My Mother's Secret - A Sequel To The Summer of 1993

He Lost His Best Friend

    January was weird.  It was more like March, cold and rainy.   I was working my 12-4, as I had not jumped on the full time bus yet, and that morning I thought of Johnny and Jeff constantly.  He said he was not feeling well.  I told him to let me know if anything got worse and he promised me he would.  At five, I just got home but dad called and wanted me to use sam's truck to help move the last of Grandma's stuff.  He had pictures and a few other things he wanted.   I texted Johnny I loved  him because I thought of him over and over and over again.  Jeff was my "crazy uncle". When I met Jeff He made Johnny sane.   Mom met us there but she was pissed she had to come straight from work.  I think she was just tired of jumping when he said to. He was a duck to her on the phone. "I have until six o'clock, SUSAN. YOUR DAUGHTER IS HERE HELPING ME AND SHE CAME AFRER WORK." I could understand dad needed help, but mom came from work. She had her good clothes on.

We stuffed the car to the gills and mine as well. We drove to their house and unloaded the car. I got a text. It was Johnny. "Jeff's dead," he said. I immediately called him. He was crying. I stood out in the driveway as the wind picked up. It began to howl and remain was going to start. I told him I loved him and if he needed anything to call. He said, "Of course." I hung up and told mom. Mom looked sad. I helped dad put things away and went home. Johnny texted me, "I want to see her. I want to see her so bad." I was going to arrange it. "Let me get home. I am driving." He texted back, "sure."

I got home. Sam and Bobby had dinner ready.

"You look upset."
"Jeff died. Johnny is upset."
"Naturally. Is he okay?"
"He wants to see mom."
"Sure."
"Can he come here?"
"I guess but he will have to sleep in the baby's room."

I called him. He sounded very down. He said some very sweet things. "You are like your mom. You have a big heart," he told me. I smiled. "I SO want to see her. I want to talk to her and tell her so much."  I started to cry.  This was the day my mother was waiting for, but how to get her to the house without dad knowing.   Sam heard me cry, so he came from the other room.

   "He wants to see mom,". I said.
"Then let him.  He is old.  She is old.  I doubt it will be a love fest," Sam said.
"It will be good about mom getting closure, you know like when Seth came out."
"That still shocks me, but Johnny is not gay.  Seth took her to dinner and they chatted as old friends.  She has been to his house.   I think it's cool."
"His house is cool.  Fifties ranch.  Good bones."
"Yeah.  A friend of mine bought a new house and the window leaked."
"Wow."

    My heart was breaking for Johnny and I was a lifeline for him for days.   "Honestly, I don't know what I would do without you."  We talked of the day I was going to make mom's life.   I would invite her to lunch, he would stay with Sam and Bobby and I would bring mom home under the guise I bought a wig and needed help.  Mom was a wig expert.  She worked part time at a wig shop to get a discount.  A few days a week she helped women feel their best.