Family Ties

by Lydia Rose

  “Jenna, are you sure you want to do this? You told her I quit.” Christina’s hand went to her head.

  “Chris, I’m not going to hide my relationship with you from anyone anymore. I want my freedom. I want to be able to live my life the way I want to. Not the life my mother wants me to lead.” Jenna put on her jacket and grabbed the keys to her mother’s salon.

  “I may as well go to my apartment,” Christina said following Jenna toward the door.

  “You can wait here, Chris.”

  “No. I have some things to do at home. You go see your mother.”

  “I’ll come over to your place afterwards.”

  Christina nodded as she walked out the door.

  As soon as Jenna walked into her mother’s home, she began to rant.

  “I told you that woman was trouble. You make sure you stay away from her,” Agnes said pointing her finger at Jenna.

  “Well, that’s going to be hard to do since I’m dating her,” Jenna said with a devilish grin.

  Agnes almost threw herself at Jenna. “What do you mean dating her?”

  “She’s my girlfriend and I’m going to marry her someday.” The grin never left Jenna’s face. It felt so good to finally fight for herself after all these years.

  “I won’t allow it,” Agnes said sticking her finger in Jenna’s chest. “I will not have a daughter who is a lesbian.” She poked Jenna again. “I’ll throw you out of the salon.”

  Jenna’s grin widened and she reached into her pocket. “You don’t have to throw me out. I quit.” Jenna handed her mother the keys. “And by the way, when I told the staff I was leaving, they all quit.”

  Agnes charged Jenna, but she stepped out of the way before she could strike.

  “Don’t worry, you still have Margaret and Amy.” Jenna turned toward the door. “Good bye, mother. Don’t ever call me again.”

  “You’re dead to me, Jenna. Do you hear me?” Agnes slammed the door as soon as Jenna stepped out of the house.

  Jenna sat in her car feeling the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. For thirty five years, Jenna lived under her mother’s rules. She had finally grown up. Now she could hold her head up high and be with the woman she loved without fear. Jenna started the car and drove to Christina’s apartment.

  *

  Christina’s phone rang. “Hi, Carol.”

  “Hey,” Carol said. “I remember where I’ve seen Jenna before.”

  “Where?”

  “Remember that motel I used to work at?” Christina didn’t answer knowing what Carol was going to say. “I’ve seen her there. She was there with prostitutes.”

  “No, Carol. Jenna wasn’t there with prostitutes. She was there with women, but they were women who lived in the closet like Jenna was doing. I’ve met them both. They’re nice women.” Christina didn’t know if there were more than two women, but she wasn’t going to tell Carol that.

  “Why would they use a motel?” Carol asked not understanding.

  “Because those women were hiding from family as Jenna was doing or work.”

  “Are you okay with that?”

  “Yes, Carol. Jenna hasn’t done that in years. She’s lived a very celibate for a long, long time.”

  “Okay. I’m sorry. I just didn’t know if you knew.”

  “Thanks for having my back, sis.”

  “You know I always will.”

  “I love you, Carol.”

  “I love you too.”

  *

  Christina opened the door looking at Jenna’s face looking for regret. She saw none as Jenna moved into her arms.

  “It’s over, Chris. We’re free.”

  “I guess your mother didn’t take the news well?” Christina asked looking at Jenna’s face.

  “Would you do me a favor?” Jenna turned around. “Take the knives out of my back.”

  The look on Christina’s face made Jenna laugh.

  “Honey, I’m only kidding. She reacted as I thought she would. She told me I was dead to her.”

  “That’s horrible, Jen.”

  “Hey, I expected nothing less from her. My mother never mentioned my brother and sister all these years. Never,” Jenna said softly.

  “I’m sorry, Jen. I really am. No child deserves a parent like Agnes.”

  “It really is okay, Chris. I may have lost my mother, but I’ve gained a brother and sister. I also have your family. My mother is the one who chose to destroy her family.”

  Christina kissed Jenna’s lips softly. “Not to change the subject, but Ellen texted me and said she and Terry will be at the shop in the morning to get set up.”

