"I'm so sorry." Callie said when we got back to the hotel room.

Mom hadn't said a word the whole car ride. I had cried- quietly- in the back. No one knew. Unless my eyes got red. I rubbed my eyes self consciously.

Then, Callie hugged me. "I'm sorry this wasn't the grand Thanksgiving you were hoping for." She said quietly.

"It's not your fault." I reassured. I hugged her back, then went over to Mom. I sat next to her on the bed. She was trying not to cry, I could tell.

Callie sat on Mom's other side. "I didn't think they would be so horrible. I'm sorry she spoke to you that way- it's really not acceptable."

Mom took a deep breath. She was trying so hard to keep her tears in. "Calliope, don't apologize. It isn't your fault at all."

Callie wrapped her arms around Mom. "I knew they wouldn't be too happy... but it was bad. I feel terrible."

"Don't feel bad..." Mom said quietly.

Callie kissed her cheek and pulled away. "Way to ruin our first Thanksgiving together." She looked at her lap.

"It was still a good Thanksgiving. We're in Florida. That's pretty cool." I said, making Callie smile a little. I didn't want everyone to be so upset.

"You're right." Callie nodded a little, then stood up. "Wanna go for a walk on the beach?" She looked at both of us.

Mom looked at me, and I nodded.

"Sure. Why not." Mom started to smile a little bit too, standing up. "I'm going to change into something more comfortable, though."

"Me too." Callie nodded.

"Me three." They both laughed at that, and I smiled.

I was a little worried about Mom. She seemed super hurt by what was said. Who wouldn't be? But, those people didn't know Mom. They don't know how much she does for me. They don't know how happy Callie and Mom make each other. They don't get it. I hope Mom realizes that. That woman was wrong- so, so wrong. I couldn't have asked for a better Mom than my own, and I knew that. That was all that mattered. Mom knows that, I hope.

The sound of the ocean was calming after a rather stressful last few hours. The waves hitting the sand. The rush of water up and down the beach.

There wasn't anyone else in sight. Most people were probably eating dinner with their families- I assumed.

The sun was setting. The oranges and pinks and purples reflected into the water, and illuminated the sand.

The sand felt soft on my feet as I walked next to Mom, who was in between Callie and I. They were holding hands. I didn't mind.

"I get the whole crappy relationship with your family thing. I don't want you to feel bad about it." Mom said suddenly, looking at Callie.

I stayed quiet, looking at the view in front of me, but also listening in on the conversation.

Callie laughed a little, "It's because I'm gay. It's... only that. Everything was fine before I said I was gay."

"I'm sorry." Mom spoke softly, sadly.

"It's not that they didn't like you as a person. They just... don't like that you're a woman who I'm dating?" Mom and Callie both laughed.

Mom sighed, "I don't know what my parents would say about me being gay..." She spoke thoughtfully.

"Do you talk to them?" Callie asked.

"God, no. I haven't talked to them in years." Mom said quickly. "Not since they kicked me out."

I knew about her parents. Why they kicked her out. She says it wasn't me. But in a way it was. I couldn't control it, but my existence got her kicked out.

"They kicked you out?"

I was surprised Mom hadn't told Callie all of this. But, then again, Mom hates talking about her parents. They hurt her, badly. I had found that out when I was 9 years old and asked Mom why I didn't have two grandmas and two grandpas like all of my friends did.

"Yeah, six months after I had Olivia. I mean... I'd say they were gracious in giving me time to be able to work again. And, I had enough money and everything to rent out a condo. But, the way they did it was horrible."

"But you were only 16?"

"Yeah."

"How did you do that?"

"It was this whole legal thing, Teddy's parents helped me out a lot. I stayed with them until we were able to have them co-sign for the rent." Teddy's parents had helped my mom when she needed it most- I knew how grateful Mom was. They were very important people to her.

"Wow."

Mom laughed sadly. "My point is, sometimes family stinks."

"Yeah, they do." Callie said sadly.

"Your sister seems wonderful, though." Mom changed the topic.

I looked at them. Callie was smiling now.

"She's amazing."

"Does she live here? In Florida?" I asked, reinserting myself in the conversation.

"No, she lives like 30 minutes from my apartment, actually. We would have travelled with her, but they decided to make a whole two week vacation out of it... ya know, for the kids."

Mom nodded, "Both of her kids are adorable."

"Lexi was so sweet. She kept talking about how much she loved my nails," I giggled. My nails were painted a bright blue, I had painted them before we left.

"She was fascinated by you, Liv" Callie laughed. "She always gets so excited to meet new people."

I smiled at that.

"Elijah was so stinkin' cute with that little bow tie. I'll never get over it." Mom said after a few moments.

Callie laughed, "Aria's husband loves to dress him up. Last Christmas he had this little baby tie that had candy cane stripes. It was so cute."

"Awww!" Mom smiled. "Her husband seemed nice too. Mike, right?"

"Mhm." Callie nodded.

"Yeah, they seem great. I'm glad we got to meet them."

"I'm glad you got to meet them too. And Tia Dania really liked you guys. I just wish the night ended a little better." Callie bit her cheek.

"It's okay!" I reassured. "I think this is a pretty good way to end Thanksgiving." I referred to being on the beach. It was a nice end to a holiday.

"You're right, it's pretty nice." Callie smiled, nodding.