing way too close.“You didn’t hear a word I just said, did you?” He asked me, calling me out.I admitted it completely with a shake of my head. “Afraid not. Whatever it was, you’re gonna have to repeat it.” I answered as I closed my e
Whispers of the Heart Sleeping in a Strange Place
Owen stayed close watching Nate, in case he took a tumble, ready to catch him if he needed to. I busied myself settling in for the night, hanging the clothes I had brought with us in the closet. As soon as I had it all put away, Owen said he was gonna go take a shower and for me to text him once I had Nate asleep.Nate had definitely exhausted some of his pent up energy on his makeshift trampoline. He climbed off of the bed once I announced that it was bath time and followed me in, stripping his clothes along the way. He was as equally excited about the size of the tub, exclaiming that he could really swim in it.I turned on the water, adjusting the temperature. The tub was so tall that Nate could not climb over the side by himself, although he tried a couple times. It might have been manageable with clothes on but that would have defeated the purpose of the bath to begin with so I had to lift him up and over and into the water.I pulled the vanity chair over. It was the perfect heigh
Whispers of the Heart Settling In
I couldn’t help the giggle that escaped before I tried my best to keep a straight face.“No, you don’t need to jump on the bed. Why do you want to jump on the bed?”He looked at me like it should have been obvious. “Rory, that’s a good jumping bed!”“And exactly how do you know that?”Once again, this time with an eye roll. “I’m a kid! I can just tell!”“Still! We are guests here, Little Man! We can’t just go jumping on other peoples’ beds.”I ignored the pout, purposefully turning away from him as I walked toward the two doors that were closed. I opened the first one to reveal a small walk-in closet. I say small but it was still almost the size of my former bedroom at Phil’s house. There was space on both the left and right sides to hang clothes. The one on the left had double hanging space while the one on the right was designed for longer garments. Each had dozens of empty hangers just waiting to be used.The back wall had floor to ceiling shelves of various heights for storage of
Whispers of the Heart Our Accommodations
I shook the thoughts from my head concerning the epiphany I had just had regarding my deceased mother and my previously assumed routine trips to the community pool. Just another fragment of my innocence lost as I transition to adulthood and another reminder of my shattered youth. I would have to keep the lid tightly closed on that box or I might end up needing therapy before I can even graduate high school. I probably do anyhow but who can afford it. At the end of the walkway, Owen moved around us and opened the door ahead. We entered into a larger hallway that dripped a refined sense of elegance and sophistication. The floors and walls were all of a highly polished black walnut, including the intricate carved crown molding along the trim of the floor and ceiling. Each piece of art or decoration was there with purpose, as a statement of extravagance and prodigality.“This is what is called the East Wing. This is where my bedroom and a couple of the guest bedrooms are. My parents have
Whispers of the Heart Family Bonds and Childhood Memories
“Owen, how do you not get lost in a house this big?”“I guess I have just gotten used to it but I know, it’s a bit much. This is the biggest estate in the community. It belonged to my dad’s parents so this is actually where my dad grew up. After my grandparents passed away, he didn’t want to sell it so we just moved here. He has already asked me if I will keep it in the family and not sell it. I promised him that I wouldn’t. So, I guess I will be raising my family here one day, too.”I suddenly felt like a gold digger, having had thoughts just moments ago about it now being my dream to live in Urban Crest. I tried to shake those thoughts, that connection out of my head. Owen living here and my dreams to better myself were two totally different things. Weren’t they? Why did I always associate something good with it somehow not being something that I deserved? I wanted to love Owen for himself and not for what he owned or how much money was in his bank account. I knew I wasn’t that kind
Whispers of the Heart Urban Crest
The moment the gates opened and Owen drove us through, I felt like I had crossed over into another dimension. The paving on the road was immaculate, not a pothole in sight. The grass seemed brighter, lusher. Owen clicked the button to roll the windows down so that we could see better instead of attempting to look through the dark tint.Even the air smelled better here, though I had to be imagining that. But it seemed crisper, cleaner with maybe just a hint of sweetness to it that I had never experienced before. The landscaping was impeccable, not a blade of grass out of place or uneven and every flower properly mulched.Owen pulled forward to an intersection and turned right. He was rolling along without tapping the gas, just letting Nate and I both take in the scenery around us.“The road just makes one big long rectangle perimeter with just two entrance gates.” He explained as we inched along. He pointed to the first road that we came to on the right. “Each little side road has just
Whispers of the Heart On Our Way to Urban Crest
Owen texted me at seven forty-seven to let me know that practice was over and he was heading back to pick us up. After Barb and I had talked with things settled as to where I was going and what our plan was for the next few days, I had hugged her again and even walked into the kitchen and made John surrender and give me a hug, too. He just responded with his normal grunt but he did have a twinkle in his eye and squeezed me back during the hug. I had kept myself busy making sure everything was prepped for the next day. Now, I let Barb know that Owen was on his way. Nate handed me his tablet as I stretched out my hand for it. I turned it off and laid it on the table.“Are we not going home, Rory?” He asked me with a tilt of his head.“Not tonight, buddy. Your daddy is still not feeling good so we need to let him rest.”“But who’s gonna take care of Daddy while he is sick?”“I made sure he was okay before I left.” The lie tasted so bitter on my tongue. “He just needs to get a good night
Whispers of the Heart Barb's Offer
“As much as I have appreciated our talk, Kyle, I need to get to work.”“Yeah, I need to get out of here, too. Stop by and check on my sister before I head home for the night.”“I take it the two of you are really close.”“Yeah. She helped Mom raise me so she’s been like my second mom. She’s eight years older than me.”“So you completely understand the relationship I have with Nate, then?”“Probably more than anyone else around here could, actually. Her and Mom made sacrifices for me all the time so as soon as I was old enough, I made sure they were looked after and taken care of. I still do.”“You’re a good guy, Kyle.”“Shut that down right now. You’ll ruin my reputation.” He answered with a grin. “I have to stay the bad boy to get all the honey.”“Ugh, forget I ever said anything.”“That’s more like it. Here. Cash me out and I’ll get out of your hair.”I took his money and rang up his tab, giving back his change. He left a good tip for Darcy and left with a nod. It had been like this
