Mending a Family: Maggie, Vic, & Rob

“…can’t believe both Rob and Alex are gay.”
“Rob is NOT gay! It’s that man, he’s done something to him.”
Maggie couldn’t take it anymore. She sat up and peered at the woman a few seats down from where she and Maxwell were having lunch, to find her sitting with another lady.
“Maggie, don’t.”
Maggie waved a dismissive hand. “Oh, hush, I want to hear more.”
“You don’t know they’re even talking about our Rob.”
Maggie pinned Maxwell with a sharp stare. “Like hell. Look at her. With that face, those eyes. She’s definitely Rob’s mum.”
“So what if she is? What can you do?”
“I once said I wanted a few minutes alone with Tim’s family, but with them in prison, that’s not likely to happen. This? It’s a gift from God, because he’s sorry I missed out.”
“Don’t do this,” Maxwell pleaded.
“Sweetheart, whatever could I do? I’m an old woman.”

“I regret driving you here for that sale,” Maxwell muttered.
“See? It was preordained that we be here at this time, and this place. Now, eat your food. I’ll be back shortly.”
She ignored Maxwell’s call and strode to the table. She stopped, and both women looked up at her.
“Can I help you?” It was the one who had to be Rob’s mum.
“Do you know one of the leading causes of death for gay teens?! When the woman’s jaw dropped, Maggie held up her hand. “Don’t bother answering, because I’m going to tell you. Apathy from their parents. Denying who they are, until it gets so hard, they’d rather be dead than in a world they’re not loved.”
Her eyes bulged. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You’re Rob Daniels’s mum, correct?”
“What of it?” she asked, her eyes narrowing and her lips pressed together into a harsh line.
“You, ma’am, are a shit mother.”
She gasped. “You can’t talk to me like that!”
“Oh, I can. I’m old, so I get away with a lot.” She pushed into the booth, forcing the other woman to slide over. “My name is Maggie, and I’m… Well, I guess you could say I’m kind of a grandmother to several boys. I’m the one they come to when they have to talk about something so painful, they can’t do it with their men yet.”
“I don’t have to listen to this,” Rob’s mum said. “Rob isn’t gay.”
She started to stand, and Maggie grabbed her wrist. “Sit down. No one leaves until I have my say.”
Rob’s mum tried to pull away, but Maggie tightened her grip.
“I might be old, but I’m wiry,” she snapped. “Sit down and for once in your life, shut up.”
The woman was obviously pissed, but she sat.
“Thank you. Things have a way of working out when we do them my way, don’t you think?”
“You have five minutes before I call the manager.”
“I have all the time I need, and you’re going to sit through the entire thing. I’m not one of your boys. You can’t just push me away when things get uncomfortable for you.”
“I never—”
“You did, and we both know it. Did you know Rob made up with Alex? The two of them hugged and cried and hashed out a lot of problems that were between them. Problems that you caused.”
“I did no such thing!” she snapped. “Alex never should have been—”
“With someone who loved him with his whole heart? Because Leo does, you know. Just like Vic loves Rob. They know their boys. They know their flaws, their insecurities, their uncertainties, but they love them despite that. No, more like they love them because of that. A Dom needs a submissive to care for, and a submissive needs a Dom to keep their pieces together. They’re like glue or spackle or something. Without Vic and Leo, you might well be the woman whose sons died from neglect or apathy or out and out loathing.”
“I gave them everything!” she said, her voice just a tad below a shriek. Around them, heads turned. Maggie could see Maxwell, his cheeks flushed, staring at his phone.
“You and I both know you gave them nothing. I’m going to tell you a story, and maybe after you hear it, you’ll understand. My brother was gay. Please note the keyword—was. My parents refused to accept him, so he ran away. He was on the streets and got messed up with drugs. The police called one day, and told us he was in hospital. I begged my parents to take me to see him, but they refused. So I went on my own. I sat with him, I held his hand, and told him I loved him. He never answered, because he died. I watched as my brother took his last breath. I hated my parents so much, because if they had simply accepted him, we probably would have been okay. Do you know they didn’t even go to his funeral?”
