Chapter 29
By the time Sunday came around, Bobby was anxious to meet with Donny. Alex drove him up, but didn't impose herself. Alex made herself comfortable in the car and settled back to read a book.
Goren waited for them to bring Donny in. He brought the box, and it had already been thoroughly screened by the security team. Now he sat at the table beside it, his knee bouncing uncontrollably.
The door opened and Donny was led in. One of his escorts left the room and the other stayed just inside the door.
"Uncle Bobby," he said with a smile. Bobby got up and gave the boy a hug.
"You got a bruise," Bobby said, his finger wagging in the direction of Donny's cheek.
"Yeah, uh… I had a problem."
Bobby sat on his side of the table, worried and waiting to hear the rest of the story.
"No biggie, the guy just didn't like me, I guess."
"Did you fight back?"
"I didn't have to," Donny laughed. "He'd mouthed off to this big guy earlier, and the dude was just waiting for a chance to wail on him."
Goren was concerned. He didn't want Donny jeopardizing his chance at parole by fighting, but he also didn't want him beholden to any of the inmates. "You keep your eyes open," Goren warned.
Donny nodded. He didn't really want his Uncle's warnings, but he was kind enough to take them without getting defensive. "What's this?" He asked, gesturing to the box.
"Frank's treasure," Bobby said.
Donny was hesitant. He looked at the state of the cardboard box. "Looks kinda cheap," he said.
Bobby nodded, but said nothing. He wasn't sure what the kid would think of it. "Open it," Bobby told him.
Donny slid the box in front of him. He bounced nervously, and then untucked the flaps on the top. He looked inside, then up at Bobby. Then he reached in and withdrew the letters.
"What's this?"
"It's… letters. He asked a friend to keep them for you. Well, there were a couple for me in there, as well."
"Letters? The old man left me letters?"
"Look, you knew he didn't have any money."
"Yeah, I knew that."
"You should read them."
"Did you?"
"I read the first one for you. And I read the ones of mine."
"You didn't read them all already? Screen them for me?"
Bobby shook his head. "No." Bobby leaned forward. "Look, I know what you're thinking. But this… this is your chance to get to know him."
"I don't know if I want to."
Bobby nodded gently as he let the boy think about it. "I can just hold them for you… until you're ready."
"No. I—" Donny hugged himself and took a deep breath. "I don't want that. I just… I don't know how I'll take it."
Again, Bobby nodded. "Maybe just one, then. You can take your time. Go through just one at a time… spend the week thinking about it."
"And you?"
"I'd like to read them, too… if you don't mind," Bobby said.
Donny shifted uncomfortably. He turned the letter over and over in his hands. "I might, you know, I might get mad. It used to drive Mom crazy, how I'd go off about Dad."
"I understand," Bobby said. They sat in a nervous silence for several minutes and then Bobby suddenly shifted. "Look, it's not easy for me, either. But this…" Bobby gestured over the box with his left hand. "This is your Dad."
Slowly, with shaking fingers, Donny opened the envelope.
Bobby came out of the prison, the box neatly tucked under his arm. Alex sat up and set her book on the console. She waited for Bobby to get in. He worked around the box to put his seatbelt on.
"He didn't want to read them?"
"We… we decided to take just one or two at a time," Bobby said.
"You okay?" she asked him.
He nodded and tilted his head so he could meet her gaze. "Yeah. Donny, he's a good kid. I don't know… it's almost like… this is Frank's way to fix things."
She gave him a look of pride, leaned over, and kissed his cheek. A tiny smile graced his lips, and like a hungry teenager, he started rattling off about dinner.
He was denied the first month, and had to wait another month to go before the parole board. The day Donny was released, Bobby hosted a homecoming party for him. His mother came in from Pennsylvania. Bobby drove to Rikers to pick him up, and Evelyn waited with Alex at Bobby's apartment.
"C-can I use your phone?" Donny asked.
Bobby smiled at him. "Your mother's at the apartment," he said.
"It's not her I want to call."
Bobby reached into his pocket and handed over the cell phone. He fired up the mustang and the two headed for Brooklyn. Bobby tried not to eavesdrop as Donny spoke to Mia, but it was impossible in the car.
