Mother and mother in Law
(Santana)
As I was enjoying my independence in New York, it was so good to return to my hometown in Lima and be just me, Santana Berry-Lopez, the eldest daughter of Juan Lopez, Hiram Berry and Shelby Corcoran. It still sounded weird to put Shelby in this list. I think it was a work in progress and soon this weird feeling would be over. Otherwise, It was great to have no other obligation besides enjoying my home and rest. This was the place I was only the daughter, not the leader of a pie family which I controlled the finances of everyone. Only this way we could be able to pay the rent, bills, food, and still do miracle to buy a piece of clothing. It was nice to be cared for and pampered.
It was glory when papi bought the plane tickets for me and Rachel, so we could spend Thanksgiving in Lima. Quinn also won tickets because Rachel asked my papa. Mike bought his own train ticket and he said he would travel with his folks. His parents were still hurt because he gave up college to face the school of life.
Be at home was phenomenal. Beth was walking in the room with quick yet still uncertain steps. She was lovely baby. I opened my arms and gave her many kisses on that soft cheek. Then, I ran to my bedroom and jumped on my bed, and then I opened my arms and legs as if making angels in the snow. The feeling was pure happiness and I couldn't stop laughing. I was in my big old bed in my old big room: the space where I could have some privacy: something that had become rare after I moved to New York. I couldn't even masturbate right. The only time I could do it was in the shower and I had to be quick or someone would complain about the expense of water. I've never imagined Losertown could be so good.
"Don't break your bed!" Shelby appeared in the doorway with Beth in her lap. I was startled at her intrusion, but not angry. My mood was too good.
"Shelby, if I knew how much I was going to miss my little corner of the world, I would have thought better about moving."
"I can see it!" She smiled.
"A world without having to share an inch with Rachel it's paradise in my book!"
"Considering you've been sharing places with me since the belly…"
Rachel appeared in the doorway and seemed less impressed and even slightly offended. Of course I said it for real. Rachel was like a nightmare roommate: always complaining of the organization, the shoes out of place, the clothes on the bed. But I had to endure. The other option was moving to that awful Quinn's bedroom. Hell no! Too dark and too small. And Rachel and Quinn would be free to stay like two rabbits in that apartment. I would never allow it. My sister shouldn't live a marriage at 17, and allow her to sleep in the same room with that blood sucker Fabray would look like that. She needed to get her balance before playing house.
"If you hate me so much, you could just change the room with my girlfriend."
"You move, hobbit. The big room is mine. I deserve that." I got up from my bed and went towards her to touched my index finger on the tip of her big nose. "Still, as your older sister, my duty is to take care of you. This includes preventing you be fooled by the claws of certain vultures."
"Don't talk about Quinn like this."
"Did I mention her name, by chance?" I laughed. "Careful with the parapraxes."
She grunted and stomped off toward her room. It was good to know that certain things were still preserved. I looked out my bedroom window. Our yard was transformed; it was bigger because of the daddy's greenhouse: it didn't exist anymore. Papi warned us he would remove it because it was too hard to have a structure that was no longer used. O got it, but my heart sank when I saw that empty space.
I refocused on my room. There were all the things I left behind. I lie down on my bed, on that soft mattress. I closed my eyes and didn't open them until I felt my bed move.
"Who gave you permission to enter my territory, runt?" I said without look at my sister.
"Kurt told you about the party?"
The party. I forgot. We got emails from the old gang about a party. I wasn't so excited as well to see the old friends. Not when Brittany wasn't in town.
"I don't know if I'll go. The only thing I know right now is that I want to sleep for a few hours before doing anything."
"You should go. Kurt said to get there at seven."
"So, it means at eight or better: eight thirty."
"I don't get you party rules."
"You don't get a lot of things, Ray."
"Girls?" Papi gave small knock on the door before entering. "Is everything okay?"
"Yes!" Rachel smiled and hugged him again. "Thanks again for buying our tickets."
"I know you didn't have enough money to come, and it was unthinkable a Thanksgiving without you two. Call it a win win situation." He patted Rachel's hair before sitting on the edge of my bed. "Sorry to not drive you girls home. But I needed to rest a bit more before go to the hospital. That's the deal: 24 hours of ER today and tomorrow to have my Thanksgiving with my girls."
