40. Alana

FORTY

Alana

I came here tonight because when you realize

you want to spend the rest of

your life with somebody,

you want the rest of your life

to start as soon as possible.

~ When Harry Met Sally

W e’re walking up to Stevens’ childhood home. The news of our relationship spread like wildfire across America and international magazines, websites and television syndicates have picked up the story. My parents have gone radio silent for the time being. I’m not making the first move for once. They can come to their senses in their own time. I’ve got more important things to focus on tonight, like meeting Stevens’ family.

Stevens’ brother, Dustin, throws open the door when we walk up.

“Alana!” He shouts my name as if we’re old friends.

Stevens wasn’t kidding. They do look alike, but Dustin must eat tree trunks for breakfast and bench used cars for exercise. He’s not as massive as Tank. But then again, who is?

“Come in, come in. We’ve got your favorite.”

“My favorite?”

“Mitzi’s tacos!” Dustin’s all smiles.

I turn to Stevens. “You told them about my secret obsession with your sister’s tacos.”

He just smiles down at me.

“You know, Alana, I’ve been told I’m the far cuter brother …” Dustin winks at me and then glances at Stevens, obviously waiting for his reaction.

Stevens reaches over, and in a totally unexpected move, pulls Dustin into a headlock and gives him a noogie on the head.

“Okay! Okay! Kidding!” Dustin says through his laughter.

I’m already in love with this family.

“What’s all the ruckus?” A woman in her later fifties or early sixties walks through the living room. Oh! Yes. She’s the woman from paint class. I forgot. I have met Stevens’ mom recently. I barely remember her from the times I saw her as a child. She looks a lot different now.

“Oh! Alana! You’re here. And you’re Alana. Graves. The Alana Graves. And you’re here. Oh. My …”

“Mom …” Stevens warns.

“Right. Right. Normal. I promise I’m normal, Alana. After all, we met at paint day. And I wasn’t weird then. Was I? Oh, I hope I wasn’t. Someone please help me stop talking.”

A tall man who looks like Stevens and Dustin but with distinguished salt and pepper hair walks up behind Stevens’ mom and wraps an arm around her waist.

“Give her a minute, will you, Alana? She’ll be much better once she gets over the initial rush. Boys. Go help your sister with the food.”

To my surprise, both Stevens and Dustin say, “Yes, sir,” and walk through the living room.

“I’d love to help too,” I offer.

Stevens’ mom blanches. “Oh, no. No, dear. We can’t have you helping. You’re Alana …”

She’s obviously about to reiterate the fact of who I am to the world. I don’t mind. I’m used to this sort of initial reaction. But Stevens’ dad interrupts gently. “Alana, we’d be glad to have you help. Go straight through to the kitchen and they’ll put you to work. I’ll just be giving my wife an oxygen treatment and we’ll meet you momentarily unless we have to resort to smelling salts. That might take a few minutes longer.”

“Dennis! Really?” Stevens’ mom says to her husband.

I hear Mr. Reed’s next words as I make my way through the house toward the kitchen.

“I’m just taking precautions, dear. You are practically hyperventilating. Remember what Stevens said. She’s just Alana here. Let’s let her be the first girl he brought home since prom, okay?”

The three Reed siblings are taking food out of bags and scooping it onto platters and into bowls when I enter the kitchen. It’s like a sitcom come to life. Stevens catches my eye and smiles over at me.

“Mitzi, this is my girlfriend, Alana. Alana, this is my sister, Mitzi, the owner of your favorite taco place.”

“I love your tacos,” I tell her.

She walks over and gives me a hug. It’s not awkward or fangirlish at all. Just welcoming. “It’s so good to meet you. I love your movies.”

“Thanks. Stevens told me your mom is a fan.”

Dustin laughs. “A fan? She’s rabid. Like shrine-level …”

Stevens nudges his brother with an elbow and makes an exaggerated slicing motion across his throat.

