End of Chapter Robert and Christopher
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Dinner was incredibly awkward, not as I anticipated it to be. Becca was in a terrible mood, I put it down to her probably being on her period, I knew from Sappy that sure did put girl’s in terrible moods. It was either that or just the fact that she really didn’t want me there. There seemed to be more awkwardness between Chris and Rob than anyone else, in fact I felt so at home that it was not normal at all. I wanted to start up a conversation, I could just feel the words scratching at the back of my throat, eager to come out. But the strange atmosphere at the dinner table struck me speechless. Chris cleared the table, keeping his eyes away from Rob the whole time. Becca made her way silently to my old bedroom and Rob sat at the sofa to watch TV. I opted to help Chris wash up the dishes, anything just to talk to him.
“What’s going on?” I said in a hushed tone, making sure my voice was not heard over the television. Chris plunged the dishes into the warm soapy water and began scrubbing, handing me the clean cutlery to dry and put away.
“Well…Rob wants Becca here now, he has the right to have her here every Thursday night and at weekends.” He pulled his hand across his nose quickly, leaving a small trail of bubbles across his cheeks.
“Is that it? I bet he wants her here because he misses me so much.” I smiled at him, putting the towel up to his face to get rid of the bubbles.
“I guess he does!” Chris laughed “But, I can’t stand that child…she is vindictive, vile, ergh.” He stuck his tongue out in dismay.
“So…what are you going to do about it?”
“I’m leaving him.”
“What?” I stopped drying and stared at him “Only because of Becca?”
“No…after you left it was just me and Rob…it was weird, like, I felt really awkward around him on my own…I know I sound so stupid saying that, we were seeing each other for ages before he left Clarice. But it was just different. I just don’t love him.” I looked down at my feet, the kitchen floor sparkled clean between my toes. I had always hoped that maybe Chris would leave Rob one day…but not as soon as that. It was like a door had been shut, and even if I found a way of opening it again the room that it was closed to would be completely different.
“So…does Rob know?”
“Yeah, we talked about it last week, I’m staying here until I can find a place of my own, but Becca doesn’t know, so can you keep it quiet?”
“Yeah…yeah I will…can you take me home tonight?”
“Sure.”
