Chapter 4.8 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 4.10

Generation Four: Orange

Appearance: Orange hair, Island clothing style
Traits: Foodie, Good, Active
Aspiration: Friend of the World
Occupation: Lifeguard
House Goal: 40,000 worth

When You Need Advice...

The next day, I got up, got all dressed up, and then paced back and forth in our sad, empty, excuse for a foyer nervously. Finally, my phone rang, and I answered it quickly.

"Hello?"

"Hi, sweetie. I'm heading over to the restaurant now, meet you there?" a familiar voice asked.

"Alright. I'll be right there." I replied with a smile, and wiped off my damp palms on my dress, waved a quick goodbye to my wife, and began my walk to the restaurant.

True to her word, she was there before I was, and wrapped me in a big hug.

"Grandma Kimber, it's so good to see you!" I quipped, and she smiled back at me with her eyes twinkling.

"I understand you have some things to talk about?" she began, then held up a hand, "How about we get seated and get some food ordered before we get started?"

I agreed with a nervous nod, and followed her into the new restaurant. It was simply gorgeous. The uniforms were the same, and even the staff seemed mostly the same, but the restaurant had gotten a massive facelift. I should have expected nothing less, since they'd fully bulldozed it and started over, but I was still amazed at the changes.

The host led us to a table out on the back deck, away from other patrons, and took our drink orders. I glanced at the menu, happy to see that the fare was still the same, and I waved the waitress over. I wanted to get ordering out of the way as fast as possible so the conversation could start.

The waitress gushed about having such a famous pair of mermaids to serve, and was full of smiles and graciousness as we ordered, then, thankfully, disappeared as fast as she had arrived, leaving us plenty of space to talk.

"So, lovey, what's going on? Is everything alright? I saw your lovely house over there, so it doesn't seem you're hurting for money... but you sounded so confused and upset, I can't imagine what might be wrong." Kimber started, and turned towards me with a smile.

I took a deep breath... then nearly burst into tears. I didn't know how to start. How, exactly, did one ask for advice when you're probably going to break your mother's heart, and destroy the Legacy our family had worked so hard for??

She waited patiently, allowing me plenty of time to get my thoughts together, and, in my pocket, my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, and glanced at the supportive message from Greta. Without hesitation, I smiled at the text, and messaged back, "Thanks, hun!" before putting the phone away and getting down to business.

"I guess there's no real way to do this other than just say it outright." I started, and took a deep, hopefully calming, breath, "Grandma, I'm gay. I don't know how the legacy will continue ... and I have no idea how to break the news to Mom." Then, with my heart in my throat, I watched Kimber's face to try to figure out what she was thinking.

"What do you mean? You don't know how the legacy can continue?" she asked, completely avoiding the rest of my statement, and brilliantly deducing the part that was really worrying me.

"Well..." I started, then gulped, "I'm gay. So having a baby with my wife... is going to be impossible. And the Legacy requires a blood heir, right?"

Kimber's silvery laugh filled the restaurant, causing several patrons to glance over at us, but I couldn't see what might be funny in what I had said. "Grandma?" I prompted, even more confused now.

"Oh, sweetie. As far as I know the Legacy Laws only state that it has to be a blood heir from you, it doesn't HAVE to be genetically linked to your wife. Science has come a long way. I don't see any reason why the legacy can't continue. Is that what you've been so worried about? Or are you more afraid Kali won't accept you as an heir if she knows you're gay?"

"Well... that thought had occurred, as well." I admitted, and she laughed again.

"We all knew from the beginning that you were not born into a traditional family. Your mother wasn't married when she had you... and the Legacy Laws never said a word. Why would it be any different when you have a child?" Kimber asked, putting a hand on my shoulder calmingly.

"Because ... I'm gay. There are no provisions in the Legacy Law for that." I replied, with a sad note.

Kimber giggled again. "Oh, Charlie. Nowhere does it say Legacy heirs have to be straight to be qualified to be a matriarch. The question hasn't been asked before, because all of your ancestors have chosen to marry males, but I have no doubt that the bylaws will stretch to allow you leeway to get your blood heir anyway you can. I think the only thing you expressly can't do is adopt." she paused, thinking for a moment, then threw her hands up, "And I would heartily support you should you fight the Legacy Laws for a change to include adoption."

"You would?" I replied, taken aback. "But..."

Kimber quickly held a hand up, and started again, "You're worrying about something that's not even a slight problem, sweetie. I have no doubt your mother, and the Legacy Laws will still accept you, just as you are. If you have any doubts yourself, perhaps you should ask her directly. As for me - I will love you no matter who you marry."

"Oh. That's another thing." I said, looking to the waves for courage. "I'm already married. We were married at the Romance Festival in San Myshuno."

"- And I cannot wait to see meet the young lady that earned your heart." Kimber broke in to my thoughts. "I think you have yourself all worked up for nothing. None of the rest of us ever asked our parents for permission to marry the person we fell in love with. It's not even in the By-Laws. We were all given full autonomy to pick our mates. Why would you be aby different?"

"I don't think that just because you happened to choose a female to marry that you will be disowned or anything. You're young, you're healthy, and you should be able to carry a baby mermaid just fine. It might take more tries to finally get a mermaid since the .. donor? won't be a mermaid, but you have plenty of time to work on that, right?"

I said nothing past the guilty knot in my throat. She didn't know I hadn't been a mermaid at birth. Mom really had kept our secret for all this time.

Luckily, she didn't notice my speechlessness. "Charlie, love. Everything will be just fine. How about you surprise your dear mother with a visit tomorrow, on New Year's Eve, and I'm absolutely sure all your worries will be assuaged. I promise."

Then, she looked up, and pointed to the waiters bringing our dinner, "Looks like we finished right on time." she said with a smile, and motioned them over.

Still speechless at her easy acceptance, I waited while our food was delivered, and silently dug in.

Kimber chatted amiably about other family gossip, seeming to have completely accepted the bombshells I had just dropped on her with no hesitation. Somehow, I managed to make small talk, pay the bill, give her a goodbye hug, and head off to my new home without ever letting on that I was floored. I had been so worried. Still was, in fact. But perhaps, if Kimber accepted me just as I was, perhaps Mom would do the same.

I stood for a long moment in front of my house, and took some deep breaths. What Kimber said rang true. Tomorrow, I would introduce Greta to my Mother. No matter what she said, it wasn't going to change who I was, and that I loved Greta. Hopefully that would be enough for Mom.

With a smile, I went inside, and met up with my lovely wife, who was all smiles and light and joy, just as I knew she would be. Perhaps all would go well tomorrow. I wasn't willing to bet on it, but it seemed Greta was. I curled up in her arms, and fell into a sleep that was as peaceful as it was deep.

Chapter 4.8 | Rules for this challenge | Chapter 4.10