"No problem, papi! I had to listen Shelby's terrible musical test along the way, but it worth."
"We were listening to 'Rent' soundtrack!" Rachel complained. "It's a classic!"
"I see your point, mija!" Papi laughed.
"Pai!" Rachel was legitimately offended.
"Do you want something to eat? Enjoy that Shelby is in a good mood."
"How are you two?" Rachel asked cautiously. We knew papi was very reserved to discuss matters like that. "Is everything fine?"
"Let's say I started to understand where your evil genius came from." Rachel protested grumbling, which made papi smile. "On the other hand, your mother makes me happy in a way I never thought it would be possible after Hiram gone."
"I'm glad for you!" Rachel hugged him and I just watched the scene. Okay that was getting used to the idea of my parents being in a relationship, but I still had to go over some bad feelings to fully accept Shelby as my mother.
"Well... what do you want to do now? Eat? Resting?" Papi asked.
"Papi, if you allow me, first I am going to talk with my bed! Seems that I haven't slept right for two centuries."
"Is everything fine with studies and work?"
"They are under control. But it isn't an easy task. Which is why I want to enjoy my free time and not think about anything involving New York!"
"Not even Paul?" Rachel teased.
"Who is Paul?"
"The new Santana's BFF" I gave a cushioned look to my sister, but she wasn't deterred. "He calls her every night, as if it wasn't enough see her every day at school. The other day they went out on a date."
"I don't believe it!" Papi got a little jealous, but disguised with sarcasm.
"That was just a movie… You know what, you two, out of my room!" I threw a pillow. Rachel smiled and papi respected me.
Paul was a good guy and we kissed a few times in school after we had a date. But I wouldn't call it a relationship for real, at least not now. The truth was that since Brittany went away to the other side of the country I couldn't allow myself to just let it be, even knowing that we were free to do whatever we want. Paul was my closest friend in Stuyvesant and I think it would be natural to get involved. I still didn't know if this would happen for a genuine feeling or because I was lonely. I saw Rachel and Quinn kissing every single day. Mike had Angela. Even Johnny had some girls. I had a brief encounter with my fingers once a week. I could see having sex with him. But I wonder if that would be enough? Why Brittany had to go? Why she chose Los Angeles? I was happy in New York. My life made sense in the metropolis. But someone was missing: her.
…
(Quinn)
I didn't know what to do. Since I got home, my mother kept bombarding me with trivial questions about New York. She complimented my dress, said it was beautiful, that I seemed more mature. She asked if I was hungry numerous times, and how were the New York stores, streets, people, sights, restaurants, society. She asked about my job, school. If I was watching that soap opera, she told some family gossips. In other words: she was talking about everything we had spoken by phone. I knew my mom too well to say that she was nervous about something.
I had a good clue what it was about. Mom wanted to occupy her mind with any kind of talk just to avoid the white elephant in the room: it was the first time I met her after the phone call: the one I admitted to her that not only I was living with the Berry-Lopez sisters in New York, but also I was dating one of them. It was hard to say to my mother, even in a phone, "I'm gay".
I know it was difficult for her to absorb the information. She was the minister's daughter, straight, ex-wife of a homophobe. I decided to talk about it over the phone because I thought the distance would lessen the impact and it would be easier. By mom's attitude, I was wrong. I tried to give her some oxygen and gave an excuse to unpack my bags.
It was sad, but I felt like I was entering in that living room of a beautiful guesthouse run by the mother. It didn't feel like home anymore: it was just my mother's house. I hated the floral wallpaper, the princess bed, I didn't care for the stuffed animals I leaved behind. Still, I spent a few good hours alone in that comfortable "pension", until I heard my mom's shout that dinner was ready.
"I made your favorite, Quinnie." She smiled. "Roast pork and salad with strawberry."
"Sounds great, mom." It was actually my favorite, but I wasn't hungry.
"I must remember to thank Dr. Lopez for your ticket. Do you think a bouquet of white lilies is convenient?"
"They express friendship, right?"
