Love, Mom

Chapter Nine

Lily was swinging her legs, sitting on the bench, a bottle of apple juice resting beside her.

"We have to tell our parents."

Elena sighed.

"I know."

"Like, right now. I can barely go through the morning without throwing up at school. My boobs are getting huge."

"I know."

"Yeah, of course you know, you can't stop staring at my boobs," Lily laughed, taking a sip of the juice.

"But they're pretty," Elena said with a slight smile that didn't hide her concern.

Lily stared at her for a long moment, considering what to do. Destiny had taught her what to do in every situations, however, leaving the freedom to Lily to use her own methods. Elena was definitely worried, even terrified. It was a fact.

"Come here," she said.

She opened her arms, wrapping an arm around Elena's shoulders and letting her rest her head on her shoulder. It was a bit complicated, considering Elena was taller than her, but Lily managed to wrap her in a protective embrace. She began to stroke her brown hair gently, running her fingers through the silky strands.

"It's gonna be okay. We're gonna do it together."

She placed a kiss on her head and smiled remembering how much she loved the sound of kisses.

"We'll have to tell my parents first, though," Elena replied. "Let's do the worse before."

"Okay," Lily replied, stroking her hair.

Elena put a hand cautiously on her stomach and Lily, tickled, giggled as she felt her fingers through her t-shirt.

"I'll do anything for you, or for the baby. I don't get to be scared of my parents when I'm gonna be one."

She straightened up and kissed Lily's lips.

"It'll be okay. Whatever happens, it'll be okay."

Lily didn't know if she liked Elena's house or not.

It was small, cramped, filled with old and somewhat unnecessary things. It was hot and Lily was immediately assailed by the smell of laundry and cooking meat.

Elena, so nervous that she looked like she was about to throw up, ushered her in, putting the car keys in her pocket.

"Juan- Elena? Is that you?" Called a female voice.

Elena froze in place, mouth parted, unable to articulate a single sound. Lily patted her hand and she recovered.

"Yes, mama, it's me."

She walked to the first door, Lily at her heels. The two young girls entered the kitchen, enveloped in the smell of food. A woman was standing in front of the hotplates, locks of gray hair in her black mop.

"Mama, this is Lily."

Elena didn't seem to have the courage to add anything. Lily, remembering Destiny's lessons, stepped forward, holding out her hand.

"Hello, ma'am."

The woman squeezed her hand wordlessly, peering her up and down. Elena immediately got on the defensive and put a hand on Lily's shoulder, placing her slightly behind her.

"Is papa home?"

"No. He'll be here any minute. Go set the table. And add a place for your friend."

Elena led Lily to a drawer from which she took the cutlery out, handing them to Lily. Then she opened the cupboard and took out four plates before dragging Lily to the next room.

"Is everything okay?" Lily asked quietly.

"Yeah, it's fine," Elena assured, pale, setting the plates down on the dining table. "I just didn't expect you to hear me being deadnamed as soon as we walked through the door."

"I'm sorry, Lena."

"It's okay. Just ... Keep calling me like that. But not too much in front of my parents."

"Okay."

They placed all the cutlery, set the table before Elena's mother called them back into the kitchen. She had them bring the dishes back to the dining room, Lily noticed that Elena was careful to take the bigger ones, leaving her the lighter ones.

As they set up the pitcher of water, the front door opened and closed, and Elena froze, her hand inches from Lily's arm.

A man with a big mustache entered the room, setting his things down on an armchair.

"Hola," he said.

His gaze landed on Lily who remained motionless, the pitcher of water in her hands. Elena spoke.

"Papa, this is Lily."

The man nodded, indicating that he understood. Elena's mother hurried them to sit down, Lily settled down next to Elena, as far away from her parents as possible. Her father sat at the end of the table, her mother across from Elena.

They helped themselves to the dishes in silence, Lily doing her best to ward off the nausea that gripped her and only putting small portions on her plate under the disapproving gaze of Elena's mother. Finally, they began to eat in silence.

After a long time, Elena cleared her throat.

"Mama, papa, I have something to tell you."

Her mother looked up, her gaze shifting from Elena to Lily. Elena took a deep breath.

"Lily's my girlfriend."

Her father noisily placed his cutlery on his plate.

"So you finally decided to act like a boy?" Her mother asked.

"No," Elena replied tightly. "I'm a woman and I'll always be a woman."

"Then why are you dating her?" His father asked.

"Because I love her," Elena declared. "I love her more than anything in this world."

Her mother turned pale.

"Carlos, that's what we saw on TV. She's a lesbian."

She turned to Lily.

"Are you the one who turned her like this?"

"Mama!" Elena cried, Lily tensed immediately. "She didn't do anything! She loves me and she's my girlfriend and ... And ..."

She was completely panicking now, trying to find her words, stammering with sadness. Lily put her hand on hers.

"And I got her pregnant!"