Author's Notes:
I want to thank my Readers. You guys are the best. Okay, these characters are not meant to resemble any living or dead persons. I make no apology to anyone who is offended by anything in this story. If you do not agree with the idea of guys being in love, then find something else to read. Let me know what you think of the story by emailing me at
Copyright © 2008-2017 by Chuck B
The Journey Begins
Chapter 25
Mom's Letter
Sarah walks out of the house to get the mail, when she comes back inside, she sorts the mail. She makes up piles for Mark, Eric and herself. Eric is sitting up in his room attempting to get his homework done before Steve comes over to spend time with him. As she is sorting the mail, Sarah finds piece of mail from her mom addressed to Eric. There have been some very hurt feelings carried around inside Eric's heart. More than likely Eric will just tear the letter up but she will not throw the letter away. Eric needs to decide how to respond to the letter. Walking up the stairs, her legs feel heavy, as does her heart. Her heart is beating fast as she approaches the door to his room. She knows that he doesn't need any more mind games from his family. Things are starting to improve for him, and she does not want to damage his day. She knocks on his door hoping that maybe he's sleeping and will not respond to the tapping on his door. Eric stops and drops his pencil on the paper that he's working on and goes to answer the door.
"Sarah, is that for me?"
She hands him his mail and shakes her head at him.
"Eric, it's from Mom."
He gulps down some air as he takes the letter from her hands. His eyes glance down at the envelope then up to his sister who is still standing near the door. He does not invite her to sit with him but Sarah does any way. An arm goes up on his shoulder as his mind tries to get his hands to open the letter.
***
Carefully, he opens the envelope and pulls out the document upon which his mother carefully wrote her words out.
"Sarah, I don't know if I can read this."
She lowers her arm that was resting on his shoulder and takes his hand into her hand.
"Dear Eric, I'm so sorry for the way, that I treated you my son. I acted out of disgust for what I thought was a disease, but I have come to realize that you are still my son. You are still the little boy who I gave birth too. You're still the little boy who cried when your kitten ran away. You're still the young man who went out of your way to send care packages to soldiers serving overseas. You are the young man who taught me that there are worse things in life than having a son who is gay. You taught me to love again, to open my eyes and my heart to the Lord. I don't want another day to pass without hearing from you. Call me tomorrow, please my son. I love you Eric, and I will love Steven too. Someday, maybe you can return home? I want nothing more than to see you again."
Their eyes are wet and emotions are strong right now between brother and sister. At first, he wants to throw the letter away thinking that she teasing him somehow. With everything that she has said or done, she can't be asking for his forgiveness. He turns to Sarah hoping for some guidance but there is none to give at the moment. She is still trying to wrap her mind around the words that made up the letter. Then it happens, all the words finally sink into her mind, and she looks into his eyes hoping to catch some ray of light.
***
As they sit there on the couch, Eric makes up his mind about what he wants to do with what his mom wants him to do. Eric stares at Sarah for a minute before speaking. Yes, the silence is a little awkward but it's okay under the circumstances, because they are both stunned.
"Sarah, I need to give Mom a chance."
She smiles at him doing her best to reassure him that he's making the right decision. In truth, a part of her is afraid that their mother is pulling a fast one, and this letter could be just a part of her plot to hurt him.
"Follow your heart."
He's doing his best to keep himself from crying.
"I want to make her happy, but I don't know if she is being honest?"
"I've been fighting the same thought, Eric. Guess all we can do is wait and see what happens."
He doesn't want to think bad of her but what example has she set for him lately.
`Will Steve be okay with me giving her a second chance? What will Mark think?'
It does not matter what they think of her change of thought to be honest.
"So will you let her back into your life?"
Eric knows that he wants her back into his life. A part of him is worried that even once she is back into his life, that she'll retreat or pull back her love as a means of controlling him.
"Yeah."
If he allows her back into his life, he wants her to do so without there being any conditions being put on her love for him.
"What I really want is just to see her again. I miss being able to talk to her when I have a problem. She always knew what to say to make me feel better. Maybe, she won't know what to say to me now."
Sarah wraps her arms around her brother and gives him a big hug.
