Chapter Five
Thanks to brokenflower, mudd1Katie, alexa, bbwholly1981, mypaperheart, nlm2nd, Sarah, katie, shopgirl909 your reviews have helped me a lot to get this chapter out! I hope you all enjoy!
The next morning getting everyone up and going proved to be a problem, even for Cecilia who along with Ruthie and Robbie had not slept well and nobody wanted to get up. Robbie had offered to take the kids to school and once he completed that he doubled back, Robbie and Cecilia had offered that they should call and let Lucy and Simon know as soon as possible.
"Let's call Lucy first." Cecilia suggests, "we can tell her together, but I should tell Simon alone."
Robbie nods in agreement and on the speaker phone dials Lucy's number, "Hello?" Lucy's voice is chipper when she answers.
"Hi Lucy." Robbie and Cecilia chorus.
"Robbie, Cecilia," Lucy sounds concerned immediately, "is everything all right?"
"Everything is all right." Cecilia answers, "how are you? How's Kevin? How's the baby?"
"Kevin and I are fine." Lucy responds. "The baby is fine too, but my doctor is pretty sure I won't carry to term."
"Will the baby be all right?" Robbie asks.
"Yes, they've basically come to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with the baby. My doctor doesn't think I'll carry to term, I'm just not built for it. Right now they are giving me special kind of steroids that they give to woman who won't carry the full nine months, but my doctor is positive that the baby will be healthy."
"That's great Lucy, we're all happy two hear it." Cecilia responds cheerfully.
"But you didn't call to ask about the baby. What's going on?"
"Cecilia and I are getting married." Robbie announces.
"You're what?" Lucy exclaims.
Robbie and Cecilia exchange glances and Robbie stat es, "we think this is our best bet to gaining custody in court."
"I don't know guys..." Lucy seems reluctant.
"When this goes to court, and knowing your grandparents it will go to court, it's going to look best to the judge if we are married. I'm in school and if Robbie and I are married then we have a regular income and it looks more stable."
"Guys, you don't have to do this, I'm sure we can find another way." Lucy responds, "I mean..."
"Lucy," Robbie interrupts, "we want to do this, we are adults now, we can make choices and we understand the consequences of our actions."
Robbie and Cecilia can hear Lucy let out a deep breath, "thank you guys."
"Please don't thank us." Cecilia requests.
"I love my grandparents, I really do and they have great intentions, but the twins and Ruthie have had so much change all ready without adding to the stress of my grandparents entirely different parenting style. Besides, their home and their lives are in Glenn Oak, we all got the chance to grow up there, they deserve that chance too."
They talk awhile longer until Cecilia states, "we are supposed to be calling Simon and I want to be able to catch him before his morning classes."
"All right, thank you guys again, Cecilia call me if you need anything for the wedding."
Once they have disconnected Robbie stands up, "I'm going to get a drink while you call Simon."
Cecilia smiles appreciatively at Robbie, not particularly wanting to have this conversation, let alone in Robbie's presence.
"Hello?" Simon's roommate picks up the phone.
"Hi, is Simon there?" Cecilia asks twirling the phone cord nervously around her finger.
"Yeah, hang on." The phone gets passed around and eventually Simon comes on.
"Hello."
"Hi Simon." Cecilia greets biting her lip.
"Cecilia what's wrong?" Simon asks quickly.
"Why does everyone automatically assume something is wrong when I call?"
"Sorry, what's up?"
"Well I'll just get to the point."
"All right..." Simon seems slightly unsure.
"Well, I'm getting married."
"Your...getting...married..." Simon repeats, "I didn't realize you were seeing anyone, who is he?"
"It's Robbie."
"You're getting married...to...Robbie..."
"Yeah, well you see..." And Cecilia launches into a full explanation that takes half the time it took to tell Ruthie and Lucy.
"Well, um, I guess if that's what you want then I guess congratulations are in order. But I have class , tell Ruthie and the twins that I'll call later this week."
"All right, bye Simon."
Robbie comes back into the room then and asks, "how'd he take it?"
"He's not too happy about it."
"He'll get used to the idea." Robbie assures, "he wants what's best for his siblings too."
Cecilia sighs and leans back against the headrest and closes her eyes. After having the conversation that had kept her up all night Cecilia now felt exhausted.
