Mark has jumped over some of the highest hurdles bringing Brian into his world and entering Brian’s a bit too. Letting people know his inclinations and choices eases Mark’s usual stress a lot. The sessions with James are bringing out things from his past and his father. In sessions that include Brian, they address issues they face together as they build a solid relationship.
The next biggest mountain to conquer is introducing Brian to his mother, Patti, and his two older sisters Jessica and Jennifer. He knows they will not say anything to his face, but what will they feel when he is not there? This is a considerable discussion in both sessions before the dinner with them the Wednesday after Mark’s big reveal to his gang and introduction to Wilde Peacock.
Mark opens up much more about his father and what he has learned from his mother over time. His father for years had cheated on his mother, sometimes even throwing the other women in her face. He never understood why his mother just accepted this. Yes, his father was physically abusive with him, but Mark never saw him hit his mother or sisters or any signs that he had.
It was only after his father died, one evening encouraged by a couple of bottles of wine at their Wednesday dinner, that Mark asked his mother why she put up with his wandering and flaunting it in her face. Patti laughed and laughed, almost unable to answer until finally calming some.
Patti told Mark, “With your father, I was shocked that we even created three children as inept he was in bed. I couldn’t imagine any woman giving him the time of day after one or two times with him. So better he was bothering others as he claimed than me having to pretend with him between my legs.”
Patti often told her daughters that marriage was not worth it really. That was probably why they still lived at home with her while having decent jobs. They rarely dated, though Mark was sure they did want to. Over time, now in their early forties like Brian, they didn’t think they would be attractive to anyone.
Talking this all over with both James and Brian, Mark thought he was ready to open up to his family. One little hitch in the whole thing he never thought of did happen.
Mark calls his mother on Sunday evening to say he would be there this week for Wednesday’s dinner, and he is bringing a friend of his. At first, his mother, in hearing distance of his sisters, asks about the woman he is bringing. Thinking finally, Mark has met someone he wanted to show off to his family.
When he explains his friend is Brian who is coming with him, Mark sets her straight, somewhat. And that is when the hiccup starts. Hearing Mark is bringing a man with him, Jessica and Jennifer begin to imagine it is someone Mark wants to introduce and fix up with one of them.
Much primping and preparing occupies hours of the next couple of days. When Wednesday night arrives, the two women are giddy with expectations. They hear the front door open and Mark calling out as they enter. The girls fly to the door to welcome Mark’s friend.
And what a vision the friend is. Who could resist Brian’s good looks? Silvering hair, deep blue eyes, and so friendly and polite as he is introduced to each, and then their mother. His slight Scottish accent gives him such an exotic air. Sitting first in the living room over cocktails, the sisters hurry to make for all. They just talk generally for a while.
Both sisters are hoping Brian would like them best. That is until Mark drops the bomb.
Carefully he moves to sit on the couch next to his mother as Mark begins looking first at his mother, then at his sisters as he talks. “Mom, Jennifer, and Jessica, Brian is more than just my friend. We are a couple. We are in love with each other and soon are going to move in together. He is a wonderful man, as I can tell you already have found to be true. I hope you will accept him as part of my life and yours.”
Brian watching all three women’s faces as Mark talks and sees the fleeting sadness over Jessica and Jennifer’s faces when Mark tells them who Brian is. Astute to such things, Brian immediately knows what the women had been hoping for and how their pipedreams just came crashing down on them.
Brian vows to himself that he will try to find men to value and care for each of them. They are both rather pretty, just dressed rather dull to attract anyone’s attention, really. And from what Mark has said, they rarely go out anywhere where they would meet someone. That he would see to changing for them. They, too, deserved a life after growing up with their father.