THE TROUBLE WITH DECEIT

Part 8 The truth always comes out in the end

Reece did indeed walk all the way back to the shop. While he was walking he was constantly replaying the scene with Kip in his mind's eye. There was, he realized only one thing he could do at this point in time. He was going to have to be honest with Mary, if he lied to her then the lies would snowball out of control and he would lose her, and she was far too important to him for that to happen. If he had to lose her then at least it would be because he was going to do the right thing. The shop was already busy when he arrived back and relieved his assistant. Fortunately, in spite of the recent disruptions, the takings were slightly up on the average and at least that would make his plan for when Mary returned feel a little easier. Really he owed her everything, as well as his employer she was his friend and confidente and he had a lot of affection for her. His own mother had passed away two years ago, so it was just him and his dad. Her death had hit him particularly hard and Mary had become almost a second mum to him.

He kept the shop open later than normal as he wanted to be there when Mary returned. When her daughter pulled up outside he went out and after bidding her daughter, (also Mary), goodnight, he helped her upstairs with her luggage and made a huge fuss of her. She gave him a watch that she had bought for him as a gift. He was in no hurry as he had told his father that he would be late home today. He made her sit down and insisted on making her and himself cups of tea and some toast. She looked at him quizzically, "how are you my darling, you might as well just spit out whatever is on your mind my boy, have there been problems while I have been gone?" She always seemed to know what was in his head, sometimes he could swear she could read minds.

Taking a deep breath, he said, "Yes! look you know you are like a mum to me and I know I should say it and I don't, but I do love you to bits. The easy way for me is to lie to you, but I can't do that to you." Smiling, Mary leaned forward and took his hand in hers and gripped it tightly. "When you've told me your big secret you will still be alive and here, and so will I, and I will think no less of you whatever it is and I hope you already know that." Blinking away embarrassing tears he said, "I would have told you before Mary, but I swear to you I somehow didn't believe it myself, not for sure. While you were away something happened and I know now, for sure, I~I'm gay, I am gay." His tears were falling fast now and suddenly Mary, who didn't really do shows of affection had him cradled in her arms and was gently rocking him. "I might be getting on in years my darling but I'm not blind you know. I have always thought there was a good chance that you were, so don't be too upset, it's really not this big surprise for me. I always figured that sooner or later you would get around to telling me if you were." Wiping away tears with his sleeve he felt such relief to have finally gotten it off of his chest. "So! I'm guessing then that there has to be a somebody involved in this revelation young man, so you can't leave me dangling, I want the whole story now." Although he felt very nervous about Kip's age he did tell her the whole story as accurately as he could. At the end of it, he looked expectantly at Mary hoping she would understand. "Well it's a strange tale you've told me Reece and there's obviously a lot going on here that we don't understand. That old mansion hasn't changed in all the years that I can remember and there have even been plenty of stories of it being haunted over the years. I have never met anybody who has ever been inside it, but on the other hand, it doesn't sound like your young man is afraid of something there, more like he is protecting it. I will, however, say, that no matter how much cloak and dagger is going on here, I do care a lot about you my darling, and I'm going to insist that I meet him. I have a nose for people and I need to see for myself that this lad is going to be right for you."

Reece knew that once Mary made up her mind about something she was very hard to dissuade. Hard though he knew it was going to be he realized he was going to have to agree to her terms. "What about your dad boy, does he know about this?" Frowning He said, "he has no idea, it would destroy our relationship if he did. It pains me to say it but he is a bigotted man, very disciplinarian as well. His take on it would be snap yourself out of it and behave like a real man." Shaking her head She said "maybe you should give him the benefit of the doubt and he might just surprise you, you know.  You think you know someone inside out, but you rarely really do. Anyway, that's something for you to worry about in the future, you've got more than enough on your plate for now."