Chapter 3

CONTINUED FROM THE LAST CHAPTER

Eric: What's going on?

Matt: (Shrugging) Nothing, we're just talking.

(Lucy walks in.)

Lucy: What's going on?

Matt: Oh, you know, we were just talking about Robbie, great guy he is.

Lucy: (Nodding, unsure) Yes he is.

Eric: But I wouldn't say we're in love with him, as Simon put it.

Lucy: (Panicked) What?

Simon: Uh, we were just having a disagreement and I was just talking about how you and Matt are the only ones on good terms with him right now.

Eric: That's not what it sounded like.

Lucy: Uh, Dad, can I talk to you in private in your office?

Eric: (Suspicious) Okay.

(Lucy and Eric walk into the office and Lucy shuts the door.)

Lucy: Um, you should probably sit down before I tell you this.

Eric: Uh, okay.

(Eric sits down in his chair.)

Lucy: Um, first of all I want you to know how sorry I am for not telling you this sooner, I wanted to, and he wanted to, if anything he was pushing me to tell you months ago.

Eric: Who's he?

Lucy: Robbie.

Eric: Okay, what have you and he been trying to tell me for months.

Lucy: (Sighing) Robbie and I are together.

(Eric is silent.)

Lucy: Dad? Are you okay?

Eric: (Clearing his throat) When you say months, how many do you mean, two or three?

Lucy: Eh.

Eric: Four?

Lucy: It's been six months Dad.

Eric: Six months? So for a good 180 days you two have been lying to me, to your mother, to this whole family?!

Lucy: I said I was sorry for that. Like I said I've been trying to get the words out, the timing was just never right. Robbie wanted to tell you months ago but I've been putting it off.

Eric: Why did you hide this in the first place?

Lucy: Well, you were so paranoid about us being together, although you did have a good reason to be paranoid as it turns out. In the beginning we thought it was a good idea to keep us a secret until we figured out where this was going. We didn't want to upset you over something that would only last a couple of weeks.

Eric: And when those couple of weeks passed?

Lucy: Well, Everything just got so crazy around here, and then Valentine's Day came and we knew we had to tell you.

Eric: What happened on Valentine's Day?

Lucy: (After a beat.) Robbie and I told each other we love each other for the first time that night.

Eric: Uh huh.

Lucy: And after that we knew we had to tell you, but I kept putting it off. I was worried if I told you it would ruin a good thing. But I can't hold it in anymore. Robbie wanted to tell you but I asked him to wait until I got up the courage to tell you myself.

Eric: And why didn't you? Are you ashamed of him?

Lucy: Of course not. I just couldn't find the words and I was scared that if I told you it would ruin the good thing we had.

Eric: Well, be with him, don't be with him, but I don't want him in this house or anywhere near here, so you can tell him to pack up his things and find somewhere else.

Lucy: You can't kick him out!

Eric: Oh yes I can! This is my house and if I don't have someone living here who doesn't respect me enough to tell me the truth then I don't want them in this house.

Lucy: Fine, if you're kicking Robbie out then I'm going with him!

(Lucy starts to walk out and Eric follows.)

Eric: Oh no you're not!

Lucy: Ugh, I should have known you would react this way. It doesn't matter how old we are, if we do something you don't like you just completely write us off.

Eric: That's not true.

Lucy: It's completely true! Look at what's going on with Matt. You don't like he wants to convert to Judaism so you're not going to his wedding. You don't like Robbie is dating me so you're kicking him out of the house. It doesn't matter if he makes me happier then I've ever been in my life! If the great Reverend Eric Camden doesn't like it he's just completely going to write him off! Well, I'm tired of it. I love you Dad but I will not live in this house with you if you're going to act like this!

(She walks out and slams the door. Eric turns around to find Annie standing there.)

Eric: How long have you been standing there?

Annie: A few minutes but I heard everything.

Eric: Can you believe this?

Annie: No I can't.

Eric: So you support me.

Annie: No I don't.

Eric: But you just said-

Annie: I meant I can't believe what I just heard, and I'm not talking about Lucy and Robbie, although that was a surprise, I can't believe the man who's standing before me would treat his children this way. I can't believe the man I married is alienating his children because he doesn't like how they decide to run their lives. Now you have one son, one daughter and one boy you consider to be like a son not talking to you. And one wife who is close to not talking to you if you don't fix this and let Robbie know he is welcome to stay in this house as long as he wants to because as far as I know even if he has been keeping this a secret he has treated our daughter with the love and respect she deserves and hasn't broken a house rule. It might be weird but I'll get used to it. Fix this or I'm going to make a choice between Robbie living here and you living here and I don't think you'll like my choice.

(Annie walks out and Eric sighs.)

A LITTLE WHILE LATER AT THE PROMENADE

(Lucy is telling Robbie everything that happened.)

Robbie: Your Dad kicked me out of the house?

Lucy: Yes, but it will be okay. I know my Mom will not support this plan and she's going to let my Dad know it and tonight you'll be back in that Hello Kitty covered room sleeping like a baby.

Robbie: What if it's not going to end like that?

Lucy: Then we'll figure something else out. I made it clear to my Dad if you're going then I'm going too and I wasn't saying that in the moment when I was angry I said it because it's true. I'll follow you anywhere.

(Robbie smiles and kisses her. They continue kissing for a few minutes until they hear a throat clear. They break apart and turn to find Eric standing there.)

Lucy: If you came here to fight-

Eric: I didn't. Can I sit down?

(Lucy and Robbie move down the bench and Eric sits down.)

Eric: (Sighing) I should apologize, to the both of you. Robbie, I'm sure you heard about what happened this afternoon. I just want you to know that I didn't mean it. I was mad so I said some things that aren't true. You're more than welcome to stay at the house for as long as you want.

Robbie: Thank you.

Eric: Now about your relationship, I'm going to be honest I'm still having trouble with this. It's going to take some getting used to, but if you two really want to be with each other I'll learn to adjust because Luce you were right before, the last few months you have been the happiest I've ever seen you. And you both have been much happier than you were last fall. So if being with each other makes you happy who am I to stand in the way?

Lucy: (Smiling slightly) Thanks Dad.

(She gives him a hug.)

Eric: Now you just have to figure out a way to tell Mary.

(Lucy groans and looks at Robbie.)

Lucy: You were right we should have done this months ago, this is killing me.

(Robbie laughs.)

A/N: There you go, finally updated. Sorry it took so long. And I'm debating where to go with chapter 4. On one hand I want a chapter where Mary finds out but on the other hand I'm wondering if I should flashforward through the summer into the alternate season 7. I would love your input. Hope you liked this chapter and that it was worth the wait.