“His name is Drew Oberlin,” he offered the information before his mum could pester him for more. “He’s an actor who recently shot to fame, practically overnight, because he was in a very popular television show last year.”
“Yes, Margery told me all about it,” Mum said, clicking the kettle on and taking two mugs from the cupboard to get tea started. There was already an array of Dan’s favorite foods spread out across the counter as well, as if Dan had just popped out and would return for his birthday feast at any moment. “Margery also said the man shows quite a bit of himself in that program.”
The pink that splashed his mum’s cheeks made Lee lean back in his chair with a grin. “Mum, have you seen my boyfriend’s bum?”
The question was meant to be teasing, but it sparked half a dozen awkward emotions. Calling Drew his boyfriend had spilled out far too easily. They had a connection, yes, and they’d had a surprisingly amazing night together. Lee had helped Drewdiscover things about himself, and the discoveries promised to keep on coming. But to blurt out that they were boyfriends?
Lee’s mum seemed to feel the weight of that statement as well. “So they two of you are a real item, then?” she asked, adding a teabag and sugar to each of their mugs, then heading to the fridge to get the milk.
“It’s a bit more complicated than that,” Lee admitted, running a hand through his hair and knocking his glasses askew in the process.
“Complicated?” Mum asked, bringing the milk to the counter just as the kettle clicked off.
Lee hesitated, wondering how far into the whole thing he should go. He opted for, “Things are always complicated when you’re dating a celebrity.”
It was something of a cop-out, but it would have to do.
“Well, if you’re serious about this young man, then I hope I get to meet him at some point.”
Lee sat up a bit. “I could call him to see if he can come by after he’s done on set today.”
His mum frowned slightly. “It’s Sunday.”
“Television and film productions don’t care about things like weekends,” Lee explained, relieved to have something to say about Drew that didn’t put the focus on their relationship. “With so much money being spent, they need to work whenever and however long they can.”
“I see,” Mum said, fixing the tea and bringing it to the table. She wasn’t convinced.
“You’d like him, Mum, I swear,” Lee went on with a gentle laugh for his mum’s reticence. “He’s a lot of fun, and he’s so humble. A year ago, he was just a guy with ambitions who nobody knew. That’s how fast fame happened for him. He’s hardly a celebrity at all.”
“That’s not what Margery says.”
Lee loved his mum so much. She was protective, but in a way that made him feel warm and cared for. “If I invite him to come celebrate with us later, will you at least give him a chance?”
His mum took a long drink of tea, then set her mug down and said, “Yes. Invite him. But only because I want to get a good look at him and a feel for him before I make up my mind.”
“Alright, then,” Lee laughed. “As soon as I get a chance, I’ll give him a call.”
He took a sip of his own tea, then did the wisest thing he thought he could in the situation, he changed the subject.
“I have big news of my own,” he said, brimming with excitement. “I have an agent now.”
“An agent?” His mum looked pleased but surprised. “I thought you liked publishing your books on your own.”
“I do, but Jerry Turnbridge is one of the biggest and most influential agents in publishing, and he approached me.”
“My boy.” Mum smiled and reached across the corner of the table and patted his cheek. “I always knew you were the real deal. Dan knew it, too. He was so proud of you and wanted you to achieve so much.”
“I know, Mum.” Lee gave her a suddenly emotional smile. “Dan always believed in me more than even I believed in me.”
“He did,” Mum agreed, sniffing and wiping the corner of her eye. “I wish he could be here to see how successful you’ve become.”
Whatever questions his mum might have had about Drew were forgotten as memories of Dan took over. Lee didn’t mind at all. He loved his brother and missed him as much as Mum did.
They spent the next several minutes, as they finished their tea, reminiscing about Dan. Lee told stories of how Dan had helped him by reading his books and making what he’d called editorial suggestions, which really meant being as blunt as possible about the things he didn’t like and how he thought thereshould be more sex. He didn’t tell his mum any of that. Not specifically, at least.
After the tea was gone and cleaned up, the two of them adjourned outside, where Mum had been working on a special memorial garden for Dan with all his favorite flowers and a sculpture of a cherub that Lee found hideous but that Mum loved, so he would keep his lips zipped. It felt good to get his hands dirty and to talk about Dan for a while. Tears and laughter were a wonderfully healing combination.
He took a moment to call Drew when they broke for a snack. He was surprised that Drew actually answered, but in the end, he was glad he did. Lee cringed when Drew told him about Jessica’s reaction to the long-overdue break-up and about her returning to L.A. He could hear the upset in Drew’s voice, even if the man didn’t want to place too much blame on Jessica for her actions.