Roomies Book Two: Quarantine (PolyLove)

Chapter 24: Confession

Chapter 24: Confession

"I never told anyone this. You all know that my mom is Cameron's biggest fan. But you might not know that my dad is too."

Diego's words had a profound effect on the other three men. They looked at each other, surprised. Diego was a very grounded person, a rock, a pillar. But he was his father's son. And all three men had come to know Jesus Alvarez over the years. At least, they knew him as well as he allowed. Which wasn't that much.

Cameron knew him better than the others, perhaps. Because he had cared for Daniela, Diego's abuela, before she passed away a few years ago, spending time with her doing all sorts of things from running errands to watching TV to making dinner with her, Jesus was usually in the background. A stalwart support for the woman who raised him and cared for him. Rosa was a butterfly or a dragonfly maybe was a better analogy, always zipping this way and that, always in motion, always working or talking. In fact, maybe she was actually quite a bit like Nate, in that she was gregarious and active, a natural extrovert. Both Daniela and her son, Jesus, were more reserved people.

Jesus enjoyed Cameron's company because he too knew the value of a quiet moment. And Cameron enjoyed his. The older man was always good at seeing what people needed and supplying it without them even needing to ask. He was dependable, responsible, hard working. Rosa adored him. His kids respected him. It must have been so difficult for a man, raised as he was in the macho culture of his childhood community in Los Angeles, to accept that his son was gay. And not only that, but to accept and allow Cameron, another gay boy, into their families lives. Not just accept but encourage him to date his son. Which Jesus did, nowhere near as blatantly as Rosa did. But he did.

When Cameron was at their house, on the endless days in college when he killed time, waiting for Ryan's practices to be done, it was Jesus who always made Cameron welcome, teaching him Spanish, trying to find little ways for Diego to spend time with him. It was a little awkward, because he always felt like Jesus and Rosa both obviously perceived Cameron as the potential "girl" in their son's relationship, and made Diego treat him with the care and deference  a man paid his potential wife. But it was almost an inside joke between them, that Rosa called Cameron her daughter in law. It didn't offend him. Cameron never really saw himself falling into traditional masculine stereotypes, although he didn't identify as anything else.

"When Cameron first started hanging out with us in high school, I could tell my dad liked him. Because he didn't ignore him completely. Started spending time at home, when he knew Cameron would be over. Was very respectful to Cameron if he came over for dinner."

Diego paused, smiling a little. "Do you remember Cameron, that night when you came over and you helped everyone make tamales for the first time? I think it was right after Christmas?"

Cameron nodded.

"Well, that night my dad caused a huge family uproar, but I'm sure you didn't realize it. He gave you my great grandmother's hand made ceramic plate to eat off of. It's a family heirloom, and only prospective members of our family, serious boyfriends or girlfriends are allowed to use it. Cesar used it. And my cousin, Janeth, her boyfriend Tommy. But Chris was never allowed to use it. No one I'd brought home was. But he gave it to you that night. You should have seen my sister's eyes! Maria almost started screaming, in a good way, don't worry. And my mom looked so happy. I was just...surprised. Because I told them all that you weren't my boyfriend."

Nate grimaced. "Please all note, I have never been allowed to eat off this special Alvarez plate and I was engaged to Diego for six months before we got married and dated him for almost seven years before we got engaged."