The Big Ol' family

Epilogue

"This is prosperous, I can't take this shit anymore." Grandma Ruth angrily throws out the second paper of the day.

"This is one too." Uncle jack protruded slowly.

"I am telling you, all of them are a bunch of homophobic corporate asslickers who don't know billion-dollar show even if it's sitting in front of their face." Grandma Ruth shouted and then huff her breath.

"Will you calm down, the audience seem to love your show so whatever the critics think doesn't matter, does it?" Grandma Egnes said.

"Easy for you to say, you didn't get called a boring shell of her former self or she tries so hard at drama and pathos that it comes across as comedy, like seriously? What a bunch of baboons. And for their information I wasn't doing serious acting, the director clearly said it is sarcastic and that's what I was going for." Grandma Ruth again let out an unrecognizable shout.

"You know what, here stop reading those and start reading this. Read all these tweets, people can't stop gushing about your show and especially. This is real people Ruth, have a look." Grandma Egnes handed Grandma Ruth her phone.

Grandma Ruth took the phone and started scrolling down the page, seeing all the tweets finally brought out a smile on her face.

"They love me, they really love. Look at this, Marnie and Anne, come here. This person says and quotes The queen is back to teach everyone how it's done, the show is a work of art and Ruth Crawford is the glue that's holding everything together while standing at the centre of its all. And another person wrote she gives me hope in life, today if I am alive it's all because of her." Tears sprang up in Grandma's eyes as she showed us this, Anne did coo and aah but I just stared at Gran's face, she was controlling her emotions like always but I knew she was bursting with happiness from the inside.

Grandma Egnes come closer and stood near her wife.

Grandma Ruth looked up and the spoke, "Thank you, it's all because of you that I got to relieve my dreams once again." She got up from her chair and hold Grandma Egnes face in her hand.

"Well, will you just keep staring at me or give me a kiss." Grandma Egnes said while holding her head high and her mouth doing a crooked smile.

Grandma Ruth leans forward and both of their lips came into full contact. Seeing this everyone started clapping madly in excitement.

Mid clapping my phone made a ding sound indicating I got a message, I took out my phone clumsily in excitement and only 4 words were written on it.

Your grandmas are cute.

I turn toward the backyard door and sure enough, there was she standing wearing a floral summer dress with button-up cardigan and red lipstick. I ran toward her with my heart loudly beating in my chest, she was also happy to see me but I also sense there was something more.

I slowed my walk to a halt in front of her and she sheepishly smiles at me.

"I have brought an extra guest with me, say hello to Uncle Timothée."

Uncle Timothée or my mom like to call Tim, walk through the backdoor holding a bunch of flowers in a bouquet. He stops walking and stood behind Riley, I could his hand started shaking so he moves the hand holding the bouquet behind his back and stood erect.

"Uh, I will leave you two alone for a few seconds then, bye." Riley Jog toward my Grandma and we both stared after her.

Within a minute Riley was chatting up with my grandmas and then they all started laughing together as if they knew each other forever.

"Riley is special like that, she has a special ability to make anyone fall in love with her, she also helped me overcome my anxiety and body dysmorphia as If I wasn't struggling with already since my birth," Timothée said and I turn around to look at him and only saw a man lost in thoughts.

I didn't mean to say anything, in fact, I was planning to do that only, not say anything to this man but then I surprise myself and said, "How did your mom react when you come out?"

He looks at me and pauses. He tried speaking something but he couldn't find any word and finally he took a deep breath and spoke, "I don't know, she passed away before I could tell her but I like to believe she knew, she always knew and she would have been proud of me for the man I become."

"What's her name?" I ask him quietly.

He hesitated before saying, "Marnie Anderson."

He quickly looks at me and I blankly stared in front of me.

"Whose idea was it to name me Marnie?" I ask him with a tremble in my voice.

"Your mom but she had done it only because of me, the day you were born was also the day my mom had died, I was in the hospital that day with your mom so I couldn't say my goodbyes and when she came to know about it she brought down heaven and earth to name you Marnie and finally your father relented."

I don't know from where but I suddenly felt the urge to turn around and give him a hug and I did just that. He hugs me back fiercely and then started sobbing silently, his body was shaking and he kept clinging to me as if his life depended on it.

I know I should hate this guy and trust me I do hate the guy with whom she had cheated on my dad with but I can't bring myself to hate him for the things my mom has done.

After a few minutes, he let me go and started rubbing his face with his shirt sleeves embarrassingly.

"I am so sorry Marnie, I am usually not such a cry baby."

I just simply hmm and walk away from there.

I look at the landing of the railings and I saw my mother leaning on it with tears on her eyes watching me. I look at the other side of the backyard and saw Riley smiling at me while talking with Grandma Ruth.

I slowly made my way toward her, my small, small cousins came bashing into me as they were playing some sort of catching a game.

Riley smiled at me but didn't break away from the conversation she was having with my grandma, I kept walking and then I grabbed her hand and pulled her forcefully toward me.

I could see from my peripheral my grandma eyebrow arching up but I didn't care. I took hold of Riley's hand and kissed her right there in the middle of the mini celebration of Grandma Ruth's show lunch.

Everyone gasp.

We kissed there for a few seconds, first Riley was a little shock to reciprocate but she was a quick girl, so her hand slide behind my waist and she pulled me tighter toward her and kept on kissing me back.

Finally, we separated and look around.

I look directly at both of my Grandma and they both were smiling like a Cheshire cat.

"Whoop, I told you didn't I." Grandma Egnes said triumphantly.

"Alright, Alright, Alright." Grandma Ruth said while twirling her martini in one hand.

~Fin~