Page 76 of Loving Lauren
“Babe, you’re going to wear a hole in the floor.” Lauren sat on the couch, organizing their makeup kit for the next day’s clients.
“My parents want to have dinner. Like, a proper dinner. With you. At their house.”
Lauren set down the brushes they’d been cleaning. “And that’s bad?”
“No! It’s good. I think. It’s just...” Sierra flopped down beside Lauren. “The last time they met you was for like five minutes at that art thing. This feels official.”
“It is official. We’re official. One year of being back together officially.”
“I know. I just want them to see what I see. How amazing you are, how happy you make me, how much you’ve grown and healed.” Sierra took Lauren’s hands. “I want them to love you the way I do.”
“And if they don’t?”
Sierra’s expression grew fierce. “Then that’s their loss. But I think they will. Thalia and Tobias have been working on them.”
Lauren raised an eyebrow. “Working on them how?”
“Dropping casual comments about how good you are for me. Showing them your social media posts about your therapy progress and art. Thalia may have ‘accidentally’ left some of your makeup work photos on Mom’s kitchen table.”
“Your family is terrifying and wonderful.”
“They’re your family, too. Whether my parents figure that out immediately or not.”
The dinner was exactly as awkward as Sierra had predicted, but also warmer than Lauren had dared to hope.
Sierra’s mom was making a visible effort, asking careful questions about Lauren’s work, which was a far cry from her initial worry about what the neighbors would think. Her father was more reserved but making an effort, occasionally stumbling over Lauren’s pronouns but catching himself each time—such a change from the man who’d thrown his napkin down months ago.
“So you do a lot of makeup for photography?” Sierra’s mom asked, passing the potatoes.
“Photography, events, some theatrical work. I love the artistic side of it. Making people feel confident and beautiful.”
“Lauren did my makeup for my gallery opening,” Sierra added. “They’re incredibly talented.”
“The gallery showing was lovely,” her mother said warmly. “We were so proud to see your work displayed like that.”
Tobias, bless him, kept the conversation flowing with stories about his latest projects and questions that made everyone laugh. Thalia chimed in with gentle comments which highlighted Lauren’s positive influence on Sierra’s life.
When Lauren excused themselves to use the bathroom, Thalia followed.
“They’re working on it. Dad especially. He asked me last week what pronouns meant and how to use them correctly.”
“Really?”
“Really. Mom’s been Googling stuff about transgender people and being a good ally. She left a bunch of PFLAG tabs open on her computer last time I was over.”
Lauren felt their throat tighten. “They’re doing research?”
“They love Sierra, and they can see how happy you make her. They want to understand.” Thalia squeezed Lauren’s arm. “Just be patient with them. They’ll get there.”
When they returned to the table, Sierra’s dad was showing Sierra photos on his phone.
“Your mother and I have been talking... we’d like to redo the guest room. Make it more welcoming for both of you when you visit. It took us some time to get here, but we want you to feel at home.”
Sierra’s eyes went wide. “Both of us?”
“Well, of course, both of you,” her mother said, as if it was obvious. “You’re together, and we can see how happy they make you. It took us a while to understand, but Lauren is part of your life, which makes them part of ours, too.”
Lauren felt something tight in their chest finally loosen. Not perfect acceptance, maybe, but genuine effort—and sometimes, effort was the most precious gift of all.
