He was just about to go when he realized he was no longer alone as a hand on his shoulder made him turn around. How had he missed the signature smell of lavender and salt water on the air?
"Mom." His voice was hoarse and he cleared his throat before going on. "What are you doing here?"
“Stocking up on diapers for the little guy and figured I could pick you up a few things, too. Great minds." The gentle wrinkles around the corners of her eyes folded as she smiled at him, but the grin faded just as quickly as it had come. “On no. I know that look. What's wrong?" she said.
"Nothing. You should keep shopping and--"
"I know all of my children well enough to know when they’re blowing smoke up my bum. Now tell me what’s going on.”
He didn't want to. Even as he tried to get the words out, he realized that saying it aloud would somehow make what had happened more real. That the dark, twisted nightmare was his life.
“Is it something with Tawny? Your brother?” Her face went pale. “Is it the baby?”
He shrugged, knowing she wouldn't stop until the truth was out and he was only making his own misery hers. “No. No, the baby is fine. I...Tawny and I split up. So, it's stupid but I came here to buy a new crib for my loft and, like, a new stroller and highchair because I let Tawny keep everything we already had."
"Oh, honey," his mother said on a sigh as she patted his shoulder gently. “I’m so sorry.”
"It's okay. She didn't want any of the stuff but I'm the one with the steady job right now and I know she needs it so...well, anyway, here I am. But I’ve been walking around for an hour and I just don't know how any of it works. She was the one who did all the consumer reports research. I thought about getting the same things we had on our registry but--"
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there. You probably shouldn't be rushing into any big purchases," his mother said, holding up a hand.
"What do you mean? The baby will be here any day and I don't have anything for him. I have to get everything tonight. If I don't--"
"What I mean is this could easily just be a phase. You guys looked so happy the other night. It’s a highly emotional time and she’s young and afraid. Her mother isn’t around to help her through all this and her hormones are out of whack. Can’t you give it a little time to be sure this is really what she wants?”
"She made it very clear that she meant every word she said. She told me she never loved me."
His mother let out a crack of laughter and he glanced at her with a frown.
"Is something about that funny?"
"Well, it only proves my point, is all.” His mother shrugged, a half-smile tugging at her lips. “I saw that girl and she is in love with you, Luke. So whatever all this drama is, it has nothing to do with how she feels. Maybe it won’t work out. Maybe there are other issues at play, but I refuse to believe she doesn’t love you. Not after seeing you guys together.”
Luke shook his head, trying not to let his mother’s words give him false hope. “She also said she didn't want to be stuck with me forever. Not exactly the words of a woman in love,” he reasoned.
"Now that definitely doesn't sound like our Tawny," his mother said.
"I thought that too. She was always saying how much she wanted a close-knit family and wanted stability, but there's no reason for her to lie to me."
"Unless she's trying to drive you away." His mother adjusted the light shawl around her shoulders, her perceptive gaze drilling into his.
"Why the hell would she do that?" Luke demanded with a scowl.
She shook her head. “I can’t answer that, son. You might want to ask her that yourself. All I know is that that girl loves you and the fact that she's pregnant...well, maybe she's trying to make sure you're not with her for the wrong reasons. Do you love her?"
"Of course I do. I was..." he paused. He'd only told Rex about his plan but now seemed as good a time as any to share the news. "Mom. I was going to propose to her."
Her eyes lit up, and she gave him a solemn nod. "Then it sounds like you've got to win her back." She reached in front of him, grabbed the cheapest pack of diapers, and tossed it into her cart. “I’ve left your father with a naked toddler who could very well be marking my whole house right now, but if you need a guru for anything else, just remember I'm full of wisdom."
Luke rolled his eyes. "You got it."
As she disappeared down the aisle toward the registers, he stared down at his own cart and surveyed the contents.
Could she be right? Could Tawny be pushing him away, trying to save him from being stuck without realizing that the one and only thing he wanted anymore was her and their baby? She had been worried about it early on but he thought that they’d spent the past few months proving to each other exactly how much they were both invested in making things work. Should he have pressed harder when she’d told him she didn’t want to be with him? Had he missed an opportunity to show her how much he loved her?