The woman snorted loudly. “I have no idea who you are, but you don’t know him better than I do.”
Anna felt Lucas stiffen next to her and placed a reassuring hand on his back.
“If you believe your son was the wrong choice for Melody’s custody, then I know him a thousand times better than you do,” she whispered urgently.
Lucas’ mother simply laughed and stared at her son with pursed lips. “You really do hang out with nice people, Luc. You...”
“Mom,” he said sharply. “Stop talking before I get really angry. Thanks for the stuffed animal. Thanks for watching Melody. I’ll get in touch with you. But it’s better if you leave now.”
“Because of her?” she said, exasperated, nodding at Anna.
“Yes,” Anna answered for him. “You see, I have a bad temper. He just wants to protect you from me.”
A person who didn’t know Lucas so well wouldn’t have seen the smile work at the corners of his mouth, wouldn’t have known that he was hiding a smile from his mother, but his mother was the one who didn’t know Lucas well.
“Fine. I have an appointment anyway,” his mother said irritably. “But you really should teach Melody to eat what’s served! It’s unreasonable that we have to cook specially for her.”
“She’s five. Of course she doesn’t like the fish looking at her,” he replied harshly. “That shouldn’t have surprised you!”
“Fish is healthy!” She gave him one last stern look before disappearing out the door.
For a few seconds, Lucas stared blankly at the door while Anna looked at him, worried. Then he sighed heavily, sank onto the stairs, rested his elbows on his knees, and rubbed his face. “Is Mel okay?”
“It's hardly worth mentioning, Lucas,” she whispered, sitting next to him and stroking his neck. “It stopped bleeding and there’s a bandage on it. Nothing to worry about.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“It’s always a pleasure talking to my mother. Sorry you had to... be there.”
“It’s fine,” she said, surprised at his apology.
He nodded — and fell silent. But it was a different silence than normal. A tense silence. A silence that felt as if Lucas wanted to fill it, but didn’t know how.
So Anna said nothing. She stroked his neck, down his back, and was just... there. Like he had been for her these last few days. Waiting until he’d sorted out his thoughts.
“You know, she makes me angry. My mother,” he said hesitantly after a while. “But, at the same time... she’s right. I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m playing family with Melody.”
Anna’s heart sank, and her hand grasped his shirt. “No, Lucas. That’s nonsense.”
“No, it's not. I’m... overwhelmed.” He pressed his thumb and middle finger to his eyes. “It’s like she says.”
“Every parent gets overwhelmed at times.”
He laughed dryly and raised his face, but didn’t look at her. “Melody hurt herself and all I did was panic. If you hadn’t been there...”
“You would have calmed down and handled it,” she replied.
“You can’t know that! I can’t stand the sight of blood, Anna. Especially if it’s Melody’s. You can’t know if...”
“Yes, I can.” She cupped his face in her hands, turned it toward her, and forced him to look at her. “Because you would have. You would have pulled yourself together and done it. For her. You love Melody so much that watching the two of you makes my heart swell.”
Lucas shook his head and closed his eyes, but didn’t pull her hands away.
“You’re still learning, Lucas! And that’s okay,” she whispered urgently. “All parents continue to learn. And shit, most of them are only half as amazing as you.”
“No. I make her cry all the time. She’s so sad when I leave. Every time,” he whispered. “And I never know what to say to her. I’m not good at dealing with her emotions. At dealing with any emotions! I have no empathy.”