"According to your aunt Jane, yes."
"It's a very nice gesture of gratitude."
"I think so. I can send the flowers to the hospital."
I nodded and I refocused on the plate while Mom talked more gossip about the family. Other day she saw the tattooed woman who was my father's lover dad (he was already with another woman and lived in Texas now). She said she insulted the woman with elegance. As she spoke, I forced myself to eat to please her. Mom, of course, still had more things to push into my belly. She went to the fridge and grabbed a medium pot dessert.
"Mom, I'm full!" I tried to refuse. "May I try it later? In addition, you know I can't eat too much fat."
"Today you can. And you are in great shape, Quinnie. You are even thinner than the time you moved out." She forced a smile to encourage me. "Just try a little. It's a recipe I learned in cooking club."
I had to give in. I served both for me and for mom. I ate the creamy gelatin with fruit and it really was delightful. Mom was a good cook, but her talent has been little explored for many years in favor of leaving the service in the hands of the employees.
"Sometimes I buy this kind of dessert at lunch. There is a good café near my house and Rachel love to go there just to buy pots of dessert like this one." I smiled, but the joy is gone as soon as I noticed my mom's frown.
"What are your plans for tomorrow?" She changed the subject.
"Apparently, Kurt Hummel will give a party in honor of the former choir members. I'll call Rachel later to see what time she and Santana will show up, because I need my ride."
Again the tension was visible. I analyzed the stressed on her features. Maybe it's time to stop avoiding the subject.
"I would like to have a dinner with you and Rachel. She is a wonderful girl and I'm sure you will like her."
"You shouldn't talk about this person who has deceived you."
"Mom!"
"She must be a seductress. I'm not surprised with the creation she had… of course she would be a dyke. Wasn't her sister the school's whore? The one who slept with everybody that walked on two legs like you said once?"
"Mom! No! That's not true. It never was. Rachel didn't seduce me. On the contrary, I was the one who seduced her, and I didn't play fair to conquer Rachel. Those things I said Santana isn't true either: I was just anger because we were rivals and she makes me lose my cool. She still does. And their parents are very good people. Mr. Berry was a nice man, and Mr. Lopez is kind of strict on his daughters, but he is also one of the most righteous people I've had the pleasure of knowing."
"They might be good people like you say, and I glad they are. Which I don't understand, Quinnie, which I refuse to believe is that you are..." She looked away. She couldn't say the word.
"Lesbian?" I said calmly, but firmly. "I'm sorry for not being a princess who would win the charming prince as you imagined. I really am sorry. But the daughter that will marry a man of an important family in society is Frances Greta Fabray. Not me. I'm lesbian, Mom. Gay, homo, dyke, as you want to call it. I don't care. I'm not ashamed of who I really am."
"You're not this!" She was on the verge of losing her composure. "You're just confused... it's just one of those phases of experimenting that some girls have when they go to college. This happened to some of my friends, and now they are all married with kids. It'll pass."
"Mom, look at me." I held her gently by the shoulders. "If I could choose, I would never be gay. It's hard. Many people don't understand, they are blind of prejudices, and therefore don't accept people like me. Nobody choose be gay. You simply born that way, I guess."
"You didn't born that way! I never would have conceive a gay baby. There aren't those things in our family! So you didn't born this way!" She shouted. "You are my Quinn, not a riotous."
"Mom…" I tried to say more softly, despite the urge to cry. "I am the same Quinn that goes to church on Sundays, devours peppermint candies, takes photographs, watches odd movie that you hate, and I still love my floral dresses. Don't you see it, Mom? There is nothing different. I love you and I'm here with an open heart asking for a chance to show you I'm still the old Lucy Quinn Fabray. The one who hates the first name, that tries to be a good daughter, who likes to meet the commitments, that struggle to succeed in life. None of this has changed. The only difference is that I'm with a woman who makes me extraordinarily happy as I've never been before. Rachel just makes me feel great. I love her." Mom was trembling, as if she was having an outbreak at any time, but I must go on. "I want so much bad that you give me a chance to show how happy I am with her. You would like her. Rachel is a wonderful person, and you would understand that the love we have for each other could never be illness or curse."
