CHAPTER TEN
That evening, Ned found his mother frustratingly tossing her cell phone on the sofa.
"Ugh."
"Mother?"
She changed her tone, "Darling."
"Someone on the phone?"
"Someone unimportant."
"Details?"
She just stared at him.
"Are these details also unimportant?"
"Are you mocking me?"
Ned didn't answer.
Tracy sat herself on the couch, and her son joined her.
"I, uh, heard you were in the hospital. What happened?"
"Well, aren't you an inquisitive one tonight!" she noted annoyingly.
"You're angry because I'm concerned? Leave it to you, Mother. Leave it to you. Although, I guess I should take that as a sign that you're feeling better."
He stood up to leave, but Tracy stopped him, "Ned, wait."
Ned paused.
"Sit," Tracy told him. "I didn't mean to come off rude."
"That's questionable," he smiled.
Tracy joked, "That's amusing, Ned. Really amusing."
"Are you going to tell me what's going on?"
"Monica didn't fill you in?"
"Monica?"
"How'd you find out that I was in the hospi…Ah, Dillon," she realized.
"Yeah, but he didn't go into details. Something about dehydration?"
"Yeah, and that's all. I'm fine. Uh—," her phone interrupted her.
"Excuse me…Tracy Quartermaine?...Yes…Mm-hmm…Yes, S-P-E-N-C-E-R. I'm sure it's a C. Then try harder. No, I do not care if—…Do NOT interrupt me.…Ugh…Thanks. Thanks for nothing." She closed her phone.
Ned was surprised. "You are uh, trying to track down Luke?"
"Well, he is my husband."
"Mother…," Ned stated.
She rubbed her palms together, "I guess I'm busted then?"
Ned laughed.
He became serious, "Do you miss him?"
"That, my darling son, is none of your business," she hid her smile.
"But it's true," Ned realized. "Look in a mirror, Mother. You…You're…" he cleared his throat before finishing, "glowing."
Tracy gave her son a strange look. "Glowing?"
"Oh, come on Mother. Just the mention of his name has…"
"Ned—"
He interrupted, "He makes you happy, doesn't he?"
Tracy didn't respond.
"All right, Mother, it's not like I enjoy discussing your, uh…"
"Love life?" laughed Tracy. "It's not the first time," she noted embarrassedly.
Ned cleared his throat again, "But, it is good to see you happy."
She still didn't respond.
"Well," he stood up. "For what it's worth, I do hope that Luke comes home soon."
Tracy lifted herself from the sofa. "Uh, Ned," spoke barely audibly.
He turned around to face his mother.
"Thanks," she whispered.