Coming Clean

129

Starsky has a surgery and his mom comes out to visit, not knowing about his and Hutch’s true relationship. After a near-death experience, Mrs. Starsky realizes what’s important.

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“Get her outta here! Make her go!” The voice was fretful and hoarse.

“You know I can’t. She won’t listen to me.”

Their conversation was interrupted when she opened the bedroom door without knocking, carrying a frosted mug of something cold. “I thought we’d try apple juice, since you won’t drink iced tea, but you need to stop whining about something in your throat. Your tonsils are gone. Grow up already!”

“His tonsils were huge, Mrs. Starsky. The doctor put 14 stitches in his throat. Of course, it hurts when he swallows!”

“Well, that’s why I’m staying. To nurse my boy back to health and talk some sense into him.” She glared at Hutch sitting on the bed. “You need to go home now, Kenny,” she said dismissively. Despite her words, she treated them both like little boys who needed to be told what to do.

Starsky lost it. “He is home, mom! You wanted to come visit for a long weekend so we could talk in private and Hutch was gracious enough to stay with a friend. But you’ve been here three weeks now, nagging at me to move back to New York, and he needs to come home.”

She frowned. “He lives here? In your guest room?” She acted like Hutch had some loathsome disease and she’d been forced to sleep in his bed.

“I’ll go for a drive so you can finish your talk.” Hutch started to stand, but Starsky grabbed his arm.

“No. Wait in the other room if you want, but don’t leave. Please?”

Hutch sighed, but nodded. “I’ll be in the kitchen. Call if you need me.” He got up and left the room.

Starsky turned back to his mom. “Yeah, Hutch lives here. This was his place and I moved in. He doesn’t live in the guest room. This…” he waved his hand around “…is our room. We’re partners on and off the job. We sleep together.”

“I knew that boy was a bad influence,” she scowled. “Here, drink this while I talk some sense into you. No more of this stupidity. You need to get your life in order. I’ll pack you a bag. You’re coming home with me, David.”

“And that is the reason I don’t visit! You don’t listen! My life is in order. I don’t want you fixing me up with the daughters of your friends. I don’t want a wife. I don’t want to make babies.” He looked at her intently, trying to make her understand. “I love him, mom, and he loves me. I’m staying here.”

“Well, I’m not.” She looked at the mug dripping water on the floor. “I’ll change my ticket to the next flight home.” She turned and stormed out of the bedroom.

He got up and followed her. “I’ll drive you to the airport.”

“I’ll take a cab!” She banged the mug on the counter and headed for her room. “I’m going to pack.” She went in and slammed the door.

Hutch looked at him sympathetically. “Sounds like the talk went worse than you expected.”

“Not really. We’ve talked on numerous occasions about her unwanted setups and plans for me. She wants grandchildren and she wants them there. It’s just this time…” Starsky glanced at the closed door of the guest room. “…this time, I told her something she didn’t want to hear.”

“Like what, Starsk?”

He walked around the counter into the kitchen and took Hutch into his arms. “I finally told her we were together. That I loved you.”

“And I love you.” Hutch hugged him tight and kissed him gently.

Starsky swallowed and moaned against his chest.

Hutch hugged him again. “C’mon, take some aspirin and drink something cold.” He reached for the bottle sitting on the counter and shook out two pills as Starsky picked up the mug. “You can say goodbye to your mom, then go back to bed.”

Starsky nodded tiredly.

The door to the guest room opened and his mom came out wheeling her suitcase. “A cab’s on its way to take me to the airport. I switched my ticket to an American Airlines flight that leaves in two hours.” She looked around the room and sniffed, then glared at her son. “You don’t have to worry. I won’t be back.”

Starsky sighed. “Mom, please—”

A horn blared from the driveway.

Hutch picked up her luggage. “I’ll take this down so you can say your goodbyes in private.” He left them staring at one another while he went down to the cab.

“David, there’s still time, but hurry. Go pack a bag. I’ll wait.” She acted like she expected him to obey her.

“No, mom. When—if—I come visit, Hutch will come with me and we’ll stay at a hotel.” He gave up trying to make her understand. “His own family has renounced him completely, because he stayed here to be a good cop, instead of going back to Minnesota to make another fortune for his dad and society babies for his mom. He doesn’t want that happening to me, but I’ll let it if you keep pushing.”

She frowned. “So, you won’t come with me.”

“No, I won’t.” He tried to hug her, but she pushed him away.

Starsky went to the door with her, but didn’t follow her out. “I love you, mom.” He watched her go down to the waiting cab.

Hutch opened the door and said something to her. She slapped his face and got in the cab. Hutch closed its door and watched as it drove away, then noticed Starsky watching him from the door of their place.

He went back upstairs.

“What did you say to her, Hutch?”

