A/N: Thanks for continuing to read, review, and follow! I really appreciate it. I apologize for the delay in updating. Life has gotten in the way of writing. Thanks for staying with me! This chapter picks up maybe a month from where the last one left off. Hope you enjoy this update!
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"Okay. I need you guys to unpack and take your dirty clothes to the laundry room, please." Marissa's request was met with groans from AJ, Miranda, and Gabby. "Yeah, I know, but the sooner you do it, the sooner we can all relax. We'll order pizza, make some popcorn, and watch some movies. Okay?"
The trio nodded and did as requested. The Tasker-Montgomery family had just gotten home from their weeklong trip to the lake. They had spent their time swimming and hiking and had also rented some paddle boats for AJ, Miranda, and Gabby to ride. Bianca and Marissa took turns riding with their kids and playing with Danny. There was one activity however that the entire family enjoyed together. They rented a pontoon boat and spent the day out on the water, taking care to bring plenty of sunscreen for all along with their life jackets. Everyone was sad to leave, but they needed to get back home because AJ's baseball camp was starting the following week.
Bianca, carrying a sleeping Danny, followed her wife and older children inside with Max trailing behind. She shook her head hearing AJ, Miranda, and Gabby grumble slightly and shared a look with Marissa who had simply rolled her eyes. It had been a long drive home, and the kids were a little tired and cranky so they were given a pass this time.
"Hopefully, their moods will improve with some rest and food."
"I think they will." Marissa grinned when she spotted a container on the kitchen counter. "Oh, I think this will definitely help."
"What is it? Bianca asked as she stepped closer to see what had caught her wife's attention. Soon, a smile broke out on her face. "Ah, Jessica was here. Yeah, this will improve their moods."
The couple had asked Jessica to stop by and gather their mail for them while they were gone which she was more than happy to do for them. Next to the stack of mail was a container of freshly baked chocolate chips cookies a note that simply read 'Welcome home!'.
"Well, dessert is taken care of. We just need to order pizza and salad, and we'll have dinner. Oh, I'll just grab our drinks from the cooler." Marissa said.
"That sounds perfect. Why don't you take care of all of that and let Max out, and I'll put Danny down and take our dirty clothes to the laundry room?" Bianca suggested.
"I like how you think. I'll sort through the mail while I'm here."
Bianca gave her wife a quick kiss and turned to head up to Danny's room when the phone rang.
"Go on. I'll take care of whoever it is." Marissa told her wife.
"Okay. I'll meet you back here." Bianca nodded and then left.
Marissa turned her attention to the phone and smiled when she saw the name flash across the screen. "Hey, Kendall."
"Hey, Marissa. I see that you made it home. Is everyone in one piece?"
"Yes, everyone made it back safe and sound, and everyone had a great time."
"I am glad to hear that. Where is my sister?"
"She's putting Danny down. Did you want to talk with her?"
"I can talk to her tomorrow. The reason I'm calling tonight though is to let you know that Mom's first column for 'The Banner' is up on its site. It's really good, and you all should check it out. And when I say you all, I honestly mean the whole family. I think it'll be good for the kids to see. Zach and I shared it with Spike and Ian. Oh, it's a video column."
"I suppose that makes sense. What's it about?"
"Basically, Bianca, but I don't want to give it away. It's all good though. I promise."
"Well, I'm definitely intrigued. Bianca is one of my favorite subjects after all."
Kendall chuckled. "I'm well aware."
"What's the overall response been? Has it been well received?" Marissa asked.
"It's been received extremely well. Honestly, there's only been a handful of negative responses so far, but unfortunately, that will always be the case which makes me both angry and sad."
"I feel the same way. So, even though the column has been received well …"
"Mom really wants to know what Bianca thinks. On this, it's her opinion that matters the most to Mom."
"Then, we will definitely watch it tonight, and knowing Bianca, she'll be calling Erica shortly thereafter."
"Thanks. Okay, I'm going to get off of here so you can enjoy your night. Give my love to Binx and the kids."
"I will. Thanks for the heads up on the column and give our love to Zach and your brood."
"Will do. Talk to you later."
/
Marissa hooked up her laptop and queued up Erica's video on their TV so the family could all watch the diva comfortably instead of being crowded around the laptop's smaller screen. Once she was done with hooking everything up, Marissa took her seat on the sofa and glanced over at Bianca. She could sense her wife was a little nervous. Bianca wasn't a fan of being the center of attention, and if what Kendall said was accurate, that's exactly what she was in Erica's column. Marissa also knew that her sister-in-law wouldn't steer them wrong. If Kendall said they needed to watch this video, they needed to watch this video. Marissa squeezed Bianca's hand and glanced around at the kids and then back to Bianca.
"Is everyone ready?" When Bianca nodded and the kids answered in the affirmative, Marissa clicked on the link.
"G-ma!" Danny exclaimed and clapped his hands the instant he saw Erica appear on the television screen.
