Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Thirty-Nine
Robert woke up the next morning, not knowing what was going to happen with his uncle. He got ready and went downstairs to go to church. When he got to the kitchen he only found his mom and Nora.
“Morning mom and Nora, where is uncle we are going to be late for church.”
“Morning mijo and he isn’t going to join us, said he had things he had to take care of today.” Robert didn’t like the sound of that, if he was missing church he had to have something up his sleeve. If he did end up trying to do something, he was ready for him.
“Morning Robert, so how was your night?” Nora asked, his mom must have not told her about their uncle finding out about him liking a boy. Good she doesn’t need to know, until it was absolutely necessary for her to know. She didn’t need to worry about things like this and put her in a stressful place.
“It was great, I really had fun. What did you two end up doing?” Robert asked.
“We just went over to the New Year’s Eve party Jane and Edgar were having. It was ok we had fun, it’s just not the same when you are constantly having people coming up to you and telling you that they are sorry to hear about your loss.” Nora said.
“Sorry to hear that, but you know what, how about after church we go out and have fun. Anything you want to do and yes you can bring Vince along if you want.” Robert knew better then to forget about inviting Vince.
“Ok come on we are going to be late.” Tanya said, they got up and followed her out to the car.
Antonio was still pissed about the way Robert acted towards him. He decided he wasn’t going to let Robert think he has the upper hand here. If he couldn’t make him change his mind, he will find someone who can. It was time he paid his dear little brother a visit, maybe he could talk to that boy and get him to stop with all this nonsense. If Cristian refused to help him, then he had no choice but to go to plan b. When he finally arrived at Cristian’s home, he got out of the car and went up to the door; he knocked and waited for him to answer. When Cristian opened the door he was shocked to see Antonio standing at his door. The only thing that could come to his mind was he found out about Nora and Robert coming to see him. Now he came over here to fulfill his threats he made six years ago. Antonio waited for Cristian to let him in, but from the look on his face he wasn’t going to. So he just let himself in.
“Long time no see, baby brother.” Antonio said as he took a seat. Cristian just stared at him before he spoke.
“What do you want?” Cristian asked coldly.
“Now come on, that is no way to greet your big brother. How have you been? I see the kids have been here to see you.”
“How did you know about that?”
“You really think I wasn’t going to find out? I have eyes everywhere, but that boy of yours was clever enough to get one over me. That of course was until he slipped up.” Crap, Cristian thought he knows about Robert and Preston. “Judging from that look on your face you know what I’m talking about. That is what I came over here for; I want you to talk to your son. Tell him he needs to stop this right now. He has had his fun and it’s time he gets back to reality.” Cristian gave him a confused look.
“So you’re not here about Robert and Nora coming over here to see me?”
“No that is the least of my problems, I don’t need the fact that Robert is gay to come out. Do you know what kind of embarrassment and shame that is going to bring to the Castillo name?”
“That is what this is about; you’re worried what people will say about him being gay. If that is just a big problem, why don’t you just kick him out then?”
“I can’t do that.” Antonio said.
“Why is that?” Cristian asked.
“If I kick him out, then people will find out and how is that going to help me?” That’s when it clicked in his head, as long as Robert had something on Antonio. He was going to be untouchable as well as everyone Robert cared about.
“I see it now, he is untouchable. You say or do anything to anyone Robert cares about, he is going to turn around and tell everyone about everything he knows. That’s what this is really about. He has you in check, no matter what you do, he has already won. So you came to me, to see if I could somehow persuade him into breaking up with the boy. Well you know what your shit out of luck. If being with a boy makes him happy, then so be it, I’m not going to tell my son what he can and can’t do. Antonio looked at him with disgust.
“How can you be ok with your son being with another boy?” Do you know how disgusting and disgraceful that is?”