"Cecilia," Robbie's soft calls cause her to open her eyes again and focus on Robbie who is on one knee. "I never actually proposed and I want to do all of this the right way."
"Robbie..."
Robbie places a finger to her lips, "shh, all right Cecilia Smith, will you marry me?"
Cecilia nods, and can't help but smile, "yes."
Robbie offers Cecilia a cheesy grin and opening his hand he shows Cecilia a simple solitaire diamond ring, "it's a family heirloom and I want you to have it." Robbie slips the ring on her left ring finger and kisses her hand, "As much as I hate to propose and run I have to go to work."
Cecilia grins at Robbie, "all right. Besides," Cecilia sighs, "I called my parents last night and told them I needed to talk to them. I'm supposed to have lunch with them, so wish me luck."
"All right, well I will pick everyone up from school then so you can get yourself pulled together."
Cecilia smiles appreciatively at Robbie, "thank you."
Before going to lunch with her parents Cecilia changed out of the clothes she wore around the house an into a pair of black slacks and a pink blouse. Her parents had selected a nice Italian restaurant that they all loved and Cecilia hadn't eaten in since taking charge of the kids. And there she set to work trying to cover the dark circles that had appeared in the last week, knowing that her parents would immediately assume she was perpetually tired.
Cecilia's parents stare shocked at their only daughter, "you're what?" Her father explodes.
"Getting married." Cecilia restates, her voice is firm.
"Cecilia you can't do this." Her mother's voice is calmer.
"Why? Why can't I do this?"
"Sweetie entering into a loveless marriage is begging for a divorce and it's only going to make those kids more miserable. It's just a mistake."
"But it's not a loveless marriage."
"You mean to tell me you've fallen in love with this boy?" Cecilia's father's voice is still stern but it is no longer drawing attention.
"I care deeply for Robbie." Cecilia responds, "and Robbie and I love those kids more than anything and I can't loose them, anymore than they want to leave."
Cecilia's mother shakes her head sadly, "I can't believe you're doing this."
"You're ruining your life." Her father adds.
"I'm not changing me mind, and I am getting married a week from Saturday, if you like it or not, and if you're there or not."
When Ruthie, Robbie and the twins got home from school and work Cecilia was just waking up from a nap on the couch. "Ruthie has a good idea," Robbie states when they walk in.
"Oh yeah?" Cecilia sits up, "what is it?"
"We're going shopping for a wedding dress for you." Ruthie states with a slight smile.
"Oh, well, I really don't need a wedding dress, but it's a nice thought."
"I think it's a good idea," Robbie insists.
"I have a lot of dresses, I'm sure I can find something in one of them."
Ruthie's expression falls and Robbie asks, "why don't you guys let me talk to Cecilia alone?"
"Robbie, I don't need a dress."
"Wait a minute Cecilia , let me explain. We are about to build a weird family, I know, and the situation around the wedding is weird too but I want everything to be as normal as possible. Couldn't you at least, you know, go shopping with Ruthie?"
Cecilia nods, "all right."
Ruthie, who was obviously listening appears in the living room hugging Cecilia, "can we go now?"
Cecilia nods, "all right if you want to."
"That was fun." Cecilia states as she and Ruthie take a table in the food, hanging the dress bags over a chair so as not to wrinkle the dresses. Both had found dresses after trying on probably 15-20 each. Ruthie's dress was a dark blue satin that sat off the shoulders and fell mid-thigh, Cecilia's dress was simple and yet gorgeous. The dress was white satin as well with a light organza over it was a tube dress and the skirt fell to the floor with a simple train afterwards with a matching satin wrap to go with.
While they munch on the fries they bought Ruthie has fallen silent, "what's going on Ruthie?"
"What do you mean?" Ruthie looks up from the table.
"You just seem really quiet, what's going on?"
Ruthie bites her lip and then finally sighs, "I guess I'm feeling a little guilty."
"Why?" Cecilia asks setting her soda cup down.
"I just feel bad that you and Robbie are changing your whole lives for me, Sam and David." Tears spring to Ruthie's eyes and slip gently down her cheek, "we can go to Buffalo, you guys don't have to get married."
Cecilia kneels down in front of Ruthie, "don't worry about it Ruthie, Robbie and I are adults and we know what we are doing. I don't want you to think about this anymore, just let Robbie and I take care of it all right?"
