Unknown - Driven_589066

“Well, to be honest I discourage that in my players during the season. It messes with their concentration.”

“That makes sense.”

“So you’re the reason Catherine is alone?” Ilene entered the living room and placed a glass of orange juice on the table.

“No, Mother!” Cat yelled from the top of the steps. She hopped into her sneakers and charged down the stairs. “Dylan is not the reason I’m not in a

relationship. Now would you please stop.”

The blonde turned to her coach and smiled. “I’m sorry about that. She’s off her medication and she gets nuts.”

“CATHERINE!” Her mother yelled.

Dylan chuckled and her father out right laughed. “It’s okay Cat,” Dylan turned sympathetic eyes on her favorite person. “I can understand why your mother

doesn’t want you to be alone.”

If looks could kill, Cat would have seriously wounded Dylan. They were tempting fate by playing this little game, but Cat had warned Dylan. And she had

told her that she wasn’t ready to spring their new relationship on her parents just yet.

Cat’s parents loved her, that was never in question. And they wanted her to have her career as a basketball player. The young woman had worked hard for

it and they supported her every step of the way.

However, her mother had never really been comfortable with Cat’s sexual orientation. In their home it had been a case of don’t ask, don’t tell and when Cat

brought home someone she was dating, her mother simply pretended they were just friends. Ilene had always hoped it was a ‘phase’ and that Cat would

grow out of it when she found a nice man to settle down with.

“So,” Dylan broke the silence. “How about we go to dinner. My treat.”

“Dylan, I invited you to dinner. You don’t have…”

“I don’t have to. I want to. But you have to eat eggplant.”

“I’ll buy and have a steak.” Cat chuckled as she patted Dylan on the back in a gesture that was familiar if not intimate.

This did not get past her mother.

Dinner was actually relaxed and the foursome had a good time. Dylan got to embarrass Cat with stories of games and practices that her folks hadn’t seen

and her parents got to tell embarrassing Cat stories. For Cat’s part she just sat, sipping her tea and wishing for a quick death.

Her parents had both excused themselves before coffee and Dylan leaned over to speak with Cat. “How you holding up?”

“I’m okay. I’m sorry about Mom.”

“Well, honey you did warn me. But I do understand what you were telling me.”

“She’ll be okay, but it’s better if we just let her figure it out for herself, then she’ll just deal with it.”

“I gotcha.” Dylan leaned over a bit closer. “How long are they in town for?”

Cat whimpered and twisted her napkin in her hands. “Three days.” She turned playfully murderous eyes on her lover. “And don’t you start something we

can’t finish.”

“Me? Would I do that to you?”

“You know you would. You evil thing.”

Dylan laughed and picked up her glass as her parent’s returned from their respective trips to the restroom.

“Did we miss something funny?” Her mother asked as she retook her seat.

“Yes, I was just torturing Cat.”

“Well”, her father took his seat and took Cat’s hand. “I’m glad to know someone is taking the job seriously since I’m not here to do it.”

Dylan laughed as Cat could only hang her head and shake it slowly, knowing that it was the truth and there was no way to fight it.

Returning back to Cat’s place, Dylan was invited up for coffee and but declined. She did ask to speak to Cat for a few minutes and the player’s parents

headed up to the apartment leaving the two in the car.

“Thanks for tonight.” Cat said as she took Dylan’s hand. “It was sweet of you.”

“Well, I’m hoping I can get them to like me without knowing why.” Dylan chuckled, lifting her hand to caress Cat’s cheek. “I’m going to miss you.”

“Let’s just thank God that they’re only going to be here for three days. We can survive three days.”

“Now I remember,” Dylan snapped her fingers playfully. “My shower has a cold setting.”

“Yes it does. And thankfully, so does mine.”

Dylan smiled, leaning over to kiss Cat goodnight.

When she entered her apartment her mother was in her long nightgown sitting on the couch. She was noticeably alone.

“Where’s Dad?”

“Why were you kissing Dylan Lambert?”

“What?”

“I saw you kiss her. Why?”

Cat looked to the heavens for divine intervention and when she realized it wasn’t coming she took a few steps toward her mother. “I kissed Dylan

goodnight. Is there a problem with that?”

“Are you seeing her?”

“Does it make a difference?”

“Why didn’t you tell us?”

Cat sighed hard and sat down in the chair across from the couch. “I didn’t tell you because it’s none of your business.”

“So you are seeing her?”

“Yes,” Cat finally decided that giving up would be the best course of action. “Yes, I’m seeing her.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“That is none of your business.”

“Catherine, don’t you speak to me like that.”

“Mother I love you dearly, but I will not be interrogated in my own house. Yes, Dylan and I are seeing each other, but how long we’ve been seeing each

other is none of your business.”

“Do you love her?”

Cat sat there and considered it. Do I love her? “I have very deep feelings for Dylan. We are taking this relationship slow to give us both more time.”

“Why are you keeping it quiet?”

“For a number of reasons, but mainly this one. We have no desire for our private lives to be up for discussion.”

“You would think you’d tell your mother and father.”

“Why? So you could tell me it was just a phase and that I needed to find a nice young man? God, Mom when are you going to realize that I don’t want a

young man? I’m a lesbian. I like women.”

“I just can’t understand that.”

“Fine Mom, you don’t have to understand it and you certainly don’t have to approve, but damn it that’s just the way it is so you may as well just pretend to

deal with it.”

“I can’t believe you’re talking to me like this Catherine.”

“And I can’t believe you’re still trying to tell me how to live my life. I’m a grown woman, Mom. I make my own living and I make my own choices.”

“She’s done this to you.”

“Who has done what?”

“Dylan Lambert, she’s made you disrespectful.”

“Bullshit!” Cat flew off the chair and began pacing. “Dylan has nothing to do with the fact that I’m tired of you pretending this is some phase or something

I’m going to grow out of. I’ve been a lesbian since I was fourteen, Mom! It’s not going to change.” She stopped pacing and faced her mother. “I’m sorry, but

that’s just the way it is and I’m not going to try to do something that will make me unhappy just to please you.”

“I can see that.” Her mother stood up and nodded to her daughter. “Do you want your father and I to go?”

“No! Where did that come from? I love having you guys here, I just don’t need this particular issue to come up and ruin our visit.”

“Maybe I should speak to Miss Lambert.”

“Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare drag Dylan into this! She has nothing to do with this other than she’s the one I’m currently dating. Don’t make me choose

between you mom, because right now I’m afraid you would lose.”

“Catherine listen to what you’re saying. You would chose that woman over your family?”