Page 79 of Unloved

Of course this is her response.

“Mom,” I say through a tight smile. “Please go and see what it is.”

It takes a handful of seconds for her to understand, and her eyes light in excitement. With her back to her laptop screen, I quickly send a message to Lennox and Rhys.

Me: It’s time. Hurry up and get your asses out here. I’ll blow you both later.

It takes less than twenty seconds for them to appear in the kitchen, both of them trying to put clothes on in record time.

I watch her open her apartment door, and I can hear the squeal she makes when she sees what’s on the other side. Now Rhys and Lennox are on either side of me as she comes back into view. She puts the cake beside her.

“Oh my goodness. What a beautiful surprise it is to see you both this morning.” She glances at Lennox and then knocks a fist on the table. “Fuck.”

She then signs “sorry.”

I can’t help but laugh because I know we all interpreted her curse word just fine.

“It’s fine, Mom,” I reassure her, knowing she’s been very mindful to start learning sign language for Lennox.

Like I said, she’s that type of mom.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Hart,” Lennox says. “These two can let me know what’s going on. Now, let’s see what’s in that box.”

His words ease her anxiety as she opens up the cake box. She turns it to ensure we can see what she does and then unshed tears fill her eyes.

My mother is also a crier.

“Put the candles in,” I instruct, “and then light them up.”

She follows my instructions, and as soon as the flames come into view, the three of us burst into song and sing her a very out of tune “Happy Birthday.”

Both Lennox and Rhys lean into me, and I wrap an arm around each of their waists in gratitude, as we watch my mom blow out her candles.

Here in these four walls, everybody I care about is within my reach.

Life, happiness, love, they’re all here, within my reach, and mine for the taking. And Iamgoing to take it. All of it, with these two men by my side and my mother reminding all of us that there is nothing wrong with those of us who feel too much or feel too little.

There is no happy medium.

There is just happy.

Find it.

Be it.

And with them, I can.

With them, I will.

Find it.

Be it.

Happy.

Rhys, Lennox, and my mother continue talking for a few minutes longer, until Mom says she’s going to get going and cut up some slices of cake for her neighbors. We say our goodbyes and make plans for when she can finally meetmymen in person.

When her face disappears off the screen, Lennox slams the laptop closed. “We were promised a blow job, and I don’t need technology to fail us and your mother see us shove two dicks down her precious son’s throat.”

---