28. The Dance #3
“Very well,” she said darkly. “We are in agreement: no money, no estate, nothing. If you cut yourself off today, Robert Alan Eaton the 3rd, you are no longer part of our family. This is what you want?”
Robbie gave a single nod. “Yes, this is what I want.”
“And yet you still wish to live in a town we practically own?”
“You won’t own it if we can help it,” Isabel said from behind Jake and Robbie. Jake whirled around, pulling Robbie with him. “You know the anonymous buyer for the bookstore?”
“Yes,” Robert said, “but how do you know about that?”
“That buyer is me—and some of my friends. It’s a big commitment, but it’s one more business the community holds instead of you, Robert.”
Robbie’s lips twitched. If he had started laughing—or crying—Jake wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised, but he held it together, instead squeezing Jake’s hand back with a grip so viselike it made Jake’s bones ache.
“Come along,” Madeleine said to her husband. “We’re leaving.”
“Shouldn’t we—”
“No, we’re leaving. There is nothing here for us tonight.” She shot a pointed look at Robbie.
Instinctively, Jake stepped closer, now Robbie’s shield. But he didn’t need a shield anymore, because with a turn of her heel, Madeleine marched away, never allowing herself to look like the defeated party in battle even as she retreated. Robert trailed behind her, a scowl etched on his face.
As they left, Jake helped Robbie into a chair. He looked a bit dazed, but the color had returned to his cheeks, and he was blinking a normal amount again.
“Are you all right, dear?” Isabel asked, patting Robbie gently on the shoulder.
“Yes,” Robbie said quickly. “I’m just surprised they listened, that’s all.”
“Only to their own benefit.” Jake scoffed. “You’re better off without them, Robbie.”
“Jake is right.” Safiya set a cup of water down on the table next to Robbie. “You’re gonna be the Eaton to turn this place around, I just know it.”
Robbie didn’t respond to that. Instead, he took a sip of the water, thanked Safiya for it, and then turned back to Jake. “Did you mean what you said? After everything?”
“I did,” Jake replied. “I’ve been tearing myself apart the last couple of months, Robbie. I made an awful mistake.”
“So did I. A lot of awful mistakes.”
“But I didn’t make one today. I want to stay here with you, whatever that entails. Please let me stay.”
Robbie smiled slightly. “You don’t have to ask my permission.”
“But do you still…”
“Want you? Love you?”
Jake nodded.
Robbie rested his elbow on the table, tilting his head and gazing up at Jake. “You already know the answer to that.” His eyes had that look in them, the one that Jake had once been scared of so many months ago, and then craved when he realized he was falling for Robbie equally hard.
“I guess I do.” Jake sat down, his legs suddenly threatening to give out. He glanced up at Isabel, still standing off to the side, a ripple confusion washing over him. “Aunt Isabel, what were you saying about the bookstore?”
“Oh, that.” Isabel waved her hand dismissively. “A couple of my friends and I bought it when it was listed for sale. It closed yesterday, so there is no backing out.”
Robbie blinked. “Sorry, what?” He looked back at Isabel too, disbelief clouding his expression.
“You’re looking at the proud co-owner of a bookstore,” she reiterated. “Of course, I’m not staying here to manage it. As my friends and I discussed it, as long as you two are willing, you’ll run the day-to-day operations.”
“What?” Jake furrowed his brow. “Me and Robbie both?”
“Well, initially we just had Robbie in mind, but if both of you are staying, then that makes the most sense, doesn’t it?” Isabel said.
Speechless, Jake looked back toward Robbie, and though he couldn’t wipe the surprised smile off his face now, a pang of guilt flooded him for all Robbie had been through tonight. “Can we really do that?”
“You’ll be all right, both of you,” Isabel assured them.
“You have a new family now.” She paused, then added, “Think of this as my parting gift for everything that you’ve both done for me.
I’m ready to move on from Eventide, but your life here is really just starting.
It’s the least I can do to give you everything I’m leaving behind. ”
She stepped away to let Jake and Robbie have a moment in peace. The music had started back up, and everyone around them was dancing and laughing and probably saying, Can you believe what just happened?
Jake couldn’t. He couldn’t believe it at all, and yet when he pinched himself, he didn’t wake up from the dream. Across from him, Robbie was staring at the cup of water Safiya had given him. He looked up when he felt Jake’s eyes on him.
“You did it, Robbie,” Jake said. “You’re free.”
Robbie managed a faint, pained smile. “I know,” he said. “I only wish I felt it.”
“Then let’s leave.”
“What?” Robbie perked up a bit. “Right now? It’s so early.”
“You want to feel free, don’t you?” Jake stood up and took Robbie’s hand, guiding him to his feet. “Well, come on, let’s go do just that.”
“Okay, but where are we going?”
“Home, Robbie. We’re going home.”