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Post by Robin Aldridge on Dec 31, 2019 14:15:30 GMT -5
Part 1
Robin Dixie stood nervously in the parlor of her Allentown home. She’d soothed her dress nervously at least five times now, causing her sister to roll her eyes and tell her to stop being ridiculous. Gatherings of their social group weren’t uncommon at their home, but this was different. Her father was looking to invest in a Pennsylvania company and he’d invited the owner of said company over since they were already in town talking business.
Her sister had said that it should have been the other way around, that they should have been in Scranton being the ones put up since the amount of money that was being offered to this company was in the seven digit range but father had insisted that he would not travel and that showing graciousness to potential business partner was the way to do things.
Robin agreed that her father certainly knew what he was doing as he had sold the family’s media company ten years prior at a cost of $300 million, plus a share of stocks that had values she wasn’t even sure of. Father was intelligent and he knew how to do business, so if he wanted the Aldridge Company CEO to come here he had a reason.
That meant though she and her sister had to be the perfect examples of children, as they’d been told time and time again today. She’d been sent to change twice and to redo her makeup once before she’d passed inspection from her mother and was told to be quiet and look pretty. It’d been her lot for most of her life and she thought she did okay with it.
The moment arrived when William Aldridge arrived, but the surprise was that he’d brought his son. After he’d greeted her parents he introduced the young man as his eventual successor, William Jr.
William Aldridge Jr was handsome, there was no denying it and she felt her heart stutter as he gave her a crooked grin. “Thank you for having us, Mr. Dixie,” he greeted in that perfectly polite way. “And Mrs. Dixie, you have such a lovely home. It’s a true testament to your taste.” He exuded charm, in the way that Robin felt was probably making her mother melt some, though she didn’t show it much.
Then he turned and looked at her and Hazel. “I had heard you had daughters, but I did not expect them to be so beautiful.” Robin’s face flushed a light pink and she looked down slightly. Though she did look up and shyly meet his eyes, finding that he was looking at her specifically still and with a twinkle in his eye at that.
“You flatter us,” Hazel said a touch of flatness entering her voice to show that she was not impressed.
“Thank you for your kind words,” Robin added, much more sincere in her words.
The attention was quickly taken off of them however and her parents took both of the Williams around to meet other people. Robin took in a shaky breath as she watched the younger William go, wondering if it was normal for butterflies to riot in her stomach as they were. He was just so handsome and his voice was so nice and his eyes… they were so beautiful.
“Ugh, what a fake,” Hazel scoffed. “Nothing could have been more phony about that guy if he’d tried. And wha tare you doing blushing like that? Robin, don’t go falling head over heels for that creep. He is just after father’s money.”
“I know,” she answered, sighing quietly and pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She couldn’t help but look over at him still, her glaze lingering on the future business executive. He was exactly the sort of man that her parents said she should marry, but Hazel was probably right. She was only seventeen and father wouldn’t hear of anyone asking to get engaged to her yet. Nor, did she think that William Jr would be so inclined.
Hazel dragged her off to go and socialize with others but try as she might to be involved with the people around her she couldn’t help but let her gaze follow William Jr around the room. Often she caught him looking her way too and every time their eyes met she felt a shiver go up her spine, a sor tof wonder at the fact that he seemed drawn to her as well.
She was afraid nothing would come of it tough until she went off to the bathroom and when she came out she saw him in the hallway. Shyly she smiled at him as she walked closer to him. “Hi,” she said, wondering why she had nothing more clever to say. Hazel would have something clever to say.
“I was hoping that I’d catch you alone,” he said, his voice quiet as he looked at her.
“You were?” she asked, a tad surprised as she looked up at him. “Why?”
He reached up to push a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wanted to spend some time alone with you,” he answered. “Everyone I’ve met so far is nice, but no one is really calling out to me like you are. Do you know somewhere we could maybe get to know each other alone?”
Her heart raced at the implication that he wanted to be alone with her. This handsome, accomplished, charming man. She gave a nod. “Yeah, come with me this way,” she said and lead him up the back stairs up to her room, which would of course be empty.
Once they entered it he looked around before turning back to her. “You know, I wasn’t just saying that earlier,” he said, walking closer to her and wrapping his arms around her.
“Saying what?” she was confused what he meant but it was hard to think straight anyway with her stomach flying like it was.
“About how beautiful you are,” he answered, his hand moving to cup her cheek. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
“Thank you, but I’m sure you’ve come across more beautiful girls before,” she answered, a blush reddening her cheeks as she looked up into his eyes, feeling lost in them and a wonder that he’d say such things to her anyway.
“Robin, do you think I would lie to you?” he asked, suddenly much more serious.
“What? No, no,” she shook her head. “I just.. I am surprised. Someone as handsome as you must come into contact with many beautiful girls.”
He softened slightly and leaned a bit closer to her, his lips practically brushing against hers. “And yet, none that I have wanted so intensely as I want you,” he leaned forward and pressed his lips against her own in a passionate kiss and she was lost.
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Post by Robin Aldridge on Dec 31, 2019 14:16:13 GMT -5
Part 2
In the days that passed after Robin had met William Jr she would wait close to the phone, waiting for his call. He’d promised he would call her when he had the time and she’d believed him. It was only as the days dragged on that she started to think that he might not call her and when she thought about that her stomach sank. She remembered the night that they’d spent together, the way that he’d laid her onto her bed and made her feel things she’d never felt before.