  “Mary sent me a text earlier saying she was going to stop by too.” Jenna took Christina’s hand. “I was going to suggest that we sleep here tonight, but maybe it will be better if we go back to the house.” She looked at Christina’s face. “If that’s okay with you?”

  “I already packed a bag.” Christina smiled and went to the bedroom to collect her bag.

  Jenna took the suitcase out of her hand. “Let’s go home and make a nice dinner.”

  “You’re going to have me moving in without realizing it happening. Aren’t you?” Christina asked with a chuckle.

  “Maybe.”

  Christina pushed Jenna out the door. “We’ll discuss this later. By the way, my sister remembered where she knew you from.”

  “Oh, yeah. Where?”

  “The motel.”

  “What?”

  “The motel you met your women at.” Jenna’s face paled. “Don’t worry, I explained the situation to her.”

  “What she must think of me, Chris.”

  “She was fine.” Christina giggled. “Once I told her they weren’t prostitutes.”

  “She thought I was there with prostitutes?”

  “Only for a second.”

  “I’m so embarrassed.”

  “Honey, you never have to hide or be embarrassed again.”

  “Yeah, right. I’ll remember that the next time I have to face your sister.” Jenna walked out of the apartment hanging her head in shame.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Monday morning Jill and Ellen were getting ready to go the new shop when a knock on the door halted them. Ellen went to the door.

  “You,” Agnes Walton said as Ellen opened the door. “Where’s Jenna?”

  “She’s not here.” Ellen stuttered out.

  “What are you doing in her apartment?” Agnes pushed past Ellen and walked into the living room.

  Jill looked at Ellen waiting for her to speak. When she didn’t, Jill did. “Jenna doesn’t live here anymore. We rented her apartment.”

  “This is her things. I don’t believe you.” Agnes anger was visible.

  Ellen moved around Agnes finally finding her voice. “Jenna didn’t want her things and we took the apartment furnished.” She moved closer to Agnes. “I think you should leave.”

  “Not until you tell me where she is,” Agnes said standing her ground.

  “We have no idea and if we did, we certainly wouldn’t tell you.” Ellen turned Agnes toward the door. “We have to leave for an appointment and you are not welcomed here.”

  For the first time in her life, Agnes was at a loss for words. No one had ever treated her this way. Ever. As soon as Agnes was in the hall, Ellen closed the door.

  Ellen turned around and looked at Jill. “Well, that was a surprise.” She giggled shaking her head. “Not a good one.”

  “Let’s get out here,” Jill said taking Ellen’s arm.

  *

  Jenna and Christina were setting up there stations when Christina’s cellphone rang.

  “Hey, Ellen. Are you on your way here?” Christina asked smiling.

  “Yes, but we had a visit from Agnes.”

  “What?” Christina asked shocked.

  “We’ll explain when we get there.” Ellen disconnected the call.

  “What was that about?” Jenna asked seeing the look on Christina’s f
ace.

  “Your mother was at your old apartment.”

  “What? When?”

  “I guess this morning. Ellen said she’d explain when she got here.”

  Jenna phone rang. “Shit. That’s my mother.”

  “Don’t answer it, Jenna.” Christina rushed over to Jenna’s side.

  They both watched the phone as if it was a bomb about to explode. When the tone sounded advising of a message, Jenna moved closer to the phone.

  “Should I listen to the message?”

  Christina nodded her head.

  Jenna put the call on speaker and played the message.

  I thought you would have come to your senses by now. I was just at your apartment and those two lesbians were there. You won’t do this to me, Jenna. I won’t have you embarrass me this way. I will not stand for my daughter to be a lesbian. I did everything for you. I gave you half of my business and this is how you treat me. You better call me and tell me you won’t see that woman again.

  “Yeah, that’s going to happen.” Jenna tossed her phone on the counter. “Why is she doing this? She didn’t care when my sister and brother left.”

  “She needs you, Jenna.”

  “Yeah, she has a fine way in showing it.”

