by Rose Cody
Robin turns around, watching as Kurtis’s mom lays her towel against the slotted plastic of the chairs before laying down on it, crossing her ankles as she reaches down to the ground for one of her magazines.
“Sure.” She says, getting up from the side of the pool, her feet leaving a wet trail of footprints as she walks across the deck toward the sun chairs. “I was just waiting for Kurtis but I guess he’s taking his sweet time.”
“Oh!” The woman says, pointing her finger behind Robin. “I saw him earlier and sent him to get us all some drinks at the bar. It must be a little backed up.”
“I’ll go and help him.” Robin says, smiling softly at the sweet old woman before turning around and walking along the path, passing between the palm trees as she makes her way over to the bar.
Her heart sinks in her chest as she comes into view of the bar, her legs not wanting to carry her any more as she watches Kurtis lean up against the countertop. She hears him laugh as a the waitress smiles at him, brushing her fingers behind her hair as she lets out a shy giggle as the drinks rest alone on a try pushed off to the side.
“Hi.” She says, sneaking up beside them before grabbing two colorful beverages off of the tray. “Your mom wanted me to come and see what was taking you so long.” She says sweetly, trying her best to swallow down the lump in her throat. “I guess you needed some help.”
She hears the pitter patter of Kurt’s feet as he rushes up behind her, following her closely as they walk away from the bar.
“You’re lucky I was the one to find you, I guess.” She says, turning around sharply, keeping her voice low as she stops on the walkway. “What if it was your mom who came to get you and saw you ready to suck face with the girl at the bar, huh?”
“Oh please.” He says, shaking his head before trying to walk around her. “Like I can’t talk to the locals.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if I found her in our room later.” She scoffs, holding up one of the cups she’s carrying. “Look at this! The ice is nearly melted.”
She follows him back down the path to the pool deck, walking past him towards his mother and handing her one of the fruity drinks.
“Want to join us in the hot tub?” She asks the woman as she brings the straw in her drink up to her mouth before taking a refreshing sip.
“Oh, no thank you, dear.” His mom says, placing the glass down on the little table beside her. “The sun is too nice for me to be anywhere but here.”
Robin giggles grabbing Kurt by the hand and leading him over to the bubbling tub before stepping inside and sinking down.
He sits down beside her, taking a sip from his drink before placing it down on the flat edge of the tub as he leans back against one of the jets, letting his feet float out as he wraps his arm around Robin’s shoulder, letting his elbow rest on the edge of the tub.
“It’s getting really hard to pretend to be your wife when you’re not pretending to be my husband.” She whispers, her voice catching in her throat as she feel Kurtis pull his arm away from her.
“Can we please just enjoy the vacation?” He asks, clearing his throat as he keeps his voice low.
“I don’t even know why I came.” She whispers to herself as she sinks the straw from her drink back into her mouth.
“Oh, fucking come on, Robin.” Her boss says, shaking his head. “You’re taking fake husband and wife thing a little too far.”
“Far?” She asks under her breath. “I’m the only one who’s doing anything to keep up the illusion at all!”
“Yeah, you’re taking it a little far.” He spits back. “It’s a fake marriage and it’s gone to your head. It’s not real, Robin. None of this is real. You’re here for the money and that’s it, so cut the shit.”
Robin shakes her head, the lump in her throat growing.
“Was that first night fake?” She asks, wiping her knuckle along her lashes to catch a falling tear. “And last night, that was fake, too, huh?”
“Robin…” He sighs, rubbing his fingers over his eyebrows. “Stuff happens, but you know what this is.”
“Well, I’m sick of pretending.” She says, her voice catching as she stands up in the water before turning around and stepping out of the tub.
“Had enough of the tub, sweetheart?” She hears his mother ask as she rushes past. “Come to join me in the sun.”
She turns around, sniffing softly before flashing his mother a short, toothy smile.
“Yeah, when I get back.” She whispers, clearing her throat. “I just need to go to the bathroom for a second.”
“Alright, dear, take your time, the sun’s not going anywhere.” She hears his mother’s voice trail off as she rushes off the pool deck, the tears flowing freely down her cheeks.
It all had to come crashing down sometime.
Chapter 15
Robin stands in the bathroom in front of the mirror, her finger under the running water as she waits for it to heat up before splashing it against her face.
She turns off the faucet as she reaches for a towel and gently pats it over her skin before tossing it to the side.
Robin pulls her hair up onto the top of her head, wrapping an elastic ponytail holder around the messy bun before reaching for the bathroom door, opening it up and stepping outside into the room she’s sharing with Kurtis.
