Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 266(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
“Mom, all of us are very well-adjusted. You and Dad are great parents. Kids don’t tell their parents everything. You know that. And it wasn’t easy on any of us to have Dad’s sexuality splashed out for the world to see. I get that social media doesn’t hold weight, but when your father owns a social platform that’s bought by a technology giant like Wilder and then those two men become a couple…the children involved are gonna get some backlash.”
“Oh, I need something stronger than flavored tea.” She went straight for the refrigerator. She had a glass of pinot noir poured in three point two seconds flat. “You should have warned me how serious this lunch date was going to get. I wasn’t prepared. All I’ve ever wanted is for my children to have a good life. You’re having a good life, right?”
She didn’t wait for his answer. Instead, she took a long, several second gulp of the wine. Not quite draining the glass, but close.
“Of course, we have great lives.” Although not one of his more recent problems was solved or even talked through for that matter, he felt much better watching his mother come to grips with his truth. “This is why we’ve kept that part of our lives to ourselves. Can we get back to my emotional breakdown before we deal with yours?”
This time, she tipped the glass back, draining the wine. As she filled another glass, fuller this time, she said, “Here’s what I suggest. Talk to Ducky. Like your father always says, it’s unfair to put your feelings into someone else’s mouth, or however he says it.” She waved a hand in the air. “You’d think I’d remember with as many times as I heard it. You know how he is with his sayings…”
“I can’t talk to Ducky. He’s not responding to me, Mom. Not one word. I feel like he’s believing this crazy over-the-top reaction to what I said.”
His normally quick thinking, articulate mother seemed to struggle for her words.
He waited while she took another drink.
“You’re…” She sat the glass down and mimicked his stance from the other side of the counter, her hands placed on the granite as they again stared at one another. If he guessed right, she was still stuck on the problems he and his sisters had faced during their family’s transition into this new way of life as a blended family life. Her face softened the longer she stared. “How different is this with Ducky compared to the others you’ve dated?”
“Very. All the feelings are there for me. I’ve managed to keep it hidden, telling myself I’d explore more when I was ready. I truly believe he’s straight. I didn’t want to ruin what we shared. Having him in my life a little is better than none at all.”
“My son has strong feelings for someone, and I didn’t know. How have I never heard this before?” She tossed her hands in the air again, then reached for the glass of wine.
“Focus, Mom.” He snapped his fingers to get her attention back on him and pointed at himself. “Me first before this breakdown you’re wanting to have.”
“Okay.” She looked away from Chad, staring off into the room as she spoke. “I suggest you take this in two steps. First, cross the imaginary boundary you have in place with Ducky. Go see him. He’s in Grand Prairie, right?”
Chad nodded. Her perfectly arched brows lifted when her gaze came back to him.
“It’s not far. Maybe twenty-five minutes away. Go to him today.”
“All right,” he said, unwilling to examine why he’d never let that be an option before.
“Explain to him that your words were a knee-jerk reaction. And apologize. See if what you feel carries over face-to-face, into everyday life. If it doesn’t, you haven’t ruined the friendship you have. If you still have these feelings, you need to tell him.” She took another drink, watching him closely.
Chad blew out a breath, considering the idea. He didn’t think he could stand for Ducky to push him away. “I don’t know, Mom. I see the merit in the first part, but we’ll have to see about the second.”
She nodded and gave a little eye roll. “Let’s go back to the other. What about Chloe and Cate? As far as I’ve known, they’ve only dated boys. Is that untrue?”
Yeah, he wasn’t doing that. He left the counter separating them and gathered their lunch dishes to take to the sink. “I don’t know about Cate, but Chloe’s too hard to get along with. No one of any gender will ever want to date her.”
He made quick work of dumping the dishes in the sink before pivoting around and kissing her cheek. “Thank you for the advice. I’ll call Mark to pick up Cara. You don’t need to drive.”