Page 99 of Under Ground

Will I even have a job after today?

26

Lana

Alex’s mother stays two more days before she leaves again.

She’s still full of apologies, and I feel a little sorry for her. What cost has there been to her in keeping that secret for all this time?

Alex loves her, but he’s still angry about it all.

Pania comes and goes, but Reece avoids Alex and, by extension, me after the bomb that Alex’s mother dropped. Delaney doesn’t blink. She goes about her daily life as if nothing’s changed. But the whole dynamic has.

I know Josh has spoken to Reece about the news, but I don’t know anything more beyond that. If Alex knows, he’s not talking, but it’s clear he’s sad.

I’m not sure how they’re supposed to make a movie with things the way they are.

But they are.

There are constant nerves eating away at my stomach over the whole situation.

So, I sit in the corner and draw pictures of Casey, and sometimes Amelia and Addison. They’re blissfully unaware of anything going on, and I want to keep it that way. I think that’s why Delaney’s in situation normal mode too.

It’s coming up to Christmas, which I’m looking forward to for the first time in years. Back home on the farm, it was always a special time. But the past few years, it’s just been Casey and me, and while I’ve always made sure we celebrate, it’s been quite isolating to handle it all alone.

Delaney watches over my shoulder as I finish up another sketch of Casey. This one captures her smile, the one that’s almost permanently been on her face since we came here. Once we’re settled, we’ll find a pre-school for her to spend some time in and she can meet some friends her age. But she just loves playing with Amelia and Addison—even though Addison’s only five months old.

“You’re so talented. Have you thought about pursuing it as a career?”

I stare at her. “Art? It’s just a hobby.”

She shrugs. “You’re looking for something more and you’re ridiculously good at drawing. I’d pay you for portraits of my kids.”

“Are you serious? I’d sketch them for free. I’ve already sketched them.”

Delaney places her hand on my arm. “Don’t sell yourself short. Not in a town where people have money to burn and you’ve got talent.”

I study her expression. She’s serious.

“Pania is pursuing what she loves. She’s not even officially in business yet, but she’s got people chasing her for evening gowns that she’ll be able to charge thousands of dollars for.”

Casting my gaze over my drawing pad, I tilt my head. Could I really make money out of this?

“I’ll help you if you want to get a studio set up. We’ve got tons of space here, and there are rooms downstairs I don’t even use with amazing lighting in them.”

“You would do that?”

She nods. “For sure. And after you move out, it’ll give you an excuse to visit. I’d love to do it. Do you know how I ended up in business to start with?”

I shake my head.

“My grandmother left me some money in her will. My mother was so angry about it, but she couldn’t do anything. I used it to buy the diner, and Pania and I built up our business together.” She smiles. “It was like having a fairy godmother doing the right thing at the right time.”

I gulp. “That’s a little different. I don’t have much in the way of my own money, and Alex and I still have to sort out our banking, and—“

“In the meantime, you have me.” She holds her hands in the air. “And besides, I know I found it a great comfort to have an income that wasn’t dependent on Josh. Anything I make from my cooking videos belongs to me.” She slips her arm around my shoulders. “And now, I’d like to help a friend.”

I lean my head against hers. “You’re such a good friend.”