One of the things that a lot of “young love” F/F romances don’t get the opportunity to explore is motherhood issues faced by a newly romantic couple. Having been a mom since I was 23, it’s kind of an issue I like to read and explore in my writing. I did just that in my sequel to Turning Point, titled Turn for Home.
Part of the process of bringing a new person into your life is the other people in your life who begin to know that person, and may or may not accept them. Bringing home a new person to a teasing sibling, or a judgmental parent is not the same as bringing home a new person to meet your kids. There are many people who hold those areas separate for as long as possible because they’re afraid of how it will feel if the kids don’t accept, or the new adult doesn’t gel with the kids. And it troubles the new partner too. I explored it all in Turn for Home.
So here for Mother’s Day 2020, I have an excerpt of Brenna Lanigan being “mom” trying to get her sons to accept her new relationship with Cassidy Hyland.
The next morning, leaving Cassidy warmly wrapped in her sheets, Brenna pulled on a robe and stepped out of her bedroom. She checked on Ryan, who was still sleeping soundly.
Coming out of the game room, she met Thomas walking out of his room, a radio still playing inside. “Good morning,” she said.
“Morning,” he replied. “When did you get in last night?”
“Around midnight.”
He looked at the door to the game room. “Ryan’s here,” he guessed.
“Yes.”
“So she’s sleeping in your room?”
“Of course.” She put her hand out. “Come on, Thomas, please. Cassidy is important to me.”
“I don’t want to deal with this right now.”
“When?” she demanded.
“Mom, why don’t you understand that I can’t?”
“Because you aren’t talking to me,” she replied with exasperation. “You and James–“
“What have I done now?” James appeared at his door, rubbing his hand over his head and face sleepily.
Her second son’s appearance forestalled Brenna’s response to his question. “What are you doing sleeping in your clothes?”
He looked down at himself. “I, uh, fell asleep as soon as I got home.”
“What time was that?” She saw him cast a look at Thomas. “What’s going on?”
“Come on.” Thomas shoved James down the hall in front of him. “We’ll make our own breakfast, Mom. You’d better get ready for the set. See you around.”
Brenna grasped his shoulder. “Stop. What’s going on? What time did you get home last night?”
“About eleven-thirty,” Thomas answered. James said nothing.
“James?”
“Eleven-thirty.”
She had the distinct impression he was lying. “I told you we were going out to the playhouse. Knowing I wouldn’t be home, did you go somewhere, as well?”
It was Thomas who answered. “We made it in before curfew.”
“That wasn’t what I asked.” She pointedly directed her gaze. “James?”
“I hung out with some friends.”
Cassidy appeared in her bedroom doorway, and Brenna watched both Thomas and James eye the blond woman then quickly push past.
“Gotta go.”
Brenna leaned against the door jamb. “Well, I guess I wasn’t going to get any more anyway.”
“Problem?”
“I think Thomas and, or James broke curfew last night,” Brenna said, “but I don’t have any proof.”
“And my appearance ended the interrogation. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Come on. We’ll get dressed. Maybe I can try again over breakfast.”
So there you have it, being a mom in love (with teenage sons). What do you think of how moms are portrayed in F/F stories?
~ Lara
Lara Zielinsky 