Mom ran to her room. At least she didn't throw me out like dad. I sighed, put the dishes in the sink and a strong wave of emotions hit my body. I started crying. It was so hard. I didn't know how long I let the tears ran free down my face. Then I regained posture. I was still a Fabray and I wouldn't falter. I washed my face right there at the kitchen sink, wiped my eyes on the dish towel and tried to clean the kitchen. I washed the dishes, cleaned the stove and swept the floor.
I had a shower after left everything in place. I dozed in bed.
...
I woke up by noises coming from the kitchen. It was the day before Thanksgiving. The plan was to go to my grandparents' house, where all the Penns and aggregates would celebrate a hell of a year. Grandpa was cranky and a little disgusted with life. He never thought that in the end of life his family would be in trouble. Mom was a divorced lady; my military uncle won the "promotion" to serve in the military base in Colombia before retiring and he was disgusted by the news, almost depressive; my cousin Vince, middle son of my Aunt Jane, was in rehabilitation because of cocaine use.
I walked out of my room and found out my mother arranging the food and others products in the closet. And she did anything with subtlety.
"Why did you go shopping early, Mom?"
"It's almost noon."
I looked at the kitchen clock and I was embarrassed for having slept so long.
"I could have gone with you."
"The market will close tomorrow and most of the shops in Lima also close at noon today. I had to run."
"Did you shopping for the lunch at Grandpa?" I looked some spices that weren't for the regular meal. Something like Italian tomato sauce and expensive mushrooms.
"These are things for dinner here."
"What dinner?"
"You said you wants to introduce me to your..."
"Girlfriend?" I raised an eyebrow. I wished my mother say the word correctly.
"Whatever... Quinn, you won. I'll get this girl Rachel on Friday for a dinner."
"Really?" I cracked a huge smile and ran to hug kiss my mom. I knew it wasn't easy for her and I could feel the effort. "Mom, you can't imagine how it makes me happy."
"But there's one condition."
"What?" I was alert.
"At our Thanksgiving lunch with our family, don't dream of mentioning about this life you are living with this girl. Your grandfather is very fragile and I don't want him to feel this disgust…"
"I'm gay, mom. Not a diverted and promiscuous! Just gay."
"I don't want, Quinn!" She reaffirmed harder. "Our family is going through a bad phase and I don't want your new problem to be revealed."
"New problem?" I discouraged. "My cousin Vince is a cocaine addict, but I'm the one having a new problem?" I emphasized the new, gesturing air quotes. "Just because I study, work and date a girl? Also, I regret getting pregnant at 16, but never having had Beth. I love my daughter. She is a beautiful little girl and I'm very proud of her. Beth was never a problem and how did you dare talk about her in those terms?" Mom never talked about my daughter. She seemed to want to forget.
"Promise?" She said with trembling lips, avoiding talking about my daughter, but Beth would not enter into the Penns' gossip on Thanksgiving anyway. I wouldn't allow this. "If your aunt and cousins inquire about a boyfriend, smile and lie. But please do not mention the girl if you want that I open my home to receive that Rachel and even give her a chance. This is the condition and it's not negotiable."
"Ok" I sighed defeated. "If tomorrow they ask, I'll say I'm single. Is this good for you? "
"It's perfect."
I took a deep breath to recover from the discussion.
…
(Santana)
My house had a big car in the garage: a wonderful porsche that Dad drove almost every day to go to the hospital. But I couldn't touch it and display myself to my old friends. I believed I deserved to go at Hummel's party with that impressive car. Instead, I had to drive the old Shelby's Buick.
Before the party, I had to make a stop at the Fabray's. I was liking the idea of not having to see Quinn's face every day. How it was refreshing. Unfortunately this situation would last until we all went back to New York. Damn it. I honked in front of her house and didn't take long for the door to open. Quinn was wearing jeans: a rarity. But it was also cold. If she wear a dress at that weather, I would call her a cuckoo. My sister got out and met Quinn halfway. They kissed and all I could do was roll my eyes.
Finally we reached the little party. Kurt met us with his usual toothless smile. This time, he was with Blaine, the alpha of that relationship. I'm sorry but that was the truth.
