Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Twenty-Seven
It had been a week since Robert told Preston he loved him. Every moment with Robert was amazing and Preston had never felt this happy in his whole life. It was the day before thanksgiving, Robert and Preston decided to stay instead of going home.  Robert invited his mom and Sister Nora over for Thanksgiving. Robert wanted Preston to meet his mom and sister. He told them that he was gay and was in love with Preston. To them it didn’t matter that he was in love with a boy, just as long as he was happy. Preston wondered if Robert was ever going to tell his dad or his other sister. He rarely talked about them and it made Preston think Robert’s relationship between them wasn’t very good. Preston hadn’t told his family about Robert yet, he feared what they might say about him dating his cousin’s ex-boyfriend. Ann Marie was not happy about Preston staying with Robert, but if she was to find out they were dating she was going to be beyond mad. Nobody ever wants to hear or see their ex with one of their own family member. Not only was that going to be a slap in the face, but to find out Preston was the one Robert had feelings for was even worse. Preston told Robert about how he was worried what Ann Marie was going to say when she found out about them. Robert told him to stop worrying about it, when the time came they will handle it together.
Robert went to pick up his mom, sister and his sister’s boyfriend from the airport while Preston and Vera were getting the last items they needed for Thanksgiving dinner. Preston was sad that he didn’t go home for thanksgiving, he knew his mom was upset, but he couldn’t face being around his dad or Ann Marie right now. He did promise to be home for Christmas.
“Hey do you think this turkey is big enough for everyone?” Vera said as she held up a large turkey.
“Um I think so, beside there will also been ham and other things to eat. That reminds me, I need to get the pineapples and cherries for the ham.”
“So you must be bummed that you’re not going home for thanksgiving?”
“I was at first but then I realized it was probably best I didn’t; my dad still isn’t talking to me. Then of course Ann Marie doesn’t know about me and Robert.  I think Ann Marie would figure it out about me and Robert dating if I went home.”
“Oh that’s right she doesn’t know yet, she is going to flip her lid when she finds out.”
“You’re telling me, I don’t know how I’m going to tell her, she is going to hate me.”
“Maybe but I think she will get over it with time.”
“I hope so. Hey, do mind if I ask you something?”
“Well it depends on what it is?”
“How is Robert’s relationship with his father?”
“That is something you’re going to have to ask Robert?”
“What you don’t know how close they are?”
“I do know and they are not close at all, but if you want to know more details you’ll to have to ask him.”
“Um ok I’ll ask him,” Preston placed the last item they needed in the cart and made his way to the checkout.
“Hey don’t worry, if you ask him he will tell you, he just doesn’t like to talk about his dad.”
“Ok I know, come on lets pay for this and get out of here. Robert should already be home with his family.”
“Alright” Vera and Preston paid for everything and headed back to the apartment.
Robert was waiting for his family, he was happy to see his mom and sister. He was surprised that his mom and sister were ok that he was gay.  He had told them not to say anything to his uncle and Rose, they would never understand.  When Robert looked up he could see people coming out of the gate, he could see Nora waving at him as soon as she came thru the gate. He ran up to her, picked her, and hugged her.
“Oh my god I have missed you!” Robert said when he placed her back on the ground. His mom and Nora’s boyfriend Vince joined them.
“I missed you too brother!” Nora said as she hugged him again.
“Hey leave some hugs for me.” Their mom Tanya said as she hugged her son.
“Aye mijo I missed you, I know it has only been a few months but it feels like it’s been years since I last seen you.”  Tanya stroked his hair as she looked at him, she could tell he hadn’t been taking care of himself. He had the tale tell signs of not eating and not sleeping well. She imagined he was going through a lot before he finally realized what he wanted. She was just glad he was doing better now; she would have hated to see how he was before.
“I know mom and I know that look on your face, I’m ok now you don’t need to worry.” Robert said as he grabbed her hands and kissed them.
“I know mijo, but I’m still your mother and I worry, just like all mothers do.”
“Vince, it’s nice to see you again, have you been treating my sister well?”
“Of course she deserves the best.” Vince said as he looked at Nora, Robert could see he really cared a lot for his sister.
“That’s what I like to hear, how was the flight?” Robert said as he grabbed his mom and Nora’s bags.
“It was ok, so where is this boyfriend of yours?” Nora asked. “And I want to be the first to say I knew you loved him before you even realized it.”
“Ha Ha yeah I know, maybe I should have taken your advice sooner.”
“Yeah so where is he?”
“He and Vera went shopping for tomorrow; they are meeting us at the apartment.”
“Great come on I want to meet this Preston.” Nora and Vince walked ahead of them, while Robert stayed behind with his mom.
“So mom what do you really think about me being in love with a boy?” Robert knows his mom said she was ok with it, but that was over the phone, he couldn’t really tell if she was ok with it. Tanya stopped and turned to face Robert, she wanted him to see into her eyes and know how she really felt.
“Mijo I’m so happy for you, I have never seen you this happy before. If being with a boy makes you this happy then it makes me happy too, but I want you to remember that you’re my son and nothing will ever change that.” Robert hugged his mom one more time.
“Thanks mom, do you think dad would have been ok with it?”
“Mijo your father loved you and your sister more than anything in the world. He would have been happy just as long as you two were happy.” Tanya could see the look on Robert’s face and knew he was going to ask if she knew where his father was.
“Mom where is he, is he still alive?”
It broke her heart every time Robert and Nora would ask about their dad and every time she would tell them she didn’t know where he was. Now was the time for them to know the truth.  “He is alive and yes I do know where he is, but I was told not to tell you where he was.”
“Why not, I think me and Nora have the right to know where he is. Doesn’t he want to see us?”
