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He stared at the red mark on her cheek as she gathered her purse and stood beside him. “Jane, are you all right?”
“Fine,” she said. “But would you mind if we skipped dinner and just went home? I’m not very hungry.”
“I’ll pick up something on the way home,” he said.
She shrugged. “Sure.”
With a final look at Mama J, she started toward the door. Luke hurried after her and took her hand.
* * *
“Jane, you should eat more,” Luke said worriedly. He had stopped and picked up a pizza before driving Jane home, and he watched her pick at the slice on her plate.
“Right.” She ate a few bites before putting the slice down and dropping her napkin over her plate.
Luke frowned but didn’t have the heart to berate her about not eating. Hell, he barely had an appetite himself. He’d only met Mama J once, and seeing her tonight upset him. He could only imagine how Jane was feeling.
Not that she would tell him anything. He had tried twice in the car to bring up what happened, but she had changed the subject both times. He watched as she carried her plate to the counter and tossed the slice into the garbage before putting her plate in the dishwasher.
“Do you want any more?”
He shook his head, and she closed the pizza box and stuck it in the fridge. Her face was pale except for the lingering red mark on her face. She drank the rest of her water as he said, “Jane, I’m sorry about what happened tonight.”
She shrugged. “I’m used to it.”
“You should talk about it,” he said. “It’ll help.”
She shook her head and turned away, but not before he saw the glint of tears in her eyes. She stared out the small window over the kitchen sink. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not,” he said. “It’s okay that you’re not. Talk to me, honey.”
“Talking isn’t what you want from me,” she said bitterly.
He didn’t reply, and she made a choked sound before glancing over her shoulder at him. “I’m sorry, that was unfair, and I didn’t mean it. I’m just…”
He gave her a look of sympathy. “I know, honey. It’s okay.”
Her lower lip trembled, and he tugged her into his lap as she burst into tears. He pressed her face into his neck and rocked her gently. He rubbed her back and whispered low words of comfort as she cried.
When her sobs trailed off after a few minutes, he grabbed a napkin from the table and pressed it into her hand. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose before sitting up and giving him a watery smile. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” he said.
“Your shirt is soaked.” She stared at his dress shirt. “There’s makeup all over it.”
“I don’t care. Do you feel better?”
She nodded and dabbed at her eyes again. “Yeah, actually, I do.”
“Good. I’m sorry about what happened tonight.” He ran his thumb over her cheek. “You’ll probably bruise.”
“She didn’t mean to do it,” Jane said defensively.
“I know,” he said. “I know, honey. How often is she like that?”
Jane sighed and didn’t object when he pressed her against his broad chest again. She rested her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her lower back. “It’s happening more and more. The disease is progressing rapidly now. She used to have more good days than bad, but the last month or so…”
She made a soft sob, and Luke kissed her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”
