I Don't Know CH 7

Alex and Roberta

Roberta had run back to the car and locked the doors. She was crying. Alex walked out to her and tried to open the doors. "Sweetie, open the door." She said.

"No. You lied to me." Roberta shouted back to her.

"Open the door and lets talk about this."

"NO. Go away. I'm mad at you."

Alex sighed and used the electronic unlock on the key ring to open the doors. "You should think about other things that can happen before you lock your mother out of the car." She said as she slid into the seat of the car.

Roberta crossed her arms angrily and turned her back on her mother. "You lied to me. You told me he was dead."

"Do you want him to be?"

"No. Yes. I don't know."

"Sweetheart, look at me." Roberta refused to look around. "Bertie?" The pet name still did not make her turn around. "Roberta Frances Goren, look at me!" Alex finally resorted to the use of the girls full name. That got the result she was after.

Roberta turned to look at her mother, tears streaking down her face. "I don't want a father. You'll love him more than me."

"No, I won't. And he is your father. Will you listen to me for a minute?" her stubborn daughter nodded, never looking more like her father than now. "Bobby and I were in love, but we weren't able to be together because of work. We were going to get married when he fell into some water going after a suspect and we thought he drowned. I didn't find out until later that I was pregnant with you. I wanted you with all my heart and here you are. Bobby lost his memory and someone told him he was someone else all this time. I only found him by accident. He is your father and I want you to get to know him. He's a wonderful man and I know you are going to love him too."

"So does that mean I have to call him Dad like Robbie does?"

"I think we can figure that out later, don't you?"

"I'm sorry, Mom." Roberta launched herself at her Mom.

"It's alright, sweetie. It's a lot to think about. Just take your time. You don't have to do anything right now. Just get to know him first."

"Do we have to go right back in?"

"We can wait a few minutes. So how is school going?"

"Mom!" Roberta said exasperated.

Bobby and Robbie.

Bobby came to his sons room and knocked on the door. "Robbie? Can I come in?"

"It's your house." Robbie said bitterly.

"Yes, it is and you're my son. That makes it our house." Bobby sat down on the bed next to his son.

"You want to marry that woman. That means she'll be living here, too." Robbie said bitterly "And your daughter too."

"Her name is Roberta. She is my daughter. Yes, I want to marry Alex. As to where we'd live that's something else that hasn't been decided. Alex's job is two hours away. There's no way we can live that far away."

"So you're going to give up everything we have here for her?"

"For them? Not everything. I won't ever give up you. We're a family, you and I. We aren't going to be less of a family. We'll be more. Robbie, I want you to understand something. I was someone else until an accident made me lose my memory. Someone told me a lie and I believed them. I'm not Mark Collins, I never was. If it hadn't been for that accident, Alex and I would be married now."

"And I wouldn't be here." Robbie said.

Bobby nodded. "But that is the best part. I have you and you have me. We can be a family. All of us. Did you think I would just walk away from you?"

"No." Robbie said, quietly.

It was obvious that he was lying. "I guess I would think that. Except I know something you don't. I love you and I always will. Nothing is going to change that. Alex wouldn't want to come between us anymore than I'd come between her and Roberta. I hope you will give us a chance. Give them a chance."

Robbie flung himself at his dad. Bobby caught him in a bear hug. His little boy was growing up.

"Do we have to move soon?" he asked.

"We have to talk about that. Let's just start small for now. Are you ready to go back downstairs?"

Robbie nodded. They went back downstairs. Alex and Roberta came in from outside and they stood looking at each other.

"This is awkward, isn't it?" Alex asked.

"I think a walk outside is in order." Bobby said.

"Let's go down by the lake." Robbie said.

Alex and Bobby exchanged a look and agreed. The pathway was mowed from this way. The adults were able to walk side by side. Bobby reached for Alex's hand and she smiled at him.

They spent better than an hour down by the lake. Bobby taught the kids to skip rocks. Alex made simple boats out of sticks and they had stick boat races. They decided to go back to the house for lunch. When they got there, there was a message on the answering machine. Alex took the kids to the kitchen to see what was available to eat.

Bobby came out to the kitchen. His face was blank, but Alex recognized his anger when she saw it. He helped her get the kids food "We need to talk while they eat." He said quietly.

She nodded and poured them juice. As soon as they were eating the adults slipped into the living room. "Listen to this." Bobby said. He replayed the message on the machine.

"Hey, Mark, it's me. I'm on the way home for a few days. I can't wait to see how big Robbie has gotten. See you soon, brother."

"He knows I'm not Mark. Damn it, he's been lying to me for years." Bobby said angrily.

"Don't let him get the upper hand, Bobby. Your anger is your edge. He doesn't know that you know. Think about this."

"He will know. Because of him, we've lost years. Years I could have had you and my daughter and we could have been a family. He robbed me, Alex. He robbed me of my happiness and put you through hell for the last time. I want you to take Robbie back to the motel with you when you go. I want to talk to Frank, alone."

"I don't think…."

"Alex, I'm not going to do anything stupid, but this is the last time. The very last time."

"Will he go with me?"

"He will if I tell him to. Frank, he is my only brother, isn't he? Mom had schizophrenia and Dad was a drunken bastard, wasn't he?"

"Yes. You remember."

"It's coming back. Until I saw you, I didn't want to remember, I guess. I wasn't trying to remember. I'd have flashes now and again, but that was all. I was content. Now I know what I could have had and I'm furious. I need to confront Frank once and for all and I don't want Robbie here when I do."

"You know I will, Bobby. You be careful."

"I will." He kissed her firmly and they returned to the kitchen.

"Robbie, I want you to go back to the motel with Alex and Roberta. I need to do something and I want you there with them, okay?"

"Okay, Dad."

"Thanks, Buddy."

Alex took both kids back to wait at the motel for Bobby to join them. She put them to bed and sat down to wait for Bobby.

TBC

Next: Bobbys talk with Frank.