“Yes he does more than anything in the world, but he isn’t around because he wants to keep you and Nora safe.”
“What do you mean keep us safe?”
“Your father wanted to take all of us away from your uncle, but when your uncle found out what he was planned to do, he threatened your father.”
“What did he tell him?”
“He told him that if he went through with it, he was going to make sure he knew what it was like to live with the blood of your love ones on his hands. He also told him if he was to leave right now, he will let us live and only if he was to never make contact with your kids ever again.”     Robert took a deep breath; it was a lot to process. He always felt like his uncle was the reason his dad left and now he knew it was true.  “Mom please you have to tell me where he is or at least give me a number where I can call him.” Tanya knew her son wanted to talk to his father, but she didn’t know if it was a good idea.
“Let me see if it’s possible, your father believes he is always being watched by your uncle. He might not want to for he fears he will put you in danger.”
Robert knew he shouldn’t push it and just take what he can get.  “Ok mom, but please try your hardest to convince him to at least talk to us.”
“Ok mijo I will, now come on I want to meet this boy of yours.”
“Ok let’s go.”
When Vera and Preston got back, they saw Robert wasn’t back yet.
“Oh good we beat them back, so what are we doing for dinner?” Vera asked.
“Robert said he wanted to take us all out to eat.” Preston said.
“Ok great, so are you nervous about meeting Robert’s family?”
“Well technically it’s only part of his family.”
“Not true, he wants you to meet the most important women in his life and the only family that matters to him.”
“Well when you put it that way, I do feel nervous now. Do you think they will like me?”
“Who wouldn’t like you, you’re easy to get along with and you’re a sweetheart.”
Preston laughed at the last part.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh nothing really, I just guess I should have known Robert liked me from the get go.”
“What you mean?”
“I never told him anything about it, but one time he had called me sweetheart. At the time I really didn’t think much of it, I just thought he was being goofy.”
“Oh my God that is so cute, you two are just so cute together. You know you make him happy, in the years I known Robert I have never seen him this happy. He is lucky to have you in his life and his family will see that.”
“I think I’m the lucky one, since that day I met him I was head over heels for him.”
“Aw you two are both lucky to have each other.”
“Yeah we are.” Vera and Preston turned to the door when they heard someone turning the doorknob.
“Oh they are here are you ready?”
“As ready as I will ever be.” Robert walked in first, followed by his mom, sister and her boyfriend.
“Preston I would like you to meet my mom Tanya, my sister Nora and her boyfriend Vince. Who by the way happens to be Vera’s cousin.”
“It’s nice to meet you Tanya.” Preston reached out to shake her hand, but instead got a hug.
“Your family now and in our family we hug.” Tanya said.
“Ok thanks, um nice to meet you Nora and Vince.” He was surprised to receive a hug from Vince as well.
“So Preston tell me about yourself,” Nora asked
“Well this is my first year in college, I’m majoring in journalism and I’m an only child but I have two cousins I consider my siblings. I’m pretty sure you know I’m Ann Marie’s cousin.” Preston said. He could feel his face get red. He wasn’t sure what Robert had told his family about him and about what happened between Ann Marie and Robert.
“What your Ann Marie’s cousin?” Nora said. Preston could feel his face getting redder by the second. Robert let out a loud laugh and shook his head.
“Nora stop teasing Preston, she is just messing with you. That’s her way of showing she likes you.” Preston was able to relax now and he let out a nervous laugh.
“Robert didn’t mention your were such a joker.”
“Yeah sorry I forget not everyone knows when I’m joking around.”
“That’s alright, um I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m starving.”
“Yes finally, I thought y’all were going to starve me to death.” Vince said.
“Oh be quit Vince, you ate before we went to the airport.” Nora said.
“Come on babe you know I eat a lot.”
“That’s true he is the reason we never have leftovers at home anymore.” Tanya said, everyone laughed.
“Ok come on I have reservations at where I work, and trust me your going to love the food.” Robert said.
It was late in the evening when everyone came back to the apartment. It had been a long and tiring day. Robert’s mom and Nora were going to take Preston’s room while Vince stayed at Vera’s place. Preston was nervous about sleeping in the same bed as Robert. Since Robert confessed he loved him, they had been taking things slow. Preston knew he shouldn’t really be nervous; it wasn’t like he didn’t want to fall asleep in Robert arms. Preston shook it off and got ready for bed, by the time Preston got out of the bathroom everyone was in bed. He made his way to Robert’s room and could see the lights were off, excerpt for the lamp on the nightstand. When he walked in, he found Robert sitting on the bed, reading a book. Robert looked up from his book when he heard Preston walk in; Robert smiled at him when he noticed he had on shorts with monkeys on them. Preston saw that Robert was smiling.
“What are you smiling at?” Preston asked as he got into the bed.
“Nothing really, I just think you look really hot in your monkey shorts.” Robert smiled and winked at him, as he placed his book and glasses on the nightstand.
“Are you mocking me?” Preston lay down on the bed and pulled the covers up to his chest.
“Aye Amor I would never mock you.” Robert laid down and turn to face Preston.
“Uh sure you’re not mocking me, and for your information I happen to think monkeys are awesome and cute.”
“Hum now I know if I want to get you something for when I mess up, I’ll make sure it has monkeys on it. By the way I think monkeys are awesome as well.” Robert looked at Preston one more time before he turned off the light.
“Goodnight Robert” Preston gave him a quick kiss and turned so his back was to Robert; Robert moved closer to Preston and wrapped his arms around him.
“Sweet dreams amorcito” Robert kissed him on his cheek and for the first time he fell asleep within minutes listening to the steady breathing of Preston.