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He didn’t get to go to her house often, mostly because it was on the outskirts of town, but he made the journey for a reason. He needed to talk to his mom about things. He needed to close this uncomfortable secret between them, and he needed to talk about Violet.
It was after work; the sun was low in the winter sky, and it was chilly. But Charlie was too nervous to care about any of that. His mom’s car was in the driveway, and he knew she’d be home at this time.
He knocked firmly, stepping back to give her space to open the door.
“Charlie?” His mom said. “What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, mom. I’m fine. But I think we need to talk.”
His mom frowned, but stepped aside to let him in. He walked in, feeling the air grow warm. He shrugged off his jacket and took another deep breath.
“What’s going on?” She asked nervously.
Charlie paused. He wanted to ask about Violet first, but he also needed to know if his mother had lied to him. And standing there, in his childhood home, looking his mother in the eye, he knew that was more important.
“Are you seeing someone?” He asked, giving her a chance to say it herself.
For a moment, he was worried she’d lie. Maybe she wasn’t truly ready.
“I am," she replied, instead. “How did you know?”
“You guys were having dinner the other day at that Italian place on the North side of town, and I stopped to pick something up.”
“The Italian place? But you never go there.”
Charlie frowned. “You specifically picked somewhere I wouldn’t go?”
His mother sighed and looked away guiltily. “I wasn’t sure how to tell you.”
“So, you hid it from me.”
“Yes, I did. But you have to understand, Charlie. It’s a big thing. Dating a woman is so-“
“You think that’s what I’m worried about? I don’t care who you date as long as you’re happy.”
“But… I never told you.”
“Told me what?”
“That I’m … I’m interested in woman. Only women.”
Charlie stared. His mom looked nervous, as if he was going to run off as she said it. Did his grandparents know? Charlie hadn’t seen them in years - only his Gigi Ruth, but he remembered how his grandparents were old fashioned, how they hated how new age his mother and Gigi Ruth had become.
Maybe they weren’t accepting. Maybe his mother was afraid he wouldn’t be accepting either.
“Mom, that’s okay. I don’t mind at all.”
Hi mom looked relieved. “I know I should have told you.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“I also didn’t expect for it to happen so fast. I met her and suddenly everything was falling into place, like she was always meant to be here and I…”
His mother paused, but Charlie didn’t mind. All he could think about was how that sounded familiar - almost too familiar.
“It’s new,” he admitted. “But I want to know this part of you. If you’re happy, I’m happy.”
His mother looked relieved. “Thank you, Charlie. This means so much to me," she hugged him tightly, and he could practically feel how much relief was rolling off her.
