Page 93 of Under Ground

In this moment, I think my mother has come to realise that the path I’m taking may well lead to us living like this in the future. And for all she did for me when I was a kid, I’ll make sure she’s never left behind.

“You have such a beautiful house,” she says to Josh.

“Thank you.” He smiles.

“I loved you in that movie. What was it called?”

Oh my god.

She looks to me for help, but I have no idea which one she’s talking about.

“You know, that one with Reece Evans.”

“Coming Home?” He ventures.

“That’s the one. Oh, you two made me cry so much. I’m so happy you’re making a movie with my Alex.”

“Mom, the bags are getting heavy. Can we get inside before we have this conversation?” I try and urge her forward, and it takes a moment, but she finally gets the hint and starts walking again.

Josh shoots a smile at me. I wonder how he deals with this kind of thing all the time. It’s on a whole other level to anything I’ve ever experienced. Since the day Lana got that message, I’ve been watching his social media too. The woman who takes care of it does an amazing job, but the constant barrage on every single post of his telling him he should dump his wife, or variations of that—I don’t know how he does it. I’d lose the plot. There are even some who cast aspersions over who the father of his children are.

I’m not sure I’ll ever know how he stays so calm.

We make our way inside and up the stairs. Josh leads us to Mom’s room to drop the bags off and show her where she’s staying, and then we head back into the living room.

My mom is larger than life.

She’s been such a strong influence on me with her easy-going nature—sometimes too easy-going. And she’s flamboyant to the point that I used to find it embarrassing as a kid.

Now I’m older, I appreciate it all the more—the way she wears brightly coloured, loose-flowing clothes that make her look like she walked out of the 70s. The jangle of the bangles on her arms.

And now, she gets to meet the woman I hope to spend the rest of my life with.

Lana’s waiting. Her hands are clasped together, and Casey’s at her side. I slide my arm around Lana’s waist.

“Mom. This is Lana.”

Mom beams. “It’s so good to meet you. Alex has told me so little about you.” She shoots me a pointed look before gathering Lana into her arms.

Lana’s eyes widen as she looks at me over Mom’s shoulder, but she smiles and hugs Mom back.

“There’s someone else I want you to meet,” I say.

Mom lets go of Lana. Casey grips my hand tight as she looks right at my mother and meets her eye. “I’m Casey.”

Mom’s smile radiates over the room. “Well, look at you. You’re just as pretty as a picture. And you are so much like your mom.”

Casey giggles, and gives me an adoring look. “That’s what Daddy says.”

Mom exchanges an amused glance with me. “Well, I guess that makes me your grandma. You don’t have to call me that, but I won’t be upset if you do.” She shifts her gaze to Lana, panic in her eyes. “As long as that’s okay with you.”

“I want Casey to be comfortable. And you. Whatever you want is fine with me.” Lana reaches for Casey and strokes her hair.

“Gramma?” Casey asks.

“That’s right.”

“Casey hasn’t had a grandmother until now. I’m estranged from my parents,” Lana says.

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