Page 51 of Rock Bottom

Right from the start.

Take me home, all the way

Take me hard, let me stay

I feel your need, deep inside

Show me, baby, you can’t hide

You can’t hide, not from me

Even when I’m in misery.

You can’t hide, I’m here to stay

Don’t push me, baby, we’re not going away.

“Zeke?” My mother’s soft voice startled me, and I dropped my pen.

“Hey, Ma. Did I wake you?”

“I heard the garage door open and close, but then I didn’t hear you go upstairs. I wanted to make sure you’re okay.” She came toward me in a light blue satin robe, her dark hair piled up in a messy bun. She somehow looked younger, softer like this, and I was suddenly exhausted.

Fighting with her, with Presley, with my band was starting to catch up to me. I needed some relief in just one aspect of my life.

“What’s wrong, Zeke?” she asked, sitting in the chair next to mine.

“So many things, Ma. So many fucking things.”

“Do you want to talk?”

“Probably.” I got up to refill my drink. “Want some brandy?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

I poured myself another generous serving and then a couple of fingers of brandy for her.

“What’s going on?”

I dug my phone out of my pocket and pulled up one of the zillion pictures I now had of Jeremy. The one I wanted was of the two of us, very clearly showing the matching colors of our eyes. I stared at it for a moment, unable to hide my smile, and then handed her the phone.

Her sharp intake of breath told me she knew exactly who he was to me, and she brought a hand to her chest.

“Zeke? Who is this? Where is he? It’s a he, yes?”

“Yes. His name is Jeremy William Zerkesian. He lives with his mother in Minneapolis.”

“I don’t…” Her eyes snapped to mine. “Why wouldn’t you tell us? Even with the way things have been between the two of us, this is my grandson!”

“Believe me, Ma, I didn’t hide him on purpose. I only just found out about him. That’s where I’ve been the last week or so.”

“His mother hid him from you?” she demanded incredulously.

“No. She tried to get ahold of me, but Aurora…” I took a breath and told her the whole sordid story, not leaving out anything.

“I never liked her,” she muttered, shaking her head. “I warned you she was using you. Aurora has never had the band’s best interests at heart, only her own. And certainly not yours individually.”

“It was just sex between us, Ma.”

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