  Christina held onto Jenna’s arm. “She’s hurting, Jenna, but she doesn’t know how to show that.”

  “Are you taking her side? Do you want me to go back to living the Agnes life?” Jenna covered her face with her hands.

  Christina pulled Jenna’s hands away. “Of course, I don’t want that. I love you. Maybe we can find a way for everyone to be happy with this situation.”

  “Yes. I know what I’m going to do.” Jenna picked up her phone and blocked her mother’s number. “There, she’s out of my life once and for all.”

  “Honey, don’t you want to talk with her and tell her the only way you will have her in your life is if she lets you live your life the way you want to?”

  “I’m sorry, Chris, but you think she’s a reasonable woman. That she has love in her heart for me. She doesn’t. Agnes made that very clear all these years in the way she treated me. I’m done with her.” A tear fell onto Jenna’s cheek. “I wish my mother loved me. That she loved my brother and sister, but she doesn’t.” Jenna shook her head and wiped her face.

  They both turned when the front door opened.

  Ellen rushed over to Jenna. “Jenna, I have to tell you your mother is one scary broad.”

  Luckily, Ellen’s remark broke the tension in the room and the four women broke into laughter.

  “Are you sure she didn’t follow you?” Jenna said looking out the front window.

  “We made sure,” Jill said so serious. “We didn’t drive straight here until we made sure, no one was following us.”

  “You guys are nuts,” Christina finally said. “You’re all afraid of a sixty year old woman.”

  “Damn right we are,” Ellen said nodding her head up and down. “If you saw the look in her eyes when I told her I didn’t know where you were,” she said looking at Jenna.

  “Then she told her even if she knew, she wouldn’t tell her.” Jill added. “Your mother doesn’t own a gun, does she?” Jill asked with fear in her voice.

  “Wait a minute,” Jenna said as she approached the two scared women. “My mother may be a lot of things, but killer isn’t one of them.” She reached for her jacket. “I’m going to put an end to this once and for all.”

  Before Jenna was out the door, Christina was at her side. “Do you want me to go with you?”

  Jenna shook her head. “No. I think that would only add fuel to the fire.” As soon as she was in the car, she called her mother. “I’m on the way to your house,” she said and disconnected the call.

  Agnes opened the front door without comment. She thought she had won based on the smirk on her face. It didn’t go unnoticed by Jenna.

  “If you think I’ve come here to tell you I’ve changed my mind about work, about Christina, you are very wrong.”

  Agnes’ face turned from success to anger in a blink. “You can’t possibly think I’m going to accept you being a lesbian.”

  “Of course I don’t think that. I just want you to know that I will not change my mind about Christina or about me leaving your shop. So you can leave my friends alone and stop calling me.”

  “Do you actually think you can survive without me?” Agnes asked moving closer to Jenna.

  “Yes,” she said softly. “By the way, I’ve found Ted and Hailey.”

  “What do you mean you’ve found them?” Agnes asked stepping closer again.

  “We’ve reconnected. I’m just so sorry that it took me so long to find them.”

  “They never cared about us. They never cared about you.” Agnes spat her words.

  “No, mother. The truth is you never cared about them. You treated them the same way you treated me. They just had the sense to leave you as soon as they could.”

  “They both were no good. She was a tramp and he was a deviant.”

  “Hailey is married with children of her own. Ted is gay. Just like me.”

  “I didn’t raise gay children. It’s that woman that turned you gay.” Agnes spouted.

  “No one turned me gay. I was gay before I met Christina. She’s the best thing that happened in my life besides finding Ted and Hailey again.”

  Agnes sat down in a chair. The defeat was evident on her face. For a split second, Jenna felt sorry for her.

  “Mother, I never meant to hurt you,” Jenna said softly. “If you decide you want to have a relationship with me and can accept me for who I am, call me. If you can’t do that.” Jenna sighed. “Then its better we don’t see each other anymore.”

  “What about the shop?” Agnes asked finally looking at Jenna.

  “Sell it or start running it yourself. I won’t be working there again.” Jenna went to the door. “Good bye, mother.”

