Saturday with Mom

Your mother had such an expressive and open face that it was not hard to read the complex series of emotions flowing through her. She was simultaneously happy, relieved, excited, and somber. She was overjoyed to have you here in her arms, but her whole life had just been flipped upside down. It was a lot for her to take in all at once.

You take her by the cheeks and look her deeply in the eyes. "Mom. Listen. I know this change will be harder on you than anyone. If you feel alone or you get confused, come talk to us. Okay? I'll always be here for you. And I am sure Elsie and Peg will be as well."

She gives you a sad smile and nods. "Okay."

You give her a big hard kiss to the cheek. "I love you Mama."

She kisses you right back. "I love you Jesse!"

You give her a little shake. "Hey, don't be glum. Everything will be okay."

She nods, trusting your words. "Okay. Okay, you're right."

Looking for something to brighten the mood even more you ask. "Hey, I was wondering if you'd mind if I invited Casey over today." Even after everything that had just happened it was difficult to think about anything other than your red haired girlfriend.

Before you could say another word her face brightens. "Oh! Yes! Oh my yes! I'll make you two dinner. I would love to meet her!"

You smile. "Thanks Mom."

The pair of you hug. Your mom holds you close a long time before finally letting you go.

"Well, I have some tidying up to do. Give me a hand?" She says.

"You bet."

Together you stand and start collecting the formerly tear soaked tissues around the room. You watch your mother busy herself tidying up. You worry about her but you were also very proud. The transition would not be easy for her, you knew that, but with her family's support you were sure she would be okay.

You chat with her and have a fine time cleaning up the already pretty clean house. When you get to your room you are surprised to find your room tidied and organized, all of your laundry done, and strangely a box of chocolates on your bed. You see Elsie's room is in much the same state, which was particularly weird given how messy El's room usually was. Fiona's door was closed and presumably locked as usual.

As you look over your room your mother comes in behind you and hugs you around the waist, pushing her face into your back. You turn around and hug her yet again.

"Aw, Mom. You didn't need to do all this."

"I know." She whispers. "But I needed to do something."

You stroke her soft hair. "Thank you."

Your Mom looks up and smiles. God, she was SO happy to have you back again. It was heart touching. She asks. "Will Casey be spending the night? I can get an extra towel out."

You chuckle. "Um...I hope so. You don't mind?"

She shakes her head. "Of course not."

"Mom, Casey knows...about you guys. About your, um, specialness."

Your mother sighs. "Oh...I see. I guess I better get used to that." She looks at you. "What...did she say?"

"She was cool with it."

This makes your mom laugh. "Ha! Cool? Really?"

"He he he. Yeah. Mom, I don't think it is as big a deal as you make it out to be."

She shrugs. "We'll see."

A bit later you call Casey up. After the initial bit of giggling and flirting you finally get around to inviting her over. She, of course, says yes. You even drop a hint that she'd be welcome to stay the night, which she eagerly picks up on. She tells you she has a few things to get done and that she would be over later.

Before she hangs up Casey tells you. "Felix is taking Elsie out tonight. Like, face to face. For real."

"He is!?" You exclaim. "That's fantastic! He finally worked up the nerve."

"Errr, not really." She giggles.

"Oh...Elsie asked?"

"Ummm, not exactly."

"Huh?"

"Let's just say we had a tall blonde show up at our doorstep and TELL him he was taking her out tonight."

"Oh my god!"

Casey laughs. "It was good. Ha ha ha! Poor Felix though, he didn't know how to deal with her. He had to agree. Nothing happened other than that. Fiona is certainly a...unique woman."

"Oof, that's one way of putting it."

"Okay, gotta go my lovely. I'll see you tonight."

"See you tonight Casey. Can't wait." You say. There is a pause as neither one of you wanted to say goodbye. Finally you do and reluctantly hang up. Sigh....

The rest of the day is spent just hanging out with your mother. Listening to music, talking, preparing food and the like. It was simply delightful. Like it was before. No. No, so much better than it was before. There was an openness between you now. An honesty you had never really had with her before. It was the beginning of a whole new phase of your relationship with her. You see in her bright loving face that she felt it too.

It is just before five when the doorbell rings. You practically trip over yourself rushing to the door to greet Casey. Your mother chuckles at your youthful exuberance and follows calmly behind.

As you swing the door wide...it is not Casey that you see.

It is a very...VERY...angry looking Chloe.

In her hand, pointed directly at your chest, she held a black semi-automatic handgun!