After that brief discussion, Austin dropped me off at Sonic Boom. Rosie was at the counter fixing her nails.

"Morning, Alls," she said. "What's new?"

"Austin and I just got in an argument at Krishna's school with a lesbian couple," I explained.

"Oh, come on. Spill the beans. Lesbi-honest."

"Some little boy pushed Krishna off the swings and Austin threatened him in which Principal Reese caught us. The boy's moms came and his dad-mom, Paige was taking her son's side."

"What?"

"I know. Angry Peppermint Patty was threatening me and Austin."

"Marcy is the lesbian. Peppermint Patty is just athletic."

"Does everybody know that?"

"Of course."

"Now Austin and I have to have a play date with them."

"Haha. Poor thing. If you want me to come with y'all—"

"No, it's alright."

Charlie, the young delivery man, came into the store with a box. He was an attractive twenty-three year-old with a built body. Charlie always comes to deliver some new instruments for us.

"Mrs. Ally, Mrs. Rosie," he said.

"Well hello, Mr. Charlie," smiled Rosie. "How are you today?"

"Good. You two look very pretty today, especially you Miss Ally."

I blushed and hid my face in the papers. Rosie chuckled, "Mr. Charlie, you know I'm married."

"And Mr. Dez is a lucky man, so is Mr. Austin. I better get going. Bye."

"Bye, Charlie," I said.

As he was leaving, Rosie was smiling and staring at Charlie's butt.

"Rosie." I caught her in the act.

"What? I still got one hot redhead at home who has a tattoo that says 'Property of Rosie.' It's not silly."

"Like when you wanted to name Gavin Foo-hen-cio."

"Hey, I liked it the first few weeks until Dez and Austin started calling him Fu-Fu."

"But it was still classic."

"Shut up!" She scoffed. "By the way, when are you and Austin ever getting married?"

"Rose, I already told you. Austin and I just don't want to."

"You two have been together for ten years, have three kids, and have had sex for who knows how many times. When is it time to settle down?"

"We are. He and I are…married in our hearts."

"Aww. That's so sweet. You wanna know how Dez popped the question?"

"Sure."

"We were at the Chinese restaurant called the Red Dragon. Dez was treating me to sushi, lobster, crab legs, and orange chicken, which tastes like butt. It was so romantic until Dez had an allergic reaction to the lobster in which we ended up in the emergency room where his tongue swelled up to the size of a brisket. He kept murmuring something to me. At the emergency room, when he got a shot, Dez handed me a fortune cookie. I opened it and my fortune said, 'Will you marry me?' I said yes."

"So romantic."

"I know, right? Now I'm saying that Charlie has a crush on you."

"No, he doesn't."

"He always looks at you and compliments you. You can either have that young sexy stallion… or Austin."

"I choose Austin."

"But Charlie is so sexy that I just want that boy to slap my ass and get me pregnant! Ow!"

"Sorry, Rose. I'm into my blonde, tough, childish policeman."

"Alright, bud. You two got a family and I hope you know that when you and Austin make sex tapes, sometime Austin sends them over to Dez and I."

"Wait, what?"

"Just kidding, Alls. Just kidding. I just want to see how jealous Austin would be when he sees Charlie."

Throughout the day, we sold a few guitars, a drum set, and a saxophone. I taught two little kids how to play the acoustic guitar and Rosie taught one disrespectful boy how to play the drums. She wished of a device that would allow her to shock the boy through the drums when he played it wrong.

After that afternoon, I returned home where Austin and the girls were home.

"Hey, Mom," said Leighton.

"Hi, Mommy," said Krishna.

"Hey, girls," I said as I gave each of them a kiss. "Where's your dad?"

"Daddy's fixing that broken step on the stairs," Krishna explained.

"Hello, Ms. Ally," said a voice from the window. It was our next door neighbor, Norm. He's the nice man who's a bit older than Austin and me.

"Hi, Norm," I said.

"Hey, Mr. Norman," said Leighton. "Come on, Krishna. Let's go have a tea party."

"Norm, may I ask you something?" I asked.

"Of course, Ms. Ally."

"Today at Krishna's school, a little boy pushed her off the swing and Austin threatened him. The principal caught us and now we have to have a play date with the boy and his…moms. I don't know how to deal with them. One of them, Molly is actually reasonable, but her partner, Paige is blaming us for everything."

"Well, Ally, this couple is Marcy and Peppermint Patty."

"Finally, someone says that Peppermint Patty is a lesbian."

"Listen, Ms. Ally, I'll tell you a story. I was actually raised by my two moms."

"Really?"

"Yeah. My mom-mom, Sarah was more nicer and reasonable than my mom-dad, Pam. Pam was always standing up for me and making me feel like a wimp because she was tougher than me but only because she loved me as much as my mom does."

"How do I get Paige and Austin to get along? Both of them hate each other's guts."