Thanks to brokenflower, mudd1Katie, alexa, bbwholly1981, mypaperheart, nlm2nd, Sarah, katie, shopgirl909 your reviews have helped me a lot to get this chapter out! I hope you all enjoy!
The next morning getting everyone up and going proved to be a problem, even for Cecilia who along with Ruthie and Robbie had not slept well and nobody wanted to get up. Robbie had offered to take the kids to school and once he completed that he doubled back, Robbie and Cecilia had offered that they should call and let Lucy and Simon know as soon as possible.
"Let's call Lucy first." Cecilia suggests, "we can tell her together, but I should tell Simon alone."
Robbie nods in agreement and on the speaker phone dials Lucy's number, "Hello?" Lucy's voice is chipper when she answers.
"Hi Lucy." Robbie and Cecilia chorus.
"Robbie, Cecilia," Lucy sounds concerned immediately, "is everything all right?"
"Everything is all right." Cecilia answers, "how are you? How's Kevin? How's the baby?"
"Kevin and I are fine." Lucy responds. "The baby is fine too, but my doctor is pretty sure I won't carry to term."
"Will the baby be all right?" Robbie asks.
"Yes, they've basically come to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with the baby. My doctor doesn't think I'll carry to term, I'm just not built for it. Right now they are giving me special kind of steroids that they give to woman who won't carry the full nine months, but my doctor is positive that the baby will be healthy."
"That's great Lucy, we're all happy two hear it." Cecilia responds cheerfully.
"But you didn't call to ask about the baby. What's going on?"
"Cecilia and I are getting married." Robbie announces.
"You're what?" Lucy exclaims.
Robbie and Cecilia exchange glances and Robbie stat es, "we think this is our best bet to gaining custody in court."
"I don't know guys..." Lucy seems reluctant.
"When this goes to court, and knowing your grandparents it will go to court, it's going to look best to the judge if we are married. I'm in school and if Robbie and I are married then we have a regular income and it looks more stable."
"Guys, you don't have to do this, I'm sure we can find another way." Lucy responds, "I mean..."
"Lucy," Robbie interrupts, "we want to do this, we are adults now, we can make choices and we understand the consequences of our actions."
Robbie and Cecilia can hear Lucy let out a deep breath, "thank you guys."
"Please don't thank us." Cecilia requests.
"I love my grandparents, I really do and they have great intentions, but the twins and Ruthie have had so much change all ready without adding to the stress of my grandparents entirely different parenting style. Besides, their home and their lives are in Glenn Oak, we all got the chance to grow up there, they deserve that chance too."
They talk awhile longer until Cecilia states, "we are supposed to be calling Simon and I want to be able to catch him before his morning classes."
"All right, thank you guys again, Cecilia call me if you need anything for the wedding."
Once they have disconnected Robbie stands up, "I'm going to get a drink while you call Simon."
Cecilia smiles appreciatively at Robbie, not particularly wanting to have this conversation, let alone in Robbie's presence.
"Hello?" Simon's roommate picks up the phone.
"Hi, is Simon there?" Cecilia asks twirling the phone cord nervously around her finger.
"Yeah, hang on." The phone gets passed around and eventually Simon comes on.
"Hello."
"Hi Simon." Cecilia greets biting her lip.
"Cecilia what's wrong?" Simon asks quickly.
"Why does everyone automatically assume something is wrong when I call?"
"Sorry, what's up?"
"Well I'll just get to the point."
"All right..." Simon seems slightly unsure.
"Well, I'm getting married."
"Your...getting...married..." Simon repeats, "I didn't realize you were seeing anyone, who is he?"
"It's Robbie."
"You're getting married...to...Robbie..."
"Yeah, well you see..." And Cecilia launches into a full explanation that takes half the time it took to tell Ruthie and Lucy.
"Well, um, I guess if that's what you want then I guess congratulations are in order. But I have class , tell Ruthie and the twins that I'll call later this week."
"All right, bye Simon."
Robbie comes back into the room then and asks, "how'd he take it?"
"He's not too happy about it."
"He'll get used to the idea." Robbie assures, "he wants what's best for his siblings too."
Cecilia sighs and leans back against the headrest and closes her eyes. After having the conversation that had kept her up all night Cecilia now felt exhausted.
