His mother bit her bottom lip. “Luke, darling, is there something you’re not telling me? You aren’t gay, are you? Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” she rushed to add, like she was a character from of an episode of Seinfeld. “Your father and I would love you just the same if you were.”
For a second, Luke was too shocked to speak. He wanted to laugh, but he didn’t think his mother would appreciate it. “No, Mom,” he said gently. “I’m not gay. But thanks. For the ‘loving me just the same’ part.”
She nodded. “Well, I didn’t think you were, but it can never hurt to ask these days.” She glanced around the empty garage. “It’s nice and quiet in here, isn’t it?”
It wasn’t like his mother to beat around the bush. “Mom, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes went moist. Oh God. Please don’t cry. Not tonight.
“I just feel that somehow I’ve let you down. Is it something you saw when you were little? I don’t remember your father and I ever arguing in front of you kids, but maybe you confused something or—”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about your attitude toward marriage! Obviously, something has turned you off to getting married and I have no idea what it might be other than some childhood trauma or misconception.”
“There’s no childhood trauma. Take Mimi. We were both raised the same and look at her and Zeke.”
“I know. It’s like they’re the poster children for Happily Ever After.”
He grinned “You’re funny, Mom, you know that?”
She smiled sadly. “I just want you to be happy. That’s all. And if being married to your company makes you happy, then I guess I’ll just have to accept that.”
Married to his company? Is that what she thought of him? It’s what Ethan thought, he knew that. It was probably what Sarah thought, too… Says the man who only visits his family in between projects and when it’s convenient for him.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Luke said, “I’ve decided to come home more often.”
“Really?” She sounded so hopeful that it made Luke feel like an ass for being so selfish all these years, because that’s really what it boiled down to. Sarah had shown him that.
“Yes, really. I blew it with Claire, but I still have time with Cameron. And, of course, now there’s going to be a new baby. I want to be here for important days, like today.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me, and your dad is going to be thrilled.”
He hesitated, because God knew he needed to get Sarah out of his head, but he had to say it. “I know you don’t like Sarah, but she was a big part in helping me see that I need to spend more time here. She’s a good person, Mom. Maybe the best person I’ve ever met.”
“You’re wrong, Luke, I don’t dislike her. Not at all. I just didn’t think she was right for you.”
“Then you don’t know me very well, because she was…she was…” He raked a hand through his hair unable to say the last part out loud. Completely, one-hundred-percent right for me. He tried to fill his lungs with air, but it was like he couldn’t breathe.
His mother’s jaw dropped. “Oh, Luke,” she said softly. “Darling, do you realize what’s going on here?”
The door to the garage burst open. “Powers!” his brother-in-law said. “What are you doing in the dark all alone? Playing with yourself? We’re about to get the show on the road.” Then Zeke noticed that he wasn’t alone. “Oh, sorry, Ann. Didn’t see you there. We’ve been looking for you, too. C’mon, Claire’s about to cut her cake.”
* * *
The living room in his sister’s house was crammed full of people. Claire had cut her going-away cake and afterward there had been speeches. Some of them more flowery than others, including a funny and poignant goodbye from Zeke’s sister, Allie, who toasted her “Claire Bear,” leaving Mimi in tears. Luke had followed it with a simple “Go forth and conquer,” that might not have been as eloquent, but it got the message across.
One portion of the night down, another one to go. Now Luke was about to find out if he was going to have another niece or nephew.
“I hope it’s a boy,” Cameron said.
“Well, I hope it’s a girl,” Claire said, then frowned as if she’d just thought of something. “Now that I’m going off to college, does this mean the baby is going to get my room?”
Zeke and Mimi looked at one another. “The baby is going to stay in our room for the first few months, then we’ll see,” Mimi said diplomatically.
Cameron laughed evilly under his breath. “That so means that the baby is getting your room,” he said to his sister.
Allie made a big production of bringing out the balloon that contained the information they’d all been waiting for, while Zeke and Mimi stood in the middle of the room, grinning at one another like love-struck fools. Champagne was passed around to all the adults and someone turned off the music that had been playing in the background to allow a few moments of quiet.