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Josephine was grinning at them, and Jane flushed a little as the old woman leaned forward and said, “Your husband is a real sweetheart, Janie.”
“He’s not my husband, Mama J,” Jane said.
Josephine frowned at them. “Why, of course, he is. Don’t speak so foolishly.”
Jane took Mama J’s hand and squeezed it lightly. “I think you’re a bit mixed up. Luke and I aren’t married.”
Josephine yanked her hand away and scowled at Jane. “Don’t lie to me. You know I don’t like it when you lie to me!”
“I’m not,” Jane said. “Calm down and -”
“Don’t lie to me!”
Mama J’s voice was rising, and the few other customers in the diner looked their way. “Why would you lie about not being married? I was at the wedding.”
“You’re right, Mama J,” Luke said. “Jane and I are married. You were at the wedding.”
Mama J smiled triumphantly. “I know. For goodness sake, Janie, you shouldn’t be ashamed of being married.”
“I’m not,” Janie said.
Josephine leaned forward and gripped his hand. “You love my Janie, don’t you, boy? You love her, and you’re going to treat her well. Right?”
“Yes,” Luke said.
“Say it,” Mama J said agitatedly. “Say you love my Janie right now.”
“Mama J,” Jane said, “Why don’t you have more of your vanilla shake before it melts?”
“Say it,” Josephine repeated. “Say you love my Janie.”
“I love her,” Luke said.
Jane twitched against him as Mama J continued to glare at him. Before she could grow more upset, Luke turned to Jane.
“I love you, Jane.” He kissed her on the mouth.
Jane stared up at him, her cheeks red and her eyes bright. He kissed her again and said, “I love you.”
It was his turn to twitch when Jane whispered, “I love you too.”
Her cheeks flamed even more, and she looked at the table as Mama J smiled at the two of them. “You’re the sweetest couple ever. When are you going to make me a grandma?”
Luke barely heard her. His pulse was pounding in his ears, and his head was reeling. Did Jane mean what she said? Hell, did he mean what he said?
“Luke? When are you going to make me a grandma?” Mama J prompted. Her agitation had disappeared, and she was sipping contently at her shake again.
“Uh, soon,” he said, making Jane jerk against him again.
“Good,” Mama J said happily. “Janie, eat some more of your dinner. You’re too thin.”
* * *
Jane followed Luke into his bedroom. He’d been quiet and withdrawn since they took Mama J back to the care home. She was tired and starting to mix up her words, and Jane quickly tucked her into bed before kissing her goodbye. To her relief, Mama J hadn’t asked Luke about marriage or babies again and had just given him a weary goodbye.
“Luke?” She said as he stared out the window of his bedroom.
“Yeah?” He didn’t look at her.
