Page 46 of Love's a Glitch
It struck me as odd that they asked after his occupation before mine, but to each their own, I guess. “Who knows? He left when I was ten and never looked back.” A nervoushahsound came out, my awkwardness determined to rear its embarrassing head. “But my stepdad sells cars at one of the local dealerships. He’s the reason my mom, brother, and I relocated to Arizona in the first place.” I almost added that he’d given me a great deal on my vehicle, but given Donna’s earlier comment, she might not find it as impressive as I did. “And my mom teaches school.”
“Is that why you’re so good with kids?” Donna jerked her chin toward Charlotte, who was giving my arms a workout with her up, down, up, down game.
“She teaches high school, actually. But between my brother and my two stepsisters, I have five nieces and nephews. I also helped raise my younger brother, who is currently suffering through his last year of having his mother as his math teacher.” I clapped and bounced Charlotte on my knee as she started to fuss, and she gripped my fingers and yanked them apart. Her forehead crumpled as she puzzled over the motion, and I clapped again, which brought out the smile. “Unfortunately, I don’t get a chance to visit home as often as I’d like. If flights are cheap, I’ll book a long weekend, and I spend most holidays with them as well.”
“Visiting your family more often than once every year or two. How nice.” Donna’s gaze moved to her son. “Isn’t that nice, Luke?”
With his leg resting against mine, I felt him tense. “I’m visiting now, Mom.”
“Luke would rather stay in random huts than come home and spend time with his family. He tells me I have to let him live his own life, and I try, but do you have any idea how hard it is for a mother to wonder where her child is, and if he’s safe, especially when he rarely calls or checks in?”
Luke gripped George’s waist, and I could tell he was about to remove his nephew from his lap and flee the conversation.
I snagged his wrist, unable to keep myself from attempting to stop the crash, even if it meant getting caught in the middle of it. Plus, what would I do? Storm away with him and leave his family with a bad impression? Make my mopey way out to my beater car without saying a proper goodnight? “I get that it’s hard not to take absence personally—as I mentioned, I haven’t a clue where my dad even is, and he prefers it that way. But I can tell whenever Luke mentions his family how much he cares.
“Through the years, I’ve learned that everyone’s physical, emotional, and mental needs are all so different. Add in the various ways our pasts and presents shape us, and there are as many options and pathways and personalities as colors in the world. Which is especially crazy when you factor in that some insects can see in ultraviolet, and that allows them to see far more colors than humans.”
That earned me slack jaws and unblinking stares, and heat crawled up my neck. “Sorry. I sometimes diverge down random rambling pathways myself….”Focus, Ellie, before you lose your audience and where you’re trying to go with this grand speech that might not exactly endear you to them.“What I’m trying to say is that Luke’s met so many people from various walks of life, which is something I can’t help be jealous of, even if several of those paths he’s traversed scare the shit out of me.”
I winced. “Pardon my language. It’s been a while since I’ve been around kids.”
“No, I’d say that’s about the only way to describe how I feel when I see the pictures, too,” his mother said, and his dad nodded.
Henry, who’d hardly said a thing, chimed in as well. Charlotte reached for her mom, and I handed her over and then charged on with my point before I lost hold of it again.
“Luke’s helped a lot of those people as well. Did you know he helped build a school for girls so they could get their education?”
Donna gaped at her son as though she were seeing him for the first time, leading me to believe that no, no she didn’t. “That’s incredible, and of course I’m so proud. I work with a charity that does something similar around the globe. I get that it might not be as exciting, but you could still do good from here in the U.S. as well. I could set it all up with a call.”
I dared a sidelong glance at the guy I was gushing about to find him staring at me. His expression didn’t tell me if he cared I’d shared, if he wanted me to keep going or stop. Once I got talking, I rarely stopped, so I went with it, aiming my words more at him than his family. “His photos are seriously magic….”
One corner of his mouth kicked up, and that was all that mattered.
“Something about them leaps off the page and grabs hold of my soul. I’ll probably never get to visit those places myself, but for a moment, I’m there, experiencing the beauty.” I placed my hand atop of Luke’s fist, convincing him to release it by drawing circles over his knuckles.
He flipped his palm so that it met mine, and my heart soared.
George decided to join in, placing his chubby hand over both of ours, and a snicker slipped out.
“When we love what we do,” I said, mirroring the grin Luke gave me, “it shines through. So even when it’s hard, giving the people we care about space to do what feeds their soul shows how much we love them. Although that definitely goes both ways.” With my free hand, I patted Luke’s knee. “So, Luke, when you go off on your next adventure, you’re going to call your mom more often, aren’t you?”
He arched an eyebrow, and I raised one right back. He blew out a breath. “Okay. I can do that.”
“Good.” I tore my gaze away to pivot toward his mom. “And Donna, would you be willing to compromise too? Allow him to do his charity projects his way, and when he does make all those extra phone calls, tell him you miss him without immediately pressing him to come home?”
His whole family stared back at me, unblinking, as though I were a body snatcher. Lead filled my lungs, shoving the oxygen from them. Clearly, I’d overstepped. “Or perhaps I’m a complete stranger who isn’t the least bit qualified and I should’ve just kept my opinion to myself. I tend to blurt it out, along with random facts like that insect thing, and it’s totally something I’m working on.” I pulled my hand out from Luke’s grasp and scooted to the edge of the couch. “I’ll, um, leave you all to your family discussion.”
“Don’t go,” Luke said, placing his hand on my thigh. “You’re right. I get so caught up in my work and the passion that I have for it, I forget anything else exists. And I don’t call as much as I should because I don’t want a guilt trip about coming home.”
The line of Donna’s mouth tightened, and her chin quivered. “Your father and I worked so hard to build a safe and secure home for you and your brother and sister, and it’s hard not to take it personally that you’re always in such a rush to leave.” She sniffed. “It’s not easy being a mom. You never stop worrying about your kids, and when I haven’t heard from you in weeks, my brain conjures the worst possible scenario.”
“Again, I’ll do my best. There’ll be times when I’m out of range for weeks, but I promise I’ll do a better job at letting you know that in advance.” His fingers tightened on my leg and he gave me a squeeze that ignited a whorl of heat. Then I was thinking inappropriate things and reliving our time in his bedroom.
The kids began to fuss, tired of the boring conversation and, from the way both of them rubbed at their eyes, tired in general.
“Now, I think we’ve shown Ellie enough of our family drama for one evening.” Luke stood, pulling me along with him. “I’m going to walk her to her car, as I’m sure she’s got an early morning ahead of her, as do I.”
Sadly, he was correct on that point. I only had a few more days to finalize things for my presentation.
