I wanted him home, it was as simple as that.
When my eldest son told us that he was gay the reaction from my husband and younger son was one of disdain. For me it wasn't quite as devastating, in fact I half expected it.
All through my pregnancy I had been told that I was carrying a girl. When I gave birth to a little boy it came as a shock. All our preparations had been for a girl, it was in my mindset. Eighteen years later I was blamed for raising my son as a daughter, and thus him being gay. It was nonsense of course, Simon had always been somewhat effeminate and I had treated him with a gentleness that my husband and later my younger son found strange, if not annoying, but I hardly treated him as a girl!
When he decided to train as a nurse I supported him, in spite of objections from the rest of the family. It was during his training that our relationship grew somewhat strained. I could tell that his love for me was growing far stronger than would be considered normal for a son towards his mother. When he was at home I was forced to remind him on more than one occasion that my bedroom or bathroom door was closed for reasons of privacy. I was conflicted, if he had been a girl I would have welcomed him (her) into the room, but as a boy, it bothered me at times. But, maybe not as much as it might have? I eased off chasing him from my room if I was in my underwear, and even took my time asking him to leave the bathroom if I was in the shower, but it was fairly obvious that he was pursuing sexual feelings towards me.
Immediately he qualified he left. Australia had been advertising for male nurses; he took up the challenge and left, with barely any notice. Once he was on the other side of the world we were actually able to have meaningful adult conversations, albeit via the internet!
For the next four years we talked via email and occasionally video chat. I needed those conversations. Shortly after Simon had left, my life changed. I became little more than a servant to my husband and younger son. I got up on the mornings and made their breakfasts, I made them a pack up lunch, did the housework and prepared the dinner. Occasionally, though rarely, my husband wanted sex, wham bam, thank you mam! Two minutes if I was lucky!
Other than talking to Simon my life was a drudge.
Simon had eventually admitted his feelings for me, classic Oedipus complex. He told me that the last couple of years at home had been torture to him, his brother and father had made his life miserable, and my continued rejection of his ill managed and thought out sexual overtures towards me had been the deciding factor in his leaving.
With thousands of miles between us it was easy for our conversation to become more adult, and even explicit. He expressed his love for me, I told him I loved him. Our messages included requests for pictures, I sent some, he did the same. The pictures became selfies, the selfies became more daring, lingerie, then topless, and eventually even nude. Sending my son nude selfies was a huge turn on, and in reply he sent the same, he was cross-dressing, and made a remarkably good looking girl, he had a male friend who helped him with his photography. Some of the pictures were very explicit, featuring both him and his partner, he obviously took the female role in their relationship.
The few nudes I sent him were, I thought, quite tasteful, but some he sent me were definitely not, seeing pictures of my son naked and erect did upset me at first, but I soon became immune to them. I drew the line at his request for a full open crotch selfie, a tasteful nude was one thing, a full pornographic picture was something else entirely. Our conversations were sometimes explicit but light hearted, so in that same light hearted way I tongue in cheek told him that if he wanted that sort of picture he would have to come home for a live show.
I thought no more about that particular conversation, it was, after all, just one of those 'off the cuff' remarks, but in the back of my mind I was desperate for him to come home. I missed my eldest son, I even missed him 'accidentally' walking in on me getting dressed or even in the shower. In spite of having my husband and younger son at home I was a lonely woman. My younger son worked with his father, so they were both out of the house most of the time, and their treatment of me was getting worse. I wasn't being abused in any way, I was simply being ignored, I was just like a part of the furniture.
Then came that single email conversation that more or less changed everything. It was my birthday, and my family at home hadn't even noticed. They must have stopped at some garage on the way home, I got a bunch of wilted flowers and a small box of cheap chocolates. Late that evening I was on the email with Simon.
Simon...Do you really want me to come home?
Me...You know I do!
Simon...What about dad and Geoff?
Me...They want to see you as well, it's been a long time.
Simon...I could get about a month off, so I'd be there for about three weeks, but I'm hesitant.
Me...Don't be hesitant, please come.
Simon... Big question.... If I come home do I get that live show you suggested?
Me... (after a brief hesitation) Yes.
Simon... Mum, will you have sex with me?
Me... ( After a longer hesitation) Yes!
Simon... Mum, I'm serious
Me... If you come home I'll sleep with you.
I'd done it, I'd promised to sleep with my own son, whether anything would come of it only time would tell. But I thought to myself that if having sex with him was the only way of persuading him to come home then so be it, I'd have sex with him!
Six weeks later Simon came home. His welcome from his brother and father was cordial, but I thought a bit restrained. My welcome was a lot more enthusiastic, but being in sight of the others was also tempered with restraint. We had a meal out at our favourite restaurant and on getting home had an early night.
I watched my husband and younger son drive out of the end of our road next morning with a feeling of relief. There had been no arguments or signs of bad feelings, all had been peaceful. As I stood looking out of the window Simon came up behind me and put his arms around me. I leaned back into him as he pushed a hand inside my dressing gown and cupped my breast.
"Are you going to keep your promise?"