"I can't believe you actually came!" Rachel and Quinn hugged him first, then Kurt greeted me with a little less enthusiasm.
"How are you doing, Kurt?" Quinn spoke with her usual polite and superior tone.
"Very well, and you're missing the party!"
There were only the ex-fellows from the choir: the newbies, the veterans, and us who had already abandoned the choir room. We received warm hugs and I smiled at everyone, but I missed Brittany already. Finn and Rachel embraced with affection, under watchful jealous eye of Quinn Fabray. I was convinced that Quinn and Rachel were for real, but there would always be a part of my sister who wouldn't forget Finn, as much as a part of me that would love Brittany forever.
We weren't talking that much since I moved to New York and Brittany went to Los Angeles. And she was always busy too at the dance academy, so much that the last message she said she dropped high school. I felt bad about it. My years of effort to get her a graduation were in vain. How could her parents allowed it? On the other hand, Brittany had no academic future. She was an artist and was happy while dancing.
"So?" Puck approached me with a cup of beer in hand. He offered it to me. "Long time no see, Lopez. How are things in New York?"
"Amazingly well."
"Mike?"
"He traveled with his parents to a warmer place."
"And you?" He insinuating said.
"Dating." It wasn't a complete lie. Paul and I were almost there. I took a sip of beer.
"What?" He laughed nervous and skeptical. "Santana Berry-Lopez dating?"
"Deal with it, Puckerman." I patted my own ass. "This stuff here is no longer yours."
"Liar. Clearly, you aren't dating. You were never like this stuff."
"Rachel!" I yelled to my sister, calling the attention of your friends in the room. "Who is Paul?"
"The Beatle?" She smiled.
"I'm serious, hobbit."
"Your new BFF!" I stared at Puck who was awestruck.
"Loyalty has never been your business anyway." This was Puck: he never give up to have sex.
"I know, but you are past Puck. Our think is over a long time ago."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolute."
About the old gang, Finn and Tina were the only singles. Puck didn't count because he put his dick inside something almost every day. Kurt was with Blaine, Sam was with the new cheerio, Mercedes was with my cousin Julio, Artie was with an annoying little girl named Sugar Motta. There were also a Irish boy, teenage Jesus Christ, a black drag queen, an annoying young kid who called Harmony and cheerio dating Sam. It seemed that this Harmony was the female soloist alongside Mercedes, Finn and Blaine vied for the position of male alpha.
How much mediocrity. My moving to New York made me see some things apart about Lima and our Glee Club. Several of our dramas were laughable. The Glee Club was a promiscuous group where everyone was trying to get in each other pants. I wouldn't be surprised Harmony start to date Finn and, the sloppy giant wanted to steal the cheerio from Sam. Or that Kurt got tired of the alpha gay to stay with Black RuPaul.
But for me, the most interesting picture would be Blaine eating Finn out, Sam with Mercedes, Kurt drowning his sorrows with Tina and Artie burning in hellfire. I didn't care about the newbies.
The new choir made a special performance in honor of the former members. Finn, Artie, Mercedes and Harmony were the soloists. The Harmony girl was really good, so much so that Rachel did contort her face. The newbies challenged the former members to make a special improvised performance as part of the party. I, Rachel, Quinn and Puck sat in a corner of the room and made "Sweet Child o 'Mine". Puck picked up the guitar while we improvised a clumsy choreography. The newbies found that the legends about Rachel Berry-Lopez were true: she was the best. What followed from there was karaoke, dancing and drinking.
I think I drank too much until the end of the party. That's why Rachel drove us home. Still, Puck couldn't make me open my legs for him. I was proud of myself. I had a lot to overcome, but that chapter of my story was a turning page. Goodbye Puck!
…
(Rachel)
The day began lazy. I got out of bed and dragged myself to the bathroom. I had never eaten so much in my life and I was still suffering the consequences of my gluttony. Blame my mother for being such a good cook. It seems that she and my father married straight their gourmet side. My father loved to do little things, spices, edibles. My mother had great hand for cooking. They made the traditional Thanksgiving menu, but they also made baked potato, rice, creamed spinach and a green salad with cherry tomatoes, carrots and olives. I spent the day eating, talking nonsense with my family. It was one of those rare moments of genuine happiness.