"I think you just need to stand back and breathe."
"I don't know if I can breathe right now. Sarah, you were there when Mom called me a faggot. You spoke with her, so you know how cruel she was, how hateful."
Sarah could see the tears starting to flow down her brother's face. She pulls him into a hug again and holds him tight.
"I know Eric, I know."
Sarah can feel the tears starting coming down his face. Steve could ease the pain better than anyone could.
"I'll be right back."
She steps out of the room and closes the door. Pulling out her phone, she places a call to Steve. Upon Steve answering the call, Sarah explains what is going on and how Eric is holding up. She ends the call, and then returns to her little brother.
***
Eric is still sobbing when Sarah returns with a smile on her face.
"I have someone on the way who will make you feel better."
She hugs him again, and quietly waits for his safety net to arrive.
"Who, who is coming?"
There's no conversation; Sarah just keeps quietly talking to her brother trying to break the spell that's holding him. He knows that she loves him, and nothing will keep her from loving him. Someone enters the house, and they're coming up the stairs. As they climb the stairs, Eric can hear them moving towards his room. Steve enters the room that has felt safe from day one for Eric.
"Steve take my place. He needs you."
Steve wraps his arms around Eric's body. Tears are still coming down Eric's face and Steve can feel his shirt getting wet.
"Hey Babe, it's going to be okay. I'm here."
Eric looks up at Steve and looks up into his eyes, and then he lays his head against his boyfriend's chest. They sit there for a few seconds just enjoying the quiet.
"Sarah told me about your mom. I'm excited for you buddy."
Eric's hands him the letter and, Steve quietly read it. While he is reading it, Eric holds onto him and lets himself relax.
"Do you think your mom is for real?"
His boyfriend looks up at him and nods his head.
"Yeah, I think she is being real but I can't help but second guess her."
They hug each other, and they enjoy the quiet room. Steve knows how things were in the early days of seeing Eric. Eric loves his mom, but he also hates the fact that she treats him like crap. Now out of the blue, she wants to make peace.
***
By this time, everything is quiet, and the guys are talking quietly when they get disturbed.
"Steve, I know it's late so do you want to stay for dinner?"
Steve has never turned down a meal at this house. The meal is almost ready. Steve and Eric are just enjoying the night by listening to some music.
"Get your butts down downstairs so I can eat."
Mark is always serious about his food and consequently mealtime. The guys get up and wash their hands and then they run down for dinner. There is discussion about Mark's workday and recent tarantula molts. There is also some discussion about Steve's and Eric's plans for graduation. The conversation takes a more serious tone when Eric brings up mom's letter. Mark sits quietly listening while at the same time growing concerned as he hears it. He doesn't want his brother-in-law getting hurt over this letter or his mom. Everyone gets it, and they understand when Eric needed to pause due to his tears. Pulling through, he finishes the letter and then it's time for them to get past the hate. After dinner, Steve heads home, and Eric gets ready for bed.
***
Eric decides to put his thoughts in the one place that doesn't judge him, doesn't give him advice, and just accepts him for himself, his journal. Silently, he opens the letter and reads it again. His pen at the ready.
`I got a letter from Mom today. In the letter, she is apologizing for the way she acted towards me when she confronted me about being gay. I'm not going to lie, this hurts. I have not changed. Well wait, I am happier. Happier than I've ever been in my high school years. I went through so much pain, and I felt like I could say anything to my parents. Through it all, I had Steve, Sarah, and Mark by my side. I've never been looked back since Mom and Dad left me alone in this world. They have no idea how much they hurt me. They don't know how much Dale hurt me, they don't know about Vince, or the other issues that I've had since I left their house. One good thing might come out of this, and that is being able to see my siblings again. I want to see her and believe her, but I'm afraid even though I should have faith. Guess I am going to get to bed.'
Everything associated with the journal is laid to rest at least for now. Eric lays down hoping for a quiet night of sleep. His sleep is far from restful and far from peaceful. Dreams filled his sleep, and he tossed and turned all evening. Waking up, he feels lost and a little scared.
