Barbara said, "I was. You hadn't started by nineteen, and I was trying to jump-start it. But sadly, you just missed out."
Rose asked, "Does dad know? I mean, he must, right?"
Barbara shook her head quickly and said, "Oh no, dear. He knows we're a close family, but he has no idea about the family's full legacy. That's why this must all be kept under wraps."
Rose looked shocked. "Why? How can you keep this from him?! He has a right to know!"
Barbara said, "Rosie, honey, how do you think he'd feel if he found this out about our family? Hmm? Now, how would he feel if he found out from me while he was still in bed with you? You think he'd be more understanding?"
"Sure, because—"
"Well, that's how fathers typically find out. Mothers help their daughters fruitfully seduce them, and while they're lying there, still feeling guilty, the mom comes in and tells him what I just told you."
"And then what? Everybody just lives happily ever after?" scoffed Rose.
"Exactly," said Barbara. "Your cousin Charlene got her fever, your aunt Joan, my sister, helped her sleep with her dad, they both arranged for it to happen on their schedule, and Joan walked in while they were both still breathing hard. And now, Charlene is happily married and has a great relationship with both parents, and yes, she still visits her daddy every so often. And I hear that Charlene's daughter Leslie just started getting flirty with her dad. And she's eighteen… younger than Brianna. So yes. The circle continues happily ever after."
"Wait… both you and Aunt Joan…?"
"Yes," nodded Barbara. "Everyone in the family envies the father of multiple daughters!" she added, chuckling.
"Wow. This is insane! So what now? I never got this 'fever.'"
"I know," said Barbara, "and it's so sad," she added regretfully.
"Why does that bother you so much?" enquired Rose.
"Because you're not a part of this, you have no idea how wonderful this is, how amazing we all think this is. As your mother, knowing that you can't be a part of this is like knowing that heaven is real and that your child can't go. It's heartbreaking."
"Whatever," scoffed Rose. "Nobody from this family's going to heaven."
"Why ever not?" enquired Barbara. "We're good people. We're not criminals. We're not racist, we're not homophobic, we're very welcoming of everyone who comes into the family. All we ask is that they understand our family dynamic."
"Mom, it's still wrong… no to mention illegal! And what if somebody gets pregnant, huh?" insisted Rose.
"Rose, just because something is illegal doesn't mean it's wrong, and just because it's legal doesn't mean it's right," said Barbara. "In my lifetime, interracial marriages were illegal. Just a few years ago, same-sex marriage was illegal. In both cases, they used 'the children' as a way to scare people into keeping it illegal. Now that they're both legal, where's all this 'harm' they warned about? Consensual adult incest is no different. There are kids in our family who you know and have played with… their parents are incestuous, and they're perfectly fine in every way."
"All that may be true, mom, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm simply not willing to lie in an empty bed while hearing Brianna's door opening and closing. I just… I just couldn't handle that." Rose looked defeated. She started sobbing again, quietly. Barbara hugged her, soothing her.
*****
Eighteen months later, around Christmas
Barbara McCormack answered the door. It was her daughter. "Rose!" she exclaimed. Come here!" she yelled, pulling her only child into her arms for a big hug. She hadn't seen her daughter since the divorce.
"And you must be Terrence. It's so good to meet you," she said to a very tall, slim black man who was with Rose.
"Wonderful to meet you, Mrs. McCormack," said Terrence in a clipped English accent. "I told Rose that now that we're engaged, I simply have to meet the family that created such an angel. This is very much my pleasure!"
Barbara hugged Terrence, then said, "Well a lot of the family is here! Don't be shy! In the meantime, could I steal her for just a moment?"
"Of course."
They went into the kitchen and Rose asked, "Are they here?"
"No, they're still living in St. Martin, though on our last video chat, Paul said that if this new law passed, they might come back."
"You still talk to them?" Rose said sharply.
Barbara looked surprised. "Of course, I still talk to my granddaughter and her husband. If you'd prefer, I won't talk to you about them, but I have no intention of cutting them out of the family."
"Fine," said Rose. "I don't think I'll ever be ready for that discussion."
"Yes, 'fine', Rose. Does Terrence know about anything?"
"No, nothing, and I want it to stay that way. I'm not saying a word about this weirdness unless I give birth to his daughter. And that's final!" declared Rose.
"I'll make sure everyone knows your wishes," said Barbara. She wondered how Rose was going to react when she inevitably finds out that Paul and Brianna had recently made her a grandmother. That was tomorrow's problem, she decided. "What about you, dear… I know it's been difficult for you, but are you finally okay again? Have you found happiness?" Barbara enquired.
Rose looked at Terrence being warmly welcomed to the family. She felt a love she never thought she'd feel again. It had taken her nearly two years and a move to a different country to work through it all, but she'd finally made peace with herself, her ex-husband, and her daughter. But her peace was internal… she hadn't spoken with either of them since, well that day. During the divorce, they'd only spoken through their lawyers. In fact, if she never saw either of them again in this life, that would be perfect. "Yes, mom, finally. I'm really happy now," Rose was finally able to say.