Note from author: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Chapter 7
I stared at her, not saying anything, for what seemed like an eternity but in reality was just a few seconds.
"Well?' she spat "aren't you going to tell me where the fucking hell you've been?"
Silence
"The silent treatment isn't going to work Trevor!" her voice, even though still a little hoarse, raising decibels as she continued to speak "although you needn't tell me where you've been because I know where the fuck you have been!"
I stood there, rabbit in the headlights, the shock of my mothers' anger, Liz's presence to all of this and the weirdness of hearing my mother swear, as she never swore, holding me hostage.
"And YOU!" she had turned to Liz now, "Call yourself a friend? I asked you to do one thing! ONE FUCKING THING!" she was shrieking now "And you couldn't help yourself could you? Soon as my back was turned, your legs were open and this boy, MY boy, MY SON, was led down your whorish path."
It's funny how I would have stood there, a boy taking a telling off from his parent when she was directing her verbal assault solely on me, but now she had picked on Liz, suddenly, the man in me came to life.
"THAT"S ENOUGH!" I roared at her.
My mother was standing there, frozen, as I had been, mouth open about to hurl another insult in Liz's direction.
"How dare you speak to her like that? HOW DARE YOU!" I barked, "She has done more for me in the last week than anybody has in years! Also,
mother,
" I said sarcastically, "I am no 'boy' either. In case it has escaped your attention, I am 18, I am a man and can do whatever the fuck I like!" at which point I slammed my open palm onto the table making Liz and my mother both flinch.
Silence again reined within the kitchen, my mother and I glaring at each other. This Mexican stand off was broken by Liz starting to cry.
As we both registered her sobs, immediately my concern turned to her and I sat next to her and put my arm around her.
I looked at my mother and said calmly "I would much rather we discuss this civilly, and if you want to do that, then we will do so but if you don't, I will leave here tonight and not come back again until you do."
Again, silence other than Liz, trying to hold in the weeping.
"Fine," mother said, still glaring at me as she sat down "talk."
I looked at Liz and nodded, indicating that I would do the speaking.
"I was aware of Liz's offer to you to help with me a few months back. I had gotten home early and listened to your conversation in the hall." I let those words sink in then went on, "When you went into hospital, I made the first move, I was the one to bring the subject up with her. At first, she turned me down and told me she couldn't do that to you and that she had made a promise. Frankly, I threw a tantrum like the child I was at the time. It was only after another talk that she decided that it should be I, as an adult, that made a decision about my journey into manhood and not you."
"That's all very well for you," mother hissed "but she promised ME."
"And she would have kept that promise, up until I pushed the issue because I was aware of the conversation. Without that knowledge, there is no way I would have had the courage to do so and Liz wouldn't have been compromised in the way that she was. She was stuck between the promise to you and the fact she could see I was hurting. Fact is, she chose me is all that's happened and if you care for me in ANY way, you would thank her for that."
I continued "I was in a very dark place a few weeks ago Mum, not much in my life other than my apprenticeship and course to look forward to. Liz helped me see that my choices determine my happiness and she has been clear in the fact that she was just helping me understand that, she isn't my girlfriend."
I could see my mother listening to what I said, maybe for the first time really listening and for the first time tonight since I had arrived, she looked at Liz directly.
"Is this true?" she asked, and Liz gave a tiny nod.
She stared at her for a few seconds, "Well, what a palaver this is," mother said, "How are we going to deal with this now?" gesturing between the three of us.
"Nothing to deal with, as I see it," I replied "Liz made it clear that our fling would only last until you are back and now you are back, I am expecting it to end." I thought I sounded very adult with this retort.
"That's nice for you Trevor, but I wasn't talking to you." Said my mother coolly.
I was confused, why would she be asking Liz how they were going to deal with it? Wouldn't the fact that we would no longer be sleeping together resolve that?
"He doesn't know Margaret." said Liz quietly.
"Oh," my mother said, "...fuck."
"Know what?" I asked, "KNOW WHAT?" when I didn't get a response
Liz and mum exchanged a glance and then my mother revealed, "We've been sleeping together Trevor."
I didn't know how to respond. A few seconds went by as that news registered in my brain and the shock of it hit me however, in my mind, a few things clicked into place. Liz saying she hadn't been with a 'man' since John died but had to be 'creative', the stacks of sex toys she had, Liz virtually living here since John had gone on service and her insistence on not hurting my mother were just a few.
"How long?" I asked simply.
"About 2 years ago," said Liz, "a little over a year after John died"
I was astonished, "Why didn't you tell me?" I asked to no one in particular.