She walks towards the bedroom, watching him slide a button up shirt over his arms out of the corner of her eye as she walks into the room before making her way over to the bed.
“Two more days.” He says as she sits down. “Two more days then we can leave and pretend this never happened.”
“Yup.” She says flatly, turning around to look at him as he buttons up his shirt. “Think you can keep your charisma to yourself for two more days?”
“Think you can spend the next two days without freaking out on me again?” He spits back, turning her back to her before walking out of the room.
She scowls, slipping her socks on her feet before following him out of the bedroom.
“Come on.” He says, tucking his shirt into his pants. “We’re late and everyone is probably waiting for us.”
“We’d have been faster if you didn’t spend forty five minutes in the shower.” She says as she walks over to the door before slipping her socked feet into her flats.
“I needed forty five minutes away from you.” He says, walking past her before opening up the door to the hall.
She pushes past him, walking out into the hall as he clicks the door locked.
“I don’t want to fight with you, Robin.” He says as he catches up with her on their way to the elevator.
“Then quit fighting!” She says back to him before gently shaking her head and pressing her fingers against her temples. “I’m sorry.” She says, gently brushing her hand against the back of his arm as they wait for the elevator door to slide open. “Let’s just focus on dinner.”
He nods, grabbing her hand and holding it in his as the elevator doors slide open before they step inside.
“Rumor has it the chicken you like is on special again.” He says, his voice low as he sighs out, shaking out his shoulders.
“Good.” She says, smirking at the ground. “That chicken has been the only worthwhile thing this whole vacation.”
He shakes his head as the doors slide open at the lobby before walking with her out of the elevator, hand in hand and they make their way towards Kurt’s family.
“Hello, hello lovebirds!” His aunty waves at them. “You’re late! We’ve been waiting!”
“His fault!” Robin says, chuckling as she points with her thumb in Kurt’s direction. “Someone wouldn’t get out of the shower.”
Kurt snorts out of his nose as his aunty winks at them.
“Oh, I see.” She says, giggling as she turns around, looking towards the restaurant. “Well, you’re here now, I guess that’s what matters.”
They all walk towards the restaurant, her aunt chatting with whoever will listen as she leads the gr
oup.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry, please wait for me.” Robin hears beside her as Kurt’s mom holds onto her hand. “I’m just feeling a little slow right now.”
“That’s no problem.” She whispers, turning towards the woman, her heart dropping in her chest as her gaze falls upon her pale skin. “Are you okay?” She whispers, quickly turning to Kurt as he rushes over to them. “Do you need to sit down.”
“Just a minute…” His mom says, reaching out to her son as she begins to sway back and forth. “I just need a second.”
Robin panics as Kurt’s mother falls down to her knees, her chest heaving as she topples over to her side.
“Someone call 911!” Robin panics, shouting back to the group as Kurt tries to pick his mother up from the ground. “Someone needs to call 911, now!”
Chapter 16
Silence fills the bedroom, the only sound the shuffling of their bags as they pack their things, the room dim as only a little bit of sunlight filters through the closed curtains.
Robin looks over her shoulder towards Kurtis, watching as he zips up his bag, his head hung low.
She gets up from the mattress, brushing her fingers through her curls as she slowly walks over to him before sitting down beside him on the carpet.
“I’m so sorry, Kurt.” She whispers, hugging her knees against her chest. “Is there anything I can do?”
He shakes his head as he slowly scratches the scruff on his jawline.
“No.” He says quickly, before turning his head towards her a little. “But thanks for doing this…” He pauses, swallowing down the frog in his throat. “Thanks for coming.”
“Of course.” She whispers to him, nodding her head.
“And I’m sorry you had to be here for… you know.” He trails off as he stands up from the ground before bending over to pick up his suitcase.
“Don’t worry about it, Kurt.” She says, getting up off the ground after him and following him over to the bed.
She sits down beside him, resting the palm of her hand on his back as he leans forward to rest his face in his palms.
“When we get back to the office.” He says, sitting up straight and sniffing away the tears welled in the corner of his eyes. “I’ll give you whatever you need to take care of your grandmother.”
“Don’t worry, you’re paying me more than enough already.” She whispers, wrapping her arms around his waist as she leans into him.
“I have to.” He says, letting himself fall onto his back, the plush comforter conforming around him. “I just want to do something good for someone for once.”
“You did…” Robin smiles, laying down beside him, resting her hand on his chest. “Your mom was so happy your life was finally on track. She told me herself.”
