Cheryl called Dr. Vorite’s office and was told she had left for the evening. She called her cell phone and her cheerful voice answered immediately.
“Cheryl, I’m so glad you called. Is everything ok?”
“No.” she said and immediately started crying.
“Ok, calm down. Where are you? Are you home?”
“Yes.” she said between sobs.
“Give me your address, and I’ll come over.”
An hour later Cheryl opened the door and saw Dr. Vorite standing there.
“Would you like something to drink? I only have Pepsi and water, unless you want something stronger.”
“Well, I’ll take a Pepsi.”
Cheryl went into the kitchen and opened a bottle of Pepsi and poured it into a glass.
She poured herself another glass of wine and joined the doctor in the living room.
“Um, do you think it wise for you to be drinking?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Well, I don’t want you to get in the habit of drinking whenever you feel stressed.”
“Well, I don’t normally drink.” she said as she put the wine glass to her lips and drained half of it before placing it on the end table.
Cheryl explained all that happened between Kevin, Matthew, Kayla and herself.
“How did it make you feel when Matthew referred to your son as gay?”
“It hurt. He knew that Kevin always called my baby that. He knew that it upset me when Kevin did it, yet said it like it was nothing.”
“Ok and what was your response?”
“What do you mean?”
“What did you say to him?”
“Nothing.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do. Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I don’t know.” Cheryl said while getting up from the couch.
“Cheryl, yes you do know. Now tell me the truth, why didn’t you say anything to him about calling your son gay?”
“Because…” her voice began to crack.
“Go on…”
“Because he is gay! My son is gay, but it doesn’t matter to me.” Cheryl said.
“Ok, so why didn’t you tell Matthew that.”
“I didn’t want him to get mad.”
“Get mad at who?” the doctor urged.
Cheryl shrugged her shoulders, trying not to say out loud what she was thinking.
“Who would he get mad with?”
“Me!” she blurted out. “He would get mad at me!”
“Why?”
“Because…because, I shouldn’t question him.”
“Question him about what?”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t like when I question him.”
“Well, he said something about your child, why shouldn’t you question him?”
“He’ll just get mad and then, then…” her voice trailed off.
“Cheryl, are you ok?”
“I…I’m sorry. I was just thinking…”
“Tell me about it.” the doctor looked into Cheryl’s eyes.
“I…” her voice was barely above a whisper, “Kevin never liked when I questioned him about Donnell. That made it worst.”
“And you think Matthew will do the same? You have to stop thinking every man is like Kevin. No one is like Kevin, except Kevin. You can’t live your life scared to say what is on your mind.”
Dr. Vorite touched Cheryl’s hand.
“Ok, well, it’s been a long day for you. I’ll let you get some rest, and I will see you in a couple of days, for your regular appointment. Ok?”
“Ok, thank you for stopping by.” she said, as she walked the doctor to the front door and held it open for her. As she walked past the answering machine, she saw the flashing number. She pressed the play button, heard the female’s voice announcing the message and then she heard Matthew’s voice.
Message one: Cheryl, please call me back, I’m sorry.
Delete
Message two: Cheryl, baby, please.
Delete
Message three: Girl, are you ok? You…
Delete
Message four: Mom, are you ok? Is Kayla behaving herself? I guess you went out tonight. Enjoy yourself, and I’ll call later. I love you.
Message five: Cheryl, its Matthew again. I’m sorry, I should not have….
Cheryl walked slowly to her room and sat in the chair and stared outside. She walked to the door leading to the private balcony off of her bedroom. The tears streamed down her face as her chest ached. It wasn’t like a medical condition, it was more like her heart was breaking.