Page 49 of Loving Lauren
Dad leaned way back, shaking his head. “But you’ve always been such a normal girl. You dated Josh in high school. What happened to wanting a traditional family? Marriage? Kids?”
Mom’s voice was strained. “Sweetheart, I just... in my day, people were either one thing or the other. This is all so confusing. What will people think? What do we tell the neighbors?”
Thalia straightened up, getting that look she used to get when kids picked on Sierra in middle school. “Mom, Dad, she didn’t catch this like a cold. It’s not something that happens to you. And who cares what the neighbors think?”
Sierra put her hand out on the table, palm up. Her mom stared at it for a long moment before slowly, carefully taking it.
“I didn’t always have the right words for it, but meeting Lauren helped me finally understand myself better. I’ve always known I was different somehow. But now I understand why, and I’m done hiding who I am.”
Mom squeezed her hand, but her face was tight with worry. Dad kept staring at his enchiladas like they might provide answers.
Mom suddenly looked between Sierra and Thalia with growing alarm. “Wait... who’s Lauren?”
Sierra paused for like half a second, then her face just broke into this huge smile even though everyone was still being weird about everything.
“Lauren is really important to me. They’re amazing and hilarious, and they actually get me, you know? We met a few months ago and got really close. They helped me feel brave enough to tell you this, but it’s not like they turned me pansexual or anything. I just stopped pretending around them. Around everyone.”
Her dad’s face went red. “They? You mean... like multiple people? Sierra, what kind of situation have you gotten yourself into?”
Sierra shook her head, her voice staying calm but getting firmer. “No, Dad. Lauren prefers they and them as pronouns.”
Dad threw his napkin down. “Oh, for crying out loud! Now there are special pronouns? I can’t keep track of all this modern nonsense.”
Mom was clearly struggling, wringing her hands. She kept opening her mouth as if she were going to say something, then closing it and opening it again. Finally, she got it out. “I’m sorry, Sierra. I just don’t understand any of this. We raised you in thechurch. We taught you right from wrong. This feels like... like you’re throwing your whole future away.”
“Mom—”
“What about grandchildren? A proper wedding? I had such dreams for you, sweetheart.”
Sierra felt tears threatening. “I know, Mom. I’m not expecting you to understand everything all at once. What I’m asking for is that you try. Lauren isn’t a phase or rebellious statement. They’re someone who makes me incredibly happy.”
Her dad finally looked up at her, and his eyes were harder than she’d ever seen them. “I’m not mad, Sierra. But I am disappointed. This world is cruel enough without you making it harder on yourself. You’ve always wanted a family someday, kids. Normal kids need a mother and a father.”
“I still want all of those things, and they’re all still possible. Just maybe not exactly the way you always pictured it in your head.”
Mom’s voice cracked. “But what will the pastor say? What will your aunt Margaret think? We can’t just pretend this is normal.”
Thalia jumped in, her voice warm but fierce. “She’s still exactly the same Sierra. Still your daughter. Still the same big-hearted, brilliant woman who makes everyone around her better by existing. The only thing that’s changed is that she’s being honest with you.”
Mom’s eyes got all watery. “I just... I love you, baby. But this scares me. I don’t know how to handle this.”
“I know. But I’m done hiding.”
Dad went quiet for a long moment, just looking at her. When he finally spoke again, his voice was heavy. “I need time to process this. I can’t promise I’ll understand it, and I can’t promise I’ll like it. But... you’re still my daughter.”
Sierra felt her throat get tight. “That’s all I can ask for right now.”
Tobias cleared his throat awkwardly. “So... can we maybe eat before the food gets completely cold? This is still Sierra. She still puts hot sauce on everything and cries at animal videos.”
Mom managed a watery smile. “Youdocry at those ridiculous videos.”
Dad picked up his fork again, though his movements were stiff. “We’ll... we’ll figure this out. Somehow.”
They finished dinner in relative quiet, the conversation stilted but not hostile. Sierra’s stomach finally stopped doing backflips, though the tension in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife.
As she was leaving, Dad stopped her at the door. “Sierra. I meant what I said. You’re still my daughter. Always will be. This Lauren person... they better treat you right.”
Sierra hugged him tight. “They do, Dad. They really do.”
