Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Thirty-Eight
On the morning of his birthday, Robert slowly got out of bed and got dressed. Today he turned twenty; he still didn’t feel right about going out tonight. But he knew his mom wouldn’t allow him to stay home. He walked past Rose’s room he saw the door was slightly open. His uncle hadn’t allowed anyone in there since she died. He must be the one who left it opens. When he walked into the kitchen he found his mom and Nora waiting for him, they had a large breakfast spread out on the table.
“Happy birthday Robert, I hope you’re hungry.” Nora said as she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
“Happy birthday mijo, I even made your favorite.” Tanya said as she brought out a triple chocolate cake. It had a simple Happy 20th Birthday Robert written on it, in blue icing. He hugged and kissed his mom on the cheek.
“Thank you mom and Nora, all this looks good. Is uncle going to join us, this is a lot of food for just us three?” Robert asked his mom as she passed him a plate of food.
“I don’t think so; you know he hasn’t come out of his office since Rose’s funeral. I’ll just send him a plate to his office later.” Tanya said.
“So what are your plans for today?” Nora asked.
“Well I wanted to know if you two would like to join me for a birthday lunch that Vera and Preston are making me go to.” Robert said.
“Of course, can I invite Vince?” Nora asked.
“If you must, I guess he can come along. Are you also coming along mom?”
“Yes mijo I’ll join you all, so are you going out tonight to celebrate your birthday and New Year’s Eve?” Tanya asked.
“I don’t know mom, I just don’t feel right about going out, when we just barely buried Rose like two days ago.”
“I know mijo, but sitting at home isn’t going to bring her back. Besides you have been in this house since she died and I refuse to let you spend your birthday here in this house when you should be out there having fun with your friends. In fact we are all going out tonight and getting out of this house.”
“What about uncle, are you going to make him get out of the house too?”
“No, I have already tried to get him to leave. But he refused. You know how much Rose meant to him and it’s not easy for him to accept the fact that she is gone.”
“So you’re going to leave him here by himself?” Nora asked
“Yes he said he wanted to be left alone; I think he just wants to go through Rose’s things alone, while no one is at home.”
“Ok fine, I’ll go out tonight.” Robert finished his plate of food and placed it in the sink, he was about to go back upstairs, but was stopped by his mom.
“Where do you think you are going?”
“I was going to find something to wear tonight, since somebody is making me go out tonight.” Robert said as he turned around to face his mom.
“Well before you go, would you like to open up your presents from me and Nora?” Robert hated when they got him a gift after he told them he didn’t want anything.
“Ah mom and Nora I told you not to get me anything, this breakfast was enough.”
“We know, but come on who doesn’t enjoy getting gifts every once in a while?” Nora asked as she handed him her gift first. Robert took the small box from Nora and shook it; it didn’t really make any noise. He unwrapped the gift, when he opened it up he found a black leather cuff bracelet and it was engraved number one brother, he loved it.
“Thank you Nora, I love it.” It was the prefect size to cover his tattoo when he needed to cover it.
“You’re welcome; I thought it would come in handy when you needed to cover your tattoo.” Tanya’s head snapped in Robert’s direction.
“What tattoo?” Robert had forgotten he never told his mom he got one, when he got it that was when everything happen with Rose.
“Sorry mom I was going to tell you, but that was when everything happened with Rose and it just slipped my mind to tell you.” Tanya was frowning at him.
“What did you get?” Robert rolled up his sleeve and showed his mom his right wrist. She grabbed his wrist and looked at the tattoo. She thought it looked beautiful, when she saw it was Robert’s and Preston’s first initial, she knew that Robert really loved Preston.
“It’s beautiful; you really do love him don’t you?” Tanya knew the answer before Robert even said it, she could see it in his eyes. His eyes lit up whenever he said Preston’s name.
“I really do mom, I can’t imagine life without him.” Robert said as he smiled.
“It must be true love if you are willing to endure that much pain to have someone’s initial tattooed on to your skin.” Robert made a face when he thought back to the day he got it and how much it had hurt.
“God don’t remind me I almost cried, while Preston tried not to laugh at me.”
“Ha I would love to have seen that, you acting like such a girl.” Nora said. Robert rolled his eyes at her.