I went downstairs and found my parents and my sister finishing breakfast. How could they eat after all the food yesterday? I decided to skip breakfast.
"At last!" Shelby smiled. "I thought I would have to throw cold water on you."
"Why?" I sat at the kitchen table just by the company.
"We will spend the day outside." My father smiled.
"Oh, the barbecue at abuela's."
"I hope Uncle Pedro makes the Argentinean barbecue this time" Santana snapped up the banana with muesli and milk.
"How can you eat such things?" I said nauseous. I wasn't very friendly to my family's barbecues for obvious reasons. And because I was the victim of the cruel jokes my cousins Julio and Daniela and my sister used to make.
"How can you think about food after yesterday?" My mother was also impressed with Santana.
"Well, she is my daughter, for sure." Papa said.
"I don't know if I want to go this time." I avoided looking at my sister's food. It was making me nervous. "I visited abuela yesterday and you know what I think about barbecues."
"And what are your plans for today?" Shelby asked.
"Have my sleep beauty and go at Quinn's for dinner."
"Oh, the dinner!" Santana tried to tease me.
Quinn invited me to dinner when she was planning to introduce me as her girlfriend to her mother. Of course I knew Judy Fabray, but it would be the first time that I would put my feet at the Fabrays and talk with my new mother in law.
The phone rang and Shelby answered it. Then she returned and gave the wireless phone to Santana.
"Paul wishes to speak to you..." Her tone was formal and playful at the same time
Santana took the phone and left the kitchen, but she still had to hear some giggling in the background.
"He knows our phone number? Are you sure she is not dating this guy?" Papa frowned.
"I don't think so. I just saw Paul in person twice and he seems to be ok. He is kind of intellectual, but you can see that he really likes Santana." I turned to Shelby. "Mom, can I have your car to go to Quinn's house?"
"Of course. It will be a pleasure to see your father driving his Porsche on the dirt road" She winked at him. "Nervous to be officially presented to your mother in law" She continued the teasing tone.
"Anxious is a better word."
Everybody went out to abuela's but me. I just took a blanket and watched TV until the time I had to have a shower to go out. I put the clothes I thought would be more appropriate: a dark blue dress, warm thicker stockings, long coat. Well, I was a perfect family girl: not too sexy but also not too conservative.
I parked the car in front of the small house and allowed myself to take a little time to control my anxiety. Then I rang the bell.
"Rachel!" Quinn smiled and gave me a quick kiss. "Come in, come in!"
"I brought a chocolate mousse. It's not vegan, so I think you'll like it."
"I'll put it in the fridge."
I was insecure. I didn't know whether to follow Quinn or wait right there. Dating in New York was much easier. We were just in our home, living intimacies that certain couples would take months and months to find out. But here in Lima, Ohio, at Judy Fabray's house, I wasn't sure. The room was beautiful, nicely decorated. I could see portraits of Quinn and Frannie in various stages. Judy also appeared in some photos.
"Welcome Rachel" I tensed when I heard the stern voice came from the stairs.
"Go-goodnight Mrs. Fabray" I suddenly didn't know the best way to greet her. I opted for the formal handshake.
"Mom, Rachel brought dessert for our dinner. Isn't nice?" Quinn joined us. Judy wasn't smiling and I was sweating bullets. Quinn took my hand and led me to the comfy floral couch with wooden details. Judy sat on the chair in front of us and continued making an expression that she would devour my head anytime.
"How were these days celebrating the holiday with your family?" Judy grinned.
"Wonderful." I tried to speak calmly and carefully. "I enjoyed the entire time I had with my family and my dear friends. These moments got so rare for us since we moved to New York."
"Us?"
"My sister and I... and I think it's safe to include Quinn."
"Certainly it wouldn't be this way if Quinnie stayed here as a cheerio guaranteeing her scholarship!" Judy said with a little more stealth. I was mortified. She was blaming me for her daughter's decision. But I was guilty? I've never interfered in Quinn's life and at the time she decided to leave the cheerios we were even dating.