“That’s your opinion, I don’t think it is, love is love and you can’t help with whom you fall in love with. So if you are done I want you out of my house and don’t ever come back. By the way tell Tanya I said hi and she should really come see me sometime.” Cristian said as he opened the door for Antonio. Before he left Antonio just glared hatefully at him before he rushed past him. When he got to his car, he just realized he wasted time coming here; he didn’t want to go to plan b, but now he didn’t really have a choice. He pulled out his phone and dialed, “Hey it didn’t work, so I’m on my way.”
“Ok I’ll see you soon.” The voice on the phone said. Antonio got in his car and drove to the home of Albert Bonanno. He was one of his biggest clients and one of Florida’s biggest mobsters. Antonio had helped him avoid prison time so many times, the reason he owed him so many favors. He walked up to the door and is greeted by Albert’s butler Reuben.
“Good afternoon sir, Mister Bonanno is waiting for you in his study.” He nodded and made his way to the study. He knocked and waited to be let in.
“Come in,” Antonio walked in and sat in a chair across from Albert’s desk.
“How are you doing Tony, did you get the flowers I sent for Rose’s funeral?” he could feel a lump in his throat when he mentioned Rose’s name, tomorrow would be a week since she died.
“Yes I did they were lovely thank you. I guess I’m doing alright for now, but I could be better.”
“So tell me, my friend what can I do for you?”
“I need you to help me with a problem I have, I tried to fix it myself, but it didn’t happen.” Antonio said.
“Of course, I would do anything for one of my dearest friends. You have always been there for me, so now it’s time that I am there for you. So tell me what you need help with.” Antonio told him everything about what was going on with Robert. Albert didn’t know the truth about Robert not being his real son. So he couldn’t believe it when Robert had told him straight out he wasn’t going to break up with the boy.
“Well it saddens me that Robert would act this way with you. I really thought he was a respectful young man, but don’t worry I will do as you ask and make sure it isn’t traced back to you.” Albert said as he got up and walked Antonio back to his car.
“Thank you Albert, I’m just really worried about him and how if he doesn’t stop it now he will later regret it in life.” Antonio said.
“I know what you mean, but do not worry all this nonsense will be done and over with before you know it.” Antonio nodded, got back into his car and drove back home.
The next day Robert woke up, today he was going to take his mom, Nora and Vera with him to the mall. Robert got ready and went downstairs. When he walked into the kitchen he found his uncle having breakfast, along with his mom and Nora. This would be the first time he has seen his uncle since telling him he was in love with Preston.
“Good morning everyone.” Robert said as he took his seat next to Nora. Robert glanced at his uncle; he hadn’t even looked up from his newspaper.
“Good morning mijo, did you sleep well?” Tanya asked as she passed him a plate.
“Yes mom I did thanks for asking. Nora can you pass me the hot sauce?” Nora handed him the bottle. Everyone ate in silences, Antonio was the first to finish, and he took his plate to the sink and grabbed his briefcase off the counter.
“I won’t be home for dinner Tanya, I’ll be working late.” He said as he walked out of the kitchen, Tanya just nodded. After Nora was sure he was gone she asked, “What was up with uncle, you could cut the tension in this room with a knife.” Robert didn’t want her to know yet about what had happen last night.
“Who knows,” Robert shrugged his shoulders and went back to eating.
“So why are you dragging us to the mall today?” Tanya asked Robert. He didn’t want to tell them just yet, he wanted it to be a surprise.
“You won’t find out until we get there, now hurry up. I still need to pick up Vera.” Robert said as he picked up his plate and placed it in the sink. Robert started to wash his plate as he waited for his mom and Nora to finish. Once they were done, they went out to the car and took off to pick up Vera. Once they pulled into the parking lot of the mall and walked inside, Nora was asking “So where are we going?”
“You will see once we get there.” Robert said as he led them to the second level and stopped in front of a jewelry store. When they saw where he had brought them, they all stared at him. Vera crocked one of her brows and said, “You brought us here because?” Robert smiled and laughed at the expression on her face.