“It doesn’t matter. But she’s angry with me now, not you. She won’t cut you off when she returns home.” He took Starsky’s hand and closed the door. “Let’s get you back to bed. You can have ice cream when you wake up from your nap.”

Starsky smiled as Hutch tucked him in.

* * * *

He wasn’t in the habit of having the television on when he was alone. He usually had music playing in the background. He wished it wasn’t on now. The breaking bulletin made him sick to his stomach; he didn’t know how he was going to tell Starsky. Hutch went to wake him.

“Starsk?” He sat on the bed and kissed Starsky’s forehead. “Wake up, babe. It’s important.”

“Huh?” Starsky rubbed his eyes and swallowed gingerly.

“Which airline did your mother take?”

“American, I think. Why?”

Hutch sighed. “A plane bound for New York City crashed and burned not long after takeoff. There’s no confirmation yet, but they’re saying it was an American Airlines flight and there were no survivors.”

“What?!” Starsky leaped out of bed and ran for the television. The bulletin repeated, but had no additional information yet. “We need to go, Hutch. I’ll get dressed.”

“We won’t get anywhere near the crash site, babe.”

Starsky objected. “We’re cops. We might—”

There was a tentative knock at the door.

He scurried across the room and opened it.

“Dave?” His mom blinked up at him with red-rimmed eyes.

“Mom?! You’re alive! Thank God!” He hugged his mom and let her in.

“I-I don’t have enough cash to pay for the cab…” She started crying again.

“I’ve got it.” Hutch grabbed his wallet off the counter and headed outside.

“Sit down and tell me what happened.” Starsky handed his mom the box of tissue on the side table.

“The plane crashed. I-I was supposed to be on that flight.”

Starsky moved closer to her on the sofa. Hutch stood in the open door and listened.

“I got to the airport, checked my luggage and got my boarding pass. But while I was waiting, I kept thinking about what you both said to me. When they started boarding, I couldn’t get on the plane.” She blew her nose and looked at Hutch. “You were right. I’m sorry I slapped you.”

Hutch shrugged, but said nothing. He closed the door, turned off the television, went to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee while Starsky and his mother talked.

“If it’s not an inconvenience, Dave, can I stay here another day or two? I promise to behave myself.” She teared up again. “Oh dear, I’ll need a nightgown, a toothbrush, and something else to wear. My luggage was on that plane.” She wiped her nose again. “If you’ll take me to an ATM, I can get some cash to buy what I need and repay Kenny for the cab fare.”

Hutch brought her a mug of coffee. “Cream, two sugars, right? Forget the cab fare. It’s on me. Drink this and when you’re calmer, I’ll take you to an ATM, then to a store to get what you need. Is K-mart okay? There’s one not far from here. If you prefer Sears or JC Penney, we’ll have to go to a mall, and the nearest one isn’t close.”

“I can take her, Hutch. She’s my mom.”

“Kenny can take me, Dave. You just got out of the hospital. If he’s going to be my son-in-law, then it’s time we got to know each other.” She patted her son’s hand. “It’ll be all right.” She drank her coffee and looked up at Hutch. “K-mart is fine, Kenny.”

* * * *

It was an afternoon of errands and talk and lingering shock. Everyone was exhausted when they sat down to eat carryout from the local diner Hutch picked on the way home. After cleanup, Starsky’s mom took a shower and called it an early night.

They lingered in the living room with the television off. Starsky leaned against his lover and sighed.

Hutch hugged him gently. “She’s okay, babe, but you didn’t eat much supper. Want some ice cream?”

“No. I’d rather have you hold me in our bed. It’s been too long. I’ve missed you.”

“And I’ve missed you. Let’s go.” Together, they went to their room and closed the door.

It didn’t take long for them to undress and nestle against each other. “You’re like a Teddy bear, all furry and snuggly warm!” Hutch murmured in Starsky’s ear.

“Why did mom slap you? What did you say to her?” Starsky had to know.

“I told her we weren’t children. We’re grown men and she needed to remember that. She got lucky this time. Like it or not, I was her son-in-law, with everything that meant. That the next time she visited, and our bedroom door was closed, she damn well better knock and wait for permission to open it.”

Starsky chuckled softly. “You’re right. She could’ve gotten quite an eyeful if she’d barged in on some of our racier sessions.”

“Yeah” Hutch kissed Starsky’s throat. “Get some sleep. We’ll both feel better in the morning.”

* * * *

Starsky woke at dawn, wanting aspirin and something cold to wash them down. He slipped out of bed, shrugged into his robe and got them himself, but he needed more. He detoured to the linen cupboard and grabbed a clean towel. He could hear his mom beginning to move around in her room, so he made sure the bedroom door was shut before he crawled back into bed.

“Hutch? Babe?” He gently kissed Hutch awake. “You with me yet?”

Hutch pulled him close. “Hmmm…whatcha need?”

