Page 23 of Taylor
“What abouthim?”
“Is hecoming?”
“I…uh…” I don’t have an answer to that question. I’ve put off mentioning to Taylor that I’m going to Paris this weekend. I know he’s going to want to come with me, and that would’ve meant having thisconversation.
“Caleb, there’s no need to look so worried. We’ve known about this for a long time,” Dad says reassuringly. I look over and give him small smile because, although he seems fine, Mum looks anything but happy. “I was worried for a while that you weren’t interested in anyone, so it’s nice to know you’re not alone downhere.”
“This is all new. Taylor and I have only just got together,” Iadmit.
“But he’s been your roommate for a long timenow.”
“Yeah, he has. Nothing’s happened before now,though.”
“You should bring him to thewedding.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Muminterjects.
“Whynot?”
“What would your grandparentsthink?”
“Penny! I’m sorry, Caleb,” Dadsays.
“What? It’s true. They won’t understand all this,” Mum says, waving her arm around. “They expect Caleb to get married and have kids…notthis.”
“Is that what you think they want for me, or what you want for me?” I ask, starting to get pissedoff.
“I…uh…”
“I can still do those things, Mum. I can get married. I can have kids. Okay, so maybe it’s not the traditional way you’re imagining, but so what? I won’t live a life just because people expect me to. I want to live the way I want to. I want to do what makesmehappy, not you or mygrandparents.”
Mum totally ignores my rant. At least, I presume she ignores it, as she decides not to respond. Instead, she reaches over to the bags she set down next to the sofa. “Beth wanted us to give you these. She said you were picking up your suit, but your tie is in there along with some stuff she can’t fit in her and Daniel’scases.”
“Right, okay,” I say, taking the bags from her and lookinginside.
“Come on then, Simon. We should be headinghome.”
“I thought we were going to suggest havingdinner?”
It’s clear from the look on Mum’s face that not only has Dad just seriously put his foot in it, but she has no intention of hangingaround.
I give Mum a kiss on the cheek after saying goodbye. She turns on her heel and starts marching towards thestairway.
“She’ll be fine. Just give her some time to get used to the idea. I think although we knew, she held out hope that Beth’s wedding might not be the onlyone.”
“I canstill—”
“I know,” he agrees. “Like I said, just give hertime.”
“Okay, thanksDad.”
“We’ll see yousoon.”
I shut the door behind them and lean back against it. It’s weird; I always presumed it would be my dad who would have an issue with me being gay. I know Mum has all these visions of brides and babies, but I thought she’d be able to see that all of those things are still possibly in myfuture.
I grab my phone after falling back onto the sofa. I find Taylor’s number and hit call. It rings and rings and eventually goes tovoicemail.
“Where the fuck are you?” I ask the emptyroom.
