**Chapter 2: A Moment of Truth**

The air was thick with tension as Sarah's eyes locked onto her son and his boyfriend, her mind struggling to process the scene before her. Nick and Charlie's faces were frozen in a mixture of fear and anxiety, their eyes darting back and forth between Sarah and each other. The silence was palpable, and Sarah could feel the weight of her own emotions bearing down on her. As she stood there, Sarah's thoughts were a jumbled mess. She had suspected that Nick might be interested in boys, but she had never expected it to happen so soon. And certainly not with Charlie Spring, of all people. Charlie was a good kid, but Sarah had always thought of him as just a friend to Nick, not a romantic partner. Sarah took a deep breath and tried to calm her racing thoughts. She didn't want to say anything that would make Nick and Charlie feel uncomfortable or judged. She wanted to be supportive, to let them know that she loved them no matter what. But as she looked at her son, she couldn't help but feel a pang of uncertainty. How would this change things? Would Nick be okay? Would Charlie be a good influence on him? As she stood there, frozen in indecision, Nick finally found his voice. "Mom," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "We...we can explain." Sarah's eyes never left Nick's face as she shook her head. "No, sweetie, it's okay," she said, trying to sound calm. "I just...I didn't expect to walk in on that, I guess." Charlie stood up, his eyes never leaving Sarah's face. "We're sorry, Mrs. Nelson," he said, his voice filled with sincerity. "We didn't mean to sneak around or keep anything from you." Sarah's gaze flicked to Charlie, and she saw the genuine remorse in his eyes. She felt a pang of guilt for not being more understanding, for not being more prepared for this moment. As she looked at her son and his boyfriend, Sarah realized that she had a choice to make. She could react with shock and disappointment, or she could try to be open-minded and understanding. She thought back to all the times she had encouraged Nick to be himself, to pursue his passions and interests. Why should this be any different? "Nick, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, trying to sound calm. Nick nodded, and Sarah gestured for him to follow her out of the room. As they walked downstairs, Sarah couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation. What would the future hold for her son and his boyfriend? And how would she navigate this new reality? As they sat down at the kitchen table, Sarah looked at Nick and took a deep breath. "Nick, I love you no matter what," she said, trying to sound sincere. "And I want you to be happy. But I have to admit, I'm still trying to process this. Can you tell me more about you and Charlie? How long has this been going on?" Nick took a deep breath, looking relieved that the conversation was finally out in the open. "It's been a few months, Mom," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "We didn't mean to keep it from you, but we weren't sure how to tell you. We were scared of how you would react." Sarah's heart went out to her son, and she reached out to take his hand. "I'm sorry, Nick," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "I'm sorry that I didn't make it easier for you. But I'm here for you now, and I want to support you no matter what." As she looked at her son, Sarah knew that she had a long journey ahead of her, but she was determined to be there for Nick every step of the way.