Rebecca Daniels had gone white, and her hand trembled. “My sons would never—”
Maggie scoffed. “Really? Is that what you think? They had no one to talk to, thanks to you and your husband. Rob and Alex were estranged, and neither of them wanted to talk to you. Who else could they turn to? I can’t say with any certainty, but I think Rob was in the worse way. He cut himself off from his former friends, because he wanted so badly to turn his life around. To fix the mess he’d made of it. When he tried to introduce you to Vic, he told you why he’d been fired from his job. He needed to hear you tell him it was okay, that you still loved him. Instead, you went off on his relationship with Vic. Family means accepting the good and bad. I am not saying the boys aren’t at fault too, because that would be unfair. I wasn’t there, so I never saw how things were in your family, and I only know what the boys told me.”
“What—what did they say?”
Maggie thought a moment, wondering how brutally honest she should be. Then it hit her.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
“There was no love in your household. You and their father were practically strangers who happened to live together. The boys might as well have been roommates, because they had no familial bond. They were both looking for love, and when they found it, they grabbed it with everything they had.”
“So you’re saying if I’d loved them, they wouldn’t have been gay?”
Maggie sighed. This woman was thick. “First off, Rob is bisexual. He likes women well enough, but he fell in love with Vic, who was strong enough to love all the parts of Rob. I don’t know Alex and Leo all that well, but Leo helped Alex excel. He gave him the confidence to step out of his comfort zone and reach for his dreams. Something you’d think his parents would have done.”
Surprisingly, Rebecca was quiet, her eyes closed, and her lips moving slightly. Her friend stared at Maggie, but with sympathy, not anger or revulsion. Maggie thought maybe the friend might be more open than Rebecca was.
“I never meant to hurt them, you know,” Rebecca said softly. “In my family, affection wasn’t something that was encouraged. Mum never wanted us to mess up her hair or dress, and our father had a job that he said needed him to look sharp at all times. My sister and I were told, in no uncertain terms, to sit down, be quiet, and behave like ladies.” She choked out a laugh. “You know, I swore I would never be my mum. I would never make my children cry, or doubt they were loved. And what did I do?” Her voice grew bitter. “I grew up to be just like her.”
“Then I think you have to make a choice here. Keep on going as you are, so nothing will change, and you’ll never truly know your sons, or hold out an olive branch, and let them know you’re willing to try if they’ll meet you halfway.”
Tears trickled down Rebecca’s cheeks. Maybe she has a heart after all.
“You were right. I’m a shit mother. My husband wanted us to see a therapist, and I told him I didn’t need to. I do, though. Because I don’t want to hear something happened to Rob—no, to either of my sons—if I could have prevented it.”
“That means you’ll have to accept them as they are. And their men too. Can you do that?”
She cringed. “I can try. I’m not keen on this whole thing they’re involved in, but—”
“It’s part of their lives. You can’t turn a blind eye to something just because it’s uncomfortable for you. I’m certain that neither Leo nor Vic would make the boys do anything untoward while you were there, but you will know about it, because both are collared.”
“That’s wrong,” Rebecca said. “It’s unnatural.”
“No!” Maggie snapped. “Unnatural is refusing to love your kids. Unnatural is kicking them out of the house, and making them suck dick to get money to live on. Unnatural is nearly dying in the street because you were sick, and you didn’t think anyone would care. That is unnatural. Did you know Rob is engaged?”
Rebecca’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Vic proposed to him. Sang to him. He fucking loves him.” Maggie stood. “Which is more than you’re clearly capable of.”
Rebecca clutched her wrist. “Wait. Please. I-I didn’t know. Rob doesn’t talk to me anymore.”
“Be honest with yourself. Would you want to talk to yourself if you were him?” She glanced back at Maxwell. “You know what? I need to go. It’s a long drive back to London.”
“No, please! Can you… just a few more minutes? Please?”
Maggie was going to say no. She’d wasted enough time on this woman who obviously didn’t give a crap about her kids. Then she peered into her eyes, and saw pain. Except it was closer to anguish. The look of a mother who was devastated over losing her children. Maggie slid back into the booth.
