A Modern Love Story (7 page)

“Don’t, Robbie.” He shook his head. “You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. I get it, okay?”

She nodded and sulked back to the living room with Luc at her side. They sank onto the couch together and she leaned her head onto his shoulder. “I hope he’s all right.”

“Me too, Squirt. Me too.”

The ring of the doorbell had Robbie jumping back to her feet. “Leah forgot something.” Jerking the door open, she was surprised for a minute to see Richard Kendle standing there.

“Damn, Robbie. You look awesome! You ready?”

“Umm…Richard.” She shook her head. “No. Sorry. I can’t go out. There was an
accide
—”

“What the hell do you mean you can’t go out? Come on. Get your jacket.”

“I said I can’t. Leah left for the hospital. Lawson’s hurt.”

“Soooo, you can call and check in later. It’s Friday night. Let’s go.”

“I…” She was speechless. What do you say to someone like that? And then she felt Luc’s presence behind her.

“She said
no
, Kendle.”

“I heard what she said, Cintrone, so back the fuck off. She’ll check in with you later.” Richard smiled as he eyed her up. “Her and I…we have plans.” The way he said it had Robbie shrinking back, and Luc shoving her behind him.

“There’s no fucking way she’s going anywhere with a piece of shit like you. And if you got a problem with that”—he gave Richard a hard shove that had him stumbling back—”then you can take it up with me.”

“Hey, man,” he said, hands held up, “it’s her fucking loss.”

“Piss off!” Luc slammed the door shut and spun on Robbie, eyes flashing with temper. “Is that the fucking kind of guys you’re dating?!”

She’d seen Luc mad before, even furious, but this topped them all. “I don’t…”

“Do you know what he fucking had in mind for tonight?! Shit! It was written all over his goddamn face!” He pointed a finger at her as he stepped closer. She retreated. “Did you know?! Were you going to—” He cut himself off as he noticed her backing away. “Shit. Robbie…”

Her voice was quiet, her eyes wary. “Of course I didn’t know, Luc.”

He hung his head before reaching for her, pulling her in for a hug. “I’m sorry, Rob. I’m sorry I scared you.”

“You didn’t—”

“I did, and I’m sorry. I don’t want you to be afraid of me.” He held her close. “Not you. Not you.”

She wrapped her arms around tight. “I know you’re just looking out for me.”

“I am. I…care about you.”

“I know you do. I care about you, too.” Even, maybe, loved him.

He pulled back and held her by the shoulders, slowly shifting his gaze to match hers. “We okay?”

“Yeah. We’re okay.” She rubbed at her eyes, the stress of everything hitting her all at once.

“Come here.” He led her back to the couch, pulled her down beside him. He guided her head to a pillow he put on his lap. “Lay down for a bit. We’ll wait for Leah to call.”

She did just that as he flipped through the channels for something to watch, and once he settled on a made-for-TV-movie, he curled one arm around her and stroked her hair with the other. Closing her eyes, Robbie sunk into the serenity he provided her, the sensation of being held and soothed by him. By Luc.

“Robbie?” His voice sounded far away as the fog began to lift. She felt a gentle shake. “Robbie? Wake up.”

“What?” She shifted and looked up at Luc. “Did I fall asleep?”

“Leah just called. Lawson’s okay. He’s gonna be okay.”

Tears sprung to her eyes as she wound her arms around him and pulled herself up. A laugh full of joy, and tears full of relief, had her weeping and shaking in his arms.

He issued an uneasy chuckle. “Jesus, Squirt.” And then awkwardly patted her back.

She laughed again. “Deal with it.”

*****

It had been months since the accident now, but
he’s going to be okay
still echoed clearly in Robbie’s mind. Lawson was alive, yes. But clearly not okay. None of them were. She glanced out the window of the Social Services building. How could the day look so bright and beautiful, but be so miserably dark at the same time?

“I’m sorry it’s come to this, Leah,” Maureen said, patting Leah’s hand on the table. “But I’ve done everything I can to make this right.”

“I know. I know you have.”

Maureen turned to Luc and Robbie. “You’ll be placed next month in your new homes. Leah has met them herself, for her own piece of mind. Everything is set.”

Robbie turned to Leah. “We really don’t have a choice here, do we?”

“I’m sorry, sweetie. We can’t stay. You know we would if it were possible.” She blinked at her tears. “We have family in Florida, and Lawson will have access to the best surgeons and therapy in the country. We’ll get him back on his feet and walking in no time.”

Robbie nodded and looked at Luc. He was quiet, as usual. And avoiding everyone’s eye contact, as usual. She wondered if he’d ever get over the L’s leaving.

“Go ahead and tell them, Maureen,” Leah said with resignation.

“You’ll live near each other—Leah and Lawson wanted to be sure of that—so you’ll still attend the same high school. Luc, you’ll be moving in with Joan and Edgar Powell. They are long-time foster parents—a good, loving home—and have a boy your age there already. His name is Conrad Ludlum and he’s been with them for six years. Good kid.” Maureen turned her attention to Robbie. “You’ll be staying with Julia and Frank Wenham. They’ve also been foster parents for quite some time, but they have no kids placed there at this time. It’s a fine, sturdy environment.”

Robbie glanced to Leah then back to Maureen. “Um…okay.”

