I walked into the house and was glad to see my mom was up in her recliner.
“Cy! Goodness you gave me a scare. Why did you leave like that?” my mother said.
Shit, another reason to feel guilty. I should have at least left her note or called her. “I had something I needed to take care of. I’ll tell you in a minute.”
Lora appeared from the kitchen. “You’re back. Do you want coffee? I have half a pot still.”
“That would be great.” Then I needed her to leave so I could tell mom about the baby. But I’d take a minute to readjust to being home again. “I’ll be right back, mom.” I followed Lora into the kitchen. “Is everything okay?”
“She’s fine, Cy. Just the usual. She was upset to wake up and find you were gone. I didn’t know what to tell her so I said it was business.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry I put you in that position.” I leaned back against the counter and rubbed my hands over my face.
“It’s okay. But don’t treat her like she’s so fragile.”
I took the coffee mug Lora handed me. “She is fragile.”
“She’s mentally strong, Cy. She birthed a man who became a SEAL. She must be a strong woman.”
I laughed. “I never thought of it that way.”
“Don’t underestimate her.” She pressed her hand to my cheek. “You, on the other hand, look like shit.”
“Gee thanks.”
Her hand slid down to my chest. It was a familiar, almost intimate gesture that had me stepping away from her because it felt wrong. Not because Petal was having my baby. But because it bothered me that Petal thought I’d gone from her bed to Lora’s.
“I need to talk to my mom,” I said hoping Lora would take the hint.
“I’ve to run. But if you want me back later, give me a call.”
I walked her out and then grabbed a chair and pulled it up next to my mom. I reached over for the remote and turned off the talk show she was watching.
“Ut oh. This must be serious,” she said as I took her hand.
“I’m sorry I ran off like that.”
“I’m sure you had a good reason,” she said, squeezing my hand. I could see her motherly instinct grow in her eyes.
“Remember when you told me that Lora mentioned I’d been seeing a woman in Bismarck?”
“Yes.” All of a sudden, a brow arched. “Is she pregnant?”
I laughed. “How did you get that from what I said?”
She shrugged. “I suspect all mothers worry that their son’s will accidently impregnant a woman.”
I looked down as it was the first time that I was made to feel like maybe I’d fucked up. This baby wasn’t planned, but I hadn’t considered that it was a mistake.
“Cy?”
I lifted my head. “Well, you’d be right.”
She gasped, but instead of disappointment, her face lit up. “Oh? I’m going to be a grandma.”
I nodded.
“Well, where is she? I have to meet the woman carrying my grandchild. Are you getting married? Is she moving here?”