Parallel

Meanwhile, Momma was preparing Christmas dinner when there was a knock on the door.

“Hm?” she asked. Momma hurried to the door. She looked out the peephole.

“Who is it?” she asked. A woman with short red hair stood outside, pacing. Momma looked confused.

“Sam?” she asked as she opened the door. “What are you doing here?” Sam looked ready to cry.

“What’s wrong?” Momma asked. “What’s the matter?”

“My husband is gay!” Sam blurted out. Momma looked confused.

“What?” she asked.

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Sam sat at the kitchen table. Momma handed her a cup of tea.

“Here,” she said. Sam took the cup and drank up.

“Thank you,” she whimpered. Momma sat down in front of her.

“Now, tell me what happened,” she said. Sam sniffled.

“My husband,” she said. “I think… I think he’s gay!”

“Why is that?” Momma asked. Sam took a breath.

“I saw his email,” she said. “I was cleaning his office when I bumped into his desk. The screen woke up. I looked and his email was up.” Sam looked so pale.

“What did it say?” Momma asked. Her friend paused.

“I love you,” Sam said. “I miss you. And… And… And…” Tears welled up in her eyes.

“And?” Momma asked. Sam sniffled.

“I don’t remember!” she wailed. She buried her head in her hands. Momma looked confused.

“Did you ask him?” she asked.

“How do I do that?” Sam asked.

“Good point,” Momma said. “Can I see the email?” Sam wiped away her tears.

“Sure,” she said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded-up piece of paper. Sam slid it across the table.

“Thank you,” Momma said. She opened it up and read it. Moments later, she looked confused. Then her cheeks turned red. She looked up and cleared her throat.

“Well! Um… Uh… Uh…” Momma said at last. Sam looked ready to cry again. Momma put up her hands.

“Hey, hey!” she said. “Maybe it’s nothing. You don’t know who this is. It could be fake. You don’t know.” Sam shook her head.

“No!” she wailed. “He’s gay! And he’s cheating on me! I just know it!” Momma patted her on the hand.

“Do you want to get to the bottom of this?” she asked.

“Yes!” Sam whimpered.

“Then we’ll get to the bottom of this,” Momma said. “I don’t know how but we’ll try.” Sam bowed her head.

“Thank you so much,” she said with a sniffle. Momma didn’t lose her smile, not once. Still this was a big ask. How was she going to pull this one off?