Page 107 of Under Ground

And Delaney is brilliant at helping me find those. She’s been here long enough to know where to get good prices on things, and Alex and I are well below the budget we set.

Alex leaves before dawn for work. I’m still half asleep as I smile and murmur to him to have a good day. With Casey not in day care anymore, I get to sleep in. We’ll get into a new routine once we’re in the house, so for the moment, I’m just relaxing and making the most of not having a job to get to every morning.

I’m no longer sure why I was so nervous. Delaney, Pania, and I have settled into a friendship. Having them around seems to have eased any feelings of homesickness, and I’m looking forward—not back.

Pania works most days, but Delaney and I spend our time together with Casey and Addison while Amelia’s at school. I think about home every now and then, but it already doesn’t feel like home anymore. Everything Casey and I need is right here.

“Mummy.”

The door flies open, and Casey runs into the room. She leaps onto the bed and snuggles down under the covers with me.

“Morning, baby.”

“Mummy, Laney’s making pancakes for breakfast.”

“Is she?”

She nods and then buries her face in my side.

“Is that a hint for me to get up so we can have some?”

Casey giggles. She loves spending her days with me, and I feel the same way. Being a working parent is tough—you miss so much just trying to keep a roof over your head. But now, I don’t need to miss a moment. It’s a huge privilege I don’t intend to waste.

“I’ll take that as a yes. Give me a minute to cuddle with you and then we’ll go get something to eat. Okay?”

“Okay,” she whispers.

I wrap my arms around her and hold her tight. “I love you, Casey.”

“Love you too, Mummy.” She wriggles out of my grasp to hold out her fingers. “And I love Laney, and Melia, and Addison.”

“That’s a lot of love. I think you’re missing someone though.”

She holds her index finger to her chin, her blonde brows knitting as she thinks before she purses her lips. “Daddy. I forgot Daddy.”

“I won’t tell him.”

She giggles. “Can’t forget Daddy.”

My heart swells as I reference Alex in that way. He’s been so much more of a father to Casey than Gareth ever was, though that wasn’t difficult. And Alex’s so good at it. It’s as if it was all just meant to be.

“I want pancakes.” Casey leaps over me and out of bed.

I sit up and swivel on the bed to drop my legs to the floor. But the moment I stand, my head spins and I sit back down again. “You go ahead, Casey. I’ll be there in a minute.”

“You okay, Mummy?” She moves right in front of me.

“I’ll be fine. I just need to get some clothes on. You’re fine in your pyjamas. Okay?”

She nods.

I press a kiss to my finger and tap her on the nose with it. With a grin, she turns and runs out the room.

Steadying myself on the bed, I close my eyes for a minute or so.

I look up at the tap on the door. Delaney stands there with a tray in her hands. The scent of pancakes and tea waft toward me.

“Casey said you weren’t feeling well. I thought I’d bring you some breakfast.” She walks into the room and places the tray at the end of the bed.

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