Lex(120)

After I got inside my house, I met a groggy up-too-early, Roni, in the kitchen fixing tea. Pregnancy has apparently taken its toll already and she was up half the night throwing up. Night sickness, is what she referred to it as. Bob was nowhere to be found. He’d went home to get away from Sassy Britches and her puking. We ended up snacking on biscotti and sipping herbal tea. Then I took a quick shower, which I rarely do. And I headed off to catch a few hours of rest. Surprisingly, I slept until three. Longer than I expected, and as soon as I woke up, I skipped my usual routine and headed straight here to see my mom.

I feel freer today than I have in probably all of my life. Less stressed, less clouded by my past. I couldn’t wait to come and tell my mom all about it. It’s been years of trials and tribulation to become the woman I am today. With Gage, I feel like the woman I always wanted to be; sexy, confident, strong, sexually enthusiastic, smart, accepted, happy, loved, and most of all safe and protected.

“So you say you had your first date? How’d that go?” My mom asks, breaking me from my thoughts to realize that I haven’t cut a single flower in the past five minutes. My mind is working overtime. Submerged in daydreams of the man I somehow love.

Not sure how much I can or should divulge to my mom about last night. So I’ll go the safest route with the basics.

“Went great, mom. Rooftop dinner with flowers and candlelight. Talked until sunrise. I really think I might be in love.”

There it is. I’ve laid it out there. I’ve admitted it to my mother. Watching the expression on her beautiful face change from work mode to sheer happiness warms me from the inside out.

Dropping her sheers and the rose that’s in her hands onto the counter. She turns and hugs me.

“It’s about time. I’m so happy for you, Lex. And he knows about you. And you know?”

I nod into my mother’s neck, as I inhale her floral scent. My arms hooked around her neck.

The front door to her shop chimes.

“Lex! Faith!” I hear the voice of a princess excitedly screech. I break away from my mother’s embrace and turn to see Gage with an ‘I’m Sorry’ expression marking his face, while he quietly stands right inside the door.

Emma, in a bouncy lavender dress, comes dancing around the back of the counter. Grabs her personal stepladder and carries it to the workbench. She’s ready to work. I love her enthusiasm.

“Hi” I wink at him and he sort of half grins.

My mom and Emma start immediately chatting. I walk around the counter in my plain blue summer dress and white heeled sandals. Gage has on gray track pants and fitted white t-shirt today. Looks like he’s just about to work out or he just did. I’m guessing the former. Although he sure looks extra hot in those low-slung pants and the shirt that shows off every outline of his hot body.

Stopping in front of my lover, I give him a genuine smile. “Hey honey, what brings you by?”

Reaching out he grabs my hand, tugging me into a big hug. Stuffing his face into my hair, I hear him smell me. One of his hands loving caresses by back as the other combs through my long black hair. I love when he does this. Last night he combed through my hair with his fingers for hours. It’s sweet and so romantic.

“I missed you. But that’s not why I’m here. Emma wanted to see Faith, since it’s Sunday. And I figured I’d hit Jimbo’s while she does.” He explains into my hair.

Jimbo’s is the only gym in Heartfair.

Leaning out of the hug slightly, so I can peer into his eyes. I peck him quickly on the lips and hear two nosey spectators “Awe” us.

Gage and I laugh and turn our heads to see my mom and Emma staring with massive smiles adorning their faces.

“Daddy, is Lex really your girlfriend?” Emma innocently asks, holding one of the red roses without the thorns in her hand.

“Yes, Emma. Lex is daddy’s girlfriend.”

“Does that make Faith my grandma?”

Gage looks to me. What am I supposed to do? Tell Emma that yes, Faith is your grandma? Although I can never marry your daddy because in the state we live in, even if I had a sex change I couldn’t. But, I do want to spend the rest of my life with him, if I’m lucky enough. Guess that does mean Emma has a grandma. I’m not leaving, Gage isn’t leaving, and I know my mother would want nothing more than to call Emma hers. Sure, why not?

I give him a firm nod with eye contact, voicing my silent approval.

“Yes, baby. Faith is your grandma.”

What I never expected to happen next, does. My mother begins to bawl, folding Emma into her arms.

“Don’t cry grandma.” Emma says standing still as my mom hugs her.