***
He decides on the spot that he would in fact call his mom today. Before the call, Eric has breakfast, brushes his teeth, and then he heads back up to his room. Taking out his phone, he sits on the floor and scrolls through his contacts until he comes to "Mom". His finger touches the "phone" icon. Instantly, the dialing and the ringing starts. She accepts his call and in that second or two, the magic begins.
"Eric, I'm so glad that you called me. How are you?"
"Hi...hi, Mom! I'm good. Is this real?"
There is a second where he thinks this might be a dream. His heart needs to know that she really wants to allow healing into her heart and and into their mother and son's relationship.
"Yes, yes, Honey, it's real."
"I couldn't sit here and miss out on your high school graduation, your college graduation, wedding, and any grandkids that might pop up into your life. I need you in my life, Eric."
She is hoping that the rift will heal between her and her son. She simply wants to bury the hatchet but that means letting her feelings towards gay people go, and accepting Steven into her heart. Eric is hoping for love to win out over the hate that has been dividing their relationship.
"I want you in my life too Mom."
"So, what is our first step going to be?"
There is some silence on the phone.
"Our first step is right here."
Eric is right; the two of them talking is the first step. It may not heal things right away but it needs to happen before anything else can happen.
"Will you be honest with me? Have you and Steven sexually active?"
Of course, he'll be honest with her because, if he were to lie, none of this would matter.
"No, we've made a promise to each other not to have sex until we get married."
At first a part of her hoped that marriage for her son would ripped from his hands, but she realizes Eric's happiness matters and he should be able to get married to the man he loves.
"I understand why you are doing this, but are you happy."
"Yeah, I'm happy. Mark and Sarah have been with me through some rough stuff and I'm learning to be happy. I've been helping take care of David, and I can't help but smile when David smiles at me. Mark got me into a hobby that I Iove, I have my own tarantulas, and it's weird how much I enjoy working with them. Plus my writing has taken off Mom, and that gets me excited. Mom, when I think of Steve and me being together, I get so happy."
Again, there
is silence.
"I'm happy for you son. You deserve to be happy and in the arms of the one you love."
"Has Dad asked about me at all?"
She wants to lie to him and tell him that his father is a different man but his decision as far as Eric stands, stands firm.
"Honey, I'm afraid that he is still holding strong to what he told you when you left. He expects you to get help before you return home; otherwise you can't enter the house."
Eric's heart sinks, even with Mom's heart opening back up to him, his dad is still blocked off to him.
"So will you let me see Alex and Zach?"
He hopes that his mom has good news for him. He's being restricted currently to seeing his siblings at school.
"Sorry honey, I don't know what to tell you about that, your dad is being an ass."
"So, I can't see my siblings."
"Can I at least come home to see you when Dad is gone?"
Again, her answer is no. His mom, while willing to change her mind and accept her son, will do nothing to go against her husband's closed off mind. A tear comes down his face as someone stands out of sight listening in on his words.
"I...I just...want to see them."
It's painful to hear him crying and not be able to do anything about it. All she can do is listen to his sobs.
"I...want to come home."
She wants him to come home too, but she can't make her husband change.
"I know sweet heart, I know."
"Please!"
"I already told you, Dad wants you to go through therapy before he'll let you enter the house."
He was afraid of this happening, afraid that accepting his mom back into his life would only hurt him more. While it's nice being able to hear her voice and to start the process.
"I need to go Eric. Dad is home and he'll want dinner soon, so I'll let you go. Love you Son!"
"Bye...Mom."
She hangs up and Eric is left in tears.
***
Mark had been listening for a while at the door. He walks into the room and sits on the bed. An arm is placed across Eric's shoulder and he pulls Eric into a hug.
"Eric, I am sorry Buddy. I'm so sorry that things are the way they are."
Eric just continues his tears and sobs into Mark's shirt. Mark knows it cannot be easy for Eric to hear that his mom loves him, but at the same time, it changes nothing.
"Eric, you know that this changes nothing here. Our home is still your home and will always be your home. Our love is still as strong for you as it was back when you first came to live with us. It will always be your home."
