20 Years of Love Rekindled

Listening to my mom talk about her past, for really the first time ever, was exhilarating. My mom was a literal boss. She told us how she and Kyren would go to protests and stand up for the rights of others no matter who they were. She was even arrested for disrupting the peace once. When she spoke about those days and about Kyren she lit up. She talked about their fun sleepovers and how they finally fell for one another. My mom said Kyren kissed her first and it turned into a relationship from each phone call after that. She said neither of them had ever been with someone of the same sex, so they were exploring this together. It was truly romantic.

“Ky and I were together back then, but she wasn’t allowed to be with me, so we kept it secret. At the end of the semester we knew we were graduating and a decision had to be made. She decided to stay with Jared for fear of her mother disowning her and I was left all alone. Before we moved back home from school, we met up one last time at Kyren’s apartment. I was giving her back some of her things she had left at my place. We truly did love one another, but I knew I had to let her go if she were going to be happy one day without me. Our final goodbye kiss however was disrupted by Jared who saw us through the window when he came to help Ky move. He pounded angrily on the glass and demanded she open the door. I was asked to leave and he promised never to tell her parents if we stayed away from one another. So that’s what we did. I would do anything to protect Ky and he knew it at that moment. We haven’t spoken for all of these years. Jared even moved her to the other side of the country to get away from me. It broke my heart and everything that I was. I went into a deep depression for over a year without her. I eventually met Dante and we made a life together and had two beautiful babies. I was happy, but never really had gotten over my first love. When I said I had only loved one person before, it was Ky that I spoke of. Being able to be our authentic selves and be together has been amazing. I feel like us again, like when we were in college. We were in love and care free. She was my world and I think she still could be. I don’t want to upset you guys at all, which is why we have kept our relationship these last few weeks a secret. Kyren is going through a messy divorce with Jared. If he knew we were together he would be livid,” she said, holding our hands tightly. “I also don’t know if this will go anywhere. It’s been 20 years since we dated and we are just getting to know one another again.”

“That makes sense then why Mr. Jared gets so mad when you come around,” Baylen noted.

“Yeah, it’s always been odd, but it makes so much more sense now. Thank you for trusting us enough to share this information with us mom. We love you so much and we are glad that you are happy,” I said, hugging her shoulders.

Baylen joined us in the hug briefly. He still seemed a little shook up, but I think he understood. I could see tears on my mom’s cheeks but I didn’t mention her crying. I wasn’t sure if it was from sadness or happiness, but I would let her have those emotions without being invasive.

“I’m gonna go call Quinn mom. I don’t want her saying something to dad if she sees him at Alison’s house,” Baylen said. “She was also very shocked at what we saw and I didn’t know what to say. She left because she thought it would be awkward to walk in here with me not knowing what the situation was, you know?” Baylen stated.

“Oh sweetie, your dad knows all about Kyren though. It has never been what it should be in our marriage and he knew there was a reason why. So we had this talk years ago. We decided two years ago that it would be best to move on so he could find true happiness. I really hope he has found it with Alison. She is so kind to my babies and to Dante. I am actually going to call him tonight. He has always wondered if we would be able to have this chance again. But we knew it was probably not possible because Kyren was married to Jared. It’s such a surreal feeling. I do hate that her family has fallen apart to provide a window for my happiness. But I am hoping she sees me as her happiness as well,” she said, looking towards the door longingly.

Wow, mom was so brave. To be able to let someone go like that so that they could be happy was a level of maturity that I don’t think I will ever be. I needed Keegan to do this for me. Let me go Keegan. Unleash my heart. Keegan knew he wouldn’t be with me, but he also didn’t want me to be with anyone else. I can’t even imagine what he will say if he finds out our moms have been seeing each other romantically. It’s not my place to tell him, so he can get mad all he wants. When Mrs. Kyren wants him to know she will tell him. But for now their secret is safe with me and their love is protected by us all. I hope Mrs. Kyren loves my mom as much as my mom loves her. My mom and dad’s happiness means the world to me. I would do anything to keep that sacred. Even if it means lying to Keegan Patts.