It's warmer in the coffee shop than it should be, the heat slapping you in the face the second you cross over the threshold. She's sitting off to the side, clutching a black mug in between both of her hands and staring out of the window. Rolling your eyes, you peel the scarf from around your neck and approach the brunette, there was several other places that you want to be...but watching your boyfriend fret over this meeting caused you to step in. She looks up as you slide into the chair, folding your hands on the table in front of you.
"Robin," you mutter, pulling your phone and a file from your purse. You quickly send a text to Luke letting him know that you had arrived safely and that you can't wait to be home with him and Lex.
"I asked for Luke." You look up at her and nod, placing your phone on the table, a picture of you, Luke, and Lex proudly displaying behind the time. You smile down at the picture, missing your lips dragging across his stubble, and wanting nothing more than to get this impromptu meeting over with and home to your family.
"I know what you asked for," you tell the woman, looking back down at your phone quickly. The return message from Luke flashing across your screen lets you know that he loves you, and wants you to drive safely. Smiling, you look back up at the woman.
"Why isn't he here?" She questions, her eyes trained on your phone with a scowl.
"He's busy," you reply. "And his whereabouts are really none of your business, you've got me so tell me what you want."
"I want to see her," Robins sighs, lifting her coffee cup to her lips. You nod. "Alone." You stare at the woman for a few moments, taking this pause to gather your thoughts before proceeding. There's several ways that this conversation could go, some better than others, some worse.
"I'm having a hard time understanding something, so maybe you can explain it to me, Robin..." Picking up the phone on the table, you scroll through the pictures, landing on the ones you took of Lex a few weeks ago in the park. Turning the phone towards the woman, you show Robin the picture, your eyes never leaving her face. "Before we discuss anything regarding visitation, I'm going to need you to explain to me why."
"Why?" She repeats, lifting the mug to her lips and taking a slow sip. You nod.
"Why did you drop a baby on Luke's doorstep with a note? Why didn't you tell him you were pregnant in the first place? Why follow him all the way out here and disrupt their lives seven years later?" You continue to look at the woman, your mind wandering down the many possibilities that could have happened to drive her to abandon her kid. She shrugs, causing you to stiffen in the chair. How could she not know?
"I was young, you know," She places her mug onto the table top and looks up at you with a sad smile. "I had just finished college and I went out and got drunk. And there was Luke, and well you've seen him, with his smile and those eyes...anyway when I found out I was pregnant I was just staring an internship. But I couldn't get an abortion and so I carried her to term and when she was here. I just, I realized that I had nothing to offer her. I was living at my boyfriend's, I barely had a car. I lost my internship, and I started using." You watch as she reaches up and wipes at her eyes, hanging her heads, and her hair sliding forward to cover her face. "I've been clean for about two years now. I have a job, a place to live, a car, and I wanted to work on the last piece of my life that is missing: my daughter."
"Okay," you tell the woman. "I'm glad you got clean, but there is something else that we need to discuss, and we can't do that without Luke. Excuse me." You take a deep breath, stand from the table, and grab your phone dialing the number you knew already by heart. When you return to the table, Robin is looking out of the window again, clutching her mug of coffee between both hands. You take a deep breath, "I understand that Lex is your daughter, but she's my daughter too, and I would do anything I can to protect her. I may look like a walking rainbow, but I will devour anyone who hurts the people I love. Meet us at the mall tomorrow, noon, and please don't break her heart. He's giving you one chance to do this civilly, I wouldn't screw this up."
"Penelope," you pause halfway out of your seat. "What's in the folder?"
"Papers to terminate your parental rights, but we're not there yet." You tell the woman, before walking back out of the coffee chop. Her whispered thanks following you out into the chilled November air.
"I'm home," you call out, letting the door shut behind you with a loud snap. You toss your purse and keys onto the nearest hook and slide your feet out of the heeled boots you donned for the meeting with Robin. Luke rounds the corner with a warm smile, his lips landing on yours in greeting.
"Lex is with my mother," he tells you, trailing his lips across your cheek and kissing down your neck. He removes your scarf, letting it flutter to the floor as he lifts you up, your back connecting with the wall. Your hands run through his hair, tugging gently on the strands as a picture frame falls to the floor, shattering. Neither of you flinch as you're consumed by one another.
"When are they due back?" His hands have begun pulling your dress over your hips, fingers hungry to slide across your skin, most of it still cold from the weather outside.
"Tomorrow." You pull his head from your neck, looking into his eyes with a wide grin.
"Chinese takeout and naps?" He nods, mumbling something into your neck causing you to laugh, tilting your head back to allow him more access. "Yes, Luke, and sex."