Spectator

"Mommy! Mommy!” Harper called out happily, skipping over to where her mother stood by her car, waiting for her to come so that they could go home.

“Be careful now honey. You don't want to fall flat on your face.” Ava cautioned indulgently, gathering her daughter into her arms for a quick hug and smooch.

Harper giggled delightedly and returned the hug, kissing her mother on the cheek.

“Mom, look! Steve is coming over here.” Harper said pointing in the direction from which Steve was approaching them.

Just hearing his name caused Ava’s heart to skip a beat and she shook her head inwardly, wondering what the hell was wrong with her.

It was a great feeling though, because it had been ages since she last felt this way about any man. The last man she had felt something remotely akin to this for was Derek.

She had begun to wonder if her heart was dead and cold in her chest, so it was great to know that it was still working, after all.

On the heels of this thought came the sobering realization