“I need you to touch me. It’s been too long.” He stroked the warm body snuggled against him. “I’m not up for anything else.”

“C’mere.” Hutch pushed the bedding out of the way and rolled on top of him.

Starsky moaned. “Yesss!” he whispered. He loved Hutch holding him down, Hutch’s weight pushing him into the mattress. Hutch took his time, rubbing against him, arousing them both. Starsky grew harder and tried to slow him, wanting it to last.

There was a soft knock at the door. “David?”

“Go away! Ohmygod, please go away!” he sobbed under his breath as Hutch’s cock exploded against him.

“If I make breakfast, will you eat?” She pointedly didn’t open the door.

“Yesss!” He panted wildly as Hutch covered his groin with liquid heat and he added to it, sinking his teeth into Hutch’s neck to silence any further noise.

“I’ll call you when it’s ready.” His mother walked away from the door.

They took a moment to use the towel to clean up their messy lovemaking, then pulled the bedding over them to recover, laying in each other’s arms.

“We’ll have to get dressed soon. Your mom’s making breakfast and you told her you’d eat it.”

“I did?” Starsky kissed the hickey he’d bitten on Hutch’s neck.

Hutch chuckled. “Silly goose! She thinks you did! You called out “Yes!” when she knocked and asked.”

“At least she didn’t walk in on us,” Starsky said. “I guess you’re right. We’d better get dressed. But kiss me first. I like you naked.”

They kissed languidly, then took their time dressing before heading for the kitchen. His mom was making cheese omelets, and for the first time in days, Starsky was hungry. He pulled orange juice from the fridge and three glasses from the cupboard.

“Smells good, Mrs. Starsky,” Hutch said as he sat at the counter and reached for a juice.

“Call me mom. Or Ruth, if mom’s too uncomfortable for you, Kenny.” She plated his omelet and set it in front of him.

He looked at Starsky, who blinked in surprise. “Okay, um, Ruth.” Hutch sipped his juice while she plated the other two omelets, set them on the counter and took the seat next to her son.

“Mother-in-law,” she reminded them. “It wasn’t how I expected it to go, but I don’t want to lose my boy. I’ll figure it out.”

“At least you’re willing to try,” Hutch muttered under his breath. He picked up his fork and took a bite. “It’s very good,” he approved.

“My mom’s a good cook.” Starsky was already halfway through his. He slowed down and drank some orange juice. “Swallowing doesn’t hurt so bad today.”

They spent the morning shopping for groceries and getting Ruth Starsky more clothes and another suitcase. Then they took her out to dinner to celebrate life.

* * * *

She spent another week with them, cooking for them, and learning about their work and the life they were making with each other. Finally seeing them as the stalwart men they were, not as wayward little boys. She gave them privacy when they needed it, and respected their bedroom door when it was closed.

And they grew comfortable with her, enjoying her cooking, tattling on each other to amuse her with silly things they’d done, and letting her glimpse the genuine affection and love they shared, without flaunting it.

They were all a little sad when it was time for her to leave.

“Can I ask a favour of you two?” She was hesitant at breakfast her last morning there.

“Sure, mom.” Starsky offered to refill her coffee, but she shook her head.

“I want you both to come visit, maybe Christmas or Hannukah? But not until then…” She sighed at the confusion on their faces. “I left a mess behind when I came out here that I need to clean up. I don’t care about my reputation, but it will take time to restore Dave’s. I…” She shrugged apologetically to both of them. “…I told them I was coming out here to bring you back to fulfill the promise you made to me last time you were home.”

“Promise? I didn’t make any promise to you, mom,” Starsky frowned in uncertainty.

“I know. But I told Riva—she’s my best friend, Kenny—that you’d agreed to marry her younger daughter Raina, and would propose when you came home. You didn’t and she wants to know why.”

“Mom!”

“My fault. My fault. I came here angry at my little boy, expecting to talk some sense into him and bring him home to do what he was told. But he wouldn’t listen and I left angrier than when I came. It took nearly dying in a plane crash to wake me up to see that my little boy is all grown up. He’s a good man with his own life and love, and after all the grief I’ve caused him, he’s still willing to include me in his life.”

She looked gratefully at her son and Hutch. “The love of his life is willing to include me, too.”

“If it doesn’t work out, you can move out here and we’ll take care of you,” Hutch offered, and Starsky nodded.

“No, no. It’s my mess and I’ll take care of it. New York is home to me, like Bay City has become home to you. You’re not running away; what you both want and need is here. Hang onto it and to each other.”

“I love you, mom.” Starsky patted her hand.

“I love you, too…mom…” Hutch murmured faintly.

She smiled brightly. “And I love both of you. Now take me to the airport. I’ll call when I get home and you can both come visit me later this year, so I can show you off. Promise me!”

“We promise!” They each hugged her and kissed her cheek.

She laughed in delight and kissed theirs.