“Whatever Nora, I would like to see you withstand the pain of getting a tattoo.”
“You’re on as soon as I can get one; I’ll prove to you that I can to take the pain.”
“Alright you’re on and if you can’t take the pain you will have to sit through a horror movie marathon with me.”
“Deal and if I win you have to be my slave for a month.” Robert and Nora shook hands. Their mom just laughed and shook her head. She walked to the counter and grabbed Robert’s gift and handed it to him. Robert took the gift and opened it; he pulled out a dark purple V-neck sweater.
“Thanks mom, I love it. I think I’ll wear it tonight.”
“You’re welcome, well I’m going to go take your uncle a plate of food and see if I can get him to eat it. What time are we going to meet them for lunch?”
“Not until one.”
“Ok I have some things I need to take care of, so I will see you two later then.” Tanya said as she grabbed a plate of food and walked towards his uncle’s office.
“Well I’m going to call Vince and tell him about lunch.” Nora said.
“Ok I will see you later then.” Robert said.
“Hey mom what are you doing for lunch?” Preston asked his mom.
“Um let me think, nothing why?” Erin asked.
“Well Vera, Xavier and I are going to take Robert out for his birthday. His mom and sister are also coming, I wanted to see if you would like to come along and meet them?”
“Sure I would love to meet them.”
“Ok we are about to leave if you’re ready?”
“Ok let me just grabbed my purse and we can go.” Erin grabbed her purse and went outside to the car. When they got to the Casa D’Angelo restaurant, Vera was outside waiting for them. When Erin saw Vera she couldn’t believe how pretty she was.
“So this is the girl Xavier says is just his friend, she is really pretty.” Erin whispered to Preston, he just chuckled.
“Mom I would like you to meet Vera and Vera I would like you to meet my mom Erin.” They shook hands.
“It’s nice to finally meet you Vera.”
“Thanks it’s nice to meet you Erin, well they have our table ready for us. We are just waiting on Robert and his family. Why don’t we wait inside for them?” Vera said. They walked in and sat at the table while they waited. It was about ten minutes before they showed up.
“Sorry we are late, somebody over here couldn’t decide on what to wear.” Robert said as he pointed at Nora.
“Well excuse me for wanting to look good, you’re lucky it’s your birthday. If not I would smack you right now. Nora said.
“Kids stop it right now; don’t act like that in front of company.” Tanya said.
“Sorry mom” they both said.
“Hi I’m Tanya, I’m Robert’s mom and this one here is my daughter Nora and this one is her boyfriend Vince. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
“Hi I’m Erin; it’s nice to meet you.”
“Can we order I’m starving?” Vince and Xavier said.
“Really you two are always hungry, besides this lunch is for Robert and when he is ready to eat we will eat.” Vera said.
“No let’s go ahead and order, I don’t want these two to die from hunger now.” Robert said as everyone at the table laughed. After they ordered, everyone talked amongst themselves. It made Robert and Preston happy that everyone got along. Their moms were really hitting it off; they wouldn’t be surprised if after today they became best friends. Their food came and everyone ate, after they finished they brought out a cake for Robert. Everyone sang happy birthday to him and he blew out his candles. After the cake was cut and everyone got a slice. Vera pulled out her gift for him and handed it to him.
“You didn’t have to get me anything.” Robert said.
“I know but I wanted to, so be quiet and open it, I hope you like it.” Vera said. Robert ripped the wrapping off and opened the box; he pulled out a book written by his favorite author. It was the one book he didn’t have, because he could never find it.
“Thank you Vera, how did you find it? I have never been able to find it.”
“I have my ways. I’m glad you like it.”
“Ok I’m next” Xavier said and he handed Robert his gift.
“Xavier you didn’t have to get me anything.”
“I know, but you got me something for my birthday. So it’s only fair I get you something, so just open it.” Robert opened the box and pulled out a DVD of the exorcist, the original one. “I hope you don’t have it already, Vera told me you were into horror movies.”
“No I don’t have it, thank you. Well will you look at that Nora another movie you get to watch with me?” Nora rolled her eyes at Robert and he laughed.