“Did I say shrine? I meant to say, fine. Fine appreciation. She has a fine appreciation for your work.” Dustin laughs and then we all laugh.

Stevens’ parents walk into the kitchen.

“What’s left to do?” Mr. Reed asks .

“Nothing, Dad. We’ve got it,” Mitzi says. “Mom, are you over whatever that was out there?”

“One hundred percent. I’m golden. I’m not freaking out anymore. I’m not. I’m cool. Chillin’ like a villain.”

“And, that’s our mom,” Dustin says with an affectionate wink at his mother.

Mrs. Reed looks at me. “Sorry about that, Alana. I told myself all day you coming here was going to be no big deal. I even practiced in the mirror—the yeah-this-is-no-big-deal face. It was working for me then. But when I saw you? Well, it was a bit much.”

“Ya think?” Mitzi says, and then she blows an air kiss at her mom.

“I understand,” I say. “I was the exact same way when I met Katharine Hepburn.”

“Oh my lands! You met Katharine Hepburn?”

“I did. She was nearly ninety when I met her. It was one of the greatest honors of my life. I may have stuttered and then completely lost my train of thought. She was full of grace for me, though. She even said she was a fan. I think she was just being polite.”

“I think I would have fainted,” Stevens’ mom says. “No offense. It’s not like I didn’t almost faint for you. You are definitely worth fainting for.”

“Mahhhm,” Mitzi says with a smile. “Not an improvement.”

I chuckle. “No offense taken. And I fully agree. Katharine was one of the greats.”

We move into the dining room and set the platters of tacos on the table along with a bowl of chips, salsa and guacamole, and Spanish rice.

Once we’re all seated, Stevens’ dad says, “Well, Alana, we are glad you could join us for dinner. We try to do this once a week, but it gets more challenging as the kids age. Sometimes Stevens is away on a job, or Mitzi is needed at the restaurant, or Dustin is out fighting a fire or singing a gig. So, anytime we get to have all our kids around the table, Judith and I consider ourselves fortunate. And to have you here with Stevens makes this night extra special.”

“Dad, the tacos are getting cold. Could we wrap up the Academy Awards acceptance speech?” Mitzi says.

“Right. Right. Well, let’s dig in.”

Platters are passed and the conversation picks up about Dustin’s plans to move to Tennessee, some employee situations at Mitzi’s restaurant, and then our appearance on Sharla’s show this week.

We laugh a lot. People listen to one another. Dustin cracks the occasional good-natured joke. Mitzi flashes a smile when she glances over at me. It’s hard to put words to the feeling I have as Stevens’ hand finds mine under the table and he gives it a gentle squeeze. This is what a family feels like. It’s warm and messy, silly and forthright, and there’s this sense of shared history that makes for an unshakable bedrock. It’s the solid center I’ve always sensed inside Stevens. This table—this house—these people are what formed that firm foundation. And he carries it with him wherever he goes.

After the meal, I insist on helping clear the table.

Dustin asks Stevens, “Hey, can I grab you for a minute?” Then he leans in and kisses his mom’s cheek. “Ma, you and Mitzi just set all the dishes on the counters. Stevens and I will wash everything after I pull him for a quick chat.”

“Sweet boy,” Mrs. Reed coos.

“Kiss up,” Mitzi shouts playfully after her brother as he leads Stevens outside onto the back porch.

Mitzi and I are gathering plates in the dining room. The windows are open. We can hear the conversation between Dustin and Stevens.

“I can hear every word they’re saying,” Mitzi whispers to me.

“I know.”

“Shhh. Let’s listen. If it becomes obvious we’re not supposed to hear them, we can move into the kitchen.” She smiles a conspiratorial smile that makes me want to go along with her.

Mrs. Reed walks into the dining room. “Hey, Mitzi, can you …”

“Shhhh, Mom. We’re trying to eavesdrop here.”

I start to back away, but Mrs. Reed joins us and tugs me closer to the window while giving me a delightfully mischievous smile. “We won’t keep listening if it gets too personal, but I carried both those boys in this body and I put up with all manner of craziness when they were growing up. I earned the right.” She points at Mitzi. “And this one. She’s the only girl. She earned it too.”

