Chapter 18 — Love Does Funny Things

Sarah slumped down in the passenger seat as they pulled into the street she grew up in.

“Don’t worry, the neighbours have more important things to do than watch the street any time a car goes down it.” Eliana smiled, patting Sarah on the knee.

“I know, it’s just… all hit home now…” Sarah began. “I mean, I know before, but now it all suddenly matters… I’m home, and it’s real.” She sighed.

Eliana shrugged her shoulders as she turned the car into their driveway. “What’s done is done, little one.”

Squeezing her sister’s hand, Sarah Opened the car door and stepped out into the cold night air.

The front door opened ahead of her and her mother was framed by the warm glow from within.

“Eliana, David! Welcome!” she smiled broadly stepping forward to greet her children. “David?”

“Shalom Ima.” Sarah shyly responded looking at her feet. Feeling Eli’s hand slip into hers and squeeze, Sarah looked up at her mother.

“I don’t understand David….” His mother began looking confused, her eyes darting around her.

“Shall we go inside?” Eli prompted.

Her mother nodded before turning back to the house. Looking over her shoulder, she locked eyes with her youngest child before making her way back inside.

“Where are my children.” smiled their father as they stepped into the hallway. “Oh, I thought you were bringing David, princess. Who is this lovely young lady?” smiled her father.

“Don’t you recognise your own son?” replied their mother tersely.

Looking confused, Sarah’s father looked her over closely. “David?” he asked, his eyes widening in confusion.

“Yes Aba.” Sarah whispered quietly blushing with a mixture of fear and embaracement.

“Did she put you up to this?” he asked looking between Sarah and Eliana.

“Aba, Ima,” Eliana began. “This,” She announced gesturing towards her sister, “is your daughter Sarah.”

It seemed an eternity before either of them spoke. Sarah noted that both her parents seemed equally surprised by the revelation.

“I need a drink.” Her father sighed dramatically before turning and walking away towards the living room.

“Peter.” hissed Sarah’s mother. Turning back to her children, she smiled and embraced the pair. “Welcome home, my children.” She beamed, Eli, David, give me your coats, stop looking like you are at one of your father’s trials.” She beamed taking their coats.

“Ima, she’s called Sarah, not David.” Replied Eliana sternly.

Their mother sighed and took Sarah’s hand. “I’m sorry child, this is just still very much a shock to me. But tell me please; is this some dressing up game? Or is this what I think it is?”

“What do you think it is, Ima?” asked Sarah quietly, trying to avoid angering her mother still.”

“You think you are a woman?” she asked apprehensively.

Sarah sighed and slowly shook her head. “No Ima, I always have been. This is the same person you gave birth to. I was just hidden… buried… This is me, The real me, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner.” She answered seriously, a tear trickling down her cheek. “Just please, I beg you, don’t hate me,” She begged.

Her mother shook her head before embracing her youngest child in her arms. “I could never hate you, my dear.”

Sarah sobbed uncontrollably. As much as she had desired this outcome, she had not expected it. Years of pain, emotion and fear poured out on her mother’s shoulder.

Smiling broadly, Sarah wiped her eyes and finally felt at ease in her childhood home.

“It is a good thing then that you didn’t have any girlfriends waiting for you when you came home from the army,” grinned her mother.

Sarah blushed furiously. “I suppose now would be a good time to tell you that I never liked girls?”

Sarah’s mother waved her hand dismissively. “Ah, a mother knows these things. Admittedly, I just thought you liked boys, but this makes much more sense!” she smiled. “You are going to make me the mother of the bride a second time, yes?”

Sarah nodded happily. “Yes Ima, in fact it could be sooner than you think. I’ve fallen in lo…” Sarah’s confession was cut short by a cough from behind the group.

“Are you going to stand gossiping in the hall or are you going to sit here with me?” Da..Sar… child, would you talk with me?” her father stumbled.

Sarah frowned at his obvious difficulty with her name, but followed her father towards the veranda to the rear of the house.

Handing her a tumbler of amber liquid, Sarah stood reluctantly beside her father.

“I think I saved you from those two just in time.” he muttered. “Any longer and they would have been braiding your hair.”

Sarah sniffed at the liquid in her glass and remained quiet.

“I don’t know where I went wrong raising you. I taught you to shoot, to read, to ride your bike. Was I not a good role model?”

“No Aba.” sighed Sarah. “It’s nothing to do with you.”

“Don’t tell me that. Rhis is everything to do with me, you’re my child.” snapped her father.

“Aba, I didn’t mean it that way….” She began. “I… This is just who I am, I am a girl. I can't change that, you couldn’t change that any more than you can make the sun rise or set. You did nothing wrong.”

“You know we are not such an orthodox family that you couldn’t come out as gay if you preferred?” offered her father with resignation. “ I thought the army would straighten you out, toughen you up. Perhaps I was wrong.”

“Did you not hear me?” Sarah answered attempting to control her anger. “Look at me, Aba!” she demanded.

Turning towards his child, Peter stared at her. The moonlight caught her face just right. She truly was beautiful, His baby…. No his son.

“Aba, I am a girl. I was born with a problem; I had boy parts where they didn’t belong. By the time I truly understood this, I was too scared to tell you because of how I thought you’d react… I have obeyed you and been a good child, but please, do not ask me to be your son, I cannot do it.” She sighed, “I will not.”

Peter Yakobavitch stood there looking into his child’s eyes. She had the fire and stubbornness he had loved when he first met Sharon. They even looked alike, his girls, how had he not seen this? How had he been so fixated on having a son in the image of himself? A lone tear rolled from the man’s eye as he locked eyes with his daughter.

“Give your father a hug, my daughter.” He sighed, sweeping his child into his embrace. “I love you .… Sarah."

From Alyssa: Sorry this is a short one, im a bit sick atm, so i tried to get as much as i could out. I'll be doing more soon and more regularly now. :)
Alyssa xx Also, for those confused amungst you, I am belladonna :P