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Her lips curve up at that. “He did live with me until he was seventeen,” she says.
“Of course, all the formative years. He talks about you all the time.” It’s a white lie—as a mother, I know it’s what she would want to hear.
She’s not fooled, but her smile broadens anyway. “I can see why he likes you,” she says.
“He thinks I’m a pain in the butt because I’m so upbeat,” I tell her. “Was he always this grumpy?” Too late I realize the event that might have changed him, and bite my lip.
But she just chuckles. “I’ve always thought of him as serious rather than grumpy. I think it stems from being puzzled by people—he’s taught himself not to react. Nowadays, I would have him tested to see if he has ADHD or something, but it wasn’t something so widely talked about when he was young.”
“I hadn’t considered that his seriousness might be due to him being on the spectrum,” I say, surprised. I deal with children who have it all the time, but I hadn’t made the connection with Alex. “He was terrific last night when he did his comedy routine. Wouldn’t that rule it out?”
“No, not at all. I used to think ADHD was another name for naughtiness, for kids who couldn’t sit still, or who misbehaved and didn’t do as they were told. I’ve talked to several parents whose children have it though, and it covers a lot of different symptoms. He has the hyper-fixation, the intensity that people with ADHD have. If he’s playing a computer game, for example, he has to stay there until he finishes the level or beats the bad guy. It drove me mad when he was young because I thought he was just being naughty, but it almost physically hurts him to walk away from something that’s incomplete.”
“I never thought of it like that,” I say softly.
“He likes to be organized and have everything in its place because his mind is always elsewhere, and he forgets where he’s put things. He sets five alarms for everything because he’s terrified that he’ll become involved in a task and forget appointments. He has trouble calming his mind, which is why he’s often up late. All the signs are there, but I didn’t see them when he was young.”
It makes me look at him in a different light. The way I’ve teased him for being OCD, for being so grumpy, for all his alarms.
“No wonder he was so upset when he forgot the rings,” I say.
“Oh, I really felt for him. He prides himself on doing his research and knowing all the rules and regulations. He’ll still be kicking himself for not having gotten that right.”
“He must have been very good at school.”
“Yes, he’s always been bright. By the time he started school, he was reading and writing, and he knew all his colors and shapes and could tell stories. Did you know that he wrote poetry?”
I smile. “Yes, he did tell me.”
“He’s always done that, right from a kid. He used to write them for me.” Her expression turns wistful.
“Did you used to read to him?” I ask, hoping the memory will comfort her.
“Oh yes. We read all the Narnia books together and Harry Potter. I miss the kids being that age. They were all very sweet.”
“Maybe you’ll have grandchildren soon?” I suggest. “Gaby and Tyson are trying for a baby, aren’t they?”
She nods. “He’s not sure about his fertility after the accident, but hopefully it’ll happen for them.”
“And of course Damon and Belle will probably want children.”
“I’m sure.”
“They’ll be so excited to have such a famous Nanna. A movie star! How wonderful.”
She smiles. Then she gives me a mischievous look. “I think maybe my first grandchild might be a step-grandchild?”
Oh, she means Finn! I give an embarrassed laugh. “Oh, Alex and I have only been dating a week or so.”
“Yes, but he told me ages ago that there was this woman whose son was having treatment at Kia Kaha, and she’d been through a tough time, so he was having to wait a while before he asked her out. But he said she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever met, and he was crazy about her.”
Heat floods my face. “Oh. Goodness.”
She reaches out and touches my arm. “I’m sorry I was rude to you yesterday.”
“Were you? I don’t remember.”
“You’re being very nice about it, but yes, I was, and I am sorry. It wasn’t you—being with Sherry and Mae makes me realize how much I’ve missed out on with my children, and it brings me down.” She hesitates. “Alex said he’d told you about what happened.”