“A fine, sturdy environment.” Luc said quietly, but with a volatile edge to his voice. “And what the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Leah put a hand to his shoulder. “It’s alright, Luc. I’ve gone there myself. They’re not
overly
affectionate types, but she’ll have a good home.” She turned to Robbie. “It’s probably not going to be the close-knit family environment that you’d want, sweetie, but you’ll be near Luc and they’ll take good care of you.”

Luc shook his head and jabbed a finger at Maureen’s paperwork. “No good. You send me there, and Robbie can go to the Powell’s.”

Maureen sighed. “We considered that, Luc. We did. But the Powell’s already have a 16-year-old boy in the house. To have a 16-year-old girl move in… Well, they foresee possible problems with that kind of living arrangement.”

Robbie gasped. “They think I’d… We’d…” She flushed with embarrassment, simply horrified at the thought.

“That’s bullshit, Maureen!” Luc snapped out.

“Hey, preaching to the choir here, Lucian. But there’s nothing that can be done. There are other options, but they all include Robbie being placed on the other side of town.”

“No!” Robbie held up her hand as if to ward off any further arguments. “I’ll stay with the Wenham’s.” She looked at Luc. “It’ll be fine.”

*****

The next four weeks flew by, and before Robbie knew it, the day had come. She was standing on the sidewalk, outside of the house she called home for over four years now, and stared blankly at the
Sold
sign swinging in the breeze.

“That’s the last of it.” Leah patted Luc on the back as he heaved a box into the back of the minivan. He barely got the hatch door closed before Leah flung her arms around him. “I’m going to miss you so much!”

Luc hugged her back, clenching his jaw. “You better get going.”

“Robbie, come here.” Leah gathered her up, tears in her eyes, and squeezed her so hard Robbie thought her ribs would crack.

“Let the girl breathe, Leah,” Lawson called out from the passenger seat, and then shook Luc’s hand, pulling him down into one of those manly hugs with a hard clap on the back.
 

“Oh, shush, you,” Leah said, wiping at her cheeks as she let Robbie go.

“I’m gonna miss you, Leah,” Robbie said, fighting her own tears, more for Luc’s sake than anyone else’s. He’d been through enough than to have to deal with her hysterics. “I’m gonna miss you too, Lawson.”

“Come here and give me a hug.” He squeezed her just as hard as Leah had before Luc edged her back and closed the passenger door.

Leah climbed into the driver’s seat and then gazed past Lawson to look at Luc and Robbie. “You two take care of each other, now. We’ll call after we get settled.” Her voice cracked, but she got the rest out. “We love you. Never forget that.”

Robbie watched as the van disappeared down the street, and then looked up at Luc’s stern expression. “You okay?”

He lifted a stiff shoulder, let it drop. “People leave. It’s what they do, whether by choice or not.”

She studied his face, the way he wouldn’t look at her. “I’m not going anywhere.” She took his hand, gave it a squeeze.

He gripped her hand back and she actually saw a glimmer of wetness in his eyes, but he still wouldn’t look at her. “I love you, ya know?”

Despite the situation, her heart leapt. And despite the fact that she knew he didn’t mean it the way she wanted, she couldn’t help but beam inside. “I love you too.”

He nodded once, and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. “We should get home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“All right.”

He still hadn’t looked at her as he turned to leave, then strode down the street. Robbie sighed as she headed in the other direction.

It was strange, without a doubt, to call another place home. Her and Luc had each moved in with their respective new foster parents last week, but had spent the better part of their time helping the L’s pack for the big move. And now, the L’s were gone, and it was time to adjust to the new arrangements.

The Wenham’s didn’t seem so bad. Mrs. Wenham was a homemaker, a bright and chipper type, though a bit stern in most respects. And Mr. Wenham, a well-respected business man, seemed to be very nice, although a bit quiet and reserved.

Robbie let herself into the back door, and walked straight to the fridge for a bottle of water. She jumped when she shut the fridge door and was suddenly face-to-face with her new foster dad.

“Mr. Wenham, you scared me.” She put her hand over her heart and huffed out a light laugh.

“Frank. You can call me Frank.” He lifted a flask, tipped it back, then dropped it back into the jacket pocket of his navy pin-stripe suit. “Did the Selwyn’s make it off okay?”

“Yes.” Her stomach fluttered as every nerve in her body went on high alert. “Yes, they did.”

“Good.” He moved closer, and she could smell the alcohol on his breath. “Now you and I can get to knowing each other better.” He traced his finger along her collarbone as he flashed her an easy smile. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Before Robbie could answer, he stepped back and glanced out the window. “Julia’s home. Maybe we can get better acquainted another time.” He brushed his fingers over Robbie’s shoulder before going to the door to help his wife with the groceries.

Chills raked Robbie’s spine, shuddering through her as she raced to her room. She locked the door behind her and crawled on her bed. Huddling in the corner, she pulled her knees to her chest and cried.

*****

For months, Robbie lived in a daze with only enough clarity to make sure she followed some very basic guidelines for self-preservation. First off, she stayed locked in her room as much as possible whenever Frank was home, which, thankfully, wasn’t very often. Secondly, she made sure to lock the bathroom door the second she closed it. He had a way of
accidently
barging in a minute or two after she’d shut it behind her. Thirdly, no more skirts or short sleeves; jeans and long sleeves only. And lastly, she didn’t make waves—she went to school, came home, ate dinner, did homework, went to bed. For the most part Frank had left her alone. For the most part.