I opened my front door and was immediately greeted with the warm air of the house, while the sharp November winds were banished.
An aroma of spices piqued my interest and i wandered over to the kitchen to see what was cooking, placing my school bag and jacket in the cupboard under the stairs.
When i got in the kitchen, i was surprised to find Lizzie, a woman who could do just about anything, but couldn't cook to save her life, furiously mixing a dark stir fry of some sort, which, upon closer inspection, looked rather burned. She gave a start when she saw me, and turned the electric cooker off, with a serious expression on her face. I started to think i was in trouble for something.
"Ah, Madison, you're home at last. I've been needing to talk to you for quite some time now, but I've not had the chance. But first, how does the food look?" I was at loss for words. As she looked at me expectantly, i managed a truthful "it looks interesting." Then remembering Lizzie’s tendency to talk for the whole world, i hastily added, "it looks great, actually, but where's mom?"
"Your mom had to work late today, she should be back in about half an hour. That's why this is the perfect moment to have a chat with you."
I nodded, frowning slightly. "now, your mom and i have known each other for a long time now, and i was going to ask her to marry me tonight, but i wanted to check with you first, that you're comfortable with this, and so on and so forth." She looked at me anxiously, and while I'm not entirely sure what my face looked like at that point, I'm sure that it didn't give her faith, as she carried right on with the speech. "obviously, we're both females and I don't know how you feel about this, not that i wouldn't mind if i was a man and asking her to marry me, because this does affect you as much as it does either of us, well, i guess it wouldn't as much as us, but it would still change a few things in your life to. But you mustn't thi-"
"Lizzie." I decided to finally speak up a bit, having come out of my state of shock. She looked at me, wide eyes full of sincerity. Truth be told, i had no idea of her and my mothers relationship, but i knew that my mum had been through a lot, and deserved to have happiness. And if Lizzie could give her that happiness, then so be it. I'd she couldn't, then she could get the hell out of here. Well maybe not, but it would be to awkward for her to stay if mum said no.
"If you can make her happy, then i have no objection to your marrying her, but she has to want this too. My mom deserves the best in life." Her eyes welled up with tears and before i knew it, i was being hugged and kissed by my potential future stem-mom. I still wasn't quite sure how same-gender marriages worked, but i didn't really need to know. As far as i knew, it meant i had two moms.
5 minutes later, mom got home. Me and Lizzie were sat at the table with stir fry in our plates, food barely touched. I could tell Lizzie was almost exploding with excitement, and i was pretty eager myself to find out what would happen.
We started to eat the meal in moderate silence, partly because my mother believed in thanking God for having food and stuff, partly because there wasn't much to talk about. But then after about 5 minutes, the questions started, as i had expected.
"So, Madison, any new accomplishments to share?"
I pushed out my chest and said "I was chosen to be the Student Council Leader again this year. And i got an A* in my mock Spanish exam."
"And is Spanish going to get you anywhere in the world?" My proud smile faltered. "Look, honey, i didn't mean it like that. All i mean is that is all good, but you need to achieve more than a...student council leader three years in a row, if you want to get somewhere in the world. ok honey?"
"yes mom."
At this awkward pause, Lizzie decided to say something. "I wish I’d had a great mom like you, Madison, when i was younger. Anyway, on a different, yet related subject, er...Carrie..." at saying my moms name her voice cracked slightly, and she now sounded like she was choking on a fish. Her eyes sought mine, and i smiled at her in, what i hope, was a reassuring way. She then met eyes with my mom, who was looking between us curiously. "How does the food taste?"
I almost facepalmed.

Later that night, my mom came to visit me. She never visited me, so i figured that Lizzie had popped the question. She plunged straight in, no preamble whatever. "Lizzie asked me to marry her. How do you feel about this?" I was silent. "Well?"
"Are you happy with her, mom?"
"Y-yes. Yes i am."
"Then its not up to me, mom. But if it were, i would have nothing to say about it, anyway."
She exhaled, completely relived, and i looked at her bemusedly. She looked at me, and for the first time that i could ever recall, started giggling. Once i got over my general astonishment, i couldn't help but laugh with her. After a few minutes of this...giggle fest...she looked at me seriously and said "i already said yes, but i wanted to hear your opinion on this anyway. Are you sure you don't mind, what with it being a lesbian marriage? I want you to be comfortable with this too."
"Mom, as long as you're happy, I'm happy, and if you're most happy with Lizzie, then you should show the world, and get married. You deserve all the happiness in the world, mom."
She teared up, and we had a cuddle. Another first. I've given my mum light hugs, but never a full on cuddle. Maybe Lizzie is better for my mom than i thought...