Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 9

far."
    "Huh." Eli's dad golfed and worked. His mother played tennis and would rather slit her wrists than golf. His father was not allowed to discuss golf in her presence. In fact, he wasn't sure they ever discussed anything when in each other's presence. They must have. You couldn't go for thirty five years without talking could you?
    They pulled up to a large two story house in a suburban neighborhood. Cars lined the street, but they found a spot reserved for family in the driveway. Eli was nervous now. He was going to meet James' family. What if they hated him? What if they thought he was weird? Or too Jewish? It had happened.
    They walked in the front door without knocking and James grabbed Eli's hand, leading him straight into the kitchen. Eli was struck dumb. All around them, in the living room and passing them in the hallway, where people dressed up like Star Trek characters - new Star Trek, old Star Trek, and even some Cardassians and Klingons. It was liked he'd fallen asleep and was having the best dream ever, especially given that a hottie named James T. Kirk had tangled their fingers together and was dragging Eli down the hall behind him.
    They burst into the kitchen to shouts of "James!" and Eli stopped short, trying to disengage his hand, but James just tightened his hold. Eli finally focused enough to look around and saw Abby, standing at the counter in one of the super short uniform dresses and high boots, cutting some fruit. Dedrick was standing next to her wearing a little red shirt uniform, bouncing from foot to foot and tugging on her dress. He seemed more like a normal kid than he had at the hospital, when he'd been abnormally quiet and well behaved.
    Abby smiled at Eli and waved. She then said something to Dedrick, who looked over at him and kind of waved back. Eli just smiled blankly, perhaps in terror, as James pulled him over to a woman wearing a long caftan type gown, with her hair in an elaborate up-do.
    James finally let go of Eli's hand and embraced the woman. "Hey, Mom." He pulled back and grabbed Eli again. "This is Eli Zimmerman, well, I told you about him." Eli watched fascinated as James blushed. "Eli, my mom, Sarah."
    Before he knew what hit him, Eli found himself in the embrace of the older woman who smelled like flowers. "Dr. Zimmerman. It's so wonderful to meet you, the man who stitched up our Dedrick's head." He watched her give James a slightly scolding look as she pulled back. James just rolled his eyes.
    "Eli. Please, Mrs. McCray. It was nothing."
    James spoke up. "Yeah, what about my wrist? He fixed my wrist too. You don't even care about your poor injured son." James brought up a good pout.
    As Abby walked behind Eli carrying the small plate of fruit she muttered at Eli, "He's such a freaking whiner." She then darted away with a smirk as James took a swing at her and complained, "Everyone is so mean to me."
    "Of course, dear." His mother patted James on the shoulder. "And it's Sarah. Just Sarah. I'm going to take Eli and find your father. You put out the Romulan Ale, will you, James? Be a good boy."
    She tucked her hand in Eli's arm and led him away. Eli looked back at James, not sure if he should be afraid, and found James staring back, mouth agape. That didn't give Eli a lot of confidence. But he was a doctor; he could handle high-stress situations. This was definitely one of them.
    They walked out onto the patio and Eli was stunned to find the large backyard filled with more people in costume. He gaped around. "Is everyone in costume?"
    James' mother patted his arm. "Oh yes. It's the rule. You can't come without one." She paused looking around. "Now where is Carl? Oh, there he is."
    As they made their way down the stairs and across the lawn, James' mother began what Eli decided was the grilling. "So you're an ER doctor."
    "Yes, ma'am."
    "Don't ma'am me. It's Sarah. Where did you go to school?"
    "Chicago, where I grew up."
    "So what brought you to the foggy shores of San Francisco?"
    Eli paused. Obviously she knew James was gay. She probably suspected Eli was, given that he seemed to be James' date and had been holding his hand. "Um."
    "Ah, a boy. It's always a boy, isn't it?" Eli just nodded dumbly. "I moved here from Boston, of all places, when I met Carl. He was going to school in Boston at the time, and... here I am." She smiled over at him. "A happy ever after and all that." Suddenly she frowned. "You're not still with..."
    Eli quickly shook his head. "No, that didn't