he sucked in a breath. Holding up his pointer finger, Dad said, “Please just give me a minute.”
I wanted to look over at my mom , but I couldn’t. I needed to see my dad’s reaction. I had no idea what was going on but I needed to just see him like this. Vulnerable. When I grew up, my dad always put up a front. He could never just relax and be himself. It seemed like he was never… real.
“I’m sorry , Derrick,” he choked out. “I’m so, so sorry for what I did to you.” He nodded his head towards the living room. “To Patrick. It just wasn’t right and I’m so sorry. I know those two words don’t mean a lot but—”
I shook my head . “Dad, those two words mean more to me than you will ever know.”
“I love you , Derrick, and um,” shaking his head, Dad said, “I want you to be whoever you want to be.” “Most importantly, Derrick, I just want you to be happy in the decisions you make. I don’t want you to question what others are thinking. Especially your parents.” Dad held tightly onto my hands.
Getting my hands out from under Dad’s, I stood up from the table. With tears pouring from my eyes, I walked as fast as I could to the other side of the table and wrapped my arms around my dad. Holding tightly to the back of his shirt, I sobbed into his chest. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have the parents I did. While we did struggle, the outcome was beautiful.
Hearing a chair push back , I then felt my mom’s arms wrap around the two of us. Kissing me on the cheek, she said, “We love you so much, Derrick. That will never change. We just want you to be happy. Because if you’re happy, then we’re happy.”
Letting go of one another , I wiped away the salty liquid from my face. Taking steady breaths in and out, I looked at my parents. Smiling at them, Patrick ran through my mind because I couldn’t believe the love and compassion he had for me and the relationship I had with my parents.
“That man in there loves you , Derrick. A lot,” my dad said. “We couldn’t ask or hope for more than that.”
Wiping more tears away , I nodded and said, “I know, Dad. I love him, too.” And I wasn’t ashamed to say it to my parents.
Quickly my dad wrapped his arms around me. Resting his head in the crook of my neck, my dad kissed my cheek and whispered, “That’s what we want, Derrick. We don’t care who it’s with. Everyone deserves to find love. Why should anyone stop it?” Moving his head back to look into my eyes, he smiled. “You two are meant for each other.”
Pulling my dad into my arms , I squeezed him. “I love you so much, Dad.”
Sucking in a breath , he said, “I love you, Derrick. No matter what.”
***
“Evelyn Christiansen was an amazing woman—” the preacher said as he talked about Patrick’s grandmother. The rest was mumbled and jumbled up. It was just noise in the background to be honest, because at the forefront of my mind was Patrick.
Hearing him gasp next to me , I wrapped my arm around Patrick. As I pulled him in to me, I kissed his forehead. “It’s okay, Patrick.” Sitting next to him was Herman. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
My parents stayed for the funeral. They wanted to be there for Patrick and Herman. I couldn’t believe how quickly everything was turning around for all of us. I was just saddened that it had to happen during a death. I truly wish my parents had been able to meet Evelyn. I know for a fact they would have loved her and she would have loved them.
I ’m so grateful to Evelyn. She brought me into their family with open arms. No judgments. Just warmth and happiness and smiles.
Once the funeral was over , we went back to the house. Herman still wasn’t able to sleep in the bedroom where his wife passed away. We were all grateful that it was peaceful.
Helping my mom in the kitchen making something for all of us to eat , she nudged me and asked, “How’s
I wanted to look over at my mom , but I couldn’t. I needed to see my dad’s reaction. I had no idea what was going on but I needed to just see him like this. Vulnerable. When I grew up, my dad always put up a front. He could never just relax and be himself. It seemed like he was never… real.
“I’m sorry , Derrick,” he choked out. “I’m so, so sorry for what I did to you.” He nodded his head towards the living room. “To Patrick. It just wasn’t right and I’m so sorry. I know those two words don’t mean a lot but—”
I shook my head . “Dad, those two words mean more to me than you will ever know.”
“I love you , Derrick, and um,” shaking his head, Dad said, “I want you to be whoever you want to be.” “Most importantly, Derrick, I just want you to be happy in the decisions you make. I don’t want you to question what others are thinking. Especially your parents.” Dad held tightly onto my hands.
Getting my hands out from under Dad’s, I stood up from the table. With tears pouring from my eyes, I walked as fast as I could to the other side of the table and wrapped my arms around my dad. Holding tightly to the back of his shirt, I sobbed into his chest. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to have the parents I did. While we did struggle, the outcome was beautiful.
Hearing a chair push back , I then felt my mom’s arms wrap around the two of us. Kissing me on the cheek, she said, “We love you so much, Derrick. That will never change. We just want you to be happy. Because if you’re happy, then we’re happy.”
Letting go of one another , I wiped away the salty liquid from my face. Taking steady breaths in and out, I looked at my parents. Smiling at them, Patrick ran through my mind because I couldn’t believe the love and compassion he had for me and the relationship I had with my parents.
“That man in there loves you , Derrick. A lot,” my dad said. “We couldn’t ask or hope for more than that.”
Wiping more tears away , I nodded and said, “I know, Dad. I love him, too.” And I wasn’t ashamed to say it to my parents.
Quickly my dad wrapped his arms around me. Resting his head in the crook of my neck, my dad kissed my cheek and whispered, “That’s what we want, Derrick. We don’t care who it’s with. Everyone deserves to find love. Why should anyone stop it?” Moving his head back to look into my eyes, he smiled. “You two are meant for each other.”
Pulling my dad into my arms , I squeezed him. “I love you so much, Dad.”
Sucking in a breath , he said, “I love you, Derrick. No matter what.”
***
“Evelyn Christiansen was an amazing woman—” the preacher said as he talked about Patrick’s grandmother. The rest was mumbled and jumbled up. It was just noise in the background to be honest, because at the forefront of my mind was Patrick.
Hearing him gasp next to me , I wrapped my arm around Patrick. As I pulled him in to me, I kissed his forehead. “It’s okay, Patrick.” Sitting next to him was Herman. I couldn’t imagine what he was going through. I couldn’t wrap my head around it.
My parents stayed for the funeral. They wanted to be there for Patrick and Herman. I couldn’t believe how quickly everything was turning around for all of us. I was just saddened that it had to happen during a death. I truly wish my parents had been able to meet Evelyn. I know for a fact they would have loved her and she would have loved them.
I ’m so grateful to Evelyn. She brought me into their family with open arms. No judgments. Just warmth and happiness and smiles.
Once the funeral was over , we went back to the house. Herman still wasn’t able to sleep in the bedroom where his wife passed away. We were all grateful that it was peaceful.
Helping my mom in the kitchen making something for all of us to eat , she nudged me and asked, “How’s
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