Page 49 of More Than a Friend
Patricia and Lyle Burton look good for being in their late sixties. Mom goes walking every morning with a few ladies from church, and Dad goes four-wheeling and hiking with a group of older gentlemen he met throughout his career as a superintendent for the school district. I swear he knowseveryoneand makes friends everywhere he goes.
Zoe jumps from the car and all but leaps into my mom’s arms. “Grandma!”
“Zoe girl! I’m so glad you’re over the stomach bug so you could come see us!”
Gus is slower to approach, but he still wraps my dad in a hug and asks if there’s a chance they could ride on his side-by-side today.
“Well, I think there might be time after you help Grandma bake cookies. Did you bring a jacket? It’s a little cold,” Dad answers.
I grab their jackets and my purse then follow them inside.
“Ava, you look good—happy,” Mom says as she gives me a side hug.
“I am happy, Mom. I’d love to tell you why if I can get you alone.”
“Let’s get the kids set up with cookie dough, and then we can talk.”
Ten minutes later, when the kids have all the cookie cutters they could ever want in front of them, Mom leaves Dad in charge and leads me to the spare bedroom they use as an office. She directs me to sit in an old rocking chair she’s reupholstered, and she sits in the computer chair.
“So.” She slaps her hands on her thighs. “What’s got you so happy? Are you finally seeing someone?”
I can’t help the smile pulling at my lips. “I am.”
Mom’s face lights up. “Oh, wonderful! What’s his name? How did you meet him? Where is he from? How long have you been seeing him?”
I wince at her eager tone. Maybe I should have come out to her sooner, so this wouldn’t be two big revelations at once.
“Well, about that… you see, I’m actually not dating a man…”
Mom’s head tilts in confusion. “What do you mean?”
I take a deep breath. The best way to do this is to rip the Band-Aid off.
“Mom, I’m dating Skylar.”
I watch in real time as the wheels in her head spin, and then her jaw drops open as realization hits her. “Skylar…Call? Your best friend? But—but she’s awoman!”
I nod my affirmation to her question. “Yes. She is.”
“But you’re notgay,” she whispers the last word like it’s something dirty, and immediately, my body tenses, preparing for a fight.
I was hoping this wouldn’t lead to a fissure in our relationship, but perhaps it was wishful thinking.
“I’m not straight, either. I haven’t labelled my sexuality. All I know is I’m in love with Skylar, and we’re together.”
My mom looks as if I’ve slapped her. “Ava, you’re almost thirty. It’s too late to go through a rebellious phase. First, you leave the church, and now this?” She shakes her head. “What about more grandkids? What about the Celestial Kingdom? What about being with your family for eternity?”
I ball my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms to ground me. I blink back the tears threatening to spill over. I won’t let her words slice me open and undo all the progress I’ve made, even though they sting.
“I don’t believe in the Celestial Kingdom, Mom. It’s not something I strive for anymore. As for more grandkids? I was done after two. I wouldn’t have had more even if I had stayed with Shea. As for eternity? If I believe in a god, it’s not one who threatens to tear apart families over their religious beliefs or lack thereof. I believe my kids and I will be together no matter what. It’s hurtful to teach someone otherwise.”
“I thought this divorce was a phase, Ava. I thought you just needed to… work stuff out of your system since you didn’t have a rebellious teenager phase. If you didn’t go back to Shea, I was hoping you’d find a nice man to settle down with, get remarried, have another baby or two. I never imagined you’d stray so far you’d date a-awoman.”
“I won’t apologize for living my life and being happy, Mom. You can either get on board and be happy for me or not. I only want people in my life who will support me.”
“Are you threatening to not let me see my grandkids?” she gasps, and I shrug. I don’t want to cut her off, but I can’t let their toxic thinking muddle the happy future I want to have with Skylar and my kids.
“Gus has spent the last week sleeping in my bed riddled with anxiety over the harmful things he was told at church. I’m not going to subject him to any more hurt, and it sounds like you don’t want to be supportive.”
