“These things don’t have anything to do with each other, just so you know outright. One didn’t lead to the other—” he realized he was lying as he said the words but hoped they wouldn’t be able to read his expression that well from the small screen. “But Kristin and I have separated and we’re getting divorced as soon as possible.”
His mom lifted a hand to cover her mouth and there was jostling as Dad took the phone off her.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you, son.” Dad watched him closely, worry in his eyes that were so similar to Denny’s own. “What’s the other thing?”
“No, no, wait a minute. What happened with Kristin? She’s such a nice girl, what did you—”
Denny winced. “None of this is about what anyone did. We decided together that it was for the best. That we were married for all the wrong reasons.” It wasn’t a lie, really, it wasn’t.
“What did you do?” Her accusation slammed into him, and he tried to remember that she was of another generation.
It hurt though, the fact that she’d leaped to that particular conclusion.
“Like I said, Mother, this isn’t about what either Kristin or I did.”
“But you have to—”
“Would you listen to what your son is saying,” Dad rumbled. “He is certainly old enough to make up his mind about things, and if he says this is what he wants, then I will support him in this decision. Marriage isn’t always easy, we all know that.”
Mom’s mouth snapped shut and she said something under her breath as she crossed herself.
“The other thing is this.” Denny took in another deep breath and released it slowly. He needed to get it out, for his own sake, for his truth. “I’ve realized that I’ve lived a life that I thought was expected of me. A life that left very little room to see things clear, to see a wider path, maybe….”
He lifted his gaze to his parents, hoping that he wouldn’t lose them. They were both staring at him, looking worried and confused.
“After the anniversary of us losing Dave, I realized I had never really talked about it with anyone. Not… not like I should’ve, at least. So I found a therapist who is so great. So easy to talk to and friendly. Anyway, I talked with him about Dave and about what happened… after. It was through some soul-searching that I realized that… I might not be heterosexual. That I am, in fact, also attracted to men, but I have been chasing this idea of what my life should look like, chasing these marriages with women as the be-all and end-all of life….” He didn’t know how to explain more.
His mom looked pale and shocked, but there was a warmth in his dad’s eyes.
“All right, son. If this is what you think might make you happy, then I’m happy for you. My mother used to say that everyone should follow their own star. That’s how I ended up marrying this one,” Dad said, nudging his head towards Mom. “My father, he didn’t like her family. I’ve told you that, right?”
“Yeah, I remember.” Denny had vague recollections of stories told to him and Dave when they’d started to date in their teens.
“The world is different now. It’s time for us old folks to get on with the program.” He glanced at his still mute wife next to him and smiled gently. “Call us on Sunday evening.”
“I’ll do that. Thanks, Dad.”
“No problem, son.”
The call ended without a word from his mother, but he felt pretty sure that Dad would somehow fix whatever was about to be broken. Even though he couldn’t say that a weight had fallen off him, he felt… lighter. The butterflies turned into their regular selves again and vanished for the time being.
He wasn’t sure how his mom would take it all. Probably not that well unless her church was more tolerant than he expected it to be. Dad wasn’t religious in the same way, so Denny knew that he might be able to steer her to think about Denny and his happiness, their relationship with him, instead of what her pastor might’ve thought of the LGBTQ community.
Relaxing into his chair, Denny called Sammie next.
As he’d expected, she was hurt and upset, but not at Josiah. It just would’ve come out wrong and she knew it too.
“Tell him I’m not mad. You know I’m not, right?”
“I know, honey. I do. It’s just how our boy’s brain works.”
“Yeah. I’ll be home on the weekend. The happy family here is getting on my nerves a bit,” she confessed, sounding quiet and tired.
“Okay. Let us know if you need a lift from the airport. Come home, okay?”
“Is it too weird to want to sleep next to you both now that you are, you know.” She made a suggestive sound that implied things Denny and Josiah were definitely not doing yet.
“We’re not. And no. We’ll want you close, sis. Cuddle pile when you get back?” he asked, knowing she needed the closeness to them after dealing with her dad’s new family for a week.
“Cuddle pile, yes please.” There was a sort of relief in her voice, as if the mere thought of being home with them eased her anxiety. “I’ll let you know when I’m arriving. Give him a hug from me and you know, hold the fort, make sure he’s okay.”
“I will. Oh, and I came out to my parents today, but we can talk about that next weekend,” he added just before they were about to say bye.
“Holy fuck Denny! You can’t just—”
“Okay bye!” He ended the call, picturing her pissed-off expression as she most likely berated him.
He chuckled, muted his phone, and went to find Josiah.