“Well the reason I brought you all here is because I need help picking out an engagement ring for Preston. I know it’s not legal here in the state of Florida, but I hope that once we finish school. We could move to a state that does allow it and get married.” Once he said that, they all started crying and hugging him. Robert waited for them to stop crying, before taking them into the store.
“Oh my God I can’t believe you are doing this.” Nora and Vera said.
“I know I never thought in a million years would I ever be shopping for an engagement ring.” Robert said. As Nora and Vera were looking at some of the rings, Tanya pulled Robert away from them to speak to him.
“Mijo are you sure about this, what about your uncle?” she was happy for her son to have found someone he wants to spend the rest of his life with, but she was worried about what his uncle was going to say when he found out.
“I have never been surer of anything in my life as I am right now. I really don’t care if he doesn’t like it; I’m not going to let him run my life anymore.”
“Ok mijo and by the way I’m glad you have found that special person you want to spend the rest of your life with.”
“Thank you mom.” Robert kissed her on the cheek and went back to where Nora and Vera were. An hour had passed before everyone had agreed on a ring. It was a white gold band with Robert’s and Preston’s birthstone alternating around it. Robert got the inside engraved, but it was going to be three days before it was going to be ready. Robert said to the dealer, “ok that’s fine, I’ll come by later in the week to pick it up.” After he paid for it and wrote down what he wanted to engrave on the inside. They walked out and he treated them to ice cream.
“So are we going to get to see the ring before you give it to him?” Nora asked.
“Yes you will. Do you think he is going to like it?” Robert asked, now he wasn’t sure if it was the right ring.
“No he isn’t going to like it; he is going to love it.” Vera said.
“Yeah he would be crazy not to love it, so stop second guessing yourself.” Robert just nodded his head, when they were done he dropped them off at home and went over to go see his dad to tell him about it. When he got there he found his dad outside with his abuelita taking down Christmas lights. “Hey dad and abuelita, looks like you could use a hand.” Robert said as he saw his dad fighting with the strings of lights. He hugged and kissed his abuelita on the cheek.
“Aye mijo it’s good to see you. How was your birthday, what did you do?”
“It was good mom and Nora made me a big breakfast. Then later Vera and Preston took me out to lunch. Then we went to a night club to ring in the New Year.”
“That sounds like you had fun, wish we could have been there with you.”
“I know abuelita me too.” Robert noticed his dad coming off the ladder and walking towards them.
“Well if you two are done chit chatting, I could use your help. Here you get on the ladder, you’re younger than me.” Cristian said. Robert laughed and climbed up the ladder. He took off all the lights and handed them to his dad.
“Well it looks like I owe you a drink. Come on your abuelita made her famous cinnamon iced tea.” They walked inside and sat at the table. His abuelita poured them all a glass of tea and place a plate full of sweets in front of them. Robert took an empanada from the plate and started eating it.
“So your uncle stopped by yesterday.”
Robert almost choked on his empanada, he had forgotten about what would happen to his dad, if his uncle found out about them coming over here.
“So he knows we have been sneaking over here to see you?”
“Yes, but that isn’t what he came for?
“What did he come for then?”
“He came over to see if I could persuade you into breaking up with Preston, but the better question is how did he find out?” he knew Robert wasn’t that dumb to come out to his uncle while he was still living under his roof. Robert let out a long sigh.
“Even from six feet under Rose is still trying to get me in trouble. The night of the Christmas party, I had invited Preston to come, but he came as Vera’s date. I know it was stupid of me to do that. Well anyway I made the mistake of kissing Preston when I thought we were alone. I never saw Rose there and she took a picture of us.”
“How did he just barely get the picture if Rose has been dead for a week?”
“On the day she died, she had gone to his office where she was going to tell him, but he had told her he was too busy. She had the picture on her phone, so when he was going through her things they were able to save from the car crash he got her phone. I’m just assuming he was going through her pictures on her phone when he came across the one of me and Preston.”
“So he told you to break things off with Preston and you said no. You also told him if he would try to do anything, you were going to tell everyone about the dirty little secret the Castillo family has.”
