Page 82 of Insidious

I move around the kitchen, half-starting things, not really cooking as much as just … being here. I feel a little useless. Mum has already made enough food for the next week.

Amelie squeals from the mat.

I glance over, already moving towards her before I can stop myself.

“Alright, alright,” I murmur, wiping my hands and crouching beside her.

Her eyes lock onto mine, bright and curious.

I press a kiss to her tiny foot.

“You’re far too happy. Who is Mummy’s pretty baby? Is it you? Is it you?” I tell her, as she chortles again as if she agrees.

***

Sandra calls right on time. This is going to be her last call now that the community mental health team have been in touch.

I sit by the window, watching Amelie kick her legs while I answer.

“Hi, Luna. How are you doing today?”

“I’m … okay,” I say slowly. “Better than before. I don’t feel numb anymore.”

“And Amelie?”

“Thriving,” I say, a small smile slipping out. “Very loud.”

She laughs softly.

We go through the usual things—sleep, feeding, how I’m feeling, the small wins that feel big. I talk about how it felt when Mum left and how I am coping.

“He told his mum,” I say abruptly, wanting to talk about it.

No finesse, but there it is.

Sandra doesn’t interrupt.

“He explained everything about Chloe. Said I was more important than anything else.”

Even now, it feels strange, saying it out loud.

“How did that feel?” she asks.

“Good,” I admit. “But … strange.”

“Because it’s new?”

“Yeah. Isaac is very hands-on. Likes to hug and cuddle. But not very vocal about how he feels. I had to train him to tell me he loves me every day when we first met. Now I get it. His parents are not very demonstrative of their love, even though they seem to get on well. Not like my mum and dad.”

There is a pause before I hesitantly tell her about running into Chloe as we were leaving.

“And …” she asks gently.

I exhale slowly.

“It was … odd. The whole interaction made me want to shake him.”

“Do you still feel there was something going on?”