It was 4:30pm and I was late. The freeway to LAX was a parking lot and I knew I had only 14 minutes left before Eric's mom, Mrs. Espinosa, would be landing at the massive United terminal searching for her son-in-law. I pushed the gas pedal to the floor, weaving in and out of cars on the southbound 405 in a desperate attempt to save face.

I parked the car and ran through the endless airport corridors, arriving at gate 51b two minutes late, scanning people's faces for Eric's mom. Did I just miss her? Suddenly next to me I saw two gay men leaving together, reunited from the flight and holding hands.

As my mind began to race if they were married (a usual fantasy these days), I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around and saw Mrs. Espinosa in a navy blue skirt and a flowery blouse that resembled something a friend would have called a Home Shopping Channel reject.

"Andrewwwwwww." She screamed in excitement, grabbing me in a bear hug. Before I could say a word she planted two kisses across my cheeks, exasperating, "You look great. How's my Luigi? Is he treating you okay because you know he's a lucky man to have such a wonderful man oh look, there's Ralph." She waved to the gay couple across the terminal as "Ralph" and his boyfriend moved down the expansive hallway, waving good-bye. "He was in the row in front of me reading the Apricot."

"You mean the Advocate?"

"That's what I said and I told them my son was gay and that you two had invited me out to help with the wedding." As I picked up her carry-on luggage, Mrs. Espinosa took my arm. "You're so good to me. So, are we going to the church?"

I looked at her, surprised at her question. "We already tried."

"Tried? Think Italian; think Mrs. Espinosa because I get what I want. I'm here now, don't you worry."

She sure was, in all of her loud, brassy, and charming glory. "They denied our request. I told you-"

"My son is going to have a Catholic ceremony. You're in love, you should have the church's blessing."

******

After putting her four suitcases in the car, she calmly sat in the front seat, twirling her rosary beads around her neck.

"Our Lord loves all people."

I started the car.

"I mean Andrew, you and Eric have lasted longer and been through more together than most straight couples. You are love, you are together, and Jesus it's hot in here. You got air conditioning?" She struggled, rolling down the window.

I cranked the AC on high as I drove out of the parking lot.

"I don't make fun of our Lord, but I like to believe he has a sense of humor. Laughter is the greatest healer, you know."

"Are you going to tell the Pastor some jokes?"

"Only if he has bad breath. What is it about Priests and bad breath? Oh, look at those palm trees. It's so beautiful here."

We continued into Santa Monica, Mrs. Espinosa ranting on about everything from if you feed pigeons Alka-Selzer, they explode to the fact that even Cher has a lesbian daughter.

"I even saw an advertisement on television where two men were talking about some kind of computer to buy and the way they acted, you could tell they were lovers. On national television!"

I pulled up in front of St. Anthony's, Mrs. Espinosa looking at the building in stunned silence. A beautiful church built after World War II, it has a large cascade of steps leading up to four solid oak doors and banks of stained glass.

Suddenly, she became emotional and took my hand.

"It could be so beautiful."

In that moment I saw such beauty in her round face, seeing her imagine Eric and I walking down the front steps, surrounded by family.

"And," she continued, "to have the Lord's blessing? Magic."

She squeezed my hand and we simply sat in the car, holding hands, looking at the church that had denied our request of a loving ceremony because we were two men that loved each other.

Mrs. Espinosa got out of the car, mumbling under her breath, "Lord, let me be patient." She slammed the car door behind her, approaching the church steps with the determined waddle of a veteran soldier preparing for war.