“Yes that’s right.” Cristian looked at his son; he couldn’t believe he had stood up to his uncle like that.
“Well my boy, all I have to say is that you have balls of steels for standing up to your uncle like that. I wish I could have done that for y’all six years ago.” Robert laughed.
“Don’t worry dad I know you were just worried about us. To tell you the truth it feels great to know I was able to stand up to him. I was just so tired of him always telling us what we can and can’t do. I just can’t wait to see the look on his face when he finds out Nora is pregnant.” Cristian laughed.
“Tell me about it, he is going to flip out. He won’t be able to do anything about. He knows you will spill his secret if he does.”
“Yeah that’s the only thing that is keeping him at bay.” Robert said as he took a drink of his tea.
“Don’t worry son, he won’t do anything to destroy the good family name; means to much to him to get tainted with secrets from the past.
“I know, oh I forgot the reason I had come over here. I’m going to ask Preston to marry me.”
“What are you for real?”
“Yes and I know it’s kind of a bad idea with what is going on right now, but I don’t care. I really love him and I want to spend the rest of my life with him.” Cristian just smiled at him, he knows that once Robert sets his mind to something he isn’t going to let anyone talk him out of it.
“Well I’m happy for you then, so tell me about the ring.”
“What ring?” Liliana said as she walked back into the room.
“Well abuelita I’m going to ask Preston to marry me.”
“Aye mijo are you for real, I just knew it. As soon as I first meet him I knew he was the one for you. So what does the ring look like?” Robert described the ring to them and they thought it was going to look beautiful. He told them he would show it to them when he picked it up later this week. It was late in the day afternoon when Robert went home. He was really hoping the Preston was going to love the ring.
Ann Marie was sitting in the guest room of her friend’s house. She picked up her phone and dialed Grant’s number.
“Hello,” Grant said as he answered the phone.
“Hey Grant, it’s Ann Marie, I just wanted to tell you I got Preston to talk to you. He said he would meet you at the same Starbucks I ran into you at.”
“Ok when and what time?” Grant asked.
“Friday at six thirty, at the same table too.”
“Ok I’ll be there.”
“Alright I will be sure to tell him, bye.” Ann Marie hung up with Grant and called Preston. As she waited for him to answer, she was thinking of how shocked he was going to be when he saw Grant.
“Hey Ann Marie, it’s been awhile. What can I do for you?” Preston was surprised to hear from her, he hadn’t seen her since she found out about him and Robert.
“Hey Preston I just wanted to call, because I think it’s time we talked and made up. It was stupid of me to just flip out on you like that. I wanted to see if you wanted to meet up for coffee on Friday at six thirty.”
“Yeah of course I would love to, just tell where and I will be glad to meet up with you.” Preston said.
“Ok great, I have missed you dearly and besides we are family. So I will text you which Starbucks to meet me at and I can’t wait to see you.”
“Me too it has been too long, well until then, bye.” Ann Marie hung up her phone and she was smiling to herself. Preston was in for a big surprise when he got there on Friday.
When Preston got off the phone with Ann Marie he called Robert.
“Amor what can I do for you?”
“Nothing really, I just wanted to tell you some good news.”
“What’s the good news?”
“Well I just got off the phone with Ann Marie and she wants to talk about how things got out of hand between us and I think she wants to make amends.”
“That’s great it’s about time, so when are you going to go see her?”
“Friday afternoon and don’t worry I will be done before eight, but if I’m running late I will call you and just meet you at the restaurant.”
“Hum can’t you just meet her some other day? I don’t want our plans to get messed up.”
“I know snookums, but I have to do this. I want things between us to go back to normal. I really miss having her around.”
“Ok, but if you’re going to be late call me.”
“Ok I will. I love you snookums.”
“I love you too amorcito.” Preston hung up the phone and got ready for bed. Things look like they were starting to get back to normal. Now if he could just get his dad to accept him everything would be perfect.