The Secrets You Keep

Reunited

While walking into up to my parents doorstep, chills instantly run down my spine. The last time I was here, I left on fucked up terms with my mom and my dad but I was able to finally get my freedom. Geneva holds my hand and turns my chin towards her, we look into each others' eyes before she smiles and says, "Are you ready?"

I smile back, nod my head and ring the doorbell. My father answers the door and invites us inside for a drink.

"It's good to see you Cameron." He says.

"It's good to see you too dad." "Where's mom?"

"She'll be out in a second." "Geneva it's good to see you too." He pauses for a second then continues, "Thank you for loving my daughter and accepting this meeting."

"Thank you for having us." Geneva says with a smile.

My mother walks out of the kitchen and I can already tell that the positive mood in the room won't last long. She's has a straight face and doesn't look at me at all, I'm already starting to regret even coming here.

"I reached out to the both of you to get a understanding of what is going on between you two." My mother says as she slowly turns away from my father and looks at Geneva in the eyes.

"What's so hard to understand?" "We're in a relationship and have been for a few months now." "But you already knew that." I reply.

"I sent my daughter to you to get her saved and on the right path Pastor Mitchell, instead you decided to carry on an affair with her." My mother stares at Geneva deeply.

"And you..." She says while pointing a finger at me, "You seduced a married woman away from her husband, trying to be a man... do you realize that you are not a man and will never be, no matter how much you dress and act like one?!"

My father cuts my mother off before she can speak again.

"She's not a child Tina." "They are both adults and made the decision to be together, now I've listened to you for the past couple of months talk about our child and call her everything but a child of God, I want all of this stop." "Cameron is still our daughter at the end of the day and deserves happiness just like anybody else, gay or straight!" He says.

"You know what mama, so fucking what I'm not a man, I never said I wanted to be one!" "All I want is to be with somebody who loves the hell outta me and whats nothing but the best for me!" "Geneva and I met on some crazy terms but ultimately, she's been there since the beginning ever since I walked out of this house and you turned into that same evil spirit you claimed I had in me!" I can feel the anger and hurt creeping up in my chest as I speak, I need to get out of here.

"If you don't wanna have a relationship with me, then to hell with it I'll be good either way." "I want respect though, and I want you to leave us alone and gossiping about our relationship to everyone." "We're together and we love each other, simple."

Silence falls in the room for what feels like hours, Geneva is still holding onto my hand while my father rubs his temples and exhales. I never thought I would have to ask my mother for basic respect and understanding. Coming out and bringing your first girlfriend or boyfriend should be a loving experience, but this has been a nightmare thanks to my mother.

"I always wanted to be at your wedding one day with a handsome son-in-law and you in a beautiful gown glowing." "When you came out, I was crushed and the feeling only got worse when I found out about you two...sleeping together." My mother says as tears stream down her face. I should be the one crying, not her.

"I thought if we put you with a good spiritual teacher and leader that you could be set free from this sin and live a good life." "I want you saved, don't you want to be in heaven?" She asks.

"Mama, my heaven and happiness are here on earth with this woman beside me." I say pointing at Geneva. " I shouldn't have to change myself and die to be in heaven." "The child you want is a fantasy, you love a fantasy more than my physically and real presence." "You need serious help before me and you can ever be close again, there's no reason why my mother should despise me more than a stranger on the street."

"Sister Victor, you have to understand, I love Cameron with all my heart." Geneva says. "She is a good person and we learning to understand each other and love each other more than anything." "Sure, you know the aftermath of what happened with my marriage to David, but do you know what was going on before Cameron came into my life?" "Your daughter saved me and gave me the love that I always wanted and needed." "I don't hate you for being involved in my ex-communication from the church, whether you believe it or not, you saved me the work of having to write and farewell sermon and hurt the entire congregation out of nowhere." "Maybe one day you'll understand the love we have for each other and that Cameron is still your daughter." "Until then, I pray for your soul and that you can learn to her as much as I do." A single tear starts to roll down Geneva's face.

Geneva and I stand up and head outside to our car. As soon as I get in the car, my fear goes away instantly and my hands stop shaking. I know that with or without my mom I at least have my dad but most importantly Geneva.

"Baby, I think it's time for a vacation, what do you think?" G asks wiping away the tear making it's way down her cheek.

"I'm liking that idea, where should we go?"

"Wherever you want, we don't have to worry about flying commercial either, I have a jet me and David purchased a while back."

"A private jet? Shit why didn't you tell me this before?" I pause to look at her.

"I thought you didn't care about money?" She says mocking me.

We laugh and head home to start planning our trip.