"Rachel can't be blamed of my choices, Mom." Quinn shook my hand and said warning. "She doesn't decide or answers for me!"
"But she certainly has a great influence. After all, she is your girlfriend, right?" She emphasized the word girlfriend. "Tell me Rachel, how your father deals with his daughters living outside?"
"Very well, I would say..." I looked at Quinn. I didn't expect the attack and I was worried about how it would progress to the dinner. "His work at the hospital gets him busy, but he's dating my mother now, they meet at weekends or during the days off. I think my mother has plans to moving back to Lima, but she wants to finish the school year first before leaving her job in Dayton."
"I'm glad he hasn't been alone!" She said with harshness and bitterness. I just wanted to give her a proper answer, but, for Quinn, I would endure a little longer. I wouldn't play Judy's game and go out to the door without fight back or resist a bit.
"Mommy, please! You promised!" Quinn interfered imposing. "Rachel, we have prepared a special vegetarian meal for you." She sought to change the subject. "Mom prepared it. She is part of the church's cooking club."
"I bet it must be delicious!" I smirk: the best one that I could produce.
The dinner didn't get the climate better. Judy attacked me with dubious comments and I tried to defend myself as best I could. In midfield, Quinn tried to consider and manage. She was aware of how hassles Judy was, and she didn't want to hurt her mother even more. On the other hand, it also hurt me because I had nothing to do with Judy's misfortunes and it wasn't fair. At the end of the night, as the desserts were served, Judy mother shot.
"Satisfy my curiosity, Rachel. How far your parents influenced your homosexual tendencies?"
That was the last straw of the night.
"My parents never said a word about my love life, Mrs. Fabray!" Emphasized the Fabray. "Quinn is my first girlfriend and before her, I dated men, such as your daughter. I was dating Finn Hudson when I fell in love for her. I chose her over him. That's why we are together now. But I didn't plan any of this. It's just happened. Of course I was raised by two dads, and all they told me about love was: just be happy with whatever I care about: man or woman. Their relationship was an inspiration. My dads were a positive example of how a couple who love and respect each other can last. That's why I believe a relationship independent sexual orientation; otherwise your marriage would still be standing, while my dads were only separated by death!"
"You should consider your mouth, young lady!" She stood and if wasn't for Quinn, I'm sure she would give me a slap.
"Stop it you two!" Quinn was panting. "Mom, stop attacking Rachel for the love of Jesus Christ."
"Do not mention his name in vain!" Judy snapped.
"Quinn, I'm going now!" I threw my napkin on the table. "Thank you for dinner... but I don't have to stand this shit."
I got up from the table, I was better than that. I didn't need to go through things like this, even with all the love I had for Quinn. I know she didn't want this outcome, but I wasn't an ice cube. I also was a Lopez, for God. I had blood in my veins.
"Rach, please, stay!" Quinn grabbed my arm when I was halfway to the car.
"Stay for what? To your mother bombard me with accusations? I don't deserve it. I don't deserve to go through this shit."
"Forgive her. Please? It's really hard to her..."
"Quinn, I think it's not the time."
"Forgive her." Quinn held my other arm and tried to bring my body with her in a forced hug. "She's just lonely and frustrated. My mother hadn't accepted the fact that I'm gay and we had a strange day in my grandfather's house… sorry that she misbehaved, but nothing is being easy to her, to us. Please, forgive!"
I sighed. Quinn was also suffering and it wouldn't be fair to make her pay for her mother actions. We leaned our foreheads and then we kissed lightly.
"Tomorrow you will sleep in my place, right?" I asked still with my eyes closed. We would go to Cleveland in the Sunday morning to catch the flight back to New York at noon.
"I'd better not. I don't want to confront my mother now. She's really hurt, Rach."
"All right... I understand." I didn't understand for real. Quinn leaned in to kiss me but I turned my face. "See you on Sunday morning."
"Sorry Rachel. I didn't want our dinner were so..."
"It wasn't your fault, Quinn."
"Sorry... we can talk better tomorrow."
"Leave this conversation to New York."
I grabbed my keys and got in the car. I left there giving reason for all the jokes about mothers in law.