Chapter 6: Enter Accusation and Betrayal, the Brutish Muggers of Reason and Sense

So, after Luke Hans and Jethro brought Lesley up to speed with the situation i.e. Jethro was gay and dating their maid Sammie Pagan, there was a lot of this in the Diarmid house.

Once Lesley got over the initial shock that her son was in fact gay, she then had to process the truly devastating information that he was being gay with a grown-ass man, a domestic cleaner, not just any maid, her maid and best friend Sammie.

It was a lot to process.

And in processing it she freaked out at Jethro a lot. The next few days were fraught with confontations, accusations and defiance.

Lesley went down the parentally favoured route of finger wagging, and let-me-tell-you-my-lad-ing. She called the Domestic Services company and asked that Sammie be fired and he was indeed suspended pending an enquiry. Jethro defiantly defended Sammie and fought Lesley on every accusation.

"We're in love Mum! What is wrong with that? You're just a homophobe...."
"Jethro, I can accept your sexual preferences okay? I'm not a bigot! But Sammie? He's twice your age!"
"Since when has age got anything to do with love? You're an agist!"
"I am NOT...I just think his behaviour has been....INAPPROPRIATE! He should know better."
"My whole life is inappropriate - right?"
"I never said that - that's not what I'm saying....I trusted him!!"
"I still trust him...and...I trust HIM more than YOU!"
Lesley was at her wits end. She had never dreamt of having to deal with a situation like this. Her instinct was to just lay down the law and hope that Jethro complied.

Luke Hans just felt terrible guilt that all this was his fault.

"You will not see him again Jethro!"
"TRY AND STOP ME!"
With that Jethro flung his coat on and stormed out of the house. He did not return.

 For Luke Hans all this shouting and arguments, tension and ultimatums were a perfect excuse to hop over the fence and share his concerns with Marjorie. He felt partly to blame for the whole thing, since he was the one who basically outed Jethro and forced him to tell their mother.

 

It was amazing how understanding Marjorie could be and how she had the ability to make him feel better instantly. To tell the truth he was slightly exaggarating the fighting, just to get one of her really sympathetic hugs.



When Jethro stormed out of the house swearing he would never be back, Lesley knew she had to try a different tack. She realised she was in danger of losing Jethro altogether.

As in other times of distress, Lesley decided to talk to Gavin Pinkerton. She drove over to his sprawling ranch house on Sweetapple Ridge Way to seek his advice.

When Dr Pinkerton opened the front door, Lesley could no longer contain her frustration.
"Arrrggggghhhh!" she blurted "Kids are so frustrating, Gavin. I just don't no what to do for the best!"
She noticed that Gavin was looking a little peaked, he was pale and gaunt and little red around the eyes. He invited her inside.

"Are you alright Gavin? You look awfully pale." Lesley voiced her concern.
"No not really." said Gavin. "I took an experimental treatment supposed to aid longevity and vitality. It was a risk, and there are side effects. But I don't think it has worked. I feel....very old Lesley. And I crave rare steak and blood sausage." Gavin specialised in advanced age treatments, Lesley knew, but he'd never experimented on himself before.
"But how can I help?" Gavin asked.

In a flood of emotion Lesley told Gavin the entire story. Jethro....Sammie...the whole big fat mess. Gavin was very understanding and calmed her down immediately.
"Lesley, first, you need to educate yourself. There are some great resources on the internet for parents of gay teens and for the teens themselves. I can also recommend several books that I think you should read. Knowledge is everything when dealing with such a delicate situation. Come and use the pc in my study, while I find the books for you."

Lesley settled herself in front of the computer and began to read all the information on the sites that Dr Pinkerton had mentioned.

Then she used his library to read some of the books.

By the end of the week she was a different person. Fully armed with information, communication tools, coping strategies, and positive affirmations, she felt ready to address the next issue. Sammie.
She thanked Gavin over and over again "You are just the best! Now I have a much deeper understanding of what Jethro has been thinking, and what he's going through. I'm sure we can clear the air."

 Jethro remained missing in action. Lesley found out he was staying with Sammie just outside of town. But one evening after meeting Maisy for a drink, Lesley was calling a taxi when she saw Sammie walk past. He was alone.

 She quickly got off the phone and called after him
"Oy! You! Not so fast mister."
Sammie turned around, looked at Lesley and prepared to face the music.

"I  want my son back stat. homewrecker." Lesley was done feeling sorry for herself, she was prepared to fight if need be, to protect her son.
But Sammie was not going to roll over and just accept defeat.
"You'll be the homewrecker Ms Thing, if you tear Jethro and I apart. Have you not considered that? We want to be together, you need to deal with that honey."

Unfortunately Lesley knew that Sammie was right.

Lesley listened as Sammie pleaded his case. She was none too happy about what he was saying. He was saying the same thing that Jethro had said. They were in love and they wanted to be together. As much as she did not like the idea, she realised she could not change their feelings for each other. Sammy offered a truce. His eyes twinkled with every ounce of the boyish charm and mischief that Lesley had loved about him. She realised she could either be against them and have no relationship with her son, or be with them and mend some bridges.

Lesley sighed and looked Sammie straight in the eye. He held her gaze and smiled. Eventually she couldn't help but smile back.
"Okay," she said with resignation, "I guess I should welcome you into the family. But if you hurt my son or mess him around - I'm coming for you..."

"Deal." Sammie said and they hugged it out, even though it was minus sixteen and Lesley was starting to turn blue.

Back at the Diarmid house, Jethro snored quietly on his old bed while Luke Hans did some homework. He had snuck round to visit with Luke while Lesley was out, unaware that all his dreams had just come true.