Page 19 of Hooked on Lane (Hooked #1)

Chapter Nineteen

Lane

M y mother grinned from ear to ear as she took a few steps out into the sun.

She looked very much like the woman I remembered.

Her eyes sparkled as we walked toward the car.

She clapped her hands in joy, the wrinkles on her face deepening.

A warmth filled me, knowing How lucky was I to give my mother the Christmas she wanted in our hometown?

I pulled the car up to the nursing home entrance and loaded my mother's bag into the back seat. “Come on, let’s get you settled in the front seat.” I opened her door and helped her in the passenger seat. “Amesbury, here we come.”

We drove for an hour, taking the more scenic route out of Sikita. Every time I looked over, she had a smile on her face. This was a breakout that she desperately needed. Her smile only got bigger with each passing mile.

The nurses in the nursing home kindly warned me about what to expect when I took care of my mother over the holidays.

The memories of her doctor's appointment when she received her diagnosis was still fresh in my mind, and I remembered how he described every symptom she might succumb to due to her condition.

I spent months researching and consulting with her doctor.

That day she told me, “Giving up your life to take care of me isn't what I want.” The weight of her words hung heavy.

She knew how hard I worked. My journey to pass the bar exam, the years of long hours and sleepless nights I spent preparing for it.

Not using my degree would be detrimental to any future career, and she reminded me of that.

I was willing to let it all go to take care of the woman who gave up so much to take care of me.

Dad's playlist was bringing joy to this trip, a tribute to all the times we took trips to Missoula.

So many memories were embedded along with the songs playing, and by the looks of it, Mom agreed.

Like the time when Dad had to pee so bad and there wasn't a gas station for miles, so he pulled over and stepped behind a tree in a meadow.

Mom and I heard screaming, and then my father was running with his pants down, swatting at the air.

Turns out, there was a beehive above his head.

Mom made fun of him the rest of the trip after getting him some Benadryl.

We never did make it to our destination, instead we turned around and went home.

Dad felt so bad for ruining our trip to the zoo.

Truth be told, it wasn't about the places we went, but the time I got. As long as I was with them, I had fun.

My mother turned down the radio. “So, you've been there for a while now. How are you liking it? You never seemed like the big city type.”

I looked over toward her, letting go of the steering wheel with my right hand to take hold of hers. “Honestly, it would be better if you were there. Walking around Times Square just isn't as fun when you are alone.”

She smiled and pinched my cheek. “Oh, Lane, baby, you need to get a good woman. A man as amazing as you are shouldn't be lonely.”

If only my mom knew about Jennifer. It wasn't like I could tell her because then she would spend the next few days trying to push us together, and that could be uncomfortable for my sassy assistant.

“Focusing on my career will always be lonely, but that's okay.

Someday, the woman of my dreams will say yes, and lonely I'll never be again.”

I turned the radio back up, so she didn't pry into that subject any further, because if there was one thing I wasn't good at, it was lying to my mother. She could spot it a mile away.

As I rounded the corner, the Amesbury sign came into view and I took a right turn, approaching the town that held so many memories for us both. Being surrounded by her friends that she had known all her life might do her some good.

As we pulled into the lodge's lot, Mom couldn't wipe the smile off her face as I went around and helped her out of the vehicle.

“I honestly never thought I'd see this place again. I can still get around… but I'm slower.”

I wafted my hand at her and grabbed her bag from the back seat. She took off toward the front door, and I got there just in time to open it for her. “In you go.”

Carina's face split into a wide grin when she saw my mom.

“Leanne!” After a brief hug, Carina gushed about how long it had been since they last saw each other; they had known each other since elementary school.

Carina handed me the room key so I could get her bag into her room while they caught up.

Thankfully, it was on the first floor, close to the lobby, so she wouldn't have too much difficulty getting around.

When I returned, they were still talking, lost in conversation.

Mom released a yawn. “I’ll stop gabbing now. Son, let me change out of my jammies and we can go grab a bite to eat.”

“Okay.”

I watched her silhouette disappear and looked around the lobby for Jennifer.

She must be out exploring. She didn’t seem like the type to hang around in her room.

This town was amazing during the holidays, and I truly hoped she would enjoy herself.

Her parents put so much pressure on her, and she wanted to make them proud, but if they didn't see what an amazing woman she was, they were idiots.

If they couldn't appreciate her for who she was, then maybe she didn't need their approval after all.