"That's right, Sparky! There's G-ma!" Gabby said. While the older grandchildren hadn't used that title to Erica's face yet, it didn't stop them from encouraging the younger ones to use it. Maybe if they called her that enough, it would soften Erica enough for the older kids to call her that.
"Hello. I am Erica Kane, and this is the first column of 'The Banner Presents Ask Erica'."
Bianca smiled at the scene before her on screen. She could tell it had been recorded at her mother's home, her living room to be exact. Erica was seated in a tasteful and stylish, yet comfortable, chair. On the end table next to her was a cup of tea, and from what Bianca could tell, there was a piece of paper next to cup. The scene was perfectly set and reflected a combination of both Erica Kane and Viki Buchanan. This had been part of the negotiations between the two powerful women. You had Erica's commanding presence and Viki's sterling reputation. This partnership was a win-win for both sides, and they knew it. That was why they worked so hard on this and why they both compromised. Bianca shook her head as she watched her mother. Without a doubt, there was no one who could capture the public's attention like Erica Kane.
"In these columns, I will be answering your questions. Since this is the first one, I took some extra time to determine what I would start with, and I have decided to devote the entire time to just one question. I chose this particular question because it is very personal to me, and I want to give the topic the attention it deserves. Shall we start? Good." Erica picked up the paper that had been on the end table and began to read.
"Dear, Erica. First of all, I am a big fan of yours and have followed you for quite some time." Erica paused and smiled. "Thank you. Your letter is off to a good start." The diva winked at the camera before she continued. "I have a question, a dilemma if you will, that I hope you can help me with. My daughter, who I love very much, just told me that she is gay. I'm in shock, and I honestly don't know what to do or say. As I said, I love her, but now, I'm confused. There was never any indication of her preferring women over men. I ask myself if there is something that I or our family missed or even did that caused this. I worry about her future. Will she find someone and be happy? She always wanted children. Will that happen for her now? As I write these questions, I can see how this makes me sound. I just don't know. We haven't really talked since she came out to me. This is mainly because I don't know what to say. I would appreciate any advice you can give me. Sincerely, Confused in Lancaster."
Bianca knew exactly what her sister had meant in the conversation she had had with Marissa earlier. She met her wife's questioning gaze and knew Marissa was silently asking if Bianca was okay with not only the question but if it was okay to continue. Bianca nodded and turned her attention back to the screen.
Erica set the paper aside and addressed the camera. "Thank you for your question, dear. I will do my best to answer it. As most of you are aware, my youngest daughter, Bianca, is gay. It pains me to say that when she came out to me that I handled it horribly. That is actually an understatement. My reaction was entirely wrong, plain and simple, and I have no excuse for it. If I could go back in time and change one thing, it would be my reaction. When I look back now, I am truly ashamed of what I said and did. I will not go into the particulars of what was said. That is between Bianca and myself, and it took a long time to heal the wounds that my reaction caused. I will tell you that we do have a very good relationship now. While Bianca has a very forgiving nature, this wasn't something that could just be swept under the rug with a simple 'I am sorry'. No, it took more. I needed to change and grow. Acknowledging that fact was difficult for me, but I knew that if I wanted a relationship with my daughter, then I needed to do it. The decision to do whatever I needed to do was honestly very easy for the simple fact that I love Bianca."
Marissa glanced over at Bianca again, checking to see how she was doing. While the brunette's eyes were focused on the screen, she held out her hand for her wife. Marissa took the offered hand and gently squeezed it, providing the loving support Bianca needed.
"With Bianca's help, I realized that love is love. That it is no different between two women or two men than it is between a man and a woman. I also knew that, more than anything, I wanted my daughter to be happy. It didn't matter to me whether it was a man or woman who made her happy. No, that is not entirely true. It did matter. You see, I wanted her to find someone who treated her the way she deserved to be treated. I wanted her to find someone who listened to her, respected to her. Someone who was willing to fight anyone, including myself, for her. It took some time, as it does with all relationships, but she eventually found that person in Marissa. Bianca has told me that she has never been happier, and I believe her. It is so easy to see how much in love they are and how happy the two of them are together. I will be honest that I was hesitant when I first met Marissa because Bianca is my daughter after all, and my first instinct is to protect her. Marissa quickly won me over however, and she has more than proven herself. Marissa and my daughter Kendall's husband Zach are among a handful of people not afraid to tell me to my face when they believe I am in the wrong when it comes to their wives." Erica chuckled at that last comment as she remembered those disagreements.
Marissa grinned when Bianca and the kids glanced her way. They all knew that Erica was telling the truth.
"Or their children. Yes, Bianca and Marissa have four amazing children. There are a number of options, such as adoption, surrogacy, sperm or egg donation, invitro fertilization, etc…, that are available to same sex couples, a single person, or a couple struggling with fertility issues. So, you see, your daughter can still become a mother if she so chooses. Her sexual orientation is not a barrier to that, nor should it be for her or anyone else who wishes to become a parent." Erica paused to take a sip of tea and then began again.
