Even though Josh was exhibiting an outwardly happy demeanor the next half dozen weeks, Kyle was more than aware that the estrangement with his mother was weighing on his mind often. The few times he got him to talk about it, Josh only reiterated how he considered the problem entirely her making and therefore hers to deal with. The only communication that had occurred between the two had been the blunt note Josh had handwritten the night after the coming out fiasco. He had asked Kyle to read it before it was mailed to her at the farm. Even though he was extremely impressed by the intensely deep message behind the words Josh had used, he wondered yet again if he should have suggested it not be sent. Once more, while Josh was at work, Kyle repeated them to himself...so well memorized it was as if the paper was right there in front of him.
Disapproved!
An unnatural act. A deep dark transgression. A burning pain within your child's soul.
Not about them. It's about you and your nefarious and unprincipled attitudes.
You, a parent, have forsaken your child because of a difference between their's and your tiny, close-minded world.
You say you disapprove. You disapprove of what? Your child for being himself? For daring to love and be loved back?
You reply: "It's unnatural." How can you say it so coldly and without feeling?
Unnatural in your eyes perhaps. But not as unnatural in their eyes, the desertion of your love seems to them.
Your child, unchanged, still loves you.
And if for this overall insignificant part of their life you stop loving them...then I am the one that must disapprove!
Kyle shuddered again, as he always did when he remembered the words. Tomorrow the two of them were flying to New York and he already knew what kind of reception would greet them. Kyle's parents had only talked to his boyfriend on the phone a few times, but he had already been fully accepted. He had wanted Josh to make peace with his mother before the trip, but the pleas fell on deaf ears every time. 'Damn how I love him, but he is so stubborn sometimes,' was the thought he was having when his cell phone buzzed.
"What are you up to stud? Watching hockey porn again?" came from Josh with a chuckle.
Kyle laughed back and replied, "Nah. This was my night for surfing smut sites for pizza delivery boy movies. They've got me thinking about ordering one and seeing if I can get lucky."
"So call the shop and order one. I'm on my last delivery now, but would be willing to make one more...if breakfast comes as part of the tip."
"You're too easy baby. At least make me work for it."
"Oh don't worry. You will be doing some work if I have my way," Josh seductively purred. He laughed again and promised to bring home dinner before disconnecting from the call.
As Kyle stared at the phone in his hand, he thought: 'Maybe he is handling this mess with his mother okay and I need to stop worrying so much.'
* * * * *
Josh closed his cell phone and pitched it to the passenger seat as he pulled out of the customer's driveway and headed back towards Capitol Highway. Even though this final drop off for the night had been at the far edge of the shop's delivery area, it went to a regular customer that always tipped very well. It also gave him time to think on the way back.
As had so often entered his mind the past weeks, he kept hearing his Mom viciously use the term 'faggot' in her reference to Kyle. He had talked several times to his Dad, his Grandparents, and both his older brothers...all of them reassuring him of their love and that his Mom did too. He angrily smacked the steering wheel hard with his fist and actually yelled at the windshield. "Fuckin' bullshit!" The next words in his mind were the same ones he had used every time any of his family had brought his Mom into the conversation. 'When she tells me that herself, and that she accepts both me and Kyle, then I might believe it. Until then, I am as much a faggot as he is to her.'
As if by divine intervention, the Honda's radio suddenly began playing the Macklemore and Lewis chart buster 'Same Love' and Josh turned it up full blast. He sang along with the chorus each time as if he was singing it to his Mom.
'And I can't change. Even if I tried. Even if I wanted to.'
By the time the final verse of the song was playing, Josh was choking back tears as he parroted the words.
'Whatever God you believe in, we all come from the same one. Strip away the fear, underneath, it's all the same love.'
He shook his head as he turned the volume back down and once again spoke to the dead air in the car: "Why can't you just give it to God, Mom? He will tell you the right answers if you do. Then we can be a family again."
* * * * *
Josh found Kyle in the bedroom when he got back to the house on the bay. Two suitcases were opened on the bed and Kyle was busy filling one. "Hey baby," he began as he looked at the empty one. "I wasn't sure what all you wanted to take, so I didn't pack yours." He grinned and took the warm pizza box from Josh's hands. "Guess I will eat and watch you get things together. We do have an early flight in the morning you know."
Josh grinned back before saying, "Yeah I know. But I assumed you would pick out my stuff so I would make a good impression on your family."
Kyle pulled him into a hug. "Only impression you will need to make is you being you. Your clothes aren't important." He paused and then added, "Well, other than make sure you pack your dress suit and at least one nice shirt and tie. I know Dad and he will insist on us all going out to at least one formal dinner at a nice place while we are there. Probably the country club."
Josh scrunched up his nose. "That's part of the test, isn't it? See if I can fit in with the rest of the rich people?"
Kyle rolled his eyes. "Joshie. My family may have money, but they are far what being what you think rich people are like. Dad would just as soon go fishing in a pair of ratty shorts and a stained tee shirt, as play golf or tennis. The only reason he even belongs to the club is for the business contacts. And if you give Mom a choice, she will pick bingo at the church social hall over any snooty Saturday night cocktail party." Before biting into a slice of pizza, he finished with, "Plus, you passed the test with them the minute I told them I was in love with you." Kyle managed to chew and smile sincerely at the same time.
"Well at least tell me 'yes' or 'no' as I pick things out. Okay?" The question only got him a head nod as Kyle picked up another slice of pizza. In less than a half hour, both Kyle's stomach and Josh's suitcase were full.
"You did call your parents and tell them you were going to New York, didn't you?" Kyle finally queried.
"I called and told Dad," was the initial answer Josh gave back. "I assume he told her," followed.
"Good," Kyle simply replied. But he quivered inside a little at the completely generic way Josh had once again referred to his mother. Ever since getting back home from the disastrous visit, Josh only used pronouns when talking about her. 'She won't be my 'Mom' again until she apologizes for what she said about you,' had been his explanation. Kyle had given up trying to get him to make the first effort at negotiating peace, and Mrs. Thomas seemed to be just as stubborn as her youngest son and unwilling to make the opening move. Even though Josh presented a strong front, Kyle knew the rift between them was breaking his heart. It broke Kyle's heart too, because he couldn't figure out a way to help.
Kyle's thoughts were interrupted when Josh asked, "So what time do we have to leave for the airport in the morning?"
"The commuter to Atlanta is at 9:15 and we need to be there by 8 to check in. It's only about fifteen minutes to the airport, but we have to walk in from the long term parking area too...so you do the math."
Josh looked at the alarm clock, saw it was already well past midnight, and moaned at the thought of how short a night it was going to be. Since he was going to be gone for a week, he had worked a double shift at the shop and was really tired. As he helped move the suitcases to the floor so they could get in bed, for the first time he could ever remember, he hoped Kyle wasn't horny.