Love Without Boundaries - Chapter 48: Chapter 48

Robert stood next to his dad while the justice of the peace performed the ceremony. He looked at his parents and saw how happy they were, in fact everyone was happy, but him. He plastered on a fake smile on his face while he stood there. His body might be there but his mind was elsewhere. He was trying his hardest to focus on what was going on, but it just wasn't working. When Robert handed his dad the ring, he apologized and walked out. He could hear someone calling after him, but he didn't stop until he was outside. He sat down on the steps, letting his head fall into the palms of his hands. He yelled out in frustration, he hated the way he was feeling. This should be a happy day for him and his family, but his heart won't let him enjoy it. He sat outside by himself until Vera came out to see how he was doing. She sat down next to him and could hear a faint muffled sob coming from him. She placed a hand on his back and started rub his back.
"So you care to explain why you just ran out of what should have been a happy moment for your family?" Robert lifted his head and wiped his eyes, he hated to cry. It made him seem like such a girl. He could sure use a drink right now, he knew drinking never solved anything, but it did help him forget about things he wishes he could forget.
"Everyone's life is starting to fall into place, while mine is falling apart. No matter how hard I try to move on and try to forget about Preston, I can't. As much as I want to hate him, I can't." Robert pulled the chain from inside his shirt and held the ring. "As much as I want to take this ring and throw it into a pit of fire, I can't. All because a little part of me doesn't want to give up hope that Preston will come back to me. I'm a bigger idiot for thinking that will actually happen." Robert got up and started walking to the parking lot, but was pulled back by Vera.
"You're not an idiot for thinking that, what you and Preston had was something special. Something only some people get to experience in their life. You would be an idiot for not acting this way and besides you're only human after all. Now come on don't leave, spend this time with your family and close friends." Robert let out a sight and followed Vera back inside. They join his family who was waiting for him.
"I'm sorry for running out like that." Robert told his parents. His mom hugged him.
"Don't be I know how hard it is for you right now. Just don't feel like you have to pretend to be happy when you're not. We are your family and we are here for you." Robert nodded his head and hugged his parents. They all headed back to his dad's place to eat.
The week had come to an end and everybody was heading back to school. The drive back felt longer than ever. Preston was quiet and Ann Marie knew something was on his mind. He never did tell her how it had gone with Robert. It probably didn't go over so well if he didn't say anything.
"Hey Preston is there something bothering you?" Ann Marie asked. Preston hadn't taken his eyes off the window nor did he hear her. "Earth to Preston," she said as she snapped her fingers in his face. He finally snapped out of his daze and looked at her.
"Sorry what did you say?"
"I said is there something bothering you, you have been really quiet since you came back from seeing Robert." Preston sighed; he was hoping she had forgotten about that.
"I never got the chance to talk to him; his new girlfriend was with him. I don't think it would even matter if I did talk to him. There is no way he would leave his girlfriend to be with me."
"How do you know that, you meant everything to Robert? You didn't see how he was when you were in your coma; it was heartbreaking how upset he was. The whole time he was worried you were never going to wake up. So don't tell me he wouldn't leave her in a heartbeat just to be with you again."
"She's pregnant Ann Marie; there is no way in hell he is going to leave her if it means abandoning his child. He would never let his child grow up without him in their life." Ann Marie jerked the car off to the side of the road.
"What she is pregnant, how is that even possible? With all the different girls he has been with and has never ever gotten one pregnant, how did he screw up this time?"
"I don't know, maybe he is just getting careless. Or he really does love this girl and wants to spend the rest of his life with her."
"Come on Preston you don't really believe that do you?"
"Why not, it would explain why he was so quick to jump into a relationship just after we broke up. He has every right too, I broke up with him."
"Because you didn't have a choice, you didn't do it because you wanted to. If you just told him that then he will see that you still love him."
"Just stop it, no matter what I tell him he isn't going to leave her if it means leaving the kid alone. It's done and over with, it's all in the past and we all need to move on with our lives."
"Look Preston I'm just trying to help" Preston was tired of everyone getting into his love life; he knew things can't go back to being the same. He was starting to accept that and everyone else needed too as well.
"I know Ann Marie, but just stop. Next time I need help I will ask for it." Ann Marie just nodded her head and got back onto the road. The rest of the trip was rode in silence; Ann Marie dropped him off at the apartment. He walked in to find it empty; Xavier must have gone over to Vera's. Those two should just go out already; they spend all their free time with each other. Preston walked to his room and threw his bag on the floor. He sat on his bed and lay down; he wished it was easy to forget about Robert. To forget every kiss and moment they shared together, but most of all he wished for the ache in his chest would go away.
Robert waited in the living room with Emily while Chloe was in the bathroom taking her pregnancy test. He tried to make small talk with her, but she wasn't in the talking mood. He didn't blame her; he could tell she didn't really like him very much. Robert got up and started to pace, the three minutes that it took for the test felt like eternity. Every time he looked at the clock, it was the same; it felt as if time itself had stopped. Robert stopped pacing when he heard the bathroom door open and saw Chloe walking out. He couldn't tell if it was good or bad news. Chloe held the test in her hand, "well it looks like I'm pregnant." She said, Robert could tell she wasn't all that happy about it anymore. Emily must have told her something. Then he saw Emily get up from the couch and walk towards the door, "well I guess whenever you decide to get rid of it call me, but until then I don't want to see you." Emily said as she walked out of Robert's apartment. Robert turned back to Chloe and saw that she was crying.
"Hey what's wrong, why are you crying?" Robert asked as he pulled her into his arms, and he stroked her hair.
"When I told Emily I wanted to keep the baby if I was pregnant, she flipped out and told me I was stupid. She said that if I was pregnant that I better get rid of it if I still wanted to be with her. I told her I can't do that, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I did that. Then she told me I better hope I didn't come out pregnant then." Chloe said as she started to cry even more. He couldn't believe Emily was being so heartless.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Robert asked.
"I didn't want to bother you with my problems." Robert pulled her away from him and cupped her face in his hands.
"You are my friend and friends are always there for you when you need them. No matter how small or big the problem is, I will always be here for you. You are not alone; I will be there with you every step of the way. Together you and I will raise this baby." Chloe pulled her head away from Robert's hands and turned her back to him. "What's wrong Chloe did I say something wrong?" Chloe turned back to face him.
"No you didn't, I just had been thinking about what Emily had told me. I realized that I'm not ready to raise a child, I'm only eighteen. There is so much I want to do with my life before I start a family." Robert felt like his heart dropped into his stomach.
"So you do want to have an abortion then?"
"Oh god no, what I'm trying to say is, if you want the baby I am willing to give up all my rights to the baby. I know the baby would be better off with you then in an orphanage." Robert thought to himself, could he really raise a child by himself, but then again he wouldn't do it by himself. He had his family to help him, he didn't want his child to grow up and think I didn't want them.
"Yes I want the baby and don't worry I will pay for everything, in fact move in here with me, I don't want you to be alone." Chloe hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you Robert." Robert just nodded his head; in a few months he was going to be a dad. Now he just had to tell his family.