Eric didn't stop his tears but the sobbing came to a halt. After a few minutes of silence, Mark can tell that Eric is relaxing. Pulling back his hands, he looks at his brother-in-law with a smile on his face.
"I...I...am."
It's a good thing that the sobbing is done because the tears were starting moisten Mark's shirt, not that that was the end of the world. Mark wants to make sure Eric knows that he's supported. Eric knows that there is plenty of support here in the house and also out in the world too.
"Sarah and I will always have your back, and given time so will David."
He allows for silence after he's done talking so that Eric has a chance to relax and take in his words.
"I know Mark, and I love you guys for it."
Sarah has no idea what's going on upstairs. She would be in need of comforting too if she were upstairs. Talks with Mark usually do not last very long, but they always seem to help. He is always there no matter what the issue is, he's been there for Eric from dealing with Dale to Vince and the aftermath of Vince, and now it seems he's doing it all over again with his mom. Eric stands up and goes to the bathroom to freshen up before moving downstairs to eat and to talk to Sarah.
***
As Eric enters the bathroom, he can't help but dwell on his phone call and his mother's words.
`Are things going to get better?'
He does not know, but at least he has been reminded of where he belongs, and for now he belongs with Sarah, Mark, and Steve. There is no doubt that those three people will always be there, even if Eric and Steve aren't always together. If he can believe what his Mom has said to him, then, yes, things will get better. He isn't sure what to do about his dad. He can't control what his dad does and he should just let it go. He can't though, why can't his dad just let him back into his heart?
`I want Mom to come and hug me and then maybe my brain will be okay with everything she said in the letter.'
There are so many doubts still running through his mind, and eventually they need to be laid to rest. Today there are better things to focus on like sending out a poem for a contest. There are good things to come out today, and he needs to get to it. Out of the bathroom, he comes downstairs fully dressed and ready to eat.
***
As he is eating breakfast, Sarah gets a phone call on her cell phone, which she immediately answers.
"Hi Dad, what's up?"
It is not uncommon for their father to call on occasion to check in and talk with Sarah or Mark, but he never speaks with Eric. There hasn't been any real contact between his parents and him until he spoke with his mom.
"No, he didn't say anything about speaking with Mom this morning. I do know about the letter, and he didn't know what to expect from it."
Dad wants to make sure that Sarah understands that just because their mom may have changed her mind on things, he has not. It's disheartening to hear their father setting conditions on his feelings for Eric.
"I understand that Dad, you are welcome to your opinion on the situation, but I can't just throw Eric to the wind or force him into an uncomfortable situation."
He needs to understand that Mark and her love Eric, and that they will not abandon him simply because of their father's mindset. Eric is and always will be a part of her family.
"Dad, I don't agree with you putting conditions on Eric's life. No, I already told you that I am not forcing him into therapy."
She knows Mark would not approve of Eric having to choose between family and therapy. There have been too many times when kids have been forced into that and been abused or hurt, and no adults or kids should be put through that simply because someone doesn't agree with who they are. Their father is still trying to convince her that it's in Eric's best interest to get help. Her tears are not missed by her brother and her husband. Eric can't help but feel hurt by the pain in his sister's face, and what hurts even worse is that the pain is caused by the father. Tears start to come down his face.
"Bye Dad!"
Sarah looks at Eric and she begins to cry even more. He needs to know what their dad said over the phone. Everything is going nuts at the moment. With their mother showing interest in fixing things, Eric needs to know where their dad stands on everything. His sister and brother in law watch as Eric moves upstairs to his room to get things going.
***
Eric runs upstairs and grabs his laptop so he can share a poem with Sarah and Mark. He's practically running down the stairs so he can grab his sister and brother in law before their day gets any crazier. He sets his laptop down on the kitchen table. He brings up the word processor and then he gets the poem brought up on his computer.
"Can't You See,
You stand there pointing fingers and raising your voice.
So why can't you see me without your anger in the way.
The way you spoke to me, I couldn't help but feel the hate you that's in your heart.
It's tainted, the love you had for me, and now it's lost and it's never going to be found again.
You corrupted it, and tore it asunder, now I sit in my head in my hands wondering why, why I ever opened my mouth to you.
