Peter had no proof of anything, so he didn't bring the subject up. He remembered that Nick had told him to keep an eye on Mike because he was suspicious of Mike’s character. He wanted to talk to his brother about it, but didn’t want to upset him. Besides, he had started spending almost every spare moment with Coco. He was happy and in love, so Peter thought it best not to bother him with the issue.
However, the day before his family was supposed to leave, Peter's suspicions were confirmed. Peter had woken up a little after eight. He looked and noticed that Mike wasn’t on the couch. So he tiptoed through the pad and quietly whispered Mike's name. There was no answer, so he decided to look outside. As he stepped out on the balcony, Peter immediately heard Mike's voice.
Mike emerged from a fort of boulders and a woman was with him. Peter saw that it was his mom. He kept looking as the two of them walked across the beach hand in hand. Suddenly, Mike slipped up and kissed Ginny out in the open. Peter rubbed his eyes and looked again in disbelief. His mother was kissing Mike back. As Mike and Ginny came closer to the pad, Peter went back inside and lay back in the hammock. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Once Ginny was back in her room, Mike took off his slippers and robe and settled back on the couch. He was about to close his eyes when Peter appeared in front of him.
"We need to talk, now." Peter said, emphasizing the word "now."
Mike and Peter decided to go outside and away from the apartment building so as not to wake anyone up. Mike was certain that this discussion would turn into a shouting match.
"What in the world is going on between you and my mother?" Peter asked, expecting an immediate answer.
"We're very attracted to each other. We also enjoy each other's company. That's exactly what's going on," Mike said very honestly.
"How long has this been going on?" Peter asked, knowing what the answer probably was.
"Since she arrived in town two weeks ago," Mike said, looking down at the ground.
"What!" was Peter's only reply.
"I'm sorry man, I should've said something to you right then. I just thought I could squelch my feelings like I always do. I've been doing it all my life," Mike explained.
"So that's why you wanted to show mom around town. Here I thought you were being nice, while all you wanted to do was play her heart strings," Peter shot back.
"It wasn't like that! You're the one that had other plans that evening, remember? I told her at the airport that I would show her around town. I swear I had no idea she was your mom at the time," Mike said.
"Yet you knew afterwards, but you still had to pursue it. Why didn't you just let it go?" Peter asked.
"Now hold on just a minute! I didn't pursue anything. It just happened because our feelings for each other are mutual. It wasn't all me," Mike said, trying to get Peter to understand.
"I told you she hasn't been the same since my dad and her split. I think she might have been at a slight disadvantage against your charm!" Peter yelled.
"That really hurts Pete! I would never take advantage of a person I care about, and I care about your mom an awful lot. I don't know why I'm the bad guy here. If she didn't want to be with me I'm sure she'd tell me to buzz off," Mike said.
"It's got to stop. She's going home tomorrow, or did you forget? Now she's going to have a broken heart," Peter reminded him.
"No, I'll go and see her, write her letters, and call her on the phone. It'll be ok," Mike tried to reassure Peter and himself.
"No, it's over. I don't want you to see my mom. You know, you can have any girl you want, why her?" Peter asked.
"Any girl I want? You've got to be kidding me! I have a harder time finding girlfriends than you do. Ginny is the only woman in the past year that's even given me the time of day," Mike said in shock to Peter's comment.
"I guess as long as Mike Nesmith gets what he wants we can all throw caution to the wind and live in the moment," Peter said sarcastically, "That is so selfish."
"No man, you're selfish! All you care about is how embarrassing this is for you. You can’t stand the fact that your mother is interested in a younger man. If it would be any other couple out there, you wouldn’t think it was wrong. You’d think it was liberating. You know what that's called when your ideals contradict each other? It's hypocrisy man, and you're being a big hypocrite," Mike shouted.
"I am not," Peter retorted.
"Yes you are. You don't give a darn about your mother's feelings right now. Do you even really know everything your mother has sacrificed for you? She gave up her education, her friends, her family, and her whole youth just to be a wife and mother. Did you even know that everyone around her said that she should put you up for adoption? Some even said you should have been terminated. That sick junk crossed people's minds even back then. She didn't listen to any of them though because she loved you from the moment she found out she was pregnant. She loved you and your father very much," Mike said, almost in tears.
"She told you all this?" Peter asked now with tears in his eyes.
"Yes she did. We talked about everything together. I've never learned so much about one person in such a short time. Peter, I really do love her, and I think she loves me too," Mike said calmly and sincerely.
"Wow, I believe you. I can't say that it isn't awkward, but whatever makes my mom happy," Peter said.
"Really, do you mean it?" Mike asked.
"Yes, I do. I think I should go talk to mom," Peter said, wiping his eyes.
"Come on, let's go," Mike said.
"Hey, I'm still mad at you for keeping this from me," Peter reminded him.
"I know, and I'm sorry. We never meant to hurt you. I don't blame you for being mad," Mike said.
Everyone had woken up by the time Peter and Mike came in. They all knew an argument must've taken place because both men were completely silent. Not a word was said to either one of them until Mike was approached by Nick.
"Way to go Tex. What a home wrecker," he said to Mike's face. As Nick walked away, Mike's blood boiled and he started to go after him. Micky blocked Mike's way and held him back.
"Forget him, he'll get over it," Micky whispered.
Peter gently knocked on his bedroom door, wanting to get in to talk to his mom.
"Come in," Ginny said.
Peter opened the door a crack and looked in.
"Hey mom, can I talk to you?" Peter asked.
"Of course dear," Ginny said as she continued to pack her suitcase.
"Um, Mike and I had this fight. I assume you know that," Peter said.
"Yes, and it breaks my heart to know that two people I love are hurting each other, especially two best friends," Ginny told him.
"You mean you love Mike?" Peter asked in shock.
"Strange, isn't it? I mean for no longer than we've known each other, but I do." Ginny confessed.
"Oh mom, I'm so sorry. I just never figured there could be genuine feelings between the two of you. I mean, what do you possibly have in common?" Peter asked.
"There are many things, but especially the fact that we both had to grow up way too quickly. In a way, I'm luckier than Mike. At least I got to be a child for the most part, but he didn't. I have a beautiful family that loves me, but Mike has a father he doesn't even remember. He has no idea what being a child is like. He's always had to be a man and doesn't know how to be anything else. He feels like he doesn't fit in with others his age. That's how I feel too. I've seen him with you and your other friends. It's like he's raising three children just like I'm raising three children. You see, he helps bring the girl out of me, and I guess I help bring the boy out of him,” Ginny explained.
"Momma, I'm sorry I've caused you so much heartache," Peter said as tears streamed down his face. Ginny walked over to her oldest son and lovingly embraced him.
"Son, I don't regret for one moment ever having you. You are my life and everything else is worthless. You are worth every sacrifice I have ever made," Ginny said as she thought about how she would do anything for her kids.
"Mom, I want you to know that if Mike truly makes you happy, I'll never raise another objection again," Peter said.
"My children's happiness is what makes me happy," Ginny said with a smile.
"I love you mom," Peter said.
"I love you too Peter," Ginny replied.