Page 70 of It Takes Three To Tango

My mum puts down the book she’s reading and my dad the newspaper.

“Whatever gave you that idea, love?” my mum asks.

“Like, I didn’t go into law like Dad or become an accountant, but I became an author instead. I’m sorry to disappoint you.”

“Do you really think that? That we’re disappointed? We wanted you to have a steady career so you didn’t have any worries... financially,” my mum says, looking worried.

“We’re so proud of you, son, of what you’ve achieved,” my dad chimes in. Oh! I really had no idea.

“You could’ve said so!” That comes out stronger than I meant it to, but I still have to break the bigger news to them and my nerves are a little stretched. “Sorry, sorry.” I run my hands through my hair.

“No, we’re the ones who are sorry, love.”

“Are you?” My mum beckons me over. I sit next to her on the couch and tuck myself into her side in a way I haven’t done for a long time.

“All we want is for you to be happy, and I’m sorry if we gave you any impression that we were disappointed in you. I guess we were cautious about how happy you’d be as an author, and we didn’t want to see you struggle.”

I can almost understand their twisted logic, but it still hurts that they never told me they were proud of me.

“I thought all these years you didn’t approve and just wished I was doing something else, but you know I could never be happy being a lawyer or something. Not that there’s anything wrong with it.” I glance at my dad, but he’s smiling.

“We know, love. Well, we do now, anyway.” My mum rubs her hand up and down my arm.

“There’s something else I need to tell you,” I say hesitantly. “And it might be a shock so I’m a little nervous.”

“As long as you’re happy, Rafe, that’s all we want for you.”

Well, we shall see how far that extends. I take a deep breath.

“When I was in Spain, I met someone.”

“Oh, that’s nice, love,” my mum says quickly.

“Mum, hear me out please, it’s not what you think.”

“Oh, did you get married? I mean, after the whole debacle with Loretta?—”

“Mum! Please?” I ask, and she stops. “No, I’m not married, nor likely to be.”

“Oh.”

“Will you let me explain?” I need to make sure I don’t have any further interruptions, as I want to make sure I can explain everything.

“Yes, of course. Sorry.”

“Well, I actually met two someones in Spain, at the same time, and we’re all together.” I don’t want to complicate the issue with Constantin, especially as I refuse to think he would just leave us suddenly, and I want my parents to understand. “But they’re both guys. We’ve been living together for the last few weeks.”

I’m met with silence. I guess they need to process it.

“Two guys?” my mum asks, at least it’s not hysteria.

“Yes, Mum.”

“Are you happy?”

“Very much so.”

“Then we’re happy too.” She side-hugs me, and I lean into her, relief and love for her easy acceptance almost overwhelming me.

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