“I’m not being difficult, and you’re not listening. I wasn’t planning to tell you this way, but…are you with Dad? Can you put the phone on speaker? I’d like to tell you both, together.”
Greg listened to his mother’s exasperated sigh, before listening to her futz around with the phone trying to figure out how to turn on the speaker function.
“Can you hear us?” she asked practically screaming.
“Yes, Mom. And you don’t have to yell. I can hear you fine.”
“Son, just make your mother happy and come home for the weekend. She’s worried about you,” Greg’s dad said.
“Mom, Dad. I’m spending the Thanksgiving holiday with my boyfriend and his family.”
Greg held his breath, feeling like a kid ready to be scolded, but was only met with silence. Suddenly he wished Tanner were with him. Greg left the bedroom and headed to the living room where he found Tanner watching ESPN. He sat down on the sofa next to his boyfriend and took his hand.
His dad cleared his throat, then started, “I agree with your mother. Spending the day with a friend, especially a guy friend seems inappropriate.”
Greg took a deep breath before spelling it out.
“Tanner isn’t just a guy friend. He’s my boyfriend,” Greg said, looking lovingly at the man seated next to him.
Thundering silence from the other end of the line greeted Greg. Tanner gripped Greg’s hand and smiled supportively.
“We’re in a relationship,” Greg continued. “Tanner’s family accepts him, and they accept us. And Elizabeth and the kids know, and they also accept us.”
“You had better not be saying what I think you’re saying, Gregory. You were named after a pope for crying out loud,” his mother said harshly.
“I knew we should have tried to have more kids…more sons. There were too many girls in that house.”
Ah…that’s more like it, Greg thought. He took a deep breath and continued.
“I know where your thoughts are right now. I know where you stand on this issue. It’s probably why I haven’t called you about this, but…” Greg took a deep breath and looked at Tanner. He took a breath and continued. “I’m gay. I’ve been involved with Tanner for almost four months and I lov—”
“Son,” Greg’s dad bellowed. “You’d better back up. No son of mine will choose to be a sinner. You know how God takes care of that kind,” he added, his voice dripping with disgust.
Greg looked at Tanner, whose face was both sad and supportive.
“I am that kind,” Greg replied angrily.
“Gregory, how could you do this to us? And God?” his mother pleaded.
“To you?” Greg practically laughed. “And God doesn’t make mistakes. He is loving and accepting and created me to be who I am. He accepts me for who I am. As do those who love me.”
“Are you saying we don’t love you?” Greg’s mother barked. “We did everything for you. You are who you are today, a successful business owner with a lovely family. You’re our only son. And just because Elizabeth left you doesn’t mean you’re gay. I knew California was going to cause troubles,” she hissed into the phone. “It’s not too late. Four months is no time at all. You can pray, repent and—”
“If you want to…” Greg interrupted, getting stuck on the next words he was about to say, but he swallowed past the lump that had settled in his throat and continued. “If you want to disown me, I understand. But this isn’t a choice, Mom… Dad… I’ve never felt so complete, or so right about anything before. I’m tired of making everyone else happy. I’m forty-five, almost forty-six years old. I’m making me happy. And if that makes you unhappy, I’m sorry, but—”
Tanner ran his thumb over Greg’s knuckles.
“Now listen here,” Greg’s dad growled into the phone. “We want you to be happy, but this isn’t the way to do it. Sin is always fun at first, but the afterlife, the fires of hell, will be no fun. You should come home for—”
“You’re not listening. Thank you for the invitation for Thanksgiving, but I have plans. And those plans are with my boyfriend. I can recommend some groups for you to help you understand who I am, but—”
“I don’t need anyone perverting my thoughts, thank you. I’ve got some groups I would like to recommend to you, and this despicable choice you’ve made,” his mother said.
“Mom, Dad, this isn’t a choice. It’s who I am. I’ve ignored it and hated so much that it’s why I’ve been unhappy for decades. It’s why I couldn’t make my marriage work.”
“Decades? You’ve been unhappy for decades? What about the eternity you’ll be spending in hell for—”
Greg cut his mother off. “You always taught me that if I didn’t have anything nice to say then to say nothing at all. Please know that I’m happy to be your son if can accept me, but if you can’t, then we’re done.”
His parents were silent. Greg looked over at Tanner who’d not let go of Greg’s hand.
“I’ll call you next week?” Greg asked.
Still silence, although Greg thought he heard someone sniffle. Was one of them crying? Probably his mother. Ever the Drama Queen.
“Hello? Or is this good-bye?” he pressed.
Greg heard the phone click into non-speaker mode and his father cleared his throat. “Greg,” his father said softly. “I’m sorry, but…”
Greg swallowed hard. “No, buts…Good-bye, Dad. You know my number if you want to call. Please understand if I screen the voicemails,” Greg said through his teeth.
“We’ll miss you at Thanksgiving,” his dad said quietly, then there was a click and the call was ended.
Greg tossed the phone aside and slumped back against the cool leather of Tanner’s couch.
“That was rough,” Tanner said quietly.
Greg nodded, willing himself not to cry.
“I’m sor—” Tanner said.
“Don’t,” Greg said, sitting up and looking Tanner in the eye. “Don’t be sorry. It’s their loss. I’m right where I want to be…where I need to be. I’m not sorry. I couldn’t handle it if you were, too.”
Tanner nodded, but he knew. The loss of a parent, no matter how it comes, hurts.
Quietly, Greg stood, and tugged Tanner to stand with him. He looked into the eyes of the man that had been his rock, that he now proudly called his boyfriend. He never expected anything like Tanner, but he was profoundly grateful. “C’mon. Let’s go to bed.”
“THE END”
…You will see Greg and Tanner again, along with Jack and Beth, and Phoebe and Chase/Charlie … All in Book 6, along with Brad, Angie and Zach. Along with Carter. ;)
So maybe this is really a
“TO BE CONTINUED”…
Book 5… Kevin Parker’s story. Spring 2015.
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About the Author
Isabelle Peterson
• been married to her amazing husband for almost 22 years
• has two incredible, talented teens
• has a shih tzu who is the best writing partner a writer could have
• also writes screenplays (since high school)
• wrote her first novel as a dare
• loves to cook
• lives near New York City
Unexpected Dreams: Dream Series, Book 4 Page 34
