Chapter Twelve

The family of Joseph Martin Deline stood in a small semi-circle in the City of Miami Cemetery.

In the center of the circle, surrounded by her sons, grandchildren and daughter in law was Bette Deline, gripping the hand of each of her sons. "I just... can't believe that he's gone," she said, wiping a stray tear that fell down her face. "I naively thought that your father would be around forever."

Ed nodded as he moved his hand up his mother's arm and gripped her shoulder gently, "I know, Ma," he said softly, "we all did."

The older woman sighed as she turned and looked at him, "Thank you so much for flying down here, Edward, it really means a lot. Marty loved you and your family so much."

Bobby, feeling a little neglected, cleared his throat softly, "I'm going to go back to the hotel, Ma," he said.

"Bobby," Bette said, walking over to her youngest. Sighing softly, she reached out and put a hand on his face, "this isn't your fault."

"Yeah," he said quietly, "sure."

Ed looked from his brother to his mother, "What's going on?"

Sighing, Bette looked at her other son and his family, "Bobby has an illness, that's all."

"Oh my god," Bobby began to laugh hard as he covered his face with his hands. His body trembling in laughter, he lowered his hands and looked at his mother, "An illness? That's a new one, Ma," shaking his head, he said, "I'm gay, ma. I'm homosexual. I like to sleep with men."

"That is enough!" Bette said harshly. "We just buried your father, Robert, we haven't even left the cemetery yet. Have a little decency."

Clearing his throat, Ed looked at his brother, "Um, listen, Bob, do me a favor, okay?" He tossed his keys at his brother, "Take Jillian and the kids to ma's would you? ma, I'll ride over with you in the limo, I want to talk to you."

Not allowing his mother to have anything to say on the matter, Ed led her back to the long black stretch limousine that was waiting. Bobby sighed as he looked at the car keys in his hand and walked over to where Jillian, Delinda and Joey were standing.

"Listen," he said softly to Jillian, "if you don't want me around the kids, than I understand."

"Don't be ridiculous, Bobby," Jillian said, shaking her head. Embracing her brother-in-law, she kissed his cheek and said, "you are their uncle and they love you, as do Eddie and I."

Bobby smiled softly at his sister-in-law, "I always did like you, Jillian," he said. Looking at the kids, he said, "Everybody ready?"

"I can't believe Robert," Bette said, shaking her head, "that's what killed Marty, you know," she said, looking at her son, "him telling us that he's..." she paused, unable to say the word.

"Gay, ma," Ed supplied, "and don't ever let Bob hear you blame him for dad's death, it will destroy you."

"You can't honestly tell me that you approve of this lifestyle, Edward."

"Whether or not I approve, ma, isn't important," he said, "he's my brother and I love him. I want him to be happy and if he's happy like this, than I'm happy for him."

"It's vulgar," Bette spat. "I didn't raise my son to be this way."

Sighing deeply, Ed looked at his mother, "ma, he's happy. He's still the same guy that he's always been. Don't shut him out of your life simply because you don't approve of the way he lives his. Dad wouldn't want that."

"Your father wouldn't want a homosexual for a son either, Edward!"

Shaking his head, Ed sighed again, "I'm not going to talk to you when you are like this, ma. You want to shut Bob out and blame him for dad's death, than fine, that's on your head. Me, I'm going to love and support my brother."

Bette gasped in horror, "You aren't going to let him be with your kids are you?"

"Oh for the love of God!" Ed shouted, looking at his mother, "What is wrong with you, ma? What are you afraid of? That Bob's 'gayness' will rub off on Delinda and Joey? Here's a newsflash for you, ma, you can't catch it. It's not a disease, it's not a sickness, it's just a way of life."

His mother bit her bottom lip and looked away from him, feeling her eyes well up with tears. Seeing his mother's reaction, he sighed and moved over and sat next to her, "Listen, ma," he said gently, taking her hand, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I'm stressed out, I'm upset over dad, work has my stomach in a knot and I'm worried about you and Bobby. You don't have to approve of the choice he's made on how to live his life, but at least be supportive of him," reaching out, Ed took his mother's chin in his hand and swiveled her face to look at him, "please, ma, for me."

Bette looked at her son and nodded, "Alright, Edward."

"So, Joey," Bob said, looking at his nephew through the rear view mirror, "how do you like school?"

Joey scoffed and plastered on a fake smile, "It's great."

"Ah," he responded, "the teenage angst years," grinning at Jillian, he said, "You and Ed must be having loads of fun right now."

"Tons," she said with a smile.

"You know, Uncle Bobby," Delinda said, scooting up closer to the edge of her seat, "I have this professor in school, he teaches a class on textiles, you two would be perfect for each other."

"Delinda!" Jillian said, turning and looking at her, her face red from embarrassment.

Bobby laughed as he shook his head, "I'll keep that in mind, Dee, thanks, but I have to know one thing, and this is very, very important," he paused, grinning at his niece, "Does he wear Calvins or Guess?"

Grinning, Delinda said, "Why Calvins, of course."

Bobby laughed, shaking his head as he pulled into the driveway of his mother's home. Cutting the engine he sighed deeply as he looked at the house, "I haven't been in this house in a long time."

Feeling badly for him, Jillian reached over and put a hand on his arm, "Bobby, I've told Eddie a thousand times already, but I am so sorry."

Turning to look at her, he managed to give her a soft smile, "I appreciate that, Jillian, thank you."

She nodded and managed a small smile, leaning over and kissing his cheek. Pulling the keys out of the ignition, he handed them to his sister-in-law and said, "Well, let's get this show started."

The limousine pulled up to the curb of the house and soon the passenger door was opened. Sliding out of the car after his mother, Ed reached into his pocket and took his wallet out to tip the valet.

"Oh, Edward, put your money away," Bette said as she walked into the house.

Sighing after his mother, Ed made sure she was inside before taking some money out and giving it to the valet anyway, "Thanks for everything, I appreciate it."

The valet nodded and smiled, tipping his hat, "Thank you, Mr. Deline, and I'm sorry for the loss of your father."

Nodding, Ed swallowed hard and walked over to where his wife was waiting. Encircling his arms around her, he sighed deeply into her hair, "Can we go home now?"

Jillian's heart broke for him as she hugged him back, kissing his cheek softly, "Soon," she promised.

Sighing deeply, he pulled back, "Where are the kids?"

"Inside," she said, "Bette said something about wanting to give them something."

Ed nodded as he led her inside. Spotting his brother standing before a large picture window, he went over and cleared his throat to get the younger man's attention. Once Robert faced him, Ed said, "I talked to ma, she's going to try her best not to give you a hard time."

Robert smiled quietly at his brother, the man whom he has admired long enough to remember. "Thanks, Ed," he said, "but I don't need ma's approval to live my life."

"No, I know you don't," he said, "but it'd sure make things a hell of a lot easier if she wasn't riding your ass all the time."

"That's true," he admitted. Looking at his brother, he extended his hand, "Thanks."

Pushing the hand aside, Ed stepped forward and gave him a hug, "I love ya, Bobby," he said softly, "I may have not shown it as much as I should have, but I do love you."

Swallowing hard, Robert nodded, hugging his brother back, "I know, Ed, I've always known."

"Bobby."

The two brothers broke their embrace to find their mother standing in the room. Still in her black dress, she regarded her youngest son thoughtfully as she walked over to him. "I'm sorry, honey," she said. "I said some vicious things to you and I had no right. I didn't mean any of them. While I don't approve of this lifestyle you want to live, you are my son and I love you."

Robert nodded as he smiled at his mother, "Thank you, mom."

Holding her arms open, Bette invited her youngest son into them for the first time in years.