“Thank you for meeting with me on such short notice,” my mother said. “I’m sorry to interrupt your evening.”
She looked exhausted. I wasn’t sure if it was from her health situation, the news of her father’s death, or both.
“Are you living here in town?” I asked her.
“In Nashville. I’m close to my doctor and treatment.”
“Are you okay to drive back tonight?” I wasn’t sure why I asked. Call me selfish, but I had no intention of letting her interfere with any more of our date. I didn’t owe her a single thing, but I also didn’t want her to fall asleep on the drive home.
“It’s been a day,” she said. “I planned to drive back home, but everything’s catching up with me. I think I’ll get a room and stay the night here.”
“That’s probably best,” I said, starting toward the door to see her out.
“Where are you parked?” Luke asked her.
“I found a spot behind the hardware store.”
“I’ll walk you to your car,” he said.
“That’s kind of you, Luke. Thank you.” My mom drank the rest of her water, then pulled her coat on.
“Just leave the bottle on the table,” I told her. “I’ll clean up while you’re gone, Luke.” I purposely didn’t let her know he and I planned to walk to my apartment next. I’d made a point of not telling her where I lived, and I intended to keep it that way.
She could tell me she’d changed all she wanted, but it would take a lot for me to be able to trust my mother.
Luke
It was cold and dark out, but the sidewalks weren’t deserted. Several stores stayed open late for holiday shoppers, and the bars and restaurants kept people coming and going.
“Do you know where you’re staying yet?” I asked Magnolia’s mother, just to make conversation.
“Maybe the Honeysuckle Inn.”
“There’s the Marks now too,” I said, thinking the high-dollar hotel seemed more her style than the quaint, comfortable inn.
“Oh, I remember hearing about that opening a year or two back. That’s a good suggestion. Thank you.”
We walked in silence past Oopsie Daisies and the gym. As we turned toward the parking lot, she said, “What are your intentions with my daughter, Luke?”
The question caught me off guard for several reasons, not the least of which was I wasn’t convinced she gave even half a shit about Magnolia’s life.
“We’re taking things one day at a time,” I said curtly. “I could ask you the same.”
Her step momentarily slowed, just enough for me to notice. “I guess that’s a fair question,” she said quietly. “I’m sure she’s told you I’m a terrible mother.”
“Not in those exact words.”
“I don’t want anything from Magnolia,” she eventually said. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I’d like very much to have some kind of relationship with her. I know,” she said before I could tell her the odds of that. “I don’t deserve it, and I’m not expecting it.” We stepped off the curb into the parking lot. “I don’t have a hidden agenda. I’m too damn tired for any more games in my life. But if I could have the chance to get to know her, that would mean the world to me.”
Either she was one hell of an actress or that quaver in her voice was real emotion. It wasn’t my place to soften toward this woman though. I only wanted to protect Magnolia.
“You’re not going to lie to her or use her?” I asked.
“No.”
“How do I know that’s true?”
“I guess you’ll have to trust me.”