She often found herself daydreaming about the feel of his hands on her skin, the blueness of his eyes, she sound of his voice. She thought about what she’d say when he did call and what it was like in Scranton. She wondered if he wondered about her.
If he did, he didn’t call. The days dragged into weeks and the weeks drew into a month and then a month and a half and she had heard no word from him still.
A call from him wasn’t the only thing missing. At first she didn’t notice that her period was late but when her best friend got hers while sleeping over she realized that she hadn’t had her own and fear had struck her like a freight train.
Crying, she went to Hazel and told her that she thought she might be pregnant. That she didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t go to the pharmacy and buy a test, everyone would see her and then know. Hazel had friends though, ones who weren’t in their social circle and she gave one of them money and she went to the pharmacy without any trouble to pick up a test before bringing to the Dixie house.
The few minutes it took for the test to develop were some of the most stressful minutes of her life. When she looked down and saw the pink plus sign she knew that she was in a lot of trouble. She had to tell her parents. She was going to a mom and she didn’t know how she was going to handle it or how she was supposed to tell William. Mother and father would be able to help with that, at least.
After dinner that night she asked to speak to them, heading to the family room and standing in front of them with wringing hands. “Mother, father, I’m pregnant,” she spoke the words with a shaking voice.
“Pregnant? You stupid girl!” her father exclaimed immediately, looking at her with a bit of disgust. “How can you be pregnant? You aren’t even allowed to be alone with boys for this very reason.”
“How could you embarrass us like this?!” her mother demanded.
“It um, I… when William was here we…” she found it hard to speak, to tell her parents anything about what had actually happened. About how she didn’t regret it. About how she couldn’t regret it.
“William Aldridge?” her father questioned. She nodded, swallowing hard and wondering what would happen now. “Well I guess that’s some relief then. I’ll be calling William tonight and we’ll set it up for you to be married.”
“Oh I do hope he hasn’t announced the engagement to the Dearborn girl yet,” his mother said. “They’ve been having problems on that pre-nup that they wanted sorted out before any official announcements have been made.”
“He’s… engaged?” Robin questioned, feeling shocked and saddened by the news. Hadn’t he told her she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen? Hadn’t he showered her in compliments? Telling her of how much he wanted her? How amazing she was? The whole time he was involved with someone else? Her heart felt like it was shattering. Had he meant anything that he’d said or was it just things he’d said so that he could sleep with her?
“Of course he’s engaged,” her mother answered, in a tone that implied Robin was the stupidest girl in the world to have even asked. “You’ll be seen as a trashy homewrecker. Not that we can control that too much. It is your own fault.”
“William Jr has had some distance from Kendra anyway, they can put the word out that they’d been on a break,” her father answered, already on the mend for her image. “Not everyone will believe it but no matter. You turn eighteen next month, so you can get married then.”
“Are you sure he’s going to want to marry me?” Robin couldn’t help but ask, wondering if it was even right of her to ask for it at this point. Clearly, he hadn’t wanted to call her back. He was busy with the girl that he actually cared for.
“Don’t be an idiot, Robin. He’s going to marry you. We’ll make it very clear that investments will be pulled if he does not,” her father answered. “Of course the prenup will be difficult to set up but we’ll get the lawyers together to start drafting things. Until then, no one is to know that you are pregnant. You’ll be pregnant right after the marriage. Have an early birth and stay home for a few months afterward.”
“But father- I don’t want him to marry me just because I’m going ot have a baby. I want someone to marry me because-” She was cut off before she could finish her sentence, unable to tell them of her dreams of being loved for herself. Of someone wanting to spend their life with her just because they loved her that much.
“It doesn’t matter what you want at this point. You made your choices. Go up to your room and when we need you to do something we will get you,” her mother said shortly, effectively dismissing her. “The only lucky thing here is that you had the sense to be stupid with someone who will make a decent match in this miss. Nonetheless, you’ve disappointed us thoroughly Robin. Leave us to clean up your mess.”
With shaking hands she nodded and headed up to her room, waiting until the door was closed to fall onto her bed and cry.
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Post by Robin Aldridge on Dec 31, 2019 14:16:46 GMT -5
Part 3
Robin felt nervous as she sat in her family lawyer’s office next to her parents. Across from her was the Aldridge family and their own family lawyer. For the past couple of weeks they’d been going back and forth about the pre-nup that was to be signed. She hadn’t been invited or consulted on anything in it and she was to find out what was actually written today when she signed it. Her parents and his parents had agreed to the terms it seemed, so all that was left to do was for the lawyers to read it out and each of them to sign it.
She hadn’t talked to William yet. Her parents had strictly forbidden it and sitting across from him now, with him in a full suit looking so serious she wondered how much he resented her. How much had he loved Kendra Dearborn? Yet now that didn’t matter. Now he had to marry her and she had no idea what he thought about it. When he looked at her it was hard to read his face and it made her nervous.
She forced herself to start listening as her family lawyer started into the prenuptial agreement. Of course the stipulation that was first brought up was that the child would have to have a DNA test immediately after being born and if he was found not to be the child of William Aldridge Jr the marriage would be annulled in addition, there would be a damage of 3 million dollars to be paid. Both of her parents shot her a look and she found herself glad that she had not slept with anyone else.
