I held open a gallon-sized ziplock bag for Oma to load with kabobs.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Oma said. “Something bothering you?”
“I never told Babou I was gay.”
Oma took the bag from me and zipped it closed. She looked at Grandma and then back to me.
“Do you think...” I started to say, but Oma cut me off.
“You know, I knew your parents had trans friends in college. But it was still hard coming out to them.”
“Why? Did they take it bad?”
Oma shook her head. “No. And they were so busy with you I don’t think they processed it all that much. You were just a baby.”
I nodded.
“I remember your mom, she kept asking what she was supposed to do with all her photos. From their wedding, from when you were born. But then she got used to it. She and Stephen both did. I think they adjusted quicker than Melanie.”
Grandma cleared her throat, and Oma shook her head and started shoveling rice into another plastic bag.
I had never heard my grandmothers talk about Oma’s coming out.
I wanted them to keep talking.
“What do you mean?”
Grandma gave me this long look. She glanced at Oma, who had emerged from the refrigerator with two bags of sabzi.
“Just that people can surprise you,” Oma said. She set down the sabzi and rested a hand on Grandma’s shoulder. “And sometimes you have to let them, and trust that things will work out.”
Mom popped her head in. “I just heard from Stephen. His plane’s finally landed.”
“We’ll finish up here. You go get him,” Grandma said.
“Thanks. See you at home?”
“Sure.”
Mom kissed me. “I’ll take your sister. She’s exhausted.”
“Okay. Love you.”
“Love you.”
After we finished up, Landon and I filled the trunk of Oma’s Camry with the leftovers.
“You wanna come over?” I asked.
“Can’t tonight.”
“Oh.”
“Will you be okay?”
“Yeah.”
Landon squeezed my hand. “I think maybe you need to be with your family anyway.”
