Eric's mother had called, asking me about a recipe for a fat free vinaigrette to use at a dinner party. I wanted to tell her if you're going to make cheese lasagna with garlic bread, oil dipped artichokes, and vegetable ravioli in a cheese sauce- chances are the fat free dressing may not, call me crazy, make THAT much of a difference.

"Oh, I know what you're thinking honey, but as long as you make the EFFORT in life, often times the result can happen without you having to do anything and then magically you've actually lost the weight while enjoying the foods you thought you couldn't eat. Understand? Oh, my god this sauce is heaven. It's all about garlic, don't you agree? God's vegetable, is what I call it. So tell me, how are you doing?"

I was already tired from running all over town, but I knew I couldn't simply hang up on her.

"Oh, I've been keeping busy."

"I bet you have, the blushing groom."

"Eric...he spoke to you about...?"

"Oh, sure honey. Ever since his recovery, he calls me. We talk now, openly. He mentioned he was 'committing his life' to you and I asked him what that meant and he said he basically asked to marry you and I said 'oh my God' and he said yes, 'oh my God is right' but that he was terribly excited which is another reason why I'm calling because I want to come out and help you plan your wedding."

"Excuse me?"

"Mama is here to help. You think I'm going to let my little Eric marry by himself? This should be about FAMILY. Don't you agree?"

I was speechless. When you're gay, and suddenly people that you thought would never reach out to you extend their hearts AND their pocketbooks- it's a tad unnerving. Suddenly I flashed on the image of shopping around town with Eric's mom, picking out the tuxedos, the flowers, the caterers, the honeymoon- and all I could do was laugh. Me and her doing all of this together? I smiled, and I realized it could be a real blessing in disguise. Not only would I get closer to Eric's family, but I could possibly have a blast. Me and mom?

"I think that's a great idea. Let me talk to Eric about it."

"Oh, my Luigi will love it."

********

"Are you CRAZY!" screamed Eric as I put his dinner in front of him. "Do you have any idea what that means?"

"Eric, she's so excited and she's so supportive. How can we not include our families in this?"

"Easy. You tell them no." He mumbled, swirling the pasta around his fork, and shoving it into his mouth.

I became silent, sipping my glass of wine. "Don't be afraid."

"I am NOT afraid, Drew."

"Please. You're petrified. You decided to do this and now reality is finally setting in. Believe me, I'm just as scared as you are."

He was silent. We both were, because we both knew I was right.

"I'm...under a lot of pressure at work right now and I think if my mom-"

"You mean you're still in the closet at work and your mother will blow your cover."

God, it's amazing how two people who spend so much time together can actually finish each other's sentences correctly.

Eric continued to eat his dinner in silence. "All right, you tell her to come out. Because I'm coming out. This is ridiculous."

"You are?"

"I'm talking to Granville this week. Enough already. He likes me, how is this going to change things?"

"I'm proud of you. But you should know it could change things dramatically."

"I know. But...it's who I am. They're just going to have to understand that."

He took a sip of wine and I could tell he was trying to convince himself that everything was going to be all right.

Deep inside, I hoped he was right.