All Comments on 'Bittersweet Irish Cream Ch. 13'

Was so hoping that Conner was going to finally do it. But was happy for Lovie and loved how Ethan dealt with Owen. His last line had me laughing.

From the early stories, it’s clear that Conner’s family is a terrible racist, homophobic, hateful group that give Catholics a bad name - but Conner’s own unhealthy affinity with them has ingrained some of that hate into him. He’s filled with self-hate and despair and he insists on mistreating all those he loves. His decade-long abuse (emotional) of Afia is so disturbing. He uses her as his beard, and continuously insists she join him at family dinners where the McIntyres don’t even pretend to hide their bigoted feelings and comments. If Conner were truly a good man, that would have happened only once and then he would refused to subject her to it again. Same for Jack, Ethan, and Jamel - he diminishes who they are by keeping his true self hidden and condoning his family’s hate. It’s true that he picks his hideous family every day over himself, his friends, and his lover. Conner doesn’t deserve to have them all stand by him after years of closeted denial and disrespecting them. And this chapter’s family dinner should have brought it to a head yet Conner slinked off again silently without cutting these tumors out of his life. Jamel and Afia should walk away and save themselves from the repeated hurt that Conner piles on them with his cowardly choice.

But I am super pleased to see Jack and Ethan adopt little Jacqueline! Keep this fantastic story going...

Would've loved to see Connor's family brought down some pegs but in due time right, actions are better than words with some people, I mean someone is literally like gonna have to save their freaking life for them to change their views, but on another note, I'm glad my boys are adopting Jackie😍😍😍😍😍😍😍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 couldn't have happened to a better couple!!!!

Whew, somebody really hates Connor. :D

I try not to defend my characters too much, they are who they are, but I will say that I found it interesting that you called Connor and Afia's friendship emotional abuse. Maybe because I know the backstory in my head (and if Connor's story ever gets published you will too) but they really are very close and have been through a lot together and they protect each other from the world's prejudices. Yes it is selfish of him to continually ask her to be put in this situation with his family, they both know it. But Connor never asked her to pretend to be his girlfriend, not in high school or when he came home. And Connor allowed her to because he is still deadly afraid of his father. 27 years of physical and emotional abuse will do that to a person so I don't see it as him picking his family over those he loves, but protecting himself from danger. Connor does have a lot of bad qualities: arrogance, selfishness, etc, but he is also has some good in him. HIs friends (Afia, Jack, Liam, Sam, Mina, Winter) see the good in him, despite the persona he gives off.

-KK

Regarding Connor, I got the feeling that finally at last… he stood up to his father and family, explicitly telling them for the first time why he avoids them, and began his steps to begin the plan he and Jack discussed. That having a big fat confrontational coming out may not be within Connor now but he can start by taking the first of ‘beginning steps by stopping the hiding’ of he and Jamels boyfriend status. If they and others find out then so be it. Jamal can stop hiding who he is and Alfia is no longer his beard and he won’t find another. His one sister loves him and will likely stay in his life and that’s what Connor cared about. I honestly suspect he won’t be back in his childhood home again from the way he verbalized his agreement with Alfia that he should have left with her that night. For Connor and others in his shoes growing up still being bullied and harassed at 27 years old, this can be a huge first courageous step forward to a clean break. At least I hope so for him.

Jack is awesome with Clair and the situation and so humbly put Clair and her mother’s potential to mend their relationship first and give Clair enough time to make a less impulsive decision to keep or adopt the baby. Mom is beginning to show some protective elements by being more concerned about Clair’s mental health as she is becoming worse instead of better as time passes she struggles to bond with and name the child due to it’s abusive conception. Jack was also really a good spouse in giving Ethan time to consider adopting sooner than later. I have gone through a similar potential adoption experience and I can truly appreciate the tension it can create.