Bobby and Rob make steps toward a Father and Son relationship.
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CHAPTER TWO : Dad ...
Crocodile Tears and Bobby's Eyes
When Sandy saw Bobby, the last thing that went through her mind was fear … his eyes told a story … he was upset, pissed, hurt but she remembered Bobby … the only people that should ever fear him, were perps. She knew this day was coming, her son was much like Bobby … never stop the pursuit … he wanted to know his Father and if she was going to keep coming up with excuses he would handle it himself. She smiled weakly at both father and son and began to cry. Bobby shuffled his feet and rolled his eyes … he wasn't about to fall for any excuse as to why she would have kept his child from him. He wanted to lash out but not in front of Rob.
"Mom, I'm sorry … I had to meet him, you know I had to."
"It's okay Rob … it's my fault, I should have taken care of this a long time ago."
"Taken care of this how Sandy? By telling me? Telling me years ago that I was a Father … giving me the opportunity to be a Father?"
"Rob, could Bobby and I talk alone for a minute?"
"Sure Mom … I'll go to the caf and get a bite to eat. Go easy on her okay … please?"
Bobby's face softened when he looked over at his son. He nodded and watched him walk out the door.
Sandy tried to make herself more comfortable in her hospital bed, Bobby, being Bobby, stepped over to the side of her bed and helped her. He stepped back when she was sitting in a better position.
"Thank you." He nodded. He stood with his hands behind his back and his head down … eyes glaring up at her.
"I don't even know where to start … I'm really sorry Bobby."
"Sorry! You've got to be kidding. You give birth to my son and you say I'm sorry!"
"You didn't want kids Bobby! All you wanted to do was catch bad guys!" Where have I heard that before?
"And that was for you to decide? That's my son! I never once discussed my plans with you … how could you not tell me?"
"I wanted kids and my husband couldn't …"
"Another detail of our relationship that was a lie."
"My marriage wasn't going well."
"Really? So … let me get this straight … I was basically a sperm donor?"
"You were the love of my life Bobby."
He starts to pace, he wipes his hand over his face and shakes his head.
He whispers … "How could you … how could you have done this to me?"
He walks out without letting her explain. He went to look for Rob. He found him in the cafeteria reading the news paper and eating pizza.
"Hey."
"Hey … is my Mom alright."
He shrugs his shoulders … "I guess."
"How are you?"
"Well, I have a fifteen year old son I never knew about … I'm still a little stunned."
"If it's any consolation … he's a great kid."
"And modest too."
They share a laugh … the same laugh. They realize it at the same time and laugh a little more.
"She had her reasons you know."
Bobby shakes his head.
"Listen Rob … I know she's your Mom but I had the right to know … I would have been an excellent Dad."
"And a modest one too."
Bobby smiles … "Exactly."
"She thought that the job was more important to you than she was … plus she never told you that she was married."
"I can't believe she told you all this."
"We only have each other … she ran away from home when she was my age … she's had a rough life. She married another cop and he ended up disabled on the job and became angry and bitter. When she turned up pregnant … he left her."
"But you were my child … she should have come to me."
"You were involved with some big undercover sting … she told me that you were in pretty deep."
"I was but that's still no excuse … she didn't have to wait fifteen years."
"There was always something holding her back. We have a scrap book."
"I'm sorry … a scrap book?"
"She kinda stalked you in the news papers … we have all your clippings. I even knew your Mother … I miss her … I liked her."
"What … you knew my mother?"
"She thought it was important that I knew her … that she knew me. She didn't know that I was your son but she did say that I had your eyes. She would always say to me … Robert, I don't know how this is possible but you have my Bobby's eyes. That freaked my Mother out the first time she said it … she almost didn't take me back to Carmel Ridge after that but I really enjoyed Mrs. Goren's company."
"But how … I didn't allow visitors … strangers."
"I played piano for the residences … I'm a Boy Scout. She would come and sit with me … we were drawn to each other. I really do miss her."
Bobby drops his head … "I do too … I wish she could have seen us together."
Rob reaches across the table and touches Bobby's hand. "Me too. You really loved your Mom. Bobby nods I really love mine … so please keep that in mind … okay … go easy on her. I understand why you're mad … I get mad at her too … all the guys have these great Dads and I knew that I had this great Dad out there … it wasn't fair to either one of us."
"No it wasn't."
"We have each other now … right?"
"We do … I'm not going anywhere Rob … I promise."
"Even if my Mom chases you away?"
"This is about you and me … it's not about her and I anymore."
"Okay … you and me but promise me one thing."
"You name it."
"Some day … sit down with her and listen … don't judge … just listen. For me … your son."
"That's emotional blackmail."
"No it isn't … from this day forward … I'm your son … whether you like her or not … Dad."
That nearly broke him … Dad … he was a Dad … he had fifteen years to catch up on but he was up for it … up for a sit down with Sandy was an entirely different story.
"I'll tell you what Son … I need more time but I'll let you know when I'm ready … deal?"
"Totally … deal!"
"With your Mom staying in the hospital, where have you been staying?"
"My Uncle Tony's. He's not really my Uncle … he's Mom's Partner, Tony Masse."
"I don't know him … I haven't even heard your Mom's name in years. What part of the NYPD does she work for?"
"She doesn't … she's a Jersey cop. She got shot just over the boarder on a stakeout … they brought her here."
"And you took a Cab from Jersey to see me?"
"No … I skipped school today to be with my Mom … I told her that I was going for a walk. She was sleeping because of the pain killers anyway."
"I see. Do you want to stay with me … you'll have to ask your Mom."
"Really … you mean it?"
"Yeah … I mean it … let's go ask her."
Rob and Bobby go back up to Sandy's room much like the last time … Rob first and Bobby trailing behind slowly … head down.
"Mom … Dad said I could stay with him while you're in the hospital."
"Oh … so he's Dad, now?"
"Well he is my Dad … isn't he?"
"Of course. Is that alright with you Bobby."
"It was my idea."
"That he calls you Dad?"
"No … that he stays with me while you're here … he can call me what ever he feels comfortable calling me."
When he speaks to her, his words are cold and unfeeling … when he speaks to Rob … his words are soft and full of love and regret … regret because he didn't follow his heart and go after Sandy all those years ago. Had he done that … he wouldn't have missed out on the last fifteen years of his son's life … he was trying to keep the blame with Sandy but his own parentage was playing mind games with him.
She agreed to let Rob stay the night with Bobby. His eyes lit up as he walked into his father's immaculate apartment … he looked around and saw shelves and shelves of books. He went over to one of the book shelves and picked up a photograph of Bobby's mother … Bobby just stood back watching his son explore … he put the photo down and pulled a book out from a book case.
He held it up and said … "Hey Dad … you're quoted in this one … I have it at home."
Bobby leaned up against the door … he didn't even have a photograph of Rob … Rob had his Father's life story … it wasn't right … he called Eames … he needed a friend … he needed his best friend.
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Next up: While Rob sleeps in the next room, Eames comes by to calm Bobby down.