Generation 2, Chapter 28

Sitting outside the Bradford home, Robert bit his fingernails.

"Quit that, you're making me nervous," Shon swatted his hand away from his nibbling teeth.

"Sorry," Robert gave Shon a sheepish grin "I guess I'm more nervous than I realized."

"It's the place," Shon waved his hands around to include the whole town "it's been a long time since either of us have been in Aurora Skies."

Nodding Robert sighed "it's the last place I want to be but I have to get some answers." Reaching over he scrambled out of the car. Shon followed after him, up the sidewalk and waited for a response to their knock.

"Who is it?" a low voice inquired from the other side of the closed door.

Feeling ridiculous talking to a door Robert cleared his throat "it's Robert Bennett your daughters ..."

"I know who you are. Go away." the voice yelled from the other side.

"Please I need to talk to you," Robert entreated his voice pleading more than he cared to admit.

From inside the house they heard laughter, then the sound of a lock being turned "So you need me" she said opening the door wide. Looking around the unpleasant woman asked "where's my daughter?"

"She's not here," Robert said swallowing hard.

Looking at him "she doesn't know you're here, does she?"

Shaking his head Robert tried to speak but found himself tongue tied. How could his lovely, beautiful wife be a product of this?

Snearing at him she said "have my words come back to haunt you?"

"You know about the mysterious phone calls?" Roberts gasped. She nodded, glee shimmering in her eyes. "Why? Who?" Robert asked in haste.

"I told you she wasn't for you. You wouldn't listen to me. Why should I answer your questions now?" she spat at him moving to close the door.

"Tell me who it is and what they want," Robert demanded moving to block the door so that she couldn't close it on them.

An older man approached from inside the house. "This woman," he gestured towards Mrs. Bradford "sold her daughter to me."

Stepping back Robert reeled from the information. "What ... what do you mean sold?"

"Don't you understand english boy? Sold her daughter for her freedom. She and her husband come to my country and this woman starts making demands. I send my people to arrest them. She give me her children. The boy no good, too young, cry all the time. The girl young, pretty I give to my son, make good wife." Grabbing Mrs. Bradford's arm he squeezes it until she winces in pain, "this woman trick me, find children in orphanage and bring back here. I come to collect my investment."

"Let her pay," Robert pointed towards Patricia's mother.

Shaking his head "too fat, too old. Not good investment."

"She's my wife. You can't have her," Robert told him in no uncertain terms.

"I think you change your mind," the man told him with a cold, hard calculating stare. "I make exception for you. You bring me pretty wife and I leave you alone. If no pretty wife delivered to me when I call and I have to go to you maybe I take wife and pretty daughters too." Shrugging the man smiled at Robert "you decide."

Before Robert could respond the man walked away. Mrs Bradford turned to follow. "How could you?" Robert asked as bile rose in his throat.

Shrugging "I did what I did to survive."

"But ... but she's your daughter," he was appalled how any parent could sell their own child to save their own miserable hide.

"What difference does it make now? It's done. I told you she wasn't for you. You should have listened."

Shon shook Robert's shoulder "come on Rob, let's go. There's nothing you can do here."

"Ok, ok," Robert stepped back allowing her to slam the door. Turning bleakly towards Shon "what am I going to do?"

"First we're going to leave. Then we'll think of something." Shon told him as he led him towards the car.

They traveled all the way home in silence. Trapped in their own disturbed thoughts. Arriving four hours later at the house, they silently entered the house where the girls were waiting for them.

Patricia observing their haunted, disturbed expressions rushed to Robert "Tell me, how bad was it? I know it's bad you can't even look at me." Gently she touched his face, noting the tears swimming in his eyes.

"Yes it was bad," Robert sighed and between him and Shon they told the girls everything they learned that day.

Sitting shell shocked Patricia mumbled "that's it then. I'll have to go."

"What? No," Robert exclaimed jumping to his feet. "We'll figure something out. There has to be another way."

 

Shaking her head "no I won't put you or the kids in danger. I'll do what he wants." Looking at him, drinking in every detail. The way the light caught the blond highlights in his hair, the love, concern and fear in his expressive brown eyes. What choice did she have? She wouldn't bring her family into danger not when there was something she could do to prevent it. She wouldn't be as selfish as her own mother had been buying her freedom at the cost of theirs. What little time she had left, she wanted to spend loving her family.