“Ok now it’s my turn,” Preston said as he handed Robert a small box.
“I told you not to get me anything.” Robert said as he frowned at him.
“When have I ever listened to you?”
“Never”
“Exactly now just be quiet and open it.” He opened it and pulled out a silver pocket watch, he had always wanted one, when he opened it he saw Preston got it engraved. ‘May our love forever be without boundaries.’ Robert smiled and hugged Preston.
“Thank you I love it, I will forever cherish it.”
“I’m glad you love it.” They enjoyed the rest of the cake before leaving the restaurant.
“Ok I will pick you guys up later around eight.” Robert said to Preston, Vera and Xavier.
“Ok we will see you later.” They said as they left.
It was late in the afternoon when Ann Marie finally left the mall; she didn’t know what she was thinking waiting until last minute to get her dress for tonight. She decided to stop at Starbucks to get a latte before she went back to her friend’s house. Since coming back home for winter break she hadn’t stayed at her aunt and uncle’s place. She couldn’t bear looking at Preston after what he did. She hadn’t told her aunt the real reason she wasn’t staying there, but was pretty sure she knew now. As she was getting her latte she noticed Grant sitting by the window alone, she paid for her drink and made her way to the table.
“You mind if I sit with you?” she asked, Grant looked up at her. He was surprised she was even talking to him after what he did to Preston.
“Um yeah sure, have a seat. What can I do for you?” Grant asked.
“Well I was just fixing to go home when I saw you sitting here alone and just thought I come over here to say hi.” Grant looked at her; did Preston not tell her what had happen between them? “Yes I know you and Preston broke up, because he found you with his roommate.”
“Oh” so what was she doing then if she knew?
“I just came over to see how you were doing and to ask you how you felt about Preston’s new boyfriend.” When he heard new boyfriend, it made his head snap in her direction.
“New boyfriend, what do you mean?”
“Oh you didn’t know, yeah about two days after he broke up with you, he got a new boyfriend. However that isn’t the best part, his new boyfriend is my ex-boyfriend Robert. You remember him don’t you?” Grant looked at her, what was she was talking about Robert wasn’t gay.
“I take it from the look on your face you didn’t see that coming either.  Don’t worry I didn’t see it either, Robert has always been good at hiding his true emotions.”
Grant didn’t know what think, he had always felt like there was someone else that Preston cared for, but he never in a million years expected it to be Robert. That explain a lot now on how when Ann Marie broke up with Robert and Preston stopped talking to him, he had been slowly withdrawing from him. Preston not talking or seeing Robert had made him sad. He was angry because he just thought Robert saw Preston as a friend, but now he had been fooled the whole time, how could he not see it. Now that he thought about it, the signs had been right in front of his face, but he had been too blind to see them. He slammed his fist on the table causing his and Ann Marie drinks to fall over and spill. He cursed as he tried to clean it up with the napkins.
“Sorry I’ll buy you another drink.” Grant said.
“Don’t worry about, I thought you knew. So you haven’t seen him since you two broke up?”
“No I was giving him his space, but after hearing this I think it’s time I saw him and got some answers from him. Do you know if he is at home?”
“Probably not, today is Roberts’s birthday, so I’m sure they are out doing something together. But if you give me your number I can call you and tell you when it would be a good time to see him.” Grant nodded and wrote down his number and handed it to her.
“Ok I’ll call you when it’s a good time to see him. Well it was nice to see you again Grant.” Ann Marie said as she got up and left. This was how she was going to get back at Preston for backstabbing her.
It was almost time to pick up everyone, he was about to tell his mom he was leaving when the doorbell rang. Robert went to the door and opened it. It was a guy and he had a package in his hands.
“Can I help you?”
“Yes I was looking for an Antonio Castillo; I have a package for him.”
“He is busy right now; I could take it for him.” He nodded and had Robert sign for it and handed him the package. Robert closed the door just as his mom walked into the foyer.
“Who was that at the door?” Tanya asked.
“Some guy, he said he had a package for uncle.” Robert held up the package.
“Oh he has been waiting for that, you might want to take that to him right now.”
“Ok and after I do that, I’m going to take off. I will see you tomorrow morning.”
