“I hope you don’t mind. I took a chance.” She paused and nodded towards the luggage. “Are you going somewhere?”
Nick stood there dumbfounded for a moment. He hadn’t seen or heard from his mother since she came to the garage that day. Watching her stand there, looking as if she was hoping he wouldn’t kick her out, had caused him to suddenly feel guilty. He felt guilty because here she was reaching out to him again when he never bothered once to reach out to her. He looked at the suitcase and shook his head before he stepped aside and opened the door wider, welcoming his mother into his home.
“I actually just got back from Seattle.” He offered as she stepped inside.
Lucille turned around and raised an eyebrow at the mention of where he had been.
He smiled slightly. “Dad tried to blindside me into closing a deal that would legally bind me to his firm for quite some time.” He shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged his shoulders, trying to make light of the fact his father double crossed him. He lifted his gaze to his mother’s familiar eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for, son?” She asked hoarsely and wondered if he was about to share the news with her. The news she came here prepared to beg to be a part of, if only he would agree she thought hopefully.
“I’m sorry you ever shed one tear over that man.” He said simply yet sincerely.
Her eyes widened for a moment in shock. “I’m sorry too.” She said once she regained her bearings. “I’m sorry I let him enable me, I was young and foolish.” She sighed heavily and then tilted her head to study the man before her.
“I can’t change the past, Nick. No matter how much I’d like to. But I can control the course our future takes and I want to be a part of your life.” Her eyes filled with fresh tears as she covered her heart with the palm of her hand. “And I want so badly to be a part of my grandchild’s life. I don’t want to miss a moment.” She said softly. “When I found out I immediately thought that this was my chance to right the wrongs of your childhood. I can be a good grandmother, Nick.” She wiped at the tears that had escaped her eyes and then she glanced up, startled by the blank expression that adorned her son’s face. She swallowed against the lump that she felt form in her throat. “Nick?”
Nick stared at his mother. All he had heard was grandchild, and she hadn’t been referring to hypothetical future children. She was referring to the present. He shook his head. It didn’t make sense. How could his mother know he was going to be a father, when he didn’t have a clue?
“Mom, what the hell are you talking about?” Nick asked, clearly confused.
“Oh God, I’m sorry.” Lucille said as she covered her mouth with the palm of her hand as if to shovel the words that had fallen out of her mouth, back in.
“Don’t be sorry. Just explain.” Nick said patiently his eyes boring into hers, pleading for the truth.
Lucille nervously ran her hands along her face before staring back at her son. “I went for a mammogram and I saw Samantha in the waiting room. I wasn’t trying to listen, but they were speaking loud enough for anyone to hear.”
“What did you hear, Mother?” Nick said, his patience wearing thin. His heart slammed against his chest as he anticipated her words. He began to feel himself break into a cold sweat.
“She’s pregnant.” She whispered finally. “I thought you knew. I thought you were keeping me out of your life. I didn’t mean to be the one to tell you… I didn’t mean to interfere.”
Nick’s whole body slumped as the words left his mother’s mouth. Sam was pregnant. The reality sunk in and the anger boiled in his veins as the questions raced through his head. When did she plan on telling him? Why was it his mother who was telling him he was going to be a father? Was she ever going to tell him? Was this some sort of test? He rubbed at his temples because his head felt like it was about to explode. He needed to hear it from Sam. He needed her to answer his questions because right now he wasn’t thinking rationally, right now he was feeling as if he had been betrayed by the woman he thought he wasn’t good enough for. The woman he would soon be lucky enough to be married to.
He lifted his defeated gaze towards his mother. “I have to go.” He said flatly.
“Please, son. I’m sure it was just a misunderstanding. She was probably planning to tell you in a special way.”
Nick saw his mother’s lips move, but couldn’t hear what she was saying. He turned around and left her in his apartment. Running down the stairs to his car, nothing mattered other than getting answers from Sam.