My Name is Rapunzel(46)

I rose to my feet and placed my hand on the doorknob. Just a few more seconds. I could tell him that dating wasn’t allowed. That was always a possibility. But what had he done to deserve a no from me? I didn't want my insecurities and my personal needs to make him feel badly about himself. That would be unacceptable.

The bathroom door creaked as I pulled it open. I placed a timid foot into the hallway outside the door.

“Oh, there you are. I've been looking all over for you.” Luke reached out his beefy arms and pulled me in for a hug. When had he become a man?

“We need to put some meat on your bones, Mama.” His eyes twinkled as they did whenever he said that. It had to be strange for his mother to look like his classmates.

“What's this I hear about a date?” I tried to hide the tremble from my voice.

“Oh, you are going to love this girl. She's from town, of course. I met her when I was at the market. She's beautiful, looks a lot like you, actually.” He gazed through the window, his eyes giving away his longing. Freedom. He was desperate for it.

“Well, she might look like me, but what would she think of me? “I shook my head and raised my palms. “What are we to do? I want you to have a normal life, Luke, but I don't know how to make this work.” Tell me. Have an answer.

“Mama, it's simple. I go out on a date. I go to Anastasia’s house, and I take her to dinner. That's it. There's nothing more difficult to it.” He shrugged. To him it really did seem that simple.

“What about tomorrow?” I rubbed my temples. A headache was on its way.

“Tomorrow? Well that's a long way away. Girls usually like to have the first date before they make plans for the second. But I'll let her know you approve of a second date.” He winked one of those green eyes that had managed to get yes after yes from me for the past twenty years.

“That's not what I meant, and you know it.” He didn't get it. He just didn't get it.

“Well, let's not borrow trouble. Can we make that deal?”

I nodded against my better judgment. But how could I drive the point home without making him feel responsible for me? He wasn't, and I wouldn’t have him feel that way.





CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE




Oh, great. They had arrived. If only Luke knew what he was doing. If only he knew the risk he was bringing onto this household. But how could I convey it to him? I didn't want to ruin his life, too.

I laid down my knitting and crossed the room to the window. No sign of anything out of the ordinary outside. No dragon. At least he wasn't angered by Anastasia’s presence in the castle. I went to my bedroom door and slowly opened it. If only I could delay this meeting. Deep breath. Here goes.

I pasted a smile on my face and went down the stairs, happily. Or so it seemed. “Well, who is this lovely lady?” I moved toward Luke and Anastasia with a grin and an outstretched arm.

“May I present to you, Anastasia Chesterton. Anastasia, my mother.” Luke stepped back with a grin, obviously positive that his mother and his girlfriend would fall in love.

How to handle this?

“It's wonderful to meet you, Anastasia. Your hair is such a beautiful shade of red. I don't think I've seen anything like it before.” Ugh. I could have hit myself over the head for drawing attention to her hair. Why did I go right to hair?

“Why, thank you. But I've got nothing on your hair. Look at those luxurious waves. So long and beautiful.”

There it was. She was inspecting the length of my hair. My braid. Oh. And now she searched my face. Probably for wrinkles.

“Luke, you never told me your mother was so beautiful and so young-looking.”

Luke’s eyes twinkled with pride. He looked into my eyes.

I shook my head and sighed.

A shadow came over Luke’s face. He must have realized the problem. He gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head as if to tell me not to worry, but he had no idea. People were capable of so many things. Things he had never imagined. Things I had seen over and over.

“Well, step in. There's no reason to stand in the doorway. Luke, why don't you offer your guest a beverage while I take her coat?” I lifted the mink stole from her shoulders.

“Great idea, mother. Anna, what would you like to drink? Something hot or something cold?”

Why was Luke being so formal? Was he nervous? Good.

Anastasia shrugged and waved her hand. “Oh, don't you worry about me. I'll have what you're having, or nothing. It's all the same to me.”

“So, how long have you two been seeing each other?” Please, say not long.

Anastasia narrowed her gaze at Luke. “That's actually a bit of a touchy spot for us. Tell her, Luke.”

Dread sank to the bottom of my stomach like an anchor in the ocean. This was not going to be good.