Things continued in a similar way, about the money that was to be exchanged in terms of a divorce (she got nothing from the Aldridge family if she were to divorce him; unless it was found that he was at fault then she got 1 million for every year that they were married. If he divorced her she got 1 million for every year they were married, plus the house and stock in the company. If it was found she was at fault she got nothing). In terms of custody of the child, he would be automatically granted custody of their son.
“What if,” she spoke up, interrupting the lawyer and finding hostile sets of eyes on her. She swallowed hard but continued anyway. “What if it’s a girl?”
“If it is a girl then you may keep her,” the Aldridge family lawyer answered. She heard some murmuring from the other side of the table and a spike of fear go through her. Her hand gripped to her stomach and she found herself hoping that she would have a son. A son would be very welcome in this world, she feared what might happen to a daughter.
The lawyer continued on, giving more details as to what the obligations of each of them would be. She was to be in charge of bringing up the child and would not be permitted to have a job. He would be required to give her a standard of living equal to or higher than what she currently possessed. She would need to stay out of the spotlight the second she had any sort of showing of her pregnancy that was more than the agreed upon date. Moreover, she was never to tell anyone anything other than the agreed upon story. Each of them was to sign NDAs about what had happened and about any family business secrets that they were to learn while married.
They were to be married on her eighteenth birthday at a large wedding with the story that they were so in love that they just couldn’t wait any longer. Everything had already been picked, all she’d have to do was show up and get the dress that had been chosen fitted.
It broke her heart as she signed the papers, knowing that the wedding of her dreams was never going to happen. She’d never get to be proposed to. Never get to go wedding dress shopping. never pick the flowers and the colors. For all she knew she’d never be married to someone who really loved her either. It made her ache deep inside as she wondered what her life would hold. When William had signed the documents as well, the lawyers shook hands as did their fathers and Robin felt a bit like crying.
“Robin, may I speak to you alone?” William asked and she found herself nodding. She owed him an apology, for the way that she’d ruined his chances with Kendra Dearborn.
The two of them walked out and then into a neighboring room where they were alone, the door closing behind them. “I am so sorry, William. I know that you were engaged to marry Kendra-”
“Robin, stop talking,” he said, in a tone that was firm and had her immediately quieting. “I don’t need your apologies. It is I who should be apologizing to you. I was engaged to Kendra, yes, but not because I really wanted to marry her. My parents thought she was a good match, but when I saw you I knew that I had to have you.”
“You weren’t in love with her?” she found herself questioning, her voice quiet.
“In love? God, no,” he snorted lightly, as if the idea was ridiculous. “To be honest, I’m sure that your a much better fit for me. I like you a lot, Robin. I think we could be quite happy together.”
It felt like a weight was lifted off of her as she looked up at her fiance. He didn’t resent her. He seemed happy with the idea of marrying her. They could fall in love and be happy together. He was a good man who’d just make a mistake in the heat of the moment. “I think so too,” she answered, a smile coming across her face. “Our little family.”
“Yes, I’m sure our son will be quite well taken care of,” he answered. He sounded so sure that they were going to have a son. She wondered how he could be.
“And…” she started hesitantly. “If we have a daughter?” Would no one give love to a little girl if she were to have one?
He was silent for a moment, his face unreadable but then he gave a grin that made her stomach feel a bit funny. There was something in it, something a bit dark almost. “Then we’ll get it right next time.” He pulled her in and kissed her hard, and she wrapped her arms around him feeling as if something was finally going right in her world.
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Post by Robin Aldridge on Dec 31, 2019 14:19:31 GMT -5
Part 4
Yesterday had been one of the longest days of Robin’s life. She’d delivered her baby boy, William Quinton Aldridge III after a long and intense labor. They’d gone to Binghamton, New York in order for her to have the baby, away from the prying eyes of anyone who might be in Scranton. The official story was that she was on bed rest until she was to have William, which wasn’t ‘scheduled’ for another two months. She’d been told already that she wouldn’t be allowed to share the news with anyone that she’d had William and in one month’s time they’d tell everyone that William was early but a little too sickly to have visitors. The same would be said about Robin. She knew once they returned home the only people she’d be seeing were William, the cook, the maids, and of course her new baby son. It seemed like it might be a lonely time, if she thought about it beforehand but now she had her baby and she didn’t really care. So what if he was the only one that would be the majority of her contact for the next couple of months?
The second that he’d opened his tiny blue eyes and looked up at her she’d fallen completely in love. Her son, the new center of her world, and she had no doubt that she’d never get tired of being around him. How could she? He was perfect, absolutely perfect. She wanted to hold him all the time, but people kept coming and taking him from her. Her little William. She kept a close eye on whoever held him, seeing with a little joy that he was well complimented by everyone who met him.
Her baby would be well loved, that much was certain. Already, everyone said that he would run the company someday. It was a lot to place on such small shoulders, but then, he couldn’t understand the weight of it yet anyway and being a boy allowed him to be placed in such a favored position.
Today, she was happily sitting in bed with her baby, holding him close and humming a song as he slept soundly against her chest. Her finger ran along the back of his tiny hand as she looked at him with the same sense of wonder that had yet to fade. This perfect, perfect child was hers. He’d be hers as long as she lived and she knew already that he would make her so proud.