My mouth would not have opened had it known the end result, but no one could have foreseen the anger you would unleash.
Couldn't see you anymore, the way I wanted too, but still my heart held on to hope that you might come around and return to me.
I do not know if it will happen but I can dream, this sometimes-empty dream holds hope and pain within my soul.
Why can't you be more open to me, why can't you love me?
You sent me away, away from home but in the end, I came out okay.
I will survive, I will be strong; maybe stronger, but the world may yet surprise me, you might shock me with smiles and tears of happiness,
And yet I know that high hopes lead only to broken dreams and a broken heart."
He is really excited for this poem, and hopefully this one will catch a judge's eye.
"Sarah, will you read this one for me?"
She turns around and sees the laptop open on the table.
"What am I reading?"
"It's a poem that I want to try to get published."
She looks over the poem and as she does, she gets excited.
"If you don't try to get this published, I am going to beat you up."
Her enthusiasm is catching and it's not long before it infects Eric. The fact that she likes it is a good thing, but what will Mark think of the poem.
"Mark, can you come here for a second?"
"Sure, what's up?"
Setting down the dish he was drying, he comes up by his brother in law.
"I want your opinion on this poem."
Without being asked again, Mark starts reading through the poem.
"I agree with your sister, send it in and see what happens."
David is now in Mom's hands and he's making a few sounds.
"So the consensus is that I need to send it off?"
David smiles when Eric looks at him, and that says it all to Eric. He sits down in front of his laptop. It takes him just a few minutes to send out the poem to the group whose running the contest. Now there is nothing to do but wait for the response from the website. His fingers are crossed but then they are quickly uncrossed when he remembers that a friend told him that doing so was bad luck.
***
He heads upstairs so he can call Steve. Grabbing his phone, it doesn't take long for him to call his boyfriend.
"Hi Steve, how are you?"
"I'm good. How are you?"
He can't wait to give Steve his good news.
"I sent the poem off today."
Eric is beaming at the moment.
"That is awesome, I am so proud of you. Can't wait for you to get a book published."
"A book?"
It's something that Eric has thought about doing, but has never really put much effort into it. A book would be cool to work on but he's not sure that he's ready for that step
"I don't know about a book, but maybe I can do some more poetry."
Eric has a few other poems that are just sitting around on his computer. He has no idea when or if he will attempt to publish again anytime soon.
"Well, I still think you should do a book."
Eric rolls his eyes at the comment. The idea is kind of scary.
"So my dad called Sarah, and I think that things went south, but she didn't tell me much about the conversation."
"Anything else from your mom?"
"No."
Eric is beside himself on the whole parents' things. He wants his relationship with his mom to heal and to grow.
"I'm hoping that things get better."
"I can't wait to head home . It's going to be very nice."
"Are you serious, you would go home?"
Steve knows everything that has happened and it's hard knowing that Eric wants to jump back into that household that hated him just for being him.
"If I felt safe, yeah, I would go home."
Something tells Steve that if Eric were to go home that he wouldn't be welcomed into the house.
"So would you go home?"
"I thought, I already told you Steve. Yes, if my mom says that I can home, I will go home."
Steve feels hurt.
***
Outside Eric's room, Sarah hears him say that he would go home. Sarah knows that their father will not allow Eric to home. She doesn't want to lose her brother, and she is afraid that it's exactly what will happen. No one in this house wants to see Eric hurt and going home would only serve to see that happen. Heading downstairs, she lays her head down on the table, and cries.
"Why are you crying?"
"He thinks Mom is going to take him home."
Mark is a tad bit shocked by what his wife just said.
"Did you tell him what your dad said?"
She doesn't respond to his question.
"You should have been honest with him."
"I...I...know."
Mark reaches out and takes Sarah's hand. As they were talking someone knocks at the door. Mark knows that it's Steve, because he knows the sound of Steve's knock. Sarah is trying to just relax a bit. Mark welcomes Steve into the house and sends him upstairs. He then goes back to comforting his wife.
