All of the Voices by Bailey Bradford (little red riding hood read aloud txt) 📗

After Mrs. Hawkins’ casket had been lowered into the ground and Carlin had led the procession to toss flowers on top of the casket, Matt walked him over to a spot of shade and held him until Carlin’s tears stopped.

“I know it hurts, but remember, she’s still with us.”

Carlin nodded and scrubbed at his cheeks. He gave Matt a watery smile. “I know. Cookies, that’s all I’ve smelled today.”

Severo, Laine, Zeke, Brendon and Doreen all walked over and offered their condolences along with hugs and comforting pats on the back. By the time Matt and Carlin had said goodbye to their friends, there was less than half an hour left before Carlin had to meet with Mrs. Hawkins’ attorney.

Carlin looked at him with red-rimmed eyes, and Matt would have given anything to take the pain away from him. “Will you come with me?”

That was easy enough to do. “Of course. Do you want to walk or drive?”

“Walk. It’s a beautiful day despite…” Carlin took his hand. Matt didn’t care if everyone in McKinton thought it was wrong, he wasn’t letting go until he had to.

* * * *

Carlin was exhausted, the previous night’s and morning’s love making having kept him awake, which was fine, but the toll of his losses was draining every bit of his spirit. He followed Matt into his house and sat beside him on the couch. Carlin snuggled against Matt’s side and rested his head on Matt’s chest.

Matt brushed a finger down Carlin’s jaw then tipped his head back. Carlin saw the same dread of the coming separation he felt in Matt’s blue eyes. “I will miss you, more than you’ll ever know.”

Carlin shook his head then took Matt’s hand in his own and kissed his palm. “No, I’ll know. I will miss you the same.”

After that, there wasn’t anything more to say except words that would leave them both more broken than they would be if they left them unspoken. They clung to each other until it was time for Carlin to leave.

* * * *

Five months later

Carlin was so tired of hurting. Every day he hoped the pain would lessen, but it didn’t. He missed Matt, but the responsibilities that kept Carlin in New York were still the same, so the possibility of a relationship with Matt wasn’t likely. Carlin regretted the stupid decision they’d made to make it a clean break. He wanted to talk to Matt, to tell him about the new medicine the doctor was putting his dad on, and to listen as Matt shared stories about his day.

Carlin had thought if he had to go back to McKinton for Shelly’s trial, he would get to see Matt then. But Shelly and her mother had both plea-bargained and had been given community service. Carlin had bitched to Severo about that. Carlin thought those two could best serve the community by leaving it and Severo agreed.

“Mr. Douglas, there’s a man here to see you. He doesn’t have an appointment, though, so—”

“Send him in,” Carlin said as his heart leaped in his chest. Could it be Matt? Carlin tried to temper his hope but was still crushed when his assistant led Severo into the office.

“That’s not the greeting I was hoping for,” Severo teased, but his voice was gentle, as if he knew how fragile Carlin was right now.

“I’m sorry,” Carlin said as he tried to smile. He stood up and came around the desk, opening his arms for a hug.

Severo walked over and hugged Carlin so hard Carlin gasped. “It’s good to see you.”

“Yeah.” Carlin winced and rubbed at his ribs. “I’m happy to see you, too, but you didn’t have to try to break me in two.”

Severo laughed and slapped at Carlin’s shoulder. “You can take it.” His expression shifted to very serious and Carlin’s stomach dipped as if he’d taken a steep dive on a rollercoaster.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen to Matt?” Carlin could deal with anything but that. He stumbled back, catching his hip on the edge of the desk.

“No, no, he’s not hurt any more than you are, so calm down.” Severo caught Carlin’s arm before he could fall on his ass. “Let’s sit in these nice chairs you have over there and talk.”

Carlin allowed himself to be guided to the chair since he wasn’t entirely sure he could manage it on his own. He sat down and faced Severo then leaped back up. “I need to make sure I don’t have any appointments—”

Severo tugged on his arm until Carlin sat down again. “You don’t. An annoying spirit made sure your schedule was cleared the rest of the day.”

Carlin couldn’t comprehend what Severo meant. “What are you talking about? My assistant keeps my schedule.”

“Yeah, she does,” Severo agreed. “But as I’ve learned recently, some people are susceptible to spirits’ influences. It’s what happened to me and Laine the day you showed up at the Sheriff’s Department. He and I usually don’t go at it like a couple of hornballs in public, but…one minute I was watching him walk through the parking lot, the next I was rushing out the door, my body pounding with the need to touch Laine, to—well, you saw. All I could think about was kissing him, and Laine felt the same way.”

“So you were possessed?” Carlin didn’t like that possibility at all.

Severo laughed and shook his head. “No, not possessed. I don’t think that’s even possible, but I could be wrong. We were influenced, our natural desires for each other magnified until neither of us could resist getting a little raunch on. It didn’t last more than a few minutes, and it felt damned great while it was happening, but once we figured out that our impulses had been tampered with, Laine and I were not happy campers.”

“I imagine not. Was it Conner? He seemed to enjoy stirring up trouble when I was in McKinton.”

“Oh no,” Severo muttered as he fingered the charm on