Page 125 of Theoretically Straight

As we slowly pull apart, I make eye contact with everyone in the circle. “Thank you, guys, for being here. It means the world to me.”

“We’re not the only ones, you know,” Harrison says quietly, looking past me and gesturing toward something behind me. I turn around to see Mom standing a respectful distance away, now donning a black knit beanie with her hands shoved deep in her puffer jacket pockets.

“Mom,” I say aloud, taking an apprehensive step towards her.

Mom outstretches her arms to me. “Come here,taku tama.”

I close the distance between us and bury myself in a warm, poofy hug. I’m suddenly overwhelmed again, fighting back the urge to cry yet again.

“You were wonderful, Theo,” Mom says softly, pressing a light kiss into my hair. “I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I rasp, willing my voice to stop cracking. “I didn’t…I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Of course, silly,” she replies. “I’m your mother, and this is something very important to you. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

“Well,” I sniffle before continuing. “You didn’t have to come, but you did, and that means a lot. So…thank you. Really.”

As we pull away, she gives me a serious expression. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and a lot of praying over the past few weeks, Theo, and I’ve realized a few things.”

My stomach drops. Oh no. Not here. Is she about to ruin everything by bringing up my sexuality again? In front of everyone?

“As a mother, there’s nothing more important to me than the happiness and the well-being of my children. Nothing in the whole world matters more than that. You are my precious son, and I will always want the best for you. I’ll always want to protect you. To love you and support you. To teach you right from wrong and hopefully show you how to live by example. But at the end of the day, all those things can only go so far. You’re almost an adult now, and pretty soon, you’ll go your own way, and I won’t be able to protect you from the evils and cruelty of the world anymore. I can only pray that what I have given you will be enough.”

I shuffle uncomfortably. This feels like a lecture, but it also feels like something…else. Something different.

She reaches her hand out towards my face, brushing a loose curl away from my eye, smiling wistfully at me. “Right now, you are still my child, and you’re still under my protection and guidance. However, as much as I might want to use this time to control you or try to convince you to make choices that align with what I believe is right…none of that matters if it just ends up pushing you away.”

I stare at her in shock, the backs of my eyes burning with tears.

“I love you,aroha. I want you to be happy. I want to support the things that make you happy. Like this interview—I may not understand the appeal of ghost stories and exploring abandoned churches, but if watching those shows and making those videos makes you happy, then I’ll be right here to support you.” Her eyes flicker past me, and I follow her gaze to see Caleb standing with the rest of the crew while watching me with a protective, worried expression. “Caleb makes you happy,” Mom continues. “I may not understand it yet, but I am trying. I’ve been reading the material that Grace gave me, by the way, and it’s giving me a lot to think about. But more importantly, you’re my son. My Theo. And if being with Caleb makes you happy, I’m not going to stand in your way.”

The rest of my composure crumbles in an instant. I collapse back into my mother’s arms, choking out a broken sob into her shoulder. She holds me tight against her, whispering “it’s okay, sweetie” and “let it out” while gently rubbing my back, and I can’t hold back my tears anymore.

“I love you, Mom,” I finally manage to say, my voice cracking all to hell, but I can’t find it in myself to care anymore.

“I love you, too, Theo. So, so much.”

We stay like this for a little while longer until Mom clears her throat, and I finally remember where I am.

“Come on over, Caleb,” Mom says a moment later. “I’m sorry to keep him from you for so long.”

I peel myself out of my mother’s arms to face Caleb, who is studying me closely with a worried brow. “Sorry,” I mumble, wiping my sleeve across my face.

“No apologies needed,” Caleb says, seemingly at both me and Mom, but then he focuses on me. “So, um, the gang and I were just talking about dinner. Are you hungry?”

“Starving, actually,” I answer.

“That reminds me,” Mom pipes up. “I was actually going to propose something to the two of you.”

Caleb blinks at her, then looks at me. I just shrug.

“So, I don’t want to intrude on your time with your friends tonight, but I was wondering if you two would like to join me for dinner another night sometime soon? My treat, of course,” she adds, then smiles warmly at Caleb. “I feel like you and I got off on the wrong foot, Caleb, and for that, I’m sorry. But I would love nothing more than to try again and get to know you better…as Theo’s boyfriend.”

Caleb’s face goes blank for a second or two before he breaks into a shy smile. “Yeah, I…I think I would like that. Theo?”

My heart feels like it might burst, which unfortunately sends one more tear rolling down my cheek before I can stop it. I nod. “Yeah. Me too.”

Mom’s face lights up, and her smile is by far the brightest thing in the whole lot.

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