“Because of a lie.” He whispers. “I lied to her. I thought it would make me feel better to make her feel better but… it was just a big lie.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Robin whispers to him, gently rubbing her palm over his chest.
“She died without even realizing that I’m a piece of shit.” Kurtis says, turning his head to look at Robin. “Why would I do that? I feel like the worst person in the world right now.”
“I don’t think it would have mattered to her too much, you know?” Robin says, sitting up and grabbing his hand, helping him up from his back. “As long as you’re happy… that’s all she really wanted.”
“I’m not happy.” He shakes his head, scratching his chin with his fingertips as he gets up from the bed, standing slouched as he bends over to pick up his bag again before carrying it out of the bedroom and placing it by the door.
“Not right now.” Robin calls after him. “But you still have plenty of time to make that right...”
Chapter 17
Robin brushes a tears from her cheek as she sits in the back of the chapel, her eyes gazing down as the pallbearers slowly walk past carrying the richly stained wooden coffin, the white lilies resting stilly on the decorative lace.
She turns her head, sniffing as she watches them walk out of the chapel doors to take the woman to her final resting place.
Robin gets up from her seat, picking up her purse from the pew before turning around to step out of the chapel.
“Robin!” She hears a familiar voice call to her.
She turns, a soft smile upturning her lips as she watches Kurtis walk up the aisle towards her.
She gazes into his tired eyes as she reaches out to her before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in for a hug.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” He whispers into her ear before letting her go. “Thank you for coming, Robin.”
“Of course.” She whispers to him, her voice barely audible as she nods her head.
“There’s…” He pauses, watching as they carry his mother’s coffin down the steps, his voice trailing off before he clear his throat. “There’s coffee and some cakes and stuff next door if you want some.”
“Yeah, for sure.” She says, reaching out and grabbing his hand.
He looks down at her fingers entangled in his as he smirks.
“I told my aunty you couldn’t do funerals.” He chuckles to himself as he gently squeezes her hand in his. “I should probably come clean…”
“Nah.” She says, shaking her head. “You got your own life to live, you don’t have to justify it.”
He nods his head up and down before stepping backwards and letting Robin out of the pew.
They walk out the door, watching as the men slide the coffin into the back of the hearse.
“Are you going to go to the cemetery?” She asks, looking up at Kurt as she reaches over to gently rest the palm of her hand on his stomach. “I could come with you.”
“No.” He says, shaking his head before looking down at her. “I think I’ve already said my goodbye.”
He steps away, leading her to the building next to the chapel before stepping into the hushed hustle and bustle of an after funeral tea.
Kurtis quietly nods his thanks to people as they make their way through the coffee line before picking up their white styrofoam cups and filling them with the hot, bitter drink.
“Cream, sugar?” He asks, watching as Robin shakes her head, no. “Me either.”
He hands Robin the cup of coffee before bringing his own up to his lips as he steps out of the line and looks around the room.
“Hey,” He says, sighing as the coffee burns down the back of his throat. “Would you like to go for a walk with me? I really don’t want to be here anymore.”
“I would love to.” She says, pulling her cup away from her lips.
She follows him back onto the sidewalk, walking beside him as they walk down the street before turning into a park.
“So, how’s your grandma?” He asks her, looking out over the grass as they walk down the path. “Did you have a chance to get her all settled in yet?”
Robin nods her head up and down as they stop in front of a lone park bench to rest under a tall willow.
“She’s good.” She says, sitting on the black metal mesh, turning her knees towards him. “She went back yesterday afternoon and she’s really doing well from what my mom says.”
“Good.” Kurtis says, taking a sip of his coffee. “I’m glad.”
“Really, Kurt,” She starts, a tear welling in the corner of her eye. “I can’t even begin to thank you for what you’ve done for us. It’s so much more than we expected.”
“Don’t worry about it.” He says, taking another sip of his coffee as he looks up at the blue, cloudless sky. “I’m just glad she’s comfortable.”
“She really is.” Robin says, smiling as she leans her shoulder against the back of the park bench.
She bites her lip, though the silence isn’t uncomfortable, before taking a sip of her drink.
“How are you holding up?” She asks, her eyes trailing over him as she watches him place down his drink on the seat of the bend beside him.
“I’m good.” He s
ays, nodding his head as he clenches his jaw slightly. “I’ve been thinking a lot.”
“Yeah, sometime out of tragedy comes great self-reflection.” She says, watching him as he reaches into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and pulls out a small ring.
“I can’t change the past…” He says, holding the ring still between his fingers as he reaches for her hand. “But that doesn’t mean that the future is predetermined.”