“Ok mijo have fun and be careful. Nora and I are leaving too.”
“Ok mom, have fun.” Robert walked to his uncle’s office and knocked on the door.
“Come in,” Robert opened the door and walked in. He found his uncle sitting in his chair and was just staring at the wall.
“Mom said you were waiting for this package to come in?” Robert said as he placed it on his desk. His uncle turned his chair in Robert’s direction and looked the package.
“Thank you, you can go.” His uncle said as he turned back to the wall. Robert nodded his head and walked out.
Preston and Xavier were waiting for Robert and Vera to pick them up. They were going to a party tonight at a club, which required them to have fake ID’s to get in. He wasn’t planning on drinking tonight, drinking never led to anything good, he was just going to have fun. It was almost eight by the time Robert pulled up in the driveway. He and Xavier walked to the car and got in. by the time they got to the club it was packed and the line was a mile long.
“Oh my God we are going to be here forever.” Preston said. Robert and Vera just laughed at him.
“When you know the owner of the club you don’t have to wait in line.” Robert said as they walked to the head of the line.
“What who owns this club?” Xavier asked.
“Vera’s uncle does, so that’s why we get in for free and we don’t have to wait.” The bouncer saw them and let them in. As soon as they walked in, they walked to the closest empty booth and a waitress came to their table.
“So what does everyone want?” the waitress asked.
“I’ll take a beer,” Xavier said.
“I’ll have a Cosmo,” Vera said.
“I’ll have the same.” Preston said; one drink wasn’t going to hurt him.
“I’ll have a coke,” Robert said. After the waitress took their order and checked everyone’s ID’s she went to the bar.
“Why aren’t you having one drink, it’s not going to kill you?” Preston asked.
“I don’t drink anymore after what happen last time we were drinking.”
“Oh ok I see,” the waitress came back with our drinks. Everyone finished their first drink and order another one. After they got the second drink, Robert grabbed Preston’s hand and pulled him onto the dance floor. They danced a couple of songs before Xavier dragged Vera out onto the floor. Preston was having a great time with Robert and it was almost midnight, he was going to get Robert as his first kiss for the New Year. They had started the countdown; Robert pulled Preston closer to him and joined in with the crowd counting.
“Five, four, three, two, one.” Robert leaned in and kissed Preston. “Happy New Year amorcito, may this be a great year for us.” Preston smiled and kissed him again.
“Happy New Year snookums and this is going to be a great year for us.” They spent the rest of the night dancing until the club closed. Robert took Vera home first then Preston and Xavier. When Robert pulled up to Preston’s house, Xavier got off the give them a moment alone.
“So I had fun tonight,” Preston said
“So did I, I think we should go out to clubs more often.” Robert said.
“Ditto, did you enjoy your birthday today?”
“I did, it’s probably the first birthday I actually spent it with someone I loved. Thank you for everything.” Robert reached for Preston hands and kissed them.
“No problem, I should really go inside. I’ll call you later. Bye snookums, I love you.”
“Bye amorcito, I love you too.” Robert kissed him on more time before Preston got out of the car. He waited until he went inside before he drove off.
It was almost midnight when Antonio walked into Rose’s room with a bottle of liquor and the package Robert had left in his office. The package contained everything they were able to save from the car crash. He sat down on the bed and placed the package on the bed. He took a big drink from the bottle before he opened the package and emptied it on the bed. It wasn’t much but a few things that Rose had left in her car. He picked up the hot pink fuzzy dice he got her when he had bought her the car. He started to cry again, he had missed her dearly and he blames himself. Had he just gone to lunch with her, she would have never been in that car accident. He then picked up her cell phone; he was surprised that had survived the crash. It only had a few scratches on it, he turned it on. Her background was a picture of them two; it was one of his favorite pictures. He was looking at her pictures and stopped on one that had Robert kissing that boy that was supposedly Vera’s date that night. This must have been what Rose wanted to talk to him about. All the sadness and grief he had felt was gone and was replaced with anger. He was pissed that this was going on behind his back and that it was happening in his home. He screamed out in frustration and threw the bottle against the wall; it shattered into a million pieces as it hit the wall. He took the phone and went downstairs to wait for Robert to come home.
