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A big one. A big one because his woman was bursting with such big emotions because of his brilliant idea.
As he imagined what Andy’s reaction to said idea might be, Luke had a moment of wondering if it was the right way to go. If doing this thing might actually upset Andy. Maybe she hadn’t had enough time to mourn. Maybe, as her father had said, she needed Luke to give her some space. It had only been twenty-four hours, but still, it felt like forever.
“I’m gonna give her one more day, Frankie. Just one. Then I’m gonna go big, kid. BIG. Because your mama is right. Holding babiesdoesmake everything better.” Luke leaned down and pressed a kiss to Frankie’s cheek. “And because that remarkable woman I was telling you about… I’m one hundred percent in love with her.”
Chapter thirty-five
Lukedidn’tcometoAndy’s apartment Monday morning. Nor was he the one who rang her doorbell shortly after ten the following sunrise.
Andy tried not to read too much into this since she’d learned that Mary had just had her baby. Of course, Luke would want to be there for his sister. Of course, he’d want to spend time with his new niece.
And of course — even in her sadness over losing Petals — Andy was happy for them. And relieved to hear Francesca Mae MacCallum had come into the world a healthy seven pounds, six ounces, and twenty-one inches long. This according to the text Andy had received from Kyle Monday morning. Right after he’d informed Andy he was having Ski cover her shifts for the week.
Andy had wanted to tell him not to worry about it, that she was fine to work. But the truth was, by Monday night, she was most definitely in Stage Four.
And Stage Four sucked ass.
Andy had thought she might have moved past it with the girl talk and chocolate, but apparently, even that didn’t have the power to chase away depression.
Depression, Andy was finding, came in waves. The bad kind. One minute she was happily chowing down on some cake. Several hours later, she was crying alone in her room after accidentally shooting down a falcon in the midst of virtual combat.
Not even finally tracking down the prophecy kid — which turned out, shocker, to be the scrappy, blonde urchin who’d run off during the tavern brawl — had been enough to keep Andy engaged inBloodmoon’s Childafter that. She’d signed off with her friends and gone to bed early. Early, alone, and missing her boyfriend.
Andy started to text him a dozen different times that night.
I’m sorry I pushed you away…
I’m sorry I blamed you in my head…
I’m sorry you’re not here with me now…
I’m sorry I’m so sad…
I’m sorry…
I need you…
I love you…
I miss you…
Where are you…
Come touch me…
Come hug me…
Come kiss me…
None of them were sent, and Andy fell asleep thoroughly depressed.
By Tuesday morning, Andy was so done with Stage Four, she wasn’t entirely crushed to find it was her parents waiting on her doorstep at ten and not Luke. Especially since they’d picked up Petals’s ashes.
“How are you feeling?” her mother asked, pulling her into a hug as Andy’s father set a small wooden box on the kitchen counter.
“Depressed,” Andy answered truthfully. “But I’ll be over it soon. I just need to scatter the ashes, so I can get to Stage Five.”
Davis’s lips twitched as she pulled away. “Uhm, I don’t think that’s quite how it works. Depression’s a tricky thing—”