William came into the room again, having left to take some calls for work and saw that she was still busy holding him despite the fact that there was a bassinet next to her that she could have put him in. “You’re going to make him weak if you always hold him any time he fusses,” he said, a bit sharply.
“He’s just born…” she answered softly. “He won’t even remember this.” She would though. Remember what it was like to hold this tiny, tiny human close and have him still his whining just from her touch.
“You’re still emotional, I see,” he answered with a sigh. “Well, we aren’t going to be running for him every time he cries. He needs to learn to soothe himself.”
She nodded absently, keeping her eyes on the tiny William. The shape of his small nose, the dark hair that covered his head already, and the way his lips pulled together when he slept. She could watch him like this for a while still.
“Robin,” William said, drawing her attention up to him. “Put him down. You’re leaving today, so start getting your things together. You can’t go out looking like that.” With some reluctance she set the baby down into the bassinet, sighing as she went to grab her clothes and head into the bathroom in order to get changed. It took longer than usual, but then her body was still so sore and different than what she was used to.
When she came out she saw a nurse who William was busy speaking to. “And when can she start birth control?” he asked.
“Birth control?” Robin repeated, confused. Why did she need any? She’d be breast feeding their baby and after that… well they could always try for a second child. Maybe a daughter now…
“Well, she can start taking up to three weeks after birth if she’s not breast feeding,” the nurse answered. “Which, formula is just as well so that’s not a problem. However, most women don’t feel the want to go back to having intercourse until at least six weeks.”
“What if I am breast feeding?” Robin questioned.
“At least six weeks, but-”
“So three weeks from now, then, we can go and pick her up a prescription,” he continued with a nod as if nothing else had been said. “Okay, and she’d just go to the doctor to get the prescription or can we have it written while she’s hear to have it fillable after three weeks.”
“Honey, why do we even need it? I was going to breastfeed William and then.. well it wouldn’t be so bad if he were to have a sibling, would it?” she asked.
“Robin, don’t be ridiculous. You don’t need to be misshaping your body like that. He will be fine on formula and you will be happy to keep your body in shape,” William answered, brushing off her concerns. “As for another sibling, why would we need another child? We have a son. That’s the point of having a child. Anything else would just be superfluous.”
Tears started to prick in her eyes as she thought about not being able to ever have another baby. And to not be able to have the extra special feeding time with her son. She’d been looking so forward to it. To having a baby that she could tell everyone about right away. Having a baby shower that wasn’t filled with secrets. To being able to happily announce that she was carrying a baby. It just wasn’t in the cards it seemed.
Her husband gave a sigh and went over to pull her into his arms. “Robin, you don’t have to cry about this,” he told her, his tone quieter but not really softer. “What do you think is missing with our son?”
“Nothing, he’s perfect-” she started, her voice quiet but thick with tears.
“Then why would you need another baby? If you already have a perfect child, how could you ask for anything else?”
That made sense and instantly she felt guilty. How could she already be thinking about another child when she already had the most perfect son in the entire world? What must it look like to be sad over the idea of not having another baby when she had this baby here? How would little William feel if he ever heard of this? That he wasn’t enough? No, she couldn’t do that to her sweet, perfect baby. She gave a nod and a sniffle. “You’re right, I’m just emotional, I guess,” she answered.
“I know,” William answered and ran a hand through her hair. “But you’ll be back to thinking rationally in a few weeks. Until then, try not to upset yourself over anything else.”
She leaned forward and pressed a light kiss against his lips. “Thank you for putting up with me right now,” she told him quietly, to which he nodded and gave a light kiss against her forehead.
“Don’t worry, I know you’ll be back to normal soon,” he told her. “Now, lets get all the papers signed so that we can get out of this place.”
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Post by Robin Aldridge on Dec 31, 2019 14:20:38 GMT -5
Part 5
Robin sat in the family room, watching a toddler William play with his toys with a smile. Her baby was growing up so fast and already she knew he was so smart. Every day that she got to spend with him made her life happier. Right now she was waiting on Hazel, who was supposed to visit today with some news. She was looking forward to seeing her sister, actually, since she hadn’t had much company as of late. It was hard to feel too bad about it though when she remembered that she did have her little William and he was never unhappy to see her or spend time with her.
“Momma look my car!” he exclaimed, bringing over his favorite car and showing it off. It wasn’t the first time she’d seen this car, for he tended to like to show it off quite often.
Still she gave him a big smile and examined it as if it were the first time that she’d ever seen the toy. “Wow, this is the best car I’ve ever seen!” she exclaimed, handing it back to William who giggled and nodded enthusiastically before running back to the play mat where he could zoom his car around the lined streets.
A doorbell sounded and Robin knew it meant that her sister had arrived. Nonetheless, it wasn’t her place to go and open the door and so she stayed put. A few minutes later, Hazel was being lead into the family room and Robin was rising with a smile to meet her.She thanked the maid who had showed her sister here and then invited the other woman to sit down.
“Hello Will,” Hazel greeted the toddler, waving at him as he held up his car.
“William, come greet your aunt properly,” Robin said, her voice firm but kind.
“There’s no need for that,” Hazel interjected, sighing when William did rise and come to see her.