"Just try to find something that they have in common. Sports, movies, alcohol of any kind."

"Thank you, Norm."

"Any time, Ms. Ally."

By the time, Austin came back. I was already setting out food for our guests.

"Yay," he scoffed. "I can't wait for Henny Penny and Foxy Loxy to come."

"Austin, would you try to get along with Paige?" I begged.

"I'll get along with Molly. Not Paige."

"What is it with Paige that you don't like?"

Ding dong! They're here. I walked over to the door and opened it.

"Hi, Molly, Paige," I said.

"Hi, Ally," said Molly. Paige just gave me a dirty look.

Krishna walked in and said, "Mommy, can Gabriel come play in my room?"

"Of course," I cooed.

"Gabriel, no pushing," Molly warned him. Gabriel followed Krishna into her room.

Molly and Paige sat on the couch across from us.

"Thank you for coming over," I said as I sat next to Austin. "We really don't have that many friends over."

"What happened about Rose and Dez?" asked Austin.

"Austin, they're family."

"It's difficult for Paige and I," said Molly. "Since we're the only gay parents in the school. So what do you two do?"

"I run a music shop with my cousin," I answered.

"I'm a police officer," answered Austin. "What do you two do?"

"I am nurse at the hospital," said Molly.

"And I coach high school girls basketball and I teach health class," said Paige.

"Oh, that's cool," I said. "Do you guys have any other kids?"

"Gabriel's are only son," explained Paige. "He looks like the both of us because my brother donated his sperm to Molly so he could be half her and half my side."

"Is Krishna your only kid?" asked Molly.

"No, we have two more," said Austin. "Our son, Jase—he's fourteen and our other daughter, Leighton, who's eleven."

"Would you two like some wine?" I asked.

"Sure," answered Paige. I poured some for the four of us. After awhile, I started pouring more and more.

"Are y'all dolphin fans?" asked Paige. "Cause I am."

"Yes, we loovvvveee them," exclaimed Austin. "Paige, are you as tough as we think?"

"What are you saying, Prissy Boy?"

"I challenge to a Indian leg wrestling match."

"Oh, you're on, Blondie!"

Paige and Austin got to the floor. Both of them lifted one of their legs up three times and started wrestling. It was a bit tough until Austin finally knocked Paige backwards. Molly and I cheered. Both of them got up and shook hands.

"I like you both," said Paige. "Oh, shit, we gotta go. Molly, can you drive?"

"Sure, honey," she said. "Gabriel, come on."

Gabriel came down and we all exchanged goodbyes. Austin and I leaned up against the door.

"You and Paige are friends now," I smirked.

"I know," he admitted. "She's kinda cool when it's not her time of the month."

"Dad, Ally, can I talk to y'all?" said Jase.

"Sure, sweetie," I said.

"I got a facebook request…from Donna."

"Your mom?" asked Austin. "Why?"

"I don't know. I've been emailing her—"

"Whoa, whoa. You emailed Donna?"

"Dad, you got a problem?"

"Yes, I do, Jase. My problem is that you're talking to the woman who didn't give a damn about you."

"She's my mom."

"She carried you, man. Donna's your birth mother, but did she raise you?"

"This is why I didn't want to tell you."

"Jase, Donna abandoned us. She left you all by yourself when you were four and I came home to find her gone."

"No wonder Mom left. You are irresponsible, immature, and control me like a kid. Ally never does that."

"I give Ally permission to tell you what to do. That's what real mothers do!"

"Ally's not my mom!"

My heart shattered like glass. Before my eyes could start watering, I walked into the kitchen and started cleaning the dishes.

"Look what you did," Austin said to Jase. "After all she's done for you, this is how you treat her? Go to your room. Now, Jase!"

"Fine."

He finally told me the truth. I'm not his mother. I was never his mother in the first place.

"Alls," said Austin next to the fridge. "You alright, darlin'?"

"Alright," I lied.

"No, you're not. I'm sorry for what Jase said."

"Don't apologize for him, Austin. I get it. I'm just his stepmother. I'm not his mom, okay? And I'm fine with that."

"It's not okay. He's just the dumb, confused son I raised who've could've been worse if it wasn't for you."

"Austin, I'll never understand him. I'm not his mom."

"You are too. You are more of a mother to him than Donna ever was and he knows that."

"Austin, when was the last time I kissed him on the cheek like a real son and mother do? When was the last time I ever disciplined him? When did he ever thought of calling me Mom instead of Ally?"

"My son is your son. My daughters are your daughters. He may be my son by blood, but he's your son by heart."

"I know. What did I say to you the day you asked me to move in with you and Jase?"

"Can we do it again…this time with oil?"

"No." I chuckled. "DNA doesn't make a family. Love does."

"Oh, yeah. Can do it again now?"

"No, not now. Maybe in a minute." I laughed.