"Cecilia," Robbie's soft calls cause her to open her eyes again and focus on Robbie who is on one knee. "I never actually proposed and I want to do all of this the right way."
"Robbie..."
Robbie places a finger to her lips, "shh, all right Cecilia Smith, will you marry me?"
Cecilia nods, and can't help but smile, "yes."
Robbie offers Cecilia a cheesy grin and opening his hand he shows Cecilia a simple solitaire diamond ring, "it's a family heirloom and I want you to have it." Robbie slips the ring on her left ring finger and kisses her hand, "As much as I hate to propose and run I have to go to work."
Cecilia grins at Robbie, "all right. Besides," Cecilia sighs, "I called my parents last night and told them I needed to talk to them. I'm supposed to have lunch with them, so wish me luck."
"All right, well I will pick everyone up from school then so you can get yourself pulled together."
Cecilia smiles appreciatively at Robbie, "thank you."
Before going to lunch with her parents Cecilia changed out of the clothes she wore around the house an into a pair of black slacks and a pink blouse. Her parents had selected a nice Italian restaurant that they all loved and Cecilia hadn't eaten in since taking charge of the kids. And there she set to work trying to cover the dark circles that had appeared in the last week, knowing that her parents would immediately assume she was perpetually tired.
Cecilia's parents stare shocked at their only daughter, "you're what?" Her father explodes.
"Getting married." Cecilia restates, her voice is firm.
"Cecilia you can't do this." Her mother's voice is calmer.
"Why? Why can't I do this?"
"Sweetie entering into a loveless marriage is begging for a divorce and it's only going to make those kids more miserable. It's just a mistake."
"But it's not a loveless marriage."
"You mean to tell me you've fallen in love with this boy?" Cecilia's father's voice is still stern but it is no longer drawing attention.
"I care deeply for Robbie." Cecilia responds, "and Robbie and I love those kids more than anything and I can't loose them, anymore than they want to leave."
Cecilia's mother shakes her head sadly, "I can't believe you're doing this."
"You're ruining your life." Her father adds.
"I'm not changing me mind, and I am getting married a week from Saturday, if you like it or not, and if you're there or not."
When Ruthie, Robbie and the twins got home from school and work Cecilia was just waking up from a nap on the couch. "Ruthie has a good idea," Robbie states when they walk in.
"Oh yeah?" Cecilia sits up, "what is it?"
"We're going shopping for a wedding dress for you." Ruthie states with a slight smile.
"Oh, well, I really don't need a wedding dress, but it's a nice thought."
"I think it's a good idea," Robbie insists.
"I have a lot of dresses, I'm sure I can find something in one of them."
Ruthie's expression falls and Robbie asks, "why don't you guys let me talk to Cecilia alone?"
"Robbie, I don't need a dress."
"Wait a minute Cecilia , let me explain. We are about to build a weird family, I know, and the situation around the wedding is weird too but I want everything to be as normal as possible. Couldn't you at least, you know, go shopping with Ruthie?"
Cecilia nods, "all right."
Ruthie, who was obviously listening appears in the living room hugging Cecilia, "can we go now?"
Cecilia nods, "all right if you want to."
"That was fun." Cecilia states as she and Ruthie take a table in the food, hanging the dress bags over a chair so as not to wrinkle the dresses. Both had found dresses after trying on probably 15-20 each. Ruthie's dress was a dark blue satin that sat off the shoulders and fell mid-thigh, Cecilia's dress was simple and yet gorgeous. The dress was white satin as well with a light organza over it was a tube dress and the skirt fell to the floor with a simple train afterwards with a matching satin wrap to go with.
While they munch on the fries they bought Ruthie has fallen silent, "what's going on Ruthie?"
"What do you mean?" Ruthie looks up from the table.
"You just seem really quiet, what's going on?"
Ruthie bites her lip and then finally sighs, "I guess I'm feeling a little guilty."
"Why?" Cecilia asks setting her soda cup down.
"I just feel bad that you and Robbie are changing your whole lives for me, Sam and David." Tears spring to Ruthie's eyes and slip gently down her cheek, "we can go to Buffalo, you guys don't have to get married."
Cecilia kneels down in front of Ruthie, "don't worry about it Ruthie, Robbie and I are adults and we know what we are doing. I don't want you to think about this anymore, just let Robbie and I take care of it all right?"