Donny didn't mind. Over the last two months, he'd come to know his Uncle very well.
Alex still had a problem with Evelyn. They set out a few bowls of snacks and kept the pizza warm in the oven. Alex had even bought a couple of cases of Donny's favorite soda and had it chilling in the fridge.
The work was done, and now there was nothing to talk about. Nothing, except Donny and Bobby.
"I don't know if I like the idea of him living here," Evelyn said.
"It was Donny's decision," Alex told her.
"Oh, I know… but I think it's pretty clear that Donny doesn't always make the wisest decisions."
Alex sighed and bit her tongue.
"And don't get me wrong, I appreciate everything Bobby has done for him."
"That's good," Eames said under her breath.
"I could never have gotten Donny out…"
"Well, the good thing is he's moving on, now," Alex told her.
"You know… I guess I just have a problem trusting Bobby. I spent a lot of years thinking he didn't give a damn."
Alex opened a soft drink and took a drink to keep from saying anything.
"I mean," Evelyn continued, "Frank always told me Bobby had just written him off… and so when Donny came along… it just made me mad, you know? My little boy… I couldn't understand how he could be so cold to an innocent child."
Alex choked on the drink and had to endure the woman patting her on the back. Finally, she caught her breath again.
"When I read that letter that Frank wrote… everything Bobby said was true. He didn't know about Donny. Neither did their mother. But even knowing the truth, it's hard to let go… I harbored that anger for years…"
"Frank told you the truth?"
"Yes, in the letter, the one that was in Donny's treasure box."
"So you know that Bobby had no idea about Donny, until Tates."
Evelyn didn't get a chance to answer, because the door opened, and they were too busy welcoming Donny home.
Evelyn had already left for her hotel, and Donny was getting settled on the couch. Bobby and Alex were in the kitchen, cleaning up the last of the mess. All evening, they'd hidden their relationship from Donny's mother.
They finally had a moment of privacy. Bobby wiped down the countertop and tossed the washcloth in the sink. He dried his hands on a towel and turned to Alex.
"New chapter," she told him.
"Yeah," he said, with a glance at his shoes and a finger scratching behind his ear.
Alex moved closer and put her hands over his shoulders. "I'm still here," she told him.
Bobby grinned and accepted her kiss. Then he opened his arms and wrapped them around her in a warm hug.
"Uncle Bobby, where do I put my— Oh, sorry," Donny said, and turned away.
"It's okay, Donny," Alex told him, and let Bobby go. Goren led the way down the hall and answered Donny's question. It was the first time he'd seen them so intimate, but Donny already knew Bobby and Alex were a couple. Bobby had told him about it during one of their sessions with the letters.
There were a few sacrifices they were making in their relationship for Donny's sake. Bobby was going to keep his apartment alcohol-free, at least until he knew where Donny stood with that sort of thing. And they had agreed not to sleep together at Bobby's place. Bobby expected the kid to get his own apartment within six months; they could meet up at Alex's place if need be. And although Bobby hadn't said it directly, she knew Bobby wasn't planning to stay over at her place for a while, either. He wanted to be there for Donny, to do everything he could to help him transition back into society.
That was a lot of sacrifice. So Eames had no intention of hiding her love for Bobby in front of the kid. Grateful that she hadn't pressured him about any of the rest of it, Bobby had willingly agreed to inform Donny of their relationship.
He came back in and shrugged at her. "Sorry about that," Bobby muttered. He took her in his arms again, and they shared a long kiss.
"I'd better get going," Alex said. "You good?"
The affection in Bobby's eyes made her heart do a flip. "We're fine."
"I'll see you tomorrow," she said with another kiss.
Bobby walked her to the door, kissed her deeply, and said "Good night."
Listening to every move Donny made in the next room, it took Bobby a long time to fall asleep.
"Frank?"
He's happy here, Bobby.
"Who, Donny?"
You did it, man. He's safe now. He'll be all right.
"I hope so."
I'm proud of you, Bobby.
THE END
A/N Thanks everyone for reading and reviewing. I hope you enjoyed the ride! It'd be cool if some of you other authors tackled a Donny story. I'd like to read some other ideas! Thanks Cherylwb for Beta-ing me again! You're the best!
