The movie had been silly and the pizza that Justin had talked her and Brian into getting afterwards, had been greasy, but Jennifer Taylor was happy. She'd spent an enjoyable day with her son and his lover and now they were walking back to Brian's loft where she would pick up her car and return home to her sweet, beautiful daughter.

Her stomach full, her hands snug and warm in her pockets, she laughed as Justin jumped on Brian's back, pretending to use his scarf as reins. He rode piggyback for several yards before Brian dumped him to the ground, muttering, "You're getting heavy. No more pizza for you or you'll never get laid again."

Justin, nonplussed, said, "Your threats frighten me. Seriously. I'm terrified. See me shaking in my boots?"

Brian rounded on him, grabbing him playfully. "I'll show you shaking. Now where is it that you like to be tickled? Here? Or is it here? Or here?" Justin squealed and tried to break free, laughing and choking as Brian continued his attack. Jennifer chuckled in amusement.

When they reached the crosswalk, the light was red, so they waited--Justin still trying to avoid Brian's wandering hands, and Jennifer wrapping her scarf more tightly around her neck.

The boys' horsing around stopped suddenly, though, when a woman's voice said, "Brian?"

It was an oddly even voice, making Brian's name sound half like a scolding and half like a request. The woman who had spoken was almost Justin's height, bundled in a khaki-colored coat. Her hair was dark, but gray throughout, and her eyes were a brown that seemed hard in some way.

Brian's reaction was bizarre. Jennifer was surprised when he moved away from Justin, almost blocking him from view, becoming instantly serious. It was obvious that he was not happy to see the woman, whoever she may be. But that question was answered almost immediately by Brian's sarcastic greeting.

"Well, what do you know? It's Mom. What the fuck are you doing here?"

Jennifer blinked, startled. She'd seen Brian at less than stellar behavior, but his attitude toward his mother was something she wasn't prepared for.

Brian's mother gestured toward the market several storefronts down, and said, "I was shopping, Brian. That's what people do when they get home from work and find they have no food in the house. They go shopping."

"Oh? They don't get falling down drunk and forego food as an unnecessary obstacle to the alcohol hitting their veins?"

"Brian," his mother scolded, looking embarrassed. "I don't know what you're referring to and I don't care to know. I thought when I saw you that I would say hello, perhaps meet your friends, but I see that as usual you want nothing to do with me." Her eyes flitted to Jennifer and then to Justin, then back to Brian again.

"You want to be introduced? Fine, Mom. This is my homsexual, gay lover, Justin, whom I fuck nearly every day. But I think you met him once already, didn't you? And this," he continued, indicating Jennifer, "is his mother, with whom we just spent an enjoyable day seeing a movie and having a lovely lunch. Jennifer, Justin, may I present my mom, Joan Kinney."

Justin shifted uncomfortably then put out his hand. "Um, nice to see you again, Mrs. Kinney."

Mrs. Kinney took Justin's hand, obviously unnerved. Justin looked to Brian saying, "You're welcome to come by the loft any time to see us. I know that Brian would love to have you."

Brian's eyes shot daggers at Justin, and Jennifer thought her son might have gone too far. She put her own hand out, saying, "Jennifer Taylor, Justin's mother. It's a pleasure to meet you. I've always wanted to know more about Brian's family."

Joan Kinney took Jennifer's hand, squeezed briefly before pulling back and said, "You condone this, then? You support their disgusting lifestyle?"

Disgusting lifestyle. Jennifer had heard those words before and had felt powerless to stop the hurt they caused Justin, and now she felt powerless to stop them from hurting Brian. "Justin is my son. I love him. It's not a lifestyle, Mrs. Kinney. It's who he is."

Joan looked to Brian. "I'd hoped you would consider my offer to help you change. There are places, Brian, facilities that can help you. I looked into them and found that they are quite reasonable. Surely you could take some time off--"

Jennifer had never seen Brian so livid. His eyes were hugely dilated and Jennifer put her hand on his arm to try to keep him calm.

"You want me to change, Mother? That's rich."

"Brian, I know you're angry with me, but God loves you. God can take away your anger if you'll just let him help you."

"God didn't seem all that interested in helping me when you were on the floor passed out drunk and Dad was beating the shit out of me," Brian snarled. "And you didn't seem that interested in helping me then, either. Why the fuck would I want you to help me now?"

Brian stepped back from his mother, but Jennifer kept her hand on one of his arms, noticing that Justin now flanked his other side, rubbing Brian's elbow soothingly, whispering, "Brian, come on. Let's go. Let's just go."

Jennifer bit her lip as Brian stared into Joan's eyes and a strange, little-boy look of betrayal passed over his features. She could almost hear his unvoiced question, "How could you? How could you have abandoned me, Mom?" But it just hung there in the air between them, silent and achingly painful.

Brian suddenly whipped away from Jennifer and Justin, waving a hand in dismissal. "Fuck this," he said over his shoulder, taking off across the street, heedless of the light, but luckily no cars were coming.

Justin looked at Mrs. Kinney and Jennifer could see all of the things he wanted to say to her, the questions he wanted to ask were written on his face, but instead he just let out a small burst of air, turned on his heel, rushing after Brian.

Jennifer met Joan's eyes and said in a soft voice. "I don't know what you've been through in your family. But as I said, my name is Jennifer Taylor and you can find me in the phone book. I'm around if you ever want to talk."

Jennifer moved to walk away, then stopped again. "Mrs. Kinney, I love your son, and my son loves your son. I'm sorry that you can't see what a beautiful man he is, just the way he is. But if you ever want some help in seeing that, feel free to call."

Brian and Justin were several yards ahead on the opposite sidewalk; she caught up to them easily. She overheard Brian shrugging off the events verbally, but his body language was a bundle of nerves and raw energy.

The day had turned sour in the course of a few minutes at a crosswalk. The aptness of the location hit her as she followed Brian and Justin at two paces behind. When she looked over her shoulder she found that Joan Kinney hadn't budged but was watching them from the corner.

Jennifer hoped that she chose the right direction when she finally decided to make a move.


THE END