“Is Rob….” Rebecca sighed. “Are they both doing okay?”
The first true question she’d asked. “They are. Rob and Alex are madly in love, cared for, adored by their men. They have what everyone should strive for. A love that’s pure and wonderful. Not perfect, because love never is. You understand that, right?”
Rebecca nodded. “I’ve missed out on so much. I thought… If they…” More tears. “I did this. I caused it. My coldness is what brought us to this point. They didn’t have a mother’s love growing up, and they went out and found someone who could give them what they needed. If—” She swallowed hard. “If they’re happy, then I should be grateful to Vic and Leo for that.”
“It’s not too late, you know. Rob still talks about you with the boys. Why not reach out to him? Don’t expect it’ll be easy, because love never is. Are you willing to put in the work to have a relationship with your sons and their families?”
Rebecca chewed her lip until it was red and puffy. Then she peered up at Maggie. “I think so.”
Maggie flashed her a smile. “That’s a start.”
When Rebecca pulled out a phone, Maggie cocked her head. “I didn’t mean now.”
“No, I know. I’m calling my husband. I’m going to tell him I want to see that therapist. I want to get better, so I won’t lose my boys. I’m never going to be perfect, but maybe I can be good enough?”
Maggie covered the phone with her right hand. “Perfection is overrated. Just ask my son. How he survives dealing with me I’ll never understand.” She laughed, then leaned in. “And so you know? My Jarod is a submissive too. He’s older than his Dom, but it works out well for them.”
“How did you come to terms with it?” Rebecca shook her head. “I can’t wrap my brain around it.”
“What’s there to understand? Regardless of the gender of their partner, don’t you want them to have someone who supports them? Understands them? Loves them freely and without reservations?”
“I—yes but… the things they do.”
“You mean cuddle on the couch to watch a film? Take trips together? Work hard to make a home for each other?” She turned to the other woman. “I’m sorry, what’s your name?”
“Carly,” she answered.
“Okay, Carly. May I ask you a question?”
Her gaze darted between Maggie and Rebecca. “Sure, I guess.”
“Do you and Rebecca discuss what you each do in your bedrooms?”
Her nose wrinkled. “No.”
Maggie returned her attention to Rebecca. “Do you plan on telling your sons what you do?”
“No!” She sounded horrified.
“Then why do you think they’d tell you what they do? They’re not in the habit of talking about those things, so I’m pretty sure you’re safe. And if I’m honest, if they do, tell them you’re not comfortable with it. However… You need to allow them to express that love. They might hold hands, or they might kiss. You have to be okay with that.”
“That won’t be too bad, will it?” Carly asked, a hopeful note in her voice. “If it gets Rob and Alex to talk with you, isn’t it worth it?”
“Think about it,” Maggie said. “Don’t make decisions in haste. Take the time to really think it through.”
“No. When I take too much time to think, I always choose the wrong thing. This is something I need to do, because I caused a lot of the problems.” She smiled at Maggie. “Who knows? Maybe we’ll see each other again someday.”
“I hope we will. I’d love to tell you stories about Rob and Alex.”
“And I want to hear them,” she assured Maggie.
Maggie got to her feet. “Ladies, thank you for letting me barge in. I needed to get it off my chest. I love your boys like they were my own family, and I couldn’t stand to see them hurting.”
“No, it’s me who should be thanking you. I want to be a better mum. To look them in the eye, and be able to say I love them, and have it sound real and genuine.” Rebecca stood, and then did something Maggie never expected. She enveloped her in a hug. “Hold on to that, okay? Share it with my boys until I can do it myself.”
“I will. I promise.”

TWO WEEKS LATER
Rob snuggled against Vic. The session in the sensory deprivation tank had left him worn out. It didn’t help that he wasn’t sleeping properly.
“You okay?” Vic asked.
“Been better, if I’m honest,” Rob replied.
“You know you can talk to me about it, right?”
Rob nodded. “I will, just… not now, okay?”
“Whenever you’re ready.” Vic lifted Rob’s chin with his fingertips. “Just promise me it’s nothing awful.”
