Chapter 43
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Chris sat with his knees jammed against the seat in front of him on his flight to Tucson.
Flying last minute, he’d been unable to get an exit row, and something like enough room for his long legs was a luxury he didn’t have.
Chris thought back to the meeting with Josh Ellis.
He was pleased with the lawyer, and it sounded like getting Yvonne a green card would be straightforward.
It was simply a question of filling out the paperwork, getting married, and surviving an interview or two.
If only his parents would be so easily convinced.
After several phone calls with his mother, she had suggested they meet in person.
Unwilling to risk his father’s displeasure, he had agreed to come and talk to her at the airport.
He would only come to the house if his father was willing to listen.
His thoughts whirled over recent events. Everything was happening so fast. He had to pinch himself sometimes to convince himself he was going to be a father in six months.
The plane landed, and he waited impatiently for his chance to disembark.
He stood hunched over his seat and considered his approach to his mother.
No matter how many times he went over things, he had a hard time believing he could convince either of them to accept his lovers after what had happened at Thanksgiving.
When it was his turn, he moved slower than he had planned.
Each step was taking him closer to something permanent.
Finally, he reached the jetway and had to speed up to keep from having the other travelers trample him.
Chris was happy with the view his height gave him as he followed the crowd through the terminal and past the security checkpoint.
He looked anxiously around for his mother.
Instead, the first face he recognized was his father’s.
Someone bumped into him from behind and let out a frustrated expletive; Chris muttered an excuse and resumed walking.
He separated from the crowd to join his father and saw his mother there, too. He allowed her to pull him into a hug and slowly straightened to make eye contact with his father. “Dad, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”
Eyes like his own looked back from under bushy eyebrows. “Ever since you left the house at Thanksgiving, your mother has been telling me I was too hasty. When she said she’d convinced you to come, I had to be here, too.” Although the words weren’t hostile, his father’s tone was brusque.
They shook hands awkwardly, and Chris turned to see his mother was crying. Chris wondered how he could enjoy making submissives cry, but it killed him to see his mother like this. “Mom, thanks for coming. I thought we were going to talk first.”
“You’ll have to forgive me for jumping the gun a little.” His mother lifted her chin defiantly. “It didn’t seem like there was any point in waiting. Why don’t we find somewhere to sit so we can talk?” She herded them toward a scattering of chairs.
As soon as they were settled, Chris explained his plans for marriage and the future while his parents listened, their faces strained.
“So, you’re going to marry the blond girl, but the both of you will also have a relationship with the redhead because the women are bisexual?” His father still didn’t sound too pleased, but at least he wanted to talk and seemed interested in Chris’s reply.
Chris decided on a bit more of the truth when he answered.
“I’ve been in love with Kate since the moment I met her, but she has needs I can’t fulfill.
” He scrubbed the back of his head. “When I met Yvonne, my attraction to her confused me, but after we all three got together, it clicked.” He shrugged.
“Yvonne is the missing puzzle piece that connects us. It’s hard to explain.
Without Yvonne, there isn’t a Kate and me, but without Kate, a relationship with Yvonne would always be lacking, too.
” Chris shrugged and looked his father in the eye. “I love them both very much.”
His father stayed silent and narrowed his eyes.
His mother shuffled in her seat. “We were in shock at first.” She held up a stern finger.
“You should have talked to us about this before bringing both of them here at Thanksgiving. I was so looking forward to a daughter-in-law. Like in a marriage, not this modern living together you young folks do. You can’t marry them both.
” She sighed. “And I really want grandchildren, Chris.”
His father shook his head and addressed his mother.
“Didn’t we discuss how we would give Chris some time and space to sort things out with the women?
” He pulled his wife against his side and kissed the top of her head.
“There you go talking about marriage and babies in the first five minutes.” He looked at Chris again and held out his hand, which Chris took gratefully.
“I’m sorry, boy. I reacted badly, but all I wanted to do was protect your mother. ”
She huffed. “Like I need protection from life.” She turned her attention to Chris. “Would I rather you have a traditional relationship? Of course. But what I want the most is for my only son to be happy. Are you happy, sweetheart?”
His eyes and throat burned. “Yes, Mom, I am. And you would make me the happiest man in the world if you would come to Kansas City for my wedding next weekend.”
His mother’s incredulous, “What?” didn’t prevent Chris from hearing his father’s sucked-in breath.
Chris allowed himself his first genuine grin since he’d entered the airport. Everything would work out with his parents, and he couldn’t wait to tell them about the baby. But first, they would come for the ceremony.