“Hello Aunt Hazel,” he said dutifully, in the way that he’d been taught to greet people. Even as a toddler he held himself a little straighter when he greeted her, despite the way that her name was chipped by his toddler manner of speaking.
“Hello Will,” she repeated, leaning forward and pressing him on the top of his head. “Please go play with your cars. You looked like you were having fun and I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
A smile spread across his face and he happily ran back to his toys, getting right back into zooming his cars around.
“I have something to tell you,” Hazel said, diving right into her reason for the visit and taking a seat while doing so. “Kenny proposed.”
Robin looked at her sister stunned. She knew that she’d been seeing someone while at college, but she’d sort of assumed that once she’d finished school she’d be leaving that life behind and find someone of their social circle. She’d heard a lot about Kenny. He was studying journalism in school, he was on a full scholarship and his family lived in a rented house. He had no savings to his name. He was not the type of person that a Dixie girl was supposed to be involved with. “Did you figure out how to turn him down?” Robin asked, thinking this was why she’d come here today.
“I’m not turning him down,” Hazel answered. “I’m telling him yes.”
She blinked several times, shaking her head. “But- Hazel, what will happen?” She’d never considered that her sister would take things further than toeing the line. That she’d do more than some college rebellion before settling into the life that she was meant for.
“Mother and father are cutting me off,” she answered with a shrug. “They’ve already made it quite clear that if I say yes I won’t be entitled to any money. They’re freezing my cards, my accounts, and I’d imagine writing me out of the will. They also said I am no longer welcome to visit.”
“Hazel,” she looked sadly to her sister, wondering why she’d go through with this. If Kenny could be worth the loss that she’d be experiencing.
“I swung by to say goodbye to you and to Will,” Hazel continued with a sigh. “Since I imagine that William is also going to forbid you from seeing me.”
Robin shook her head as she looked at her sister, wondering where she’d gotten that idea. Just because her parents were cutting her off didn’t mean that she had to too. Nor did it mean that William would want her to stop seeing her sister. “Hazel, I think you still hold the wrong impression of William. He’d never ask me to do anything that would hurt me like that. He’s a busy man, yes and he has a lot of weight on his shoulders but he loves me and he takes care of me.”
Hazel snorted lightly and shook her head. “Robin, I need you to hear this before I go. William is abusing you and I know you don’t see it, but he is.”
“What? Hazel, don’t be ridiculous,” she answered, pulling back from her sister. This hurt. She loved William and she knew that he loved her too. Even if he didn’t act the way that Kenny did with Hazel, it didn’t matter. He was a good husband. She was lucky to have him. “He’s never hit me once. Never threatened to hit me. Never called me any nasty names even. I can’t believe you’d even imply something like that.”
“There are different types of abuse, Robin,” Hazel replied sadly, reaching out to try and take the other woman’s hand but Robin pulled back still. She was hurt and she didn’t understand why Hazel was acting this way. “He’s got it so that you can’t even see it but from the outside, I see it and you deserve better. Even if you don’t see it, I need you to know it.”
Neither of them realized that William Jr. had come by at this point. He was working from home today, having had a late night the night before at work and now he stood in the doorway with an unreadable face. “Are you insulting my wife’s intelligence?” he questioned, his voice low.
Robin immediately jumped up and looked to William Jr., a guilty expression on her face. She hadn’t tried hard enough to shut her sister down. She was going to make William feel like she didn’t care what was being said and that wasn’t the case.
Hazel also stood and she sneered in the direction of William Jr. “How like you to be hiding around and manipulate a situation,” she spat with distaste. “But Robin knows that I was not insulting her intelligence.”
“Oh, cause it sounded to me that you think she wouldn’t know if she was being abused,” William replied, walking in and over to his wife. “That you are smarter than her and it’s your job to explain her own life to her. Robin, do you know what’s going on in your life?”
“Of course I do,” Robin answered, quickly looking up at William Jr with a quick nod. “And I was telling her that she’s wrong. I am really happy and well taken care of.”
Hazel closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. “Robin… can we please talk in private? I’ll explain everything and maybe you’ll be able to understand where I’m-”
“Robin is fully capable of understanding anything you have to say,” William spoke up, a fierce edge to his voice. His arm wrapped around her protectively.
“Well then you’d let her speak to me alone!” Hazel snapped, reaching forward again to try and take hold of Robin’s hand.
“Stop!” Robin exclaimed, a few tears welling up in her eyes. How could Hazel do this? How could she speak as if she were simple? How could she not see how happy she was with William? That their relationship was a loving one? Why was she trying to hurt her like this? “Hazel, I don’t need to speak to you in private. I know what you think already, but you’re wrong. I’m very loved and very well taken care of.” She couldn’t help the tears that slipped past her eyes. “And I wish you could see that. My relationship isn’t yours but… I’m happy.”
William rubbed her back and pulled her into his arms. Their son seemed to figure out that she was crying too and ran over, hugging her leg. “Momma!” he cried, clinging to her. “Momma no cry!” Robin bent down to scoop up her toddler, who hugged her close and pressed kisses to her face. “No cry momma. I love you!” All that served to do was to make her cry a little more at how amazing her son was and she hugged him closer to her.
“I think it’s time that you go,” William Jr said, his tone hard. “You know where the door is.”
“Robin-” Hazel’s voice was a bit softer.