***

 

Robert tried to put on a happy face as he watched his sister and best friend drive away. He and Patricia had discussed moving to Bridgeport with them but decided the city wasn't for them. Sighing Robert wondered how he was going to manage without them. He had come to rely upon Shon for his steadying effect he had on him. Patricia was watching him in concern "Rob it's going to be alright. We'll go and visit," she wrapped her arms around him.

"I know ... it's just ... I don't know I have a bad feeling," he breathed deeply looking at her.

"For them or for us?" she asked.

"Both I guess. I don't know how to explain it but it's like I'm seeing them for the last time." He moved away from her picking up Jennifer who was toddling towards the road. Coming back he motioned towards the toys in the yard, "would you like to ride?" he asked the little girl in his arms.

Clapping her hands Jennifer nodded in excitment. Patricia picked up Diana and followed them. As the kids happily chatted to each other, their parents wore identical worried expressions.

Looking at his beautiful wife Robert didn't think when the time came he'd be able to let her go. He'd rather die then let her go with that man. There had to be another way. He looked towards Patricia who was looking bleakly back at him.

Patricia tried to smile but was only partially successful at covering her thoughts. She knew Robert was thinking of their pending seperation, maybe it would be easier to leave now instead of waiting for the call summoning her. Biting her lip she knew it wasn't an option she wanted to avail herself of, at least not yet. She loved his man and those two adorable little girls. They were her life, she wouldn't give them up until she had to. How do they get past this? This feeling of doom hanging over them. Looking down she saw Robert staring at her, she looked away as if she feared he could read her thoughts.

Staring off into space, Patricia knew Robert was going to try and prevent her from going. She knew she was going to have to make sure when the time came he was unable to stop or follow her. Someone had to be here to raise their daughters. As much as it pained her, she knew that person wasn't going to be her. She knew what she had to do, if only she had the courage to follow through.

"Honey we need to talk ..." Robert's voice intruded upon her thoughts but drifted away unable to finish.

"I know but not now," she smiled at him "I want to spend time playing with my girls."

Nodding Robert let it go in favor of spending time with his favorite girls. It would have been a perfect day if it weren't for this cloud of doom hanging over them. They put the girls down for their naps and Robert followed Patricia downstairs into the newly remodeled living room. Turning to Robert, Patricia put her hands on his chest "Rob we need to get back to normal. We can't go on like this."

"I know but I don't know what normal is anymore," he tried to turn away but Patricia held him tight.

"Please Rob, help me," she cried biting her lips "help me create a few last happy memories for you and the girls. Don't let this ruin their future."

"I'm trying but it's like I'm lost and I can't find my way past this dark cloud. I don't want to lose you," he leaned forward holding her tight.

"I know but what choice do we have?" she asked. "I'm just as lost as you. The only thing I can think about is how to make this easier on the girls. When the time comes I want you to promise me that you'll tell them that I'm dead."

He shook his head refusing "no I can't, I won't," his eyes pleading with her not to exact this promise from him.

Kissing him she sighed "I know what I'm asking seems horrible but it's better than the the truth. I don't want them trying to find me in the future and they won't if they think I died."

Feeling his world crumble around his ears he nodded "I promise."

Relieved she smiled at him stroking his face "promise me you'll stay with the girls and not follow me when I leave."

Shaking his head "no ask me anything but not that I can't."

"Please for me," she pleaded "I need to know you'll be here for the girls."

Falling to the floor, shaking Robert said "you don't know what your asking of me. I can't just do nothing and let you leave."

"I know what I'm asking and I'm sorry," she pulled him close. "But I need you to do this for me."

 

"Ok, ok I promise," he sobbed feeling he had lost her forever. They held each other tight for several minutes, stirring Robert asked "what do we do now?"

"We go on with our lives as normally as we can," at his look of refusal she said "I know it's going to be difficult but together we can do this."

Sighing Robert nodded accepting what he couldn't change. He would do this because he loved her and he didn't want to miss anything during the time they had left.