Charlie held Violet while inside while talking to his parents, since she was still a bit nervous.
"How did this come to be," Jennifer wondered.
"We all talked about it. He'd been so sweet to us, we each fell in love with him, he supported us and gave us hope."
"I saw their worst and who they really are as people. By worst I mean at their lowest, not… you know."
"We weren't going to make him pick."
"I knew it would be painful, so I was going to keep my feelings to myself."
"He tried to, but they were all over his face at the comic book store," she smiled softly.
"Not my proudest moment," he blushed.
"What did you do, Charlie," Reginald leaned forward.
"He saw two guys hitting on me and Lucy… grabbed both of us, kissed us on our lips and pulled us away," she said proudly.
"Did you now, Charlie," Reginald smirked.
Charlie groaned.
"He was so jealous!"
Charlie groaned again, she turned around and hugged him.
"My brother always tries to play hero."
"He's definitely mine," Violet kissed him, "in more ways than one."
"I don't wanna hear anything else about me and Linus making out, because you two can't seem to stop."
Charlie stuck his tongue out and kissed her again.
Lucy walked in the house floating on air, dancing around the living room she gave Linus a hug from behind.
"Are you happy?"
"I am," she kissed his cheek and let him go.
"What happened?"
"I have a boyfriend," she sang.
"Hmmm… who could it be? Is it Cormac?"
"Cormac‽"
"Freddie?"
"No!"
"Joe or Thibault?"
She scoffed, Charlie you blockhead!"
"What, no that can't be right, is it Larry?"
She narrowed her eyes and he started laughing.
"Congrats on getting Charlie, I figured you were falling for him. Lemme guess; you had to ask him out?"
"That's exactly right."
"Some things never change. He's a lucky guy."
"He's luckier than you know."
"Do I need to give him the brother talk?"
"What," she burst out laughing, "the dating my sister speech, who even are you‽"
"Your brother."
"Younger brother, younger than both of us- he's not even afraid of you."
"I'm just trying to do my part."
"Okay tough guy, I'm taking a much needed shower."
"I don't want to know what you and him were doing."
"I spent the night over Violets after running around all day. Get your mind out of the gutter.
"Mom, the greatest thing happened yesterday," Patty walked in the front door.
"What's that Patty?"
"I've got a boyfriend!"
"Oh heavens, who is the lucky boy that's been blessed with my daughters heart?"
"Charlie Brown."
"That sweet boy? I can't think of anybody else who can take care of my baby."
"Mom!"
"What, you need a boy that understands you and your needs. I like him from what you've told me- so when are you bringing him to meet me, huh?"
"I don't know… we just made it official yesterday."
"But you've known him since you were a kid and you've been friends- you know… he could be your soulmate, never know what's scribed in the lei lines."
"You just want him to come over so you can pry in his third eye, or something."
"No, my little star child, you can read people's auras and make your own judgment, just like me."
Patty sighed.
"Do I embarrass you, honeybee, you can be honest."
"You don't, he just doesn't know about this- how we are, exactly."
"Don't you think you should be open with him if you want your relationship to work? If it's meant to be… well… you know. I raised you to be able to stand on your own, but care about people, blah, blah," her mom twirled her hand.
"I'll ask him to come over, you're right, I'm sorry… I'm not ashamed of who we are, please don't be mad."
"I'm not mad, you're just trying to find your way in the world. Nothing is going to work, however, unless you're your authentic self."
Patty sighed, you're right mom, I'll talk to him about it."
"I'm sure he'll be okay, he seems like the unbothered type. Good energy."
"Please don't be mad, but I kinda hide this part about me to appear more normal around those that'll judge me."
"You must be your authentic self, it's the only way to be. It may or may not get you as far as conformity, but you won't hate yourself as much."
"You don't hate me for that, do you?"
"No, it's normal for teens to vye to be different from their parents."
"It's not all lost… I did get Lucy and Violet to bond with me."
"How did that go?"
"It went great! Violet developed a stress eating disorder because of recent events, so she put on weight- she was reluctant, but now it's like her favorite thing. We came up with pet names for each other."
"Reminds me of my youth. People thought I was weird, or a hippie, then I found like minded individuals, oh and the retreats- I know you don't like those anymore. I miss those days. I had to do the normal thing, so you could have a good life, especially after your father left. Maybe I was too into it… some sort of heretic," she chuckled, "at least I wanted you to find your own path, not force my faith down your throat."
"I'm not ashamed. I should be proud… I shouldn't care- there's a girl at school that's Pagan and she's proud of it, I think my friend Lamar is too."
"I remember the first time you picked out your own tarot cards, and then you worked so hard with them. You just wanted to do things, I never pushed you. As long as you were a good person, I didn't care."
"Harm none, do what ye will, lest it come back threefold."
"You remember!"
"I think that's why things fell apart… I wasn't so nice."
"That happens when you look for the right path, mistakes happen, things are lost, pain is experienced. Then as you move the right way, there's rebirth, new things come, like Charlie."
"I guess if I stayed who I was, I wouldn't have him, just like I was rejected by Pig Pen."
"That Pig Pen really is one with nature," she laughed.
"I'll invite him over, I'm sure he won't freak out, I got faith."
"May the goddess watch down on you, my star child."
After talking to her mom, just like Lucy, she had a nice shower with a change of clothes. Her mom gave her a lot to think about, she never really talked about her religion with anybody, she didn't practice either, but she knew she couldn't hide it forever, not from Charlie and the girls at least. To be no more secrets between them, she knew she would, at some point, discuss it hoping that it wouldn't be an issue with the others. Patty dug around for her old tarot deck, hoping to find more answers, or at least guidance.
