Apologies for the delay. Hopefully you enjoy the story.
As always, all characters in the story are above 18 years of age.
***
'I love you mom,' Luke's words echoed in Victoria's mind after she had watched the cab disappear. She began to get ready for work to keep the emptiness enveloping her at bay.
'He'll be home in a few days,' she reassured herself when she went to the kitchen to pour herself some coffee.
'My son will be back to his mom in a few days,' she reminded herself when she entered the shower.
'My love will be with me again in a few days,' she promised herself when she left for work.
"We are going out for lunch today," Megan decided for Victoria and Rachel that Thursday. Megan usually treated her two friends couple times a month. She didn't mind considering the fact that her family was loaded.
"What's the topic of discussion?" Rachel chimed in cheerfully. The lunches were also a good occasion to discuss some office gossip, a guilty pleasure for the three friends.
"My sad life," Megan spoke nonchalantly picking up her purse.
"So?" Rachel inquired once they had sat down in the restaurant.
"My loving husband is saying he won't be home for Thanksgiving," Megan replied with her head buried in her hands.
"Ted told that to you two weeks before Thanksgiving?" Victoria chimed in, not wanting her somber mood to be detected by the group.
"And to top it off both Mike and Morgan won't be coming back home from college either. Apparently they have to turn in some assignments. What sort of college gives homework on Thanksgiving?" Megan continued venting.
Neither Victoria nor Rachel had anything to say to Megan at that moment. They both knew Megan wanted to continue and she did.
"I thought one of the advantages of being married with kids was that you don't have to spend Thanksgiving alone in your own home. You know what Vicky, I gave you hell for allowing Luke to skip college, I now owe you an apology."
Victoria waved her off, not wanting to compare Luke leaving that very day to Megan not having her family home. Her son being away from her for a few days was bad enough, she couldn't fathom being away from him on such a holiday.
"You should talk to the kids. I'm sure they would be able to come home if they knew about Ted being away." Victoria chimed in.
"I don't know what goes on in that college. Morgan was home almost every month during her first year. But now that they are both gone, they seemed to have forgotten me."
When the food arrived, Megan pushed her hair back and cleared her face. "Alright enough whining from me. Tell me something good. How's Luke doing?"
The mention of her son's name brought a flood of emotions to Victoria's mind. 'I should not be flustered every time I hear my son's name,' she scolded herself.
"Luke's actually out of town for some work. He'll be back after the weekend."
"Is he dating anyone?" Megan added.
'Why can't these two mind their own business,' Victoria screamed inside. 'Me. He's dating me. I'm dating my son. Is that what you want to hear?'
"I don't think he's seeing anyone currently. Work keeps him pretty busy, you know."
"Wow! Both mother and son have the same excuse why they are not dating anyone," Megan laughed for the first time that day.
"Uhhh," Rachel started playing with her food. "I'm not sure that Luke is not seeing anyone."
Victoria's heart stopped for a moment. "What are you talking about?" she asked carefully.
"Stacy saw him buying a pack of condoms a few days back. Just thought you should know Vicky."
Victoria relaxed a little, but her mind continued spiraling. 'They may not know about Luke and I, but I have to be careful around these two. They already know a lot about me. I shouldn't give them any reason to connect any dots.'
She tried to appear shocked at Rachel's big revelation. With her eyes wide she spoke, "Are you sure? What should I do? Talk to him about it?"
"You should know at least a little bit about who the girl is," Rachel advised. "I mean he's not even twenty. He's probably having fun. Its good for him right."
"No harm having a little fun at his age," Megan gave her approval. "Just make sure its not some sex starved married bitch using him for sex. You don't want him involved in that mess."
"Yeah you are right," Victoria spoke with some difficulty.
Rachel placed her hand on Victoria's. "Hey. You don't have to look so worried. It's probably one of his school friends. Jesus Megan, look what you did to her."
Victoria's mind was a mess when she arrived home. 'How do I make sure that nobody finds out about us. What kind of life would that mean for Luke, hiding everything we do within the four walls of our home. What's a life where he can't go on dates, can't go dancing, can't even kiss the person he loves in public.' With no one to talk to she, continued spiraling. 'Am I being selfish by pulling Luke into a relationship with me. I can't ask him to be with me forever. He should have some fun in his life.' Rachel's voice echoed in her head -- "He's probably having fun."
'Was he? No, that can't be. I know him well enough to know that he's very serious about me. Is that a good thing though? As much as I want to be with him, I shouldn't be forcing this on him. It should be his decision.' Victoria went to the kitchen to start on dinner and hopefully occupy her mind with something else. Once she calmed her thoughts down, she looked at the empty living room making dinner for one. 'I miss you Luke' was the only thought in her mind then.
She was already in bed when her phone rang.
"Hey mom," Luke spoke with his face on Victoria's phone. "Did I wake you?"