“Leave, Hazel,” William repeated and the woman threw a nasty glare at him before she did turn to go and do just that. “I don’t know if it’s good for William to be around her.”
Robin looked up at her husband. “I think she just needs some time to-”
He looked at her with some pity and reached forward. “Robin,” he said, his tone gentle but holding an underlying steel to it. “You’ve told me time and time again that Hazel is not the type that changes her mind. She’s stubborn and if this is what she thinks she won’t change her mind.”
“But, maybe I can show her that she’s wrong and-”
“Robin, do you agree with what she’s saying?” He looked at her with eyes harder than before, but his face portrayed a hurt expression.
“No, of course not!” She was quick to reassure him, not wanting him to think for a second that she believed herself to be in an abusive situation.
“But she does believe what she’s saying and if you continue to have her around, people will think that you agree with her,” he said, his tone perfectly reasonable. “Do you want people to think that you agree with her?”
“No, I don’t-”
“And do you want William to start hearing those lies and believing them?”
“No!” She held her little boy closer, wanting to shield him from everything that was happening.
“Then doesn’t it make sense that you’ll have to stop seeing her?” William questioned, looking at her with an open expression. “I know you’re not the idiot your sister was trying to paint you as. I know you’re smart enough to make the right choice here.”
She thought about what it would mean never to see her sister again. Then she thought about what it would mean to let everyone think that she was agreeing to the idea that William abused her. There was no choice here at all. She gave a nod. “You’re right,” she answered with a sigh.
“You won’t see her again?”
“I won’t see her again,” Robin assured him with a slight smile even though her heart sunk at the idea of never talking to her sister again. One of the few people who checked up on her just because she seemed to care about her. However, clearly, there was something broken in that relationship. Something that couldn’t be fixed.
William graced her with a smile and leaned forward to press a kiss against her lips. “That’s my girl,” he said. “I knew I could count on you.” He frowned a little as he pushed some of her hair out of her face. “Have you noticed that your hair is getting a bit unruly?”
She hadn’t but she knew that she could fix that. “I’ll make an appointment at the salon this week,” she told him.
He nodded approvingly and told her that he’d have to go back to work, leaving her alone with William again who was starting to wiggle around in her arms so she took a seat and set him back on the ground. “Go back to your cars,” she said, then looked at the doorway where her sister had vanished knowing that she’d never really see her again. It was a sobering thought, but she wasn’t alone. No, she had her son and her husband and what more did she really need? “I’m happy as long as I’ve got you… Will,” she told her little boy, deciding that maybe adopting her sister’s nickname for her son would let her keep a piece of her around still.
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Post by Robin Aldridge on Dec 31, 2019 14:22:49 GMT -5
Part 6
As it turned out, it was very lonely to be Mrs. William Aldridge Jr after her Will started school. He started to have his own friends and he had piano lessons, which took up his time and then, on top of that he also just was getting older and it was uncool to hang out with his mom. She understood, but it didn't stop it from hurting her. Even years into her marriage she was somehow treated like lesser than the women around her, than the old money that came from others.
People tolerated her, knew that they had to attend gatherings that she put on and knew that they had to be polite to her but no one immediately went out of their way to be around her. She did spend her days trying to be a part of as many proper activities as possible. Every time the school asked for volunteers she asked William if she might be allowed to volunteer. He told her that she shouldn't be involved in such things and so she wasn't.
When William started working late more and more she started having fears that he was having an affair, though she didn't know how to bring it up. How could she? If he was having an affair it was because of her, wasn't it? That she wasn't enough? She started to work out more, though she had always thought of herself as in good shape.
Then one night when she was getting into bed, William was looking her over. "You've been working out too much," he frowned. "You're starting to look like a man."
Robin looked down at her stomach which was much more defined than before, a shadow of a six pack starting to become visible. Her arms had started to show some muscles too, but she'd thought that her body was starting to be a bit more impressive. "Oh," she answered, frowning a little bit. "I just- I wanted to look good for you."
"Robin," his voice softened a little and he waved her over to the bed. She got in next to him and curled up into his arm. "Your body hasn't been a problem." His hand moved down her side, his fingers dragging along the curves.
"Really?" she questioned, her voice a little bit smaller as she looked up at her husband.
"Of course," he answered and pressed a soft kiss against her lips. When he pulled away from her he looked over her, his eyes taking over her face. "Maybe you should go to the salon this week. Your hair has been getting a bit too long."
She made a mental note to go the next day and smiled. "Right, I've been meaning to do that," she told him. There hadn't been a plan to do so, she'd thought that her hair was a nice length but it didn't matter if it was shorter if he liked it better that way.
Even after she'd done so though it didn't stop the occasional late times that William would come home, smelling like someone else's perfume. No matter how hard she tried, how she bought new clothes and did new makeup, it didn't seem to make a difference. For a wild moment she imagined confronting him but what would it do? So what if in a divorce she'd get money if she could prove him cheating on her? She'd lose custody of Will, she'd be a social outcast and her parents would be embarrassed by her. She'd have no where to go.
So she tried harder to be everything that he could want. She was going to be perfect and he'd be happy to stay with her, if she was better. Whatever feelings she had about her marriage, at least she had her son. Her beautiful, intelligent, talented son. Even if he hadn't been born an Aldridge she knew that he was born for greatness.
