“I can’t believe James is gone.” She says as she looks over my shoulder and more tears fall, seeing her like this makes my eyes start to water, swallowing the lump that’s in my throat I give her a reassuring smile.
“I know, it’s been hard… I miss him so much. I can’t believe you’re here, you look just like daddy!” I say as I smile at her.
She laughs, “Honey I was just about to say the same thing to you, guess we Eden’s have strong genes.” she says as she winks at me and I laugh.
“Why don’t you visit me for lunch? I live in the town over it’s not too far, I would really like to get to know you better and I promise I will explain anything you want to know? Oh he’s going to be so happy I found you!” she smiles at me as she mumbles the last few words but I overheard her and I’m confused as to who she is talking about.
“That would be great, just give me directions and I should probably get your number?” I say still not sure what she meant when she mentioned a “he”, I take my phone out. She gives me directions on a piece of paper from her handbag and I get her number.
“I will see you at around one o’clock; I gotta go get these groceries home before mom wakes up. I’m so happy I finally met you!” I say and notice her jaw tense at the mention of my mother but she covers it up quickly and gives me another hug.
“I know Hun, I’ve wanted to come see you for so long…but things are very complicated and I couldn’t come over to where you were staying, but now that you’re here we're definitely not going to lose touch! You’re my family and I want you in my life, there’s so much we have to tell you.” she smiles and wipes the tears away.
“I know how you feel, I don’t have any family, I just have mom and… now I have you…” her smile falters again when I mention my mother but she regains her smile just as rapid at the mention of having her in my life.
We say our goodbyes and I continue my shopping as she reluctantly leaves looking back at me as if I might vanish into thin air any moment.
Once I get home I decide not to tell mom of my reunion with Alex, I’m scared that it brings up memories of dad and she has a melt down again. I will tell her about Alex eventually but I wanted to talk to Alex about it first.
I unpack groceries and restock the fridge as mom comes out from taking a shower fully dressed with a towel over her hair.
“Sorry about that Lexi, I just haven’t had a chance to go grocery shopping.” She says as she helps unpack food.
“It’s okay, I don’t mind going, I know you work long hours besides I didn’t have anything to do this morning anyway.” I say back to her.
“Thanks babe, what are your plans for today?” she asks as she walks towards the lounge area.
I freeze a little, I don’t want to tell her about Alex but I hate lying to my mother, so I guess I will tell her the truth but not really explain it, “I’m going to meet my friend Alex for lunch, so I might come home a little late, she stays in the next town so will it be okay if I use your car?”
“In the next town? Uh…that’s a different terr…I mean… I don’t know if that’s safe Lexi, you don’t really know anyone there and what if you run into trouble or something? How did you meet Alex, if she lives in the other town, then she wouldn’t have gone to your school?” I’m a bit confused why she is showing apprehension and asking all these questions, I wasn’t expecting this, this is the first time she’s concerned about me since dad’s death and to be honest it throws me off guard.
“Mom, Alex will be there if anything did happen, I actually ran into her at the supermarket and we got along pretty well. I’m just trying to make friends mom, please?” I say “mom” knowing how much she misses that, maybe this will convince her not to worry.
“Okay…I guess it’s alright, I was going to get a lift to work with Ambz anyways, just text me when you get there and when you leave okay? I’m going to go over to Amber for tea, so if I don’t see you when you leave just remember what I said Lexi.” she says brushing her damp her then pulls me in for a hug.
I stand there in shock as she walks out the door, did that just happen? She acted like she cared? Maybe she is getting better, I haven’t seen her so often these past few days, she’s either at work, Amber's house or visiting the new boyfriend that I haven’t met yet, she apparently met him at work. I wonder what brought about the change in her. That was pretty weird, she acted like my mother… not Georgina.