Room 1013

Will You Let Me?

"I just," Lance's father motioned with his hands, "I just want to understand."

Lance sat across from his parents at the dining room table. He had been there for two days already, and he yearned to return to Keith. He took a frustrated deep breath and brought his elbows onto the table. "I love him."

"You're seventeen." He countered.

"Doesn't mean it's not true."

Lance's father shot a look at his mother and shrugged, sitting back in his chair. She took over, "M'ijo, I-we just want to know why you insist on marrying him. Aren't things good the way they are?"

"I love him." Lance stared at them with an intense blue. "Mama, Papi," he spoke with his hands, "I can walk away at any time right now. It's Keith's biggest fear. If I wanted to, I could leave him without a word and never look back." He paused and looked into both of their eyes, "Marriage is a promise. A commitment. I want to give him solid proof that I'm staying until the end. This is the way I know how-as well as the path I wish to take." He clenched his fists, "You asked me why, and that's why."

His parents looked at each other and talked through their eyes.

Lance could feel his chest tighten, "Please? Will you help me?"

Lance's mother took control and sat forward. "What then? How will the wedding go? Where will you live? Do you have a ring picked out? What about school?"

Lance was taken aback. His mother never stood up to him. Actually, she was scared of him. It gave him a nice feeling to see her standing up for herself for once. Lance couldn't hide his smile as he returned his forearms to the table. "I'll have to live down in Texas with him. He's getting all of his medical care at Arlington. Moving would be stressful on his body." Lance took in a drawn-out breath and prepared for the backlash. "I would transfer to his school. We would go together. If that doesn't work out, then I can do homeschooling with Krolia."

Lance's mother chewed on the inside of her cheek in thought. She fiddled with the ring on her finger and kept her eyes down. "And the wedding?"

Lance was expecting a big argument over school, but it never came. "We would have to go down to the courthouse, since Keith gets tired really easily."

"No, no," she waved her finger. "No son of mine is having a courthouse wedding. I will take care of that." She finally lifted her eyes to meet his, "What about the ring?"

Lance shook his head, "I haven't had any time to look. And I wanted your permission first."

Lance's mother looked over at his father as she fiddled with her necklace. She returned to Lance, "What about kids?"

Lance chuckled in disbelief and shook his head. "Mama, I am seventeen."

"But if you did," she ran her tongue over her lips, "would they go to church?"

Lance swallowed hard and shook his head, "Keith isn't religious, but if you wanted to take them, I would let you."

She took a long breath and turned to his father. She spoke quietly, "I'll agree."

"You can't be serious," Lance's father leaned forward, "This is not who we are!"

Lance's mother placed a hand on his arm and shook her head. "There are some battles we have to fight." She shot a smile at Lance. "This is not one."

Lance's father huffed. He picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. "Lance," he turned to him, "I will agree-but only if you can answer this question honestly and correctly."

Lance felt a small bout of nerves build up in his hands. "Okay. What?"

He took a pause for dramatic effect, "Have you slept with this boy?"

Lance's eyes widened, "Uh-wait, why-why is this relevant."

"It's something we must ask you." He lifted a hand in defense. "I'll admit, I didn't think you would be the first child we would ask."

Lance's mouth hung open in surprise and confusion. "What?"

Lance's mother stepped in. "It's not personal! Your siblings will be asked the same question when they get engaged."

Lance's father rolled his eyes, "Just answer me."

"Uh," Lance shook his head, "No. We agreed to wait until marriage."

Both of them let out a sigh of relief. Lance's father held a hand out for him. Lance hesitantly took it and they shook hands.

Lance's father gave him a gentle smile, "You're a good son and a great man." He brought his free hand to the handshake. "I'll allow you to marry Keith."

"Thank you," he looked to his mother, "Both of you."

"Now that's over," she stood up, brought her hands up to her chest, and looked at him with hopeful eyes, "Can I help pick out the ring?"