When he came to her about going off to boarding school, her heart broke. If she didn't have Will here, if she didn't have her son around, who did she have? No one. But he was so talented and he wanted it so badly and he asked her so genuinely that she couldn't help but agree to help him out. She helped pull the research together to present to William, helped make the case that although he was looking into an arts school it was top rated for the academics and that going away might help make him more independent and learn some more responsibility.
After flying him out and getting him settled, she cried the entire taxi ride to the airport. By the time that she arrived back into Scranton all sense of her tears had been hidden and she was as well put together as anyone had ever seen her.
Every time he came back and left again she had the same reaction. She'd cry tears for hours over the loneliness that she felt not having her son around but there was no one to talk to and she held faith to the fact that one day he'd come back, even though it would never be the same as it had been she'd be able to see him more.
Then she found out that his girlfriend, was not as they had all assumed to be someone from money elsewhere in the country. Instead, she was someone not from money, someone who would never be accepted in the circles that they ran in. Was she certain that William wouldn't disown his own son? She liked to think that she was, but she wasn't sure that everyone else would be so kind. She wasn't sure that he wouldn't bring Will home immediately and take away his freedoms. She wasn't sure that Will would stand such treatment. So, she had to go and try to talk him out of it. Had to go and try to make him understand the way that the people they lived around could be.
But there was a white light, a silver lining in his girlfriend's heritage that gave her an idea. She wanted her son to marry just for love, didn't want there to be any complicated politics involved and Will clearly loved this girl. Loved Valerie and she was going to help them, going to make it okay to the best of her ability. She worked as hard as she could to get Valerie up to a level where even if she wasn't in the same league as the rest of them, she would fit in somewhat.
After it all came to light William had sighed and looked at her in disappointment. "Robin, I would have thought that as his mother, you would have wanted William to succeed. I should have known your romantic ideas would end up damaging him eventually," he shook his head and frowned at her. "I'm very disappointed in you."
Robin had swallowed back all of her own feelings and looked at her husband with a sad smile. "I just wanted him to be happy," she answered, knowing that it wouldn't be an acceptable answer. Knowing that he wouldn't understand it because he didn't understand how unhappy it made someone to love a person that didn't love you back in the same way because despite everything, she did love William.
"Happiness is a choice, Robin," he answered, as if explaining a very basic truth of the universe. "You can find it with anyone. But it's too late now. We just have to wait everything out and if he decides to propose make sure that he gets a good pre-nup. I suppose I can't blame you, you couldn't have been expected to do anything more. Just, in the future try not to meddle, Robin. Leave the big decisions up to someone who can handle them."
Grateful that he wasn't more upset with her she nodded and gave a slight smile. "Of course," she answered, hoping that at least Will would find happiness in everything in his life.
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Post by Robin Aldridge on Jan 17, 2020 20:36:16 GMT -5
Part 7
The day that Robin became a grandmother was one of the best days of her life. Unlike with her own son’s birth, she was able to loudly share her excitement with the world. She'd spent most of her allowance in the past few months on different gifts for the baby, even after Val had told her that she shouldn't keep buying so much because the baby already had a lot of things.
"Don't be silly, a grandma is supposed to spoil her grandchildren," she had replied.
She'd gotten to the hospital as soon as possible, having not gone when Val and Will had because William had told her that she was being invasive and she shouldn't be. "Besides, it's not like they're going to want you there for this part," he'd added and she'd sighed because he was probably right. The second that she'd gotten the call from Will that the baby was born though, she'd rushed to get William.
"She's here! Mackenzie is here, let's go and see her," she'd begged her husband, who had only sighed deeply.
"Alright, let's go then," he had sounded less excited than resigned but they'd made their way to the hospital nonetheless.
The second that the small girl had been placed in her arms she'd fallen in love with her, running a finger along her silky cheek and along her dark hair. "Oh," she breathed. "She's so beautiful." For a moment she had the brief pang of regret that she'd never had a daughter of her own, but she pushed that aside because she had a perfect son and she hadn't needed to have any other children. Her eyes were closed but her little face was so soft looking and perfect.
William didn't ask to hold her, though he'd looked at her and nodded. "She's beautiful," he agreed and then had put his hand on Will's shoulder. "Good job, son."
She was so reluctant to let her go, but she knew that Val had much more right to the little one that she did, so she handed her back to the new mother who seemed to glow when her daughter was placed back into her arms. As she couldn’t keep holding her, Robin contented herself by taking so many pictures of the little girl. She planned on putting them up everywhere that she could.
Babysitting was something that she was always up for even though it wasn't like Valerie needed one because she took her time off and was her own boss. Sometimes she'd go over just to see the baby, who was quiet in nature but so lovely. Getting to see her grow, to hold her and love her gave a new source of joy for Robin. It’d been a long time since she’d had someone who she could so easily and freely. Luckily, William was at work a lot so she didn’t need to worry about being told off for how often she went over to see her new granddaughter, usually bringing something along with her as an excuse to stop by.
"You know, you don't need an excuse to come over," Val informed her one day while Robin as holding a dozing Mackenzie.
"What?" she asked, looking over at her daughter-in-law in a bit of surprise.