“Shhh, Mom. We’re missing the good stuff.” Mitzi puts a finger up to her lips.

All three of us go quiet just in time to hear Dustin say, “Man, you and Alana Graves.”

“It’s crazy on paper,” Stevens says. “But, in reality, she’s perfect for me.”

“Pretty sure she’s perfect for half the male population.” Dustin chuckles.

Stevens doesn’t say anything, but then Dustin says, “Sorry, sorry. You know I’m joking. I see it. It’s good between the two of you. I’m so happy for you. And I saw that interview. I just wanted to tell you to hang in there.”

“Oh, I’m hanging in. As long as Alana lets me.”

Stevens’ mom smiles over at me. Her pride in her son is written across her face.

“She has this idea that I’m fragile,” Stevens says. “She kept trying to protect me from what she lives with daily. Why should she take these hits alone?”

Mitzi nudges me. “Exactly. You’re not alone. Don’t face that craziness alone. You’ve got us now.”

I nearly tear up.

“That’s awesome, bro,” Dustin says. “You’re right, too. Dad didn’t raise any slouches. We’re not about to let a woman face challenges without us by their side. ”

Mrs. Reed whispers, “Dad raised them? What about me?”

“He means both of you, Mom. Now shush so we can hear.”

Stevens is laughing. “Says the guy who is still woefully single.”

“You never know. Maybe I’ll meet someone in Tennessee. I’m not opposed to the idea. I’m just waiting for the right one.”

“If you find her in Tennessee, you’ll break Mom’s heart for good.”

Mrs. Reed whispers, “He will. It’s true.”

Dustin says, “She’ll live.”

“No, I won’t,” Mrs. Reed says in that same raspy, hushed voice, but she’s smiling.

Dustin says, “After all, you secured favorite son status for the rest of our days. You’re already one point ahead for sticking around Marbella. Now you’re dating her favorite actress?”

“That did get him some points,” Mrs. Reed says quietly, nodding her head.

I smile. I’m feeling guilty for spying even though this seems to be par for the course, but I also feel … included. I try to imagine my mom, hunkered down with me trying to overhear a harmless conversation. It would never happen.

But maybe I shouldn’t say never. People can change given the right amount of motivation. Maybe one day she’ll come around. I hope she does. She may own a production company and her name may be known around the world, but she’s missing out on this. And connections like the Reed family have are worth more than all of that put together.

Stevens and Dustin come through the door from the screen porch into the house.

Stevens is saying, “You’ll always be her baby boy.”

Dustin says, “Got that right.”

The three of us are suddenly scrambling to look busy, but we’re all laughing too hard to pull it off.

“Oh, so that’s how it is?” Stevens says, crossing his arms and looking at the three of us with a huge, comfortable smile on his face .

“I should have known,” Dustin says. “You two are shameless.” He points to his mother and sister. “And corrupting Alana on her first night in the family. Pitiful, I tell you.”

Stevens walks over to me and places his arm around my back. He pulls me in toward himself and kisses my temple.

“Can I take a raincheck on dishes? I’ll do double next week.” He doesn’t take his eyes off mine.

“Oh, sure. Get a girlfriend and shirk responsibilities,” Dustin teases.

“Yes. Of course,” Stevens’ mom says. “You two have had quite an ordeal this past week. Get your girl home safely.”

Dustin mutters, “Favorite son status.”

Stevens answers him. “Mom’s baby boy.”

Mrs. Reed ignores her sons and walks over to me. Stevens drops his arm so his mom can pull me into a hug.

“Alana, it was delightful to have you here. I’m so glad you and Stevens found one another. You’re welcome here anytime.”

“Thank you so much for having me.”

“You know where to find me,” Mitzi says.

“I sure do. And I’ll have you up to the house one day soon. We can just hang out, the two of us.”

“I’d love that.”