***
Sarah and Mark decide that Eric has a right to know what's going on with their dad. He heads upstairs to grab Eric and take him away from Steve for just a minute or two. Tapping lightly on the door, his nerves are killing him. Eric opens the door and invites him into the room.
"We need to talk really quickly Eric. I want you downstairs, like now."
"Um...Steve just got here. Can I come down later?"
Steve just looks at Mark doing his best to tell him to just go away.
"No, you can go down right now."
"Steve, I will be right back."
Eric follows Mark downstairs but he's a little upset about it. Mark waits for Eric in the living room.
"Eric, Sarah told me that your dad called her. Did she tell you everything he said?"
`How am I supposed to know?'
"I don't know if she did."
Mark stares at him not expecting the attitude.
"Sarah didn't want to tell you but your dad is refusing to allow you to come home."
Eric just stares out into the living room in shock. He cannot believe what Mark just told him. There might have been some heated words exchanged between the guys if Mark and Eric didn't have the relationship that they have now. Suddenly, all hopes of ever returning home breaks and that is when the dam holding back his tears also breaks. Mark hates having to ruin the night, but Eric has a right to know. Eric gets up and runs to Steve while he cries. When Steve sees him at the door, he gets up and runs to him.
***
Eric is crying and Steve is right there holding onto him doing his best to comfort him. Five minutes go by before Eric is ready to talk about what Mark told him.
"Mark told me, that I...I...can't go home. Dad...won't let...me."
"Eric, I am so sorry, sweetheart. I'm sorry."
Mark just keeps holding onto him, because Eric needs him right now, and he doesn't want to let go of him.
"I won't see Alex and Zach."
It's not so bad that Eric can't come home, but it tears him up inside that he may never see his siblings again.
"You'll see them again, Babe. I know you will."
Eric doesn't respond to Steve, even though he's listening to what was said. Eventually, the tears slow down and Steve kisses Eric gently on the cheek, and when Eric looks up at him, he steals a kiss on his boyfriend's lips.
"Thanks Babe."
Steve lets his arms fall away from Eric. They smile at each other and then they slip in a movie to watch. Sitting on the floor using the bed to support their backs, Steve and Eric kick back and enjoy the movie.
`It feels good to be with him right now.'
It is truly amazing to see the love these teens have each other. Eric hopes that Seth and Mason are doing okay right now. At some point, he needs to check in with them. For now, though, he wants to simply wash the thought away and just enjoy being wrapped up in Steve's arms.
***
Sarah and Mark's house phone rings and Sarah quickly answers it. She climbs up the stairs and knocks on the doorframe.
"Mom is on the phone Eric. She would like to talk to you."
Eric just isn't happy, and Steve and Sarah can both feel it.
"I don't want to talk to her right now."
A part of her wants to push the issue and force him to talk to her, but it would only end up with both of them crying again, and that isn't happening again.
"Okay, I'll see what she wants and then we can talk when Steve leaves okay?"
Not wanting to talk during the movie, he shrugs his shoulders so Sarah will leave. She turns and walks away knowing that, eventually, Eric will have to face her.
"Eric, that was a little rude."
"What was rude? Not wanting to talk to my mom while you're up here watching a movie with me?"
Steve cannot believe that Eric is blind to what he did.
"No, that's not what I'm talking about; you shouldn't have answered Sarah that way."
Eric turns to look back at Steve, and he's not happy.
"Okay, I get it. Let's just watch the movie."
Steve says as Eric turns back around to watch the movie. In the meantime, Sarah has been downstairs talking to Mom. She calls inviting Eric out to church. It's doubtful that Eric would agree to go to church after the cold reception that he had the last time he went to church. Sarah won't be mean, and she'll give Eric the invite to attend church. In the process, she is sure that Mom's heart was a little hurt by Eric not talking to her.
***
The next day, Eric gets yet another letter from Mom. Sarah sets the letter down on the dining room table. Walking up the stairs to Eric's room, she is getting ready to tell him about the letter. Knocking on the door, she waits quietly for Eric to answer the door. When he does answer the door, she smiles warmly hoping to ease his nerves a bit.
"Eric, Mom sent you a letter."