"Now, you ask if there is something that you or our family did that caused your daughter to be gay. It is my opinion that no one can cause someone to be gay, and I do not believe that sexual orientation is a choice. No one chooses to be gay just as no one chooses to be straight or bi-sexual or whatever their sexual orientation is. I also believe there is nothing to 'fix' because there is nothing wrong. I love both of my daughters, and their sexual orientation has nothing to do with it. They are intelligent, kind, caring, and beautiful individuals, and words cannot express how proud of them I am. The best advice I can give you is to love your daughter and talk with her. Don't let the silence continue. And here is the most important part, when you talk with her, make sure you also listen to her. I wish I would have done that with Bianca when she came out to me. Eventually, I learned to do just that. As I said, it took some time, but I got there. I have to say that I admire Bianca a great deal. Our relationship is stronger than ever now. It took courage and strength for her to come out, just like it did for you daughter. I sincerely hope that this helps you and your daughter, and anyone else who may find themselves in a similar situation. Please keep me updated on your relationship." Erica smiled at the camera as she closed her column. "I look forward to hearing from all of you and will do my best to answer your questions. Have a wonderful day, and I will see you in my next column."
The screen went black, and the room was silent for a minute. It was Miranda who finally broke the silence.
"Are you okay, Mom?" The girl noticed tears in her mother's eyes.
Bianca nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Why are you crying, Mom?" Gabby asked.
"These are happy and proud tears. It took a lot for my Mom to admit what she did, and I'm very proud of her for doing that." Bianca accepted a tissue from her wife to wipe her tears away. "Thank you, Rissa."
"Is Erica better now than she was when you came out to her?" AJ asked.
"She is. Mom is one of my biggest cheerleaders now. I'd say she's right up there with your Ma and your Aunt K. She is a very strong ally. What other questions do you have about her column?"
Sensing that the kids had quite a few questions, Marissa thought it was a good time for some cookies and a round of drinks for everyone. "Why don't I get everyone some drinks and some of Jess's cookies for this conversation? Some wine for you, B?"
Bianca smiled at her wife. "I think that is a great idea. Thank you."
"I'll be right back." Marissa left the room as Miranda fired off the first question.
/
The family had talked for about an hour after watching the video with Bianca, along with Marissa's help, answering any questions the kids had. When they were done and their attention had turned to a movie, Bianca turned to her wife.
"I'm going to call Mom."
Marissa simply smiled. "I thought you might soon. Tell Erica I said she did a good job and am proud of her."
"I will." Bianca gave her wife a quick kiss and headed back to the couple's bedroom for some privacy.
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"Bianca, sweetheart, did you all have a good time?"
"Hi, Mom. We did. The lake house is for sale, and Rissa and I are thinking of buying it. We all love it up there."
"I'm glad you had a good time. It sounds like it would be a good investment then."
"That's what we think. Plus, if anyone in the family needs a place to escape to, they can stay there."
Erica chuckled. "Yes, a place like that might be useful for our family."
"We just watched your column for 'The Banner'."
"Oh, you did?"
"Yes, we did."
"And what did you think?"
Bianca could tell her mother was nervous about her reaction. "It was good, Mom, really good. Thank you for what you said. I'm proud of you. I know it wasn't easy to talk about some of that, but you did. I think you will help a lot of people."
"There is no reason to thank me. Once I started thinking about what I wanted to say, it was actually very easy. I am glad that I made you proud. I only hope that it wasn't painful for you."
"No, it wasn't. I made my peace with what happened a long time and have forgiven you."
Erica breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you. Do you really think it could help others?"
"I do. Whether you believe it or not, you are a role model. People look up to you and respect your opinion. Despite that, you could, unfortunately, face some blowback for a few of things you said. Not everyone will agree with you, and there will be trolls that will come after you."
"Oh please, I can handle them. I have been dealing with people like that for a very long time. I am not worried about them, and I don't want you to be either."
"Okay, I won't. Rissa said to tell you that she was impressed and proud of you as well."
"Tell her I said thank you."
"What did Viki say about the about the column?"
"She was very pleased. I have to admit, and I will deny this should it ever come up, that I have enjoyed working with her."
Bianca laughed. "My lips are sealed. I'm sure it also helps that you know this is killing Dorian."
"Well, that is an added bonus. Now, tell me about your vacation."
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"Wow, have you seen this column from Erica Kane? It's really good. You can tell that she loves her daughter. That Bianca is impressive in her own right."
"Shut up! She's not that great. Trust me. I know."
"Whatever. I think she is, and I think her wife is too. She's helping those gymnasts in that lawsuit. What happened to them is awful."
"She's not doing it out of the goodness of her heart. She's making money off of them. I bet she's making a lot …"
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A/N: Yeah, I left it there. See you soon!