Chapter 47: I’m Not Giving Up on My Son

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: I’m Not Giving Up on My Son

Henry let out a slow breath. He crossed the Persian rug and sat down beside her.

"Ask me anything you want, Mom," Henry said softly.

Elisha’s mother remained silent for a long moment, her hands folded tightly in her lap. Before asking any questions, she looked up at Henry. "Is Elisha here with you?" she asked, her voice quiet and weary.

She glanced toward the front door where Eloise had just left. "Alright... who was the woman you came downstairs with? The one who just left?"

"She used to be my girlfriend," Henry answered honestly, keeping his tone calm and respectful. "We aren’t together anymore. We just broke up."

Elisha’s mother let out a slow breath, taking in his answer. "Alright. There’s something I heard last night, and I want the absolute truth from you before I decide what to believe."

"I’ll be completely honest with you, Mom. You can ask me anything," Henry assured her, his posture remaining open and sincere.

She turned her full attention to him, studying his face. "What is really going on between you and my son?"

Henry held her gaze, refusing to look away. "To be honest, Mom... I can’t really tell you exactly what we are right now. But I can tell you this: Elisha has feelings for me, and I care about him deeply. In short, we like each other."

Elisha’s mother raised a skeptical eyebrow and leaned back against the sofa. "So you both just like each other? It’s not like you’re actually in love yet? You’re just two young men caught up in the moment?"

"No," Henry corrected softly, shaking his head with absolute conviction. "I love him, Mom. I’ve loved him for a very long time."

Elisha’s mother studied him for a moment. "What about Elisha? Does he feel the same way about you?"

"Mom, I’m sure he does," Henry replied gently. "He’s always held back because he was afraid—afraid of what people would say and afraid of disappointing his family. But after everything that happened last night, I don’t know what will happen now. I’m sure everyone is disappointed in him."

Elisha’s mother let out a heavy sigh, shaking her head as she looked down at her hands.

"I’m not disappointed in him, Henry," she murmured, her voice filled with quiet vulnerability. "I just wasn’t expecting it. When he said those words last night, I was completely stunned. I was in shock... and honestly, part of me is still trying to process it."

She paused, swallowing hard as her expression softened. "Elisha is my only son. I can’t just sit here and pretend everything is fine right now. It will take time for a mother’s heart to catch up with a reality she never saw coming. But at the same time... I know that right now, more than ever, he needs me. His father is furious and deeply disappointed in him, and he won’t find much comfort under our roof right now."

She looked up and met Henry’s gaze. There was still uncertainty in her eyes, but her maternal protectiveness was unmistakable. "I love my son far too much to throw him away just because he’s gay. All those years of trying to force a future on him, pushing him toward a path he never wanted... look where it got us. It almost broke him, and it almost broke our family."

She reached out and gently placed her hand over Henry’s. "I might not understand everything yet, and I know it will take time for me to process it all. But I know one thing for certain: I love Elisha, and I refuse to lose my son over this."

Henry glanced down at her hand resting over his before meeting her gaze again. His expression remained soft and respectful. "Are you angry with me, Mom? Or... are you surprised that I love him?"

Elisha’s mother slowly shook her head, a gentle smile touching her lips. "I’m not angry, Henry. I’m not upset, and I’m not surprised at all. In fact, I’m glad that it’s you. After Elisha came out to us last night, the first thing that came to my mind was how he would ever find someone who would truly love him."

"If Elisha found it so difficult to find a woman he could truly love, then how will he find a man who will love him the way he deserves? How will he know if someone genuinely loves him or if they’re only interested in his money, his name, or what he can give them?"

Her voice softened. "That’s what I started thinking about after he told us the truth. Elisha is my only son. He may be strong and successful in business, but when it comes to his heart, he can be very vulnerable. I just want him to find someone who will truly love him, cherish him, and take care of him."

She gave Henry’s hand a gentle squeeze. "And now that I know that person might be you, Henry... I feel a little more at peace."

"My only concern now is how the two of you are going to get your fathers to accept this. If Elisha’s father reacted that strongly, I know your father won’t take it well either. Our generation can be stubborn, and both of your fathers may make this very difficult."

Henry gave a reassuring nod. "What if we don’t worry about forcing them to accept us right now, Mom? What if we just focus on each other and build something real? The world is different now. We don’t have to live by their exact blueprint to be happy."

Elisha’s mother let out a soft, relieved breath, a genuine smile finally reaching her eyes. "I’m fine with whatever path you choose, as long as you take care of my son, Henry. As long as you love him, I’ll be happy."

"You have nothing to worry about, Mom," Henry promised, his voice filled with quiet conviction.

She nodded, then suddenly remembered something. "Wait... what about the engagement? Your mother said you were engaged and getting married soon. What about Elisha? What will happen to him after you get married?"

Henry shook his head firmly. "There is nothing like that, Mom. I’m not getting married to anyone else. I’m never going to leave Elisha alone, and you don’t need to worry about him. He isn’t alone anymore."

"Thank you, son," Elisha’s mother whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Henry shook his head. "You really don’t have to thank me, Mom."

She looked toward the window for a moment, a faint smile appearing as memories of their childhood came back to her. "I remember when you two were younger," she murmured. "You and Elisha have always been so close, ever since you were boys. You were practically inseparable."

She glanced back at Henry, her voice filled with maternal concern. "But how do I know what you feel now isn’t just a result of how close you’ve always been? How do I know you aren’t confusing a deep childhood friendship with something more?"

Henry reached over and gently rested his hand on the armrest near hers, showing how serious he was. "We aren’t confused, Mom. Not anymore. I know you’re worried, but you just have to trust us."

Elisha’s mother looked at him, her expression filled with concern. "I’m truly worried, Henry. The world isn’t always kind to homosexual people..."