David is transitioning (and moves in with Tim)

Tim glanced at the number on the phone before he picked the call up. "Hey M-Jen..." he answered, catching himself quickly before anyone who could have overheard caught something unusual. He got up from his desk and closed the door to his office before turning around and returning to his chair. "What's up?"

The voice on the other line laughed a little at his slipup before she continued. "Hey, didn't mean to catch you at a bad time. Listen, we need to talk...about David."

Tim paused for a moment and looked out of the window at the serenity of the interstate, half-wondering why his dad fought so hard for this slice of corporate heaven. "You mean...?"

"Yeah, we all knew sorta what it would mean but he's really coming along. We didn't tell you and Tabitha that David was talking anti-androgen meds for several years, ever since he was 13, and female hormones since 14...."

"Mom..." you began, dropping pretenses and taking a reassuring tone. "We knew...Tabi found the stash in your medicine cabinet one afternoon and we looked it up online. We weren't going to say anything about it, though, until he came and told us." Her surprised gasp was followed by laughter and you joined in a bit. "We were sneaky that way..."

"Yeah..." A few moments later, after calming down, your mom's voice came back. "Listen, are you still planning on taking that job in Henderson?"

Although the two of you were technically divorced, you kept in touch with your mom almost daily with texts and the weekly phone call, keeping her updated on the happenings going on and you often heard the news about your siblings as well. Teresa thought it was strange but didn't say anything as you pretended it was mostly about the "kids". You had told your mom that you were offered a job in the Henderson branch office, a promotion to manager and a sizeable bump in salary too. The small town was a coastal city with good air, cheap land, and the company had positioned itself to being a major player in its development. You (or rather your Dad, you should say) had been angling for the position for several months prior to the accident. Now, thanks to his groundwork, you had reaped it.

"Yeah, the move's coming up in about 2 weeks. Got a temporary apartment lined up, just need to get settled before looking for a house."

She paused for a moment and you grinned, knowing your mom she was trying to not overthink her request. "A change ...."

"You want to know if David can come with me?" you asked, saving her from the awkwardness of asking you. "I'd be delighted. I mean, has he come out fully?"

The relief in her voice was palpable. "Yes and yes, he has come out." She was silent for a moment before another image popped up.

"This was a recent pic he took...has chosen a name, Chloe."

You nodded and saved the pic to your phone before wrapping up the arrangements to swing by the house over the weekend to gather his things. "Is David up for coming, though? I mean, this is going to be a big change..."

Mom was silent for a few seconds before she replied. "Listen...your dad was awfully close to David, more so than with you or Tabitha. David, in turn, returned that adoration. I think the divorce has driven home the need to have him in his life."

After hanging up, you paused and wondered if your mom really meant what she said and if there was more than one meaning to all of that...