  Christina looked at her phone. “Jenna’s on the way back. Why don’t we go into the house? We can make coffee and sandwiches.”

  As Jenna pulled up, she saw the lights were out in the salon. She walked to the front door. Before she could use her keys, the door opened.

  “Are you okay?” Christina asked opening her arms to Jenna.

  “I’m fine.” Jenna kissed Christina’s lips softly.

  “You weren’t mean, were you?” She whispered in Jenna’s ear.

  Jenna moved back so she could see Christina’s eyes. “No. I almost felt sorry for her. I told her that it was up to her.” They walked toward the kitchen. “Hey, you two.” Jenna greeted her friends. “I told her that I found Ted and Hailey.”

  “How did she react?” Christina asked.

  “Not well. It’s hard to believe a woman could care so little for her children.” Jenna sat down at the table as Ellen poured her a cup of coffee. “Thanks,” she said looking up at Ellen. “So did you get settled at your station?” Jenna asked turning to Ellen.

  Ellen just nodded. She couldn’t believe how calm Jenna was after all that had happened. Ellen, Jill and Christina chatted during lunch, but Jenna remained quiet.

  Ellen and Jill stood up. “Thank you for lunch and I’ll see you both Tuesday morning,” Ellen said as she walked toward the front door.

  Christina showed her guests out and came back to the table. “Jen, why don’t you go lie down for a while?”

  “I’m fine, Chris. I want to finish getting my station ready.”

  “I already did that. It was better if I kept busy. I was so worried about you.”

  “I told you my mother wasn’t a violent person,” she said trying to chuckle.

  “A person can hurt someone deeper with words than with a hand, Jen.” Christina led Jenna to the bedroom. “Come on, we both will lie down for a while.” Christina sat Jenna down and removed her shoes. As Jenna reclined on the bed, Christina got in on the other side. “Close your eyes and try to rest.” She patted Jenna’s arm as she moved in closer. Within minut
es Jenna was asleep from the mental exhaustion.

  *

  Christina slipped out of bed at four o’clock. Jenna was still asleep as she went into the kitchen. She hoped that as she made dinner, Jenna would awaken on her own.

  Dinner was just about done, but Jenna still was asleep. Christina walked into the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed. Her hand gently stroked Jenna’s face. “Honey,” Christina whispered as she kissed her face gently.

  Jenna opened her eyes. “Hi.”

  “Hungry?”

  Jenna smiled. “I could eat. How long was I asleep?” She asked as she sat up.

  Christina looked at the clock. “About four hours.” She put her arm through Jenna’s arm. “How do you feel?”

  “I’m okay.”

  Jenna was quiet while they ate dinner and Christina worried that her mother had taken an emotional toll on the woman she loved. “I was thinking that maybe in a couple of weeks we could have your sister and brother down for a Sunday lunch. This way you can meet Hailey’s kids and husband.” Christina waited for Jenna to respond. “Would you like that?” She watched as a tear fell onto Jenna’s cheek. Christina was out of the chair in an instant crouching at Jenna’s side. “What is it, honey?”

  “Oh, Chris. I’m so afraid,” Jenna said wrapping her arms around Christina.

  “Why?” Christina asked looking at her lover.

  “Ever since you go involved with me it has been nothing but drama.” Jenna sucked in a deep breath. “I worry that you won’t think that loving me is worth the hassle of everything.”

  “Oh, sweetie.” Christina straddled Jenna on the chair. “Don’t you know how much I love you?” Jenna just looked at her. “It’s life, Jen. It doesn’t always go the way we hope it will, but trust me when I say I’m not leaving.”

  Jenna looked at the woman sitting on her lap. “I’m sorry for being so insecure. I don’t what I would do without you.”

  “I don’t either, Jen. Everything will work out the way it is supposed to.” Christina began to get up, but Jenna kept her in place.

  “I love you, Chris.” Jenna stood up holding onto Christina as she walked them into the bedroom. As they reached the bed, Jenna put Christina down and kissed her gently. “I promise it will get better.”