Page 27 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

She pulls me into her arms, and tears drip onto my shirt.

I pull away. “Mama, you never shamed me about how I look. I’ve always felt loved. It’s always him.” I can’t even look at my father. “He doesn’t even want to call me by my chosen name. I’m not Frederick. That name was never me.”

She gives me a small smile. “I know. It was probably a little narcissistic, naming you after your father.”

She turns to him. “To the man who can’t accept himself, and I don’t know why. We all love you as you are. Your mother, your siblings, everyone. You’re the one who felt ashamed, and you rubbed that off on our son. I can’t forgive you for that. I will not let you kick him out. If anyone’s leaving, it’ll be you until you get your fucking attitude adjusted.”

Ferris sucks in a breath. We’ve never heard our mother cuss.

She chuckles and pats me on the head. “I’ve always known how to speak like a sailor.” She chuckles again. “Now, if everyone agrees that no one is a freak of nature and that everyone just has different abilities and appearances, then we can have a nice, happy family dinner.” She gives me a smile.

I shake my head and step away. “I don’t think I can stay.”

Her face drops, and I hug her again.

“I have a lot to process. I’m not welcome here.” I look to father, who refuses to look at me. His ears lay flat and his face is bright red.

“But you are,” she says. “You’re always welcome here, and I don’t want you to leave. Not if you don’t want to. Not if you’re not ready.”

I swallow and look at the ceiling. “I’ve been ready for years. I’ve been ready for so long. I just needed the push. But I didn’t want to abandon you or the kittens. I love you too much.”

She smiles. “I know, sweetie. You’re a good boy.”

“Thank you, Mama.”

Papa just scoffs and crosses his arms. His tail shakes, brushes over something, and he grabs it, strangling it as if that would take the tail away. “It’s such a nuisance to have this,” he says. “Give me back the pendant.”

“No,” Mother says.

She opens my hand and places the pendant in mine. “It’s Sparkle’s now. He earned it.”

“I paid for it,” Father says.

“No.” Mother turns to him. “I did, with my years of service to the covens. They erased the debt because of me, not because of what you sent home. You chose to run away, to live on the run, trying to chase away your truth. But you can’t. This never should have been a permanent solution, but that’s what you chose. This.” She pats my hand. “Over your family.”

“I chose to make a living.”

“And like I pointed out earlier,” I say, “Mama’s income does more than enough to take care of the entire family. Besides that, Hex always takes care of her people. If we needed food, we could go to the community garden or ask the grocery, and they would give us food. That’s how it works here, and you know it. I don’t understand why you felt the need to leave.”

Mother drops a hand to my shoulder and squeezes. “There’s a lot you don’t know. And I do understand his feelings, but I don’t love that he put his shame on you. You deserve to live your most whimsical life. And if that means leaving home, I give you my blessing.”

“I’m not leaving Hex,” I say. “But I think I will find someplace else to live, if you’re okay with that.” I look back to papa. “If you think he’ll be able to help you with everything you need.”

Mom chuckles again. “I don’t think he’ll ever be as good as you at helping me run my business and the household. But you do deserve to live the life that you want. You shouldn’t have to run around after little ones that aren’t even yours. They’re your siblings, not your children. You deserve to go find love, romance, enjoy an evening to yourself without wondering if anyone will hear you.”

Heat creeps up my skin, and I laugh. “Yeah, I’m not talking about masturbation with my mother.”

She just chuckles again.

Papa rolls his eyes. “Well, I guess that’s settled. If you don’t want to leave tonight, you don’t have to. You’re a grown man. You can do what you want.” He throws his hands in the air and stomps toward the living room.

Mama sighs. “He’ll be fine. And we’ll love him until he loves himself. Like I tried before he ran away.” Her face drops, and I hold her again.

“It’s okay if you need to leave him.”

“I’m aware.” She laughs. “But he’s different with me.”

“That’s because you never made him stay and be part of the family,” I say.