"You're always welcome to come over, whenever you want," the younger woman said kindly. "Will and I both want you to be a big part of Mackenzie's life and the life of every other kid that we're going to have. That means you can come over whenever without needing any reason other than wanting to see any of us."
The idea that Val actually was okay with her just coming over made her feel so touched that she wanted to cry but she didn't. Instead she just gave a nod. "I'll keep that in mind."
Even so, every time she came over she tried to have some reason for it and she always called to make sure that it was okay. A lot of her visits took place when the Will and William were at work, because she knew that William wouldn't approve of how often she went over. Besides, it gave an excuse to visit again when Will was at home.
When Valerie got pregnant again it was an exciting time and Robin thrilled about the prospect of another grandchild. Her husband was hoping that this baby would be a son, but she wouldn’t have minded if she had another little granddaughter who she could love. It wasn’t to be though and when it was announced that a little boy would be coming Robin got out some of the baby clothes that she had kept hidden away from when Will had been a baby. She hadn’t let anyone know that she’d kept them, knowing it would be dismissed as her being too overly sentimental. So one day when it was just Val at home, she brought them over, presenting them to Val and explaining that she'd kept them for the next William.
Instead of making her feel bad about it, Val had teared up a little and accepted the clothes gratefully, seeming to understand what they meant to Robin and why she had treasured them. Hopefully at some point she'd even get to see side by sides of the next William with the pictures she had of her own Will.
By the point that Val was set to give birth Mackenzie was already two and the little girl was clearly setting the stage to be a serious person. She seemed to laugh less than Will had when he was a baby and she was happiest when she was being read to, enjoying being rocked in a chair and told a story as much if not more than playing with other toys. Other than that though, she wasn't a very cuddly child, independent and more content to sit next to Robin than on top of her when she did babysit.
She was the one who got to watch Mackenzie when Val went into labor with her first son, though the process didn't take near as long and this time she wasn't the one pushing to go out the door once the call had been received.
"Well if William is here we've got to go," William said after she'd gotten off the phone.
"I've got to get Mackenzie ready to go," she answered, looking down at the toddler who was flipping through a small cardboard book.
"Okay, get her ready then," William replied as if it was the most simple thing in the world.
Some thirty minutes later they were at the hospital, being slightly held up by the fact that Mackenzie was wanting to walk by herself instead of being carried by Robin. Robin was let to indulge her but William had given his impatient sigh that meant that she was supposed to fix the problem, so she'd scooped up Mackenzie and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. "When we leave you can walk," she said. "But right now I'm going to carry you so that we can see your mommy and daddy and brother sooner."
Even though Mackenzie was usually very well behaved she did whine about her loss of independence and Robin felt bad, but even so the young girl calmed once they were inside the room and she saw her parents.
"There's my girl," Will said seeing his daughter, reaching to take her into his arms and pressing a kiss against her forehead. "You been good for grandma and grandpa?" He smiled when he got a nod back from the toddler. "Good girl, now let's see mommy and your new brother, William."
Robin watched the small family, smiling as Val made room on the bed for Mackenzie to sit next to her and look down at the bundle in her arms. Without even thinking about it she'd pulled out her phone and took pictures of the beautiful family.
After a few minutes of watching them interact it was her husband who spoke up. "Can we get a better look at the future CEO?" he asked, a touch of lightness to his tone. Only because she was watching Val's face, not Will's as her husband had been, did she notice her daughter-in-law's nose wrinkling up. She wasn't the one who answered though, it was Will who only laughed a little. "Of course," he said and reached for the tiny blue bundle in Val’s arms before handing him off to William Jr.
Robin leaned over and looked at the beautiful little boy, her heart bursting with love as it had when she’d first seen Mackenzie and many years before when she’d first seen her own William.
“Look at him, he’s got the face of a leader,” William said proudly. “He’s destined for greatness.”
Inwardly, Robin disagreed about the first statement. Babies did not have faces of leaders, they had small and loveable faces that made you want to just scoop them up and give them all the love that you had. Then his eyes opened and just like the Williams before him he had bright blue eyes, causing Robin’s breath to catch because in that moment he looked so much like her own little William had after he was born that she felt transported back.
Reaching out she ran a finger along his silky cheek. “He’s a spitting image of Will,” she said softly. Her hand moved down to the baby’s small hands and she smiled as the little boy gripped at her finger, his smaller ones wrapping tightly around her own.
“Well that means there’s only great things in his future,” William replied, passing the baby over to Robin who took him and stared down at the bundle with love. "If he's like his father." William was clapping Will on the back.
"Thanks, dad," Will was answering, clearly smiling.
Usually a moment between her husband and son would have taken all of Robin's attention, but she didn't look up at it, her attention fully taken by the new little one in her arms. He was perfect, in the same way that Mackenzie had been before him and even more in the way that Will had been decades prior. He had big shoes to fill, a lot to live up to, but she felt confident that this child, like his sister before him and his father before her, could never disappoint her.
And because Val had Mackenzie to catch up with, she wasn't as needy to get the baby back into her arms, instead allowing her toddler to sit in her lap and talking softly with her about what it was going to be like when William as brought home. The men talked to each other, making jokes about the small William tucked into Robin's arms and she kept her gaze on him as he seemingly fell back asleep.
Maybe it was the similarities to her own son, but she could tell that there was going to be something very special about William and she couldn't wait to see what it was going to be.
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