When Robert pulled up to the house he saw a light on in the living room. He thought his mom must be waiting up for him. He went inside and walked to the living room. When he got there he found his uncle waiting for him and the look on his face wasn’t a good one either. He was also holding something in his hands.
“Do you have something you need to tell me?” Robert had no clue to what he was talking about.
“No sir, not that I know of.” His uncle got up from the chair and walked over to where Robert stood.
“Would you  care to explain to me what this is?” he handed him the paper and Robert flipped it over to see a picture of him kissing Preston, Rose must have taken it and that was why she was in such a good mood that morning. Robert didn’t know what to say, there was no way of denying it.
“I can’t,” Robert said as he looked back at his uncle.
“So you’re not denying that you kissed a boy?” If he only knew that wasn’t the only thing he was doing with a boy.
“No sir, I was kissing a boy.”
“How dare you stand there tell me like it’s’ no big deal. Do you know how disgusting that is, a man is not supposed to kiss another man. Yet you have been doing this for how long?”
“It’s been going on for a few months sir.” His uncle yelled out in disgust and anger.
“What is wrong with you, it isn’t right to be doing those kinds of things with another boy?”
“That is your opinion sir, not mine.”
“Look here boy, you live under my roof and you are going to end this thing you have with this boy. I will not allow this to be going on in my house.” Like the hell Robert was going to break up with Preston just because his uncle didn’t approve.
“If I refuse what are you going to do?” Antonio couldn’t believe Robert would dare to defy him.
“Are you trying to piss me off boy?”
“No sir, I just don’t see why I have to break up with him?”
“Because it’s wrong and disgusting, and I will not allow that to be going on in my house.”
“That’s your opinion sir, not mine and I refuse to break up with him, because I love him.”
“A man can’t love another man, besides you don’t even know what love is anyway. You break up with him now or……” Robert was tired of his uncle and the way he was treating them.
“Or what uncle, you’re going to kick me out, disown me and make me live out on the street? Go ahead and do that, but just remember you have a lot of skeletons in the closet. Oh what a scandal that will be if everyone found out about our family’s dirty little secret. What do you think the people will say when they find out you kicked me out because I was in love with another boy? Nobody is going to want to do business with you after that. So if I were you, I would just deal with the fact that I’m in love with a boy and there is nothing you can do about it, without it coming back and biting you in the ass.”
“How dare you speak to me like that, you will not disrespect me in my own house; you think this is over, but it’s not.” His uncle yelled at him as he walked past him and walked back to his office. Robert sat down on the chair, what has he just done? He just pissed his uncle off and he didn’t know what he was going to do. Robert got up and went upstairs to his mom’s room and walked in. he went over to her bed and shook her out of her sleep.
“What’s wrong Robert?” she said as she sat up in the bed.
“He knows and I have no idea what he is going to do.” Tanya felt like someone just dropped ice cold water over her.
“How did he find out?”
“During the Christmas party Rose took a picture of me and Preston kissing and somehow uncle got a copy. He wanted me to break up with him, but I told him I wouldn’t do it. Then I threaten to tell everyone everything if he tried to kick me out. This only made him even more pissed.”
“Oh my, what are we going to do?”
“Wait it out I guess I don’t know what else to do. I would go to dads but am afraid to leave you and Nora here with him. I just feel like he might do something if I’m not here with you two.”
“Your right we will just wait it out, give him time to calm down. Now go to bed we will talk about this more in the morning.” Robert nodded and kissed his mom and the cheek and left the room.
Antonio was pacing around in his office; he was pissed about the way Robert acted towards him. He also knew he was right he couldn’t do anything, without it coming back to him. After about thirty minutes of thinking he finally had an idea come to mind, but it would require help. He picked up the phone and dialed.
“Antonio what can I do for you this morning?” the person said.
“I was wondering if I can cash in one of those many favors you owe me?” he asked.
“Of course my friend, anything you need we can do for you.”
“Great lets meet later and I can tell you what I need done.”
“Ok meet me at my home later in the afternoon.”
“Alright till then,” Antonio hung up the phone and smiled. Robert thought he was so smart; just wait until he sees what he has in store for him.