Michael's POV

Brandon was right. Everyone did hear us. They were all staring when we walked out of the bathroom. They immediately looked away when they saw us holding hands. Brandon was just a smiling, but I was extremely nervous. He led me to the elevator. Once inside, I let out a sigh of relief. Brandon giggles and says,

"Are you okay?"

"I felt like we were apart of a freak show. You saw how everyone looked at us?"

He says, "Michael, you'll get use to it. "

I suddenly remember Lilly! I say,

"Lilly will be dropped off at the bus stop any minute! We can't talk to Carolina today! "

He says, "Michael, calm down. We'll pick her up and take her with us. You worry too much."

"I don't think taking her-"

"Michael, stop worrying! She'll be fine."

He smiles at me. I guess he's right.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

We arrive at this huge mansion. I can't believe someone lives here! Lilly is in awe as well. We get out of the car. Lilly holds my hand tightly. We walk up the white steps to the golden door. This is surreal!

Brandon knocks on the door. The door opens and a man in a butler outfit greets us.

"Aw, Master Brandon. Nice to see you again. "

Brandon smiles and says, "It's nice to see you too, Hugh."

He let's us in. Brandon leads us to a living room. He says,

"You two can stay in here for a while. She's in her office. I'll be right back."

I nod. Brandon goes inside the wooden door leading into the office. I sit down on the couch with Lilly. I look at her. I'm going to have to explain to her what's going on. I say,

"Lilly, do you know what daddy is?"

She nods. I ask, "What am I?"

She says, "You're gay, daddy."

I ask, "How do you know what that means?"

She smiles and explains, "There's a boy in my class. He told everyone that he is gay. He said he knows for a fact. His daddy explained to him what it means to be gay and he said that's what he is. He told us that his mommy and his daddy support him. He also said his mommy told him that it doesn't matter who you fall in love with, as long as you feel true love."

I hold back my tears. My own daughter accepted it, before I could. I ask,

"Lilly, who do you like?"

She giggles and says, "I like Jaden. He's so cute."

I giggle and ask, "Is he a boy in your class?"

She nods. My daughter has a crush. I'm going to have to have the talk with her. Before I could speak, Brandon comes back out and says,

"Okay, Michael, she's ready. "

I stand up nervously. I walk over to Brandon and whisper,

"Could you be in there with me, daddy?"

He giggles and says, "Michael, you don't have to call me that anymore. And, yeah. I'll go in with you. What about Lilly?"

I turn and ask, "Lilly, could you be a big girl and stay right there?"

She nods. I smile at her and turn back to Brandon. Brandon gently takes my hand and leads me into the office. There's an old lady sitting in a big leather desk chair behind her glossy wooden desk. I take a seat in one of the arm chairs provided. She sweetly smiles at me. I smile back.

She says, "So, you're Michael Jackson. "

I nod and say, "I am."

She smiles again and says, "So, Michael, what seems to be bothering you?"

I giggle nervously and say, "Well, I can't seem to....I can't... "

"You can't perform sexual duties to your partner? "

I blush and look down. I nod. She says,

"It's okay, sweetie. This is nothing uncommon. All you can do is wait. You'll be able to perform eventually. You two just have to have more intimate moments and it'll just happened. No worries."

I smile and say, "Thank you. "

"There's something else on your mind. Go ahead and tell me."

I sigh and say, "I feel like this is wrong, but when I'm with Brandon, it feels right. I don't know what to think. My own daughter, who is six years old, accepted the whole gay thing. I don't know what to think..."

She gets up and walks around her desk. She stands in front of me and leans on her desk. She puts her hand on mine. She looks into my eyes and says,

"Michael, God is in your heart no matter what. He loves you for you. Whoever told you otherwise should feel ashamed of themselves. As long as you believe he's with you, nothing can go wrong. "

I begin to cry after she says that. Brandon pulls me into a hug. I hold onto him tightly. He rubs my back. Brandon says,

"Michael, everything will be okay. This was meant to be."

I wipe my tears and giggle. He asks,

"What's funny?"

I say, "This is rich love. "

He giggles and nods. "I guess it is."

•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°••°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•

Lilly runs around in the backyard with Carolina's dog, Beanie. Brandon and I are sitting on the patio drinking tea. Carolina is drinking orange juice. She puts her drink down and asks,

"So, Michael, how long have you known Brandon? "

"A week and three days."

Brandon giggles. Carolina asks,

"What Brandon? "

He shakes his head. "Nothing its just... A lot of things happened in that week and three days. It's crazy."

I smile and place my hand on his. I look back at Carolina and ask,

"How long have you known Brandon? "

"Oh, I've known him all his life."

"Really? "

"Yeah. Michael... I'm his mother. "

I almost choke on my tea. I wipe the tea dripping from my chin and put the glass down. I quickly say,

"I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I would've never-"

"Michael calm down. It's okay. You aren't the first gay man I've helped talk to for Brandon. "

I look over at Brandon. He quickly says,

"But, mom, mom, he's the only one that was with me."

She nods and says, "Well that's true."

I let out a sigh of relief. I tease Brandon by saying,

"You know, I'm getting the feeling you were some kind of player. "

He laughs and says, "Well, that isn't a complete lie."

I punch his arm. He laughs and says,

"Ow! I was playing. "

Carolina says, "Don't lie to him, Brandon. "

I punch his arm again. He holds onto his arm and falls out his chair laughing.

"I'm sorry, Michael. Okay, it's true. I was a bit wild. "

Carolina chuckles and says, "Yeah right. A bit wild. Please."

Brandon says, "Okay, mom, we get it. You've helped enough. "

I help him up and say, "Be nice to your mother."

"I am being nice."

Carolina giggles and says, "Michael, this is the first time I've seen his eyes light up when he looks at someone. It touches my heart."

Brandon smiles and says, "Aw, mom, don't get all mushy mushy on me."

He walks over to her and gives her a hug. I smile and watch them. I wish my parents knew about me. I wonder if they would hug me and support me? I sit down and ask,

"Where's you dad, Brandon? "

Brandon quickly becomes quiet and sits beside his mother. Carolina looks at me and says,

"We don't talk about that man."

I quickly say, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get anyone upset. "

Brandon says, "It's okay, Michael. You didn't know."

Lilly runs up to me and says,

"Daddy let's get a dog!"

I giggle. Carolina says, "You're the most sweetest little girl I've ever met. "

Lilly blushes and says, "Thank you. "

She says to Brandon, "She's probably the closet thing to a granddaughter I'll get, huh?"

Brandon giggles and shrugs his shoulders. Carolina smiles and strokes his hair. The mention of his father really changed his mood. Now he's acting like he needs his mother. As if he's a shy little boy. I wonder what happened. I'm not going to ask any time soon, but I will find out later.