“No, just… stuff. Nothing bad, really. My head is in a weird place right now.”
Vic kissed Rob on the temple. “Like I said, whenever you’re ready.”
Rob was about to say something when his phone rang. He picked it up from the table where he’d left it and sighed. “It’s my mum.”
“Are you going to answer it?”
He shook his head. “Nah, I don’t—”
“Rob?” Maggie stood there.
Rob rolled his eyes. “I swear you’re part ninja.”
“Do me a favor, please? Take the call.”
“But—”
“Trust me, okay? Take it.”
Rob frowned, but he slid his finger over the screen. “Hey, Mum.”
“Rob?”
He grinned. “Well, this is his phone, so yeah.”
It stunned him when his mother chuckled. “Do you have a minute?”
He glanced up at Maggie, who was twisting her hands almost nervously. “Sure.”
Mum blew out a breath. “I’m not sure where to start. I—I was hoping we could talk one day. Maybe not now, but soon? I have things I need to tell you.”
Oh Jesus. His heartbeat went into overdrive. “Mum, you’re scaring me. Are you okay?”
“Oh, I’m fine. Me and your father have gone back to counseling, and I’m seeing my own counsellor now too.”
Counsellor? “What brought this on?”
She sniffled. “You’re getting married.”
Rob was shocked into stillness. “I am. How’d you know?” He tilted his head up, saw Maggie, and everything fell into place. “Never mind, I think I figured it out.”
“I want to come to your wedding, if you’ll have me. I want to see you get married.”
Despite his bewilderment at the turn of events, he couldn’t suppress his anger. “Why mine? You didn’t want to go to Alex’s.”
“And I’m so very sorry about that,” she said softly. “You both deserve a much better mother than I’ve been, but I’m hoping you will each give me a chance to try.”
Did someone just announce the world was ending?
Rob leaned over and whispered to Vic. “Pinch me.”
Vic gave an evil grin, then did as Rob asked, hard enough that Rob let out a tiny yelp.
Okay, he wasn’t dreaming this.
“Mum, what’s going on? You’re not sick, are you?”
“No. Maybe… my eyes have been opened? I don’t know. I’ve just realized I’m your mother, and I’ve never acted like one, so I was wondering if there was a chance we could… I don’t know… start again? Maybe meet for breakfast one morning? You, Vic, me, your dad, Alex, Leo. The whole family.”
Family? She’d said family. Tears welled in Rob’s eyes. “Family?” he croaked.
“Yes, family. I want us to work together to become one. If you’re all willing.”
They’d never gotten along, but Rob knew he played his own part in that. If she was reaching out, would it be fair of him to slap that hand away?
Of course it wouldn’t. Vic had taught him better than that.
“I’d like that.”
“Really?” She breathed out. “You figure out when is good for you. I’m going to… I’m going to call Alex. I hope he’ll talk to me.”
“How about I call him, and then have him call you?”
“You’d do that?”
If it meant having a real family, even a dysfunctional one, then he’d definitely do it. “I will.”
“Okay. I… I appreciate that. Let me know what you decide, okay?”
“Okay, mum. I’ll talk to you later.” He was about to tap End when he heard her call his name. “Yes?”
“I… I love you, Rob.”
Before he could say anything, she was gone.
Rob’s head reeled. I might need to get back in the tank to sort this all out.
Vic stroked his arm. “You okay?”
“She said she loves me.”
“Of course she does. You’re a very loveable person,” Vic muttered right before he kissed Rob’s ear. He ignored the shivers that coursed through him.
Maggie was still standing there.
“Is this your doing?” he asked.
“No, it’s your Mum’s.”
“But you had a hand in it, didn’t you?”
Maggie shrugged. “Maybe?”
Rob was off the couch and hugging Maggie before he realized it.
“She said she loved me,” Rob whispered. “I can’t remember if that’s ever happened before.”
“It’s not going to be easy on any of you,” Maggie whispered. “But I think she’s worth trying to mend fences with.”
Rob did too. At least he wanted her to be. And now? He had the chance to find out.