[Alana smiles a little. She doesn't think he's dumb for not thinking of that. He's just doing the best he can with what he's got to work with. And, in the end, that matters more.]

My honest opinion? I think that your mom loves you. And she's probably worried about you because she most likely knows something is up even if she doesn't know what exactly.

I don't think you have anything to worry about in telling her, Scott.