Janice made a bedroom and bathroom available for me to shower and change in. She quickly moved some things on the bathroom counter and then turned to leave me alone. But she hesitated at the door, looking very serious and very determined. I had to stop and give her that chance-- obviously she needed to say her piece.

            Rafe was showering in another room so he was out of this picture. I gave her a look I hoped was welcoming.

            She sighed. "Aubrey."

            I smiled. "Yes?"

            "You haven't known Rafe very long, have you?"

            "He didn't tell you much about us?"

            "He didn't tell us anything. But that's really not what I need to talk to you about."

            "Oh?"

            I waited, hoping against hope this wasn't going to get any more awkward. She looked so uncomfortable. I started guessing what could be on her mind--- the crazy fight outside? My opinions about the church? Homosexuals? My heart started beating faster, knowing it had to be one of those things. And now, with the annoying and hurtful words Chris had thrown out there---

            "I'm sorry about what Chris said. She's a very stubborn and volatile personality."

            Well, I thought quickly, we were thinking along the same lines, this had to be a good start.

            "It's forgiven and forgotten already." I assured her. "I just feel bad for your terrible loss, it must be very hard for you."

            She looked away and then up. "Our sons are night and day different, as you can well see, but they both have terrible tempers."

            So she had noticed the nasty fight. That was the worst moment of my relationship with Rafe. Fighting in front of his family-- ahhhh! Physical fighting of any kind. I'd actually used martial arts moves. I felt my face turning red.

            "And they both have very strong opinions about your church."

            "I guess I gathered that." I said smiling. "It doesn't bother me, Janice. I'm not here to try and convert them, or you, they are entitled to their own opinions. That talk we had out there, if you're worried about it, don't be. I do understand where you're coming from, and it would be very hard to-- "

            "No, it's not that." She looked at me firmly. "I am of the same opinion as my sons, and I don't tolerate those who don't embrace their chosen lifestyles."

            I know my eyes widened. "Really. You don't tolerate...." I was warm and speechless. That was quite the non-politically correct attitude, although from some of the blogs I'd read, I should have expected it. It seemed those who defended the LGBT lifestyle tended to do so with gusto. And virulent hostility.

            Two patches of bright pink adorned her cheeks.

            "I'm just afraid for any relationship between you and Rafe given the lifestyle choices you've both made. You being a staunch Mormon and him being.... Him."

            I shrugged. "Well, we are really aware of those differences, Janice. And it's up to us to discover how those differences define us. I don't think-- "

            She wasn't smiling anymore at all, not even a pretense. "No--- it's all about sex and attraction with Rafe, isn't it? Girl after girl, he wines and dines them all, but he's not the type to stick with any one girl for very long."

            "And you like it that way?" I felt a little defensive on my own. "You see that being his life forever?"

            She closed her eyes briefly. "I accept my boys for who they are, and I don't live a lie hoping they'll change."

            I didn't know what to say. My eyes were wide, and confused. I felt sad and sick and annoyed, and very warned off. My eyes rose and I saw that the doorway was occupied by another form now. Janice managed to look up and she saw Lance there as well.

            "Mom, you've always been a great support." He said clearly, and his eyes caught mine in the bathroom mirror. "But Rafe's choice in Aubrey isn't offensive to me, she and I have an understanding, and we're good."

            "Lance you are too easy to advocate len----" His mother was going to fight it.

            Lance cut her off. "I respect Aubrey's gentleness. She made her point without forcing anything." He looked at me levelly, and then turned. "Take a shower. Rafe says we're going to the club."

            I glanced back and forth from Lance to his mother who seemed like she wanted to fight. I could see her reasoning--- I was a prime target. A cornered enemy... she had a beef to grind.

            But I didn't want to be that beef. I had had enough of her daughter today already.

            Lance was closing the door on her and I caught his eye in the mirror once more and smiled my gratitude.

*****