Page 71 of Insidious

“Son.”

A smile spreads over his weathered face when he spots Amelie in her baby carrier, and behind us, Luna.

Mum closes the front door and joins us.

“Sit,” she says, gesturing towards the sofa.

Photos crowd the wall—our wedding, my graduation, a photo of Amelie on the day she was born, Sophie on the swing, so long ago.

For a moment, no one speaks.

The awkward silence stretches like a rubber band. I watch as Mum clasps and unclasps her hands awkwardly. The house has never been like this. There is always noise and movement. My mother has always seemed to fill every corner of it with her presence.

Now, we’re all choosing our words carefully.

I wait for Luna to sit and then crowd her on the two-seater sofa. I know from how stiffly she holds herself that she would prefer I keep my distance, but the warmth of her thigh against mine is the first time I am this close to her in what seems like forever. It is bliss. I need her here for every word I’m about to say.

My mum’s eyes flick uncertainly to her, just for a second, but this time, they don’t move away as quickly. There’s hesitation there, an uncertainty I have never seen in her.

“How are you, Luna?” she asks.

She looks up from cooing to Amelie after checking her diaper.

There’s a pause before she stiltedly offers, “I’m … okay.”

My mum nods, like she expected it. I don’t think she realises how much her doting on Chloe has resulted in Luna distancing herself from her.

Only now does she turn back to me.

“And … how is Amelie?” She adds, “Do you need me to …”

I refuse her offer before it takes off. “Not right now, Mum. We need a little time. We are still adapting. I have a lot to make up for.”

The words feel wrong the second they leave my mouth. They barely cover sleepless nights. Tears she turns away to hide. The way she still struggles to meet my eyes. And when she does, I feel like I am trying to make it to Everest base camp in my summer clothes. I don’t tell Mum about standing in the doorway at night, watching Luna breathe evenly like a stalker. About pulling the quilt up around her and not daring to kiss her forehead.

“Amelie’s good,” I say. “She’s—” I can’t help the smile. “She’s the best baby. Sleeps so well.”

Luna finally relents when she notices Dad looking at Amelie. He nods slowly when she settles her in his arms without asking, eyes on our gurgling baby.

My mum’s gaze is soft as she gets distracted by her granddaughter.

“Sleeps so well,” she repeats to herself.

I hold her gaze.

Some things feel too exposed to say with Luna right here. And yet, they need to be said.

I let out a breath and lean forward, elbows on my knees.

“There’s something you both need to understand,” I begin. “And I wanted Luna to hear it too. I know I have said it before but I wanted all of you to have the whole picture.”

Her expression stays the same. “Go on.”

I glance at Luna. She doesn’t look at me, but I know she is listening while giving me the space to have this private conversation.

I turn back.

“This thing with Chloe … Our marriage, all ten seconds of it. It wasn’t young love or anything like you made it out to be.”