He does not look happy about it. After what their dad said to Sarah, he's not keen to see what his mom has to say.
"You can burn it Sarah."
She not shocked that he had that reaction, but she also knows that Eric has every right to feel that way, still Mom is making an effort to apologize and make things right.
"I'm not going to burn it. It will be downstairs for you to read okay?"
Again, he shrugs his shoulders.
"I guess so, thanks Sis."
He decides to head downstairs and see what Mom written in the letter. The letter is still sitting on the table where Sarah put it. Picking it up, he goes to sit in the living room, where he can be more comfortable. Opening it up, his legs start to shake because of his nerves. His lips start to quiver as he pulls it out of the envelope:
"Dear Son,
Your dad has been very firm in his stance on you coming home. If you really want to come home, then I'm afraid, you'll have to follow through on your therapy. It's the only way; he will give on the issue. I'm sorry, Eric! I don't want to give up on you and me. I won't stop you from seeing your brother and sister, and Dad has said that you can come to visit but he doesn't want Steven at the house. Sadly, you also can't discuss anything about your orientation at the house. I love you Eric. Talk to you later my son."
He slowly folds the letter and puts it back into the envelope. Eric is holding in his emotions. Sarah sits down with Eric until she feels he is calm, and then they move on from the letter.
***
While they're sitting down in the living room, someone knocks at the door. Sarah gets up and goes to the door. Opening it up, she smiles when she Steve again. Hurrying him inside, Sarah goes to check on whatever her husband is doing. Steve finds Eric laying down with his head resting on one of the cushions.
"Hey Babe, stand up and let's go for a walk, just you and me."
At first, Eric resists getting up but Steve's smile makes resisting completely futile. Eric cannot resist his boyfriend's smile, especially when it's combined with his sparkling eyes. It doesn't take long for them to start their walk. A few feet from the house, Steve looks into Eric's eyes.
"So, things better with your mom?"
Eric isn't sure he wants to rehash the letter with him. He would rather just enjoy the walk than to start crying again, but since Steve asked, he'll go ahead and discuss it.
"Mom wrote me again, and she told me that Dad won't let me come home. You can't come to the house with me. I can't talk about you at the house, and I can't discuss anything to do with my orientation at the house."
Steve is holding Eric's hand just a little tighter right now.
"I'm sorry Eric; I know it's not what you wanted."
Eric wants to shut up, so he kisses him right there in the middle of the sidewalk.
"Are you giving them tickets to graduation?"
Eric just looks at him surprised that he would even ask that question.
"Course, I'm going to give them tickets, course you, Sarah and Mark get the first dibs, but I want them there. I want Dad to see me push through, and I want Mom to see her oldest child graduate from high school."
The rest of the walk is quiet but feels so right to both Eric and Steve.
"Eric, I love you."
Steve says as he gazes into Eric's eyes. Eric just grabs a little tighter to the guy he loves.
***
The end of the day has come and Eric has his pen in one hand, and his journal is sitting on his bed.
"Steven told me that he loves me today. It's not the first time that he's told me this, but after the past few days, it feels so good to hear from someone that they love me. I love that Mark and Sarah have stood by me and cried with me. It helps chase away the darkness. One parent wants to patch us up, but the other one is still determined to keep me at a distance."
Leaving his book open, Eric walks over to his desk and grabs the two letters from his mom, and he walks back to his bed. He puts the letters within the pages of his journal and closes it up. He puts the journal on his desk along with his pen.
***
When he puts the journal up, he opens up the blinds on his window and gazes up into the night sky. He looks up at the first star that he sees, and closes his eyes as if he reaches out to that star.
`I wish, I wish that my dad can open his heart.'
He wants his dad to be there. He wants to world to be kinder to him.
***
For you Facebook users, come join us in the story group and share your thoughts on what you would like to see happen in future chapters. Discuss the latest chapters, and mention any of the other stories of Chuck's that you have read and would like to see him return to. We're only a small group now and would like to have more members.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlakeSagaandMore
If you don't want to join Facebook, there is now a yahoo group that is run by one of my readers.
http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ThestoriesofChuckB/info