Page 52 of Stroked
“Thank you, James. Here is your lunch. Please, get my messages to me once I get back. Shouldn’t be too long.”
Once James was gone, Maria started going over the printouts.
“As you can see, the show has done quite well. And we still have a little time to go.” I took her nodding and silence as permission to bite into my sandwich.
“Amy, this is wonderful. Probably my best show that I can remember. I am getting older, you know.” She laughed and put the papers down, grabbing half of her sandwich.
“You hardly appear old, but I’m glad you’re pleased.”
“Oh yes, darling. I knew you would do well. Such a bright girl, with a bright personality.”
I smiled and took another bite.
“Darling, I wonder if I can speak candidly about something personal?”
I nodded, still chewing the piece of sandwich. My brows drew together even though I was trying so hard to keep a pleasant appearance.
“You shared with me that you were gay. Does your family know?”
I nearly choked on my sandwich. Maria’s eyes grew wide, and she grabbed my drink and thrusted it toward me.
After several sips, and a few times clearing my throat, I got the sandwich down safely. “Um, they do. I told them when I was in school.”
“College?”
“No, ma’am, high school.”
She cocked her head and appeared to contemplate that. “And how did they take that news?”
I wiped my hands more times than necessary on my napkin. “Honestly, they didn’t seem to care. At all. I think my mother thought it was trendy to have a gay daughter because after I told them, she was sure to introduce me that way.”
Maria chuckled. “Well, mothers do try to find ways to be supportive, even if we do not understand.”
I took another sip of my drink, but quickly stopped when she opened her mouth again. I didn’t need a repeat of what happened with Lucy and this conversation had already thrown me for a loop.
“When you told them, had they asked you, or did you just…blurt it out?”
This was getting weird, but I didn’t know what to do besides answer her. She was talking about me, not Valentina. “I had my friend Lucy over and it was dinner time. I told them I had something important to tell them, so I just said, ‘I’m gay.’ Dad asked if Lucy was my girlfriend, which she wasn’t and never has been. She’s straight. Mom just sort of nodded and smiled and said she guessed they didn’t have to worry about me getting pregnant at a young age.”
“That is lovely that they were accepting, even if they did not know the right thing to say.”
“Ya know, I was upset for a long time at how they reacted, but finally got over it. But yeah, I guess they didn’t really know what else to say. It came out of nowhere, for sure. But I knew I didn’t want to live in fear. So, I told them.”
“And you never had any issues in school, college? Not with any jobs?”
“Me personally, not really. I dealt with some boys, but nothing any straight woman doesn’t deal with.” I took a sip of my drink but needed to clarify. “But I do have friends that have had issues. Including their families disowning them.”
Maria nodded, tracing circles on the table with her index finger. “That is very sad. Regardless of what they thought, how can a parent disown their own child?” She looked up at me, her eyes glistening.
“Maria, may I ask what this is all about?” I probably shouldn't have asked, but the things she said gave me hope, a small glimmer of hope.
“Well, I do not know that I should even share this, but you have been gracious enough to speak to me frankly.” She leaned in and lowered her voice. “I think my daughter may be like you but has not told me.”
I stayed leaned down with her but prayed she didn’t notice my heart trying to beat out of my chest. I knew I should speak, but I couldn’t.
She leaned back and grabbed her sandwich. Before she took a bite, she said, “I appreciate you very much. Thank you for the chat. We should eat so you can get back.”
I nodded and grabbed my sandwich. The question I had couldn’t be kept inside. “What makes you think she’s gay? If you don't mind me asking, of course.”
