About Leaving and a Comeback

Gus was torn but had to decline. "No, we have two young children in the big house who need attention when they wake up, if they aren't awake already. I'll be there as soon as I can find a sitter."

Soon after the ambulance left too.

At six in the morning Gus's mother arrived to take care of the twins and half an hour later Gus looked at his step-daughter. Anne and Gus were updated by a female officer who told them that the examination showed traces of semen in her mouth and she must have scratched at least one guy because she had skin cells and blood under her nails.

With the update on Annette's condition complete, Gus asked about Robert, but the officer went silent for a moment before replying, "He'll be treated as a suspect for now until we find the phone with which we were called. He's been operated on and the knife is now evidence. It will help if you can give us his phone number; we need to contact his family."

Anne scoffed. "The last thing Robert wants is his family. You won't find them in his contact list. His ICE-number is our phone number. Now you tell me, if Robert has a knife stuck in his body, why is a suspect? For Pete's sake, use your common sense!"

"It's protocol, Ma'am." The officer's phone rang. She listened intently and said to Anne, "They found two phones. We need to know which one is Mr. Hennings'."

"Wait," said Anne, pulling out her phone. She showed Robert's name under the speed dial and pushed the button. She looked at the officer and asked acidly, "Problem solved? Can we go and see him now? We're quite certain that he saved our girl and is not a rapist, dammit!"

The officer called her colleagues to tell that the phone which rang was Robert's. After a few minutes they confirmed that Robert was the one who called the emergency number and he wasn't on the bad-boy list any longer.

Anne and Gus were soon staring down at a hospital bed with a human form in it. If they hadn't been told that it was Robert, they wouldn't have recognized him. There were electrodes and tubes seemingly everywhere, he had an O2 mask on, and his midsection was one big bandage. Anne started sobbing and Gus's eyes weren't dry either.

The shy and introverted boy they had come to love had rescued their big girl and paid dearly for it.

====

Robert was dreaming.

Full technicolor hallucinations alternated with monochrome real-time sensations.

Somewhere, sometimes, while he was floating in a landscape in vivid greens and purples boiling up from somewhere, he heard Anne cry, "Robert, please come back. We love you and can't lose you."

Slowly the dreams were replaced by vague sensations of people talking about him as if he wasn't there. He tried to shout but nothing happened. It was too tiring and the technicolor dreams returned.

Robert felt something tug at his side and it hurt. "Ouch!" He croaked and opened his eyes. The last was a mistake. Harsh white light tortured his retina and he closed them immediately.

The sound wasn't missed by Gus. He sat upright and said, "Did you hear that? Robert said something." Moving close to the bed, he asked, "Robert, are you awake? Say something, please?"

Robert's throat was sore but he managed, "Lights. Off."

Gus pulled the curtains close and turned off all lights but one. When done, he pushed the emergency button to call the nurse. He whispered, "It's ok now. Open your eyes if you can.'

Robert looked in the haggard, tired face of Gus. His red rimmed eyes wet with tears. "Gus? What are you doing here? Are you ill?"

Gus chuckled. "You're the one in the hospital, lad, not me."

Suddenly it came all back to Robert. Anxiously he asked, "Is Nette alright, sir?"

"Yes and no. You were just in time to prevent the worst of harm, but the blood tests showed traces of GHB, a kind of rape drug, and cocaine. The cocaine seemed already to be a habit. Therefore, yes and no. She'll be in a rehabilitation project and if that doesn't work, a clinic. That's enough for now. How are you feeling?"

"Tired, stiff, and sore. Did they find the assholes?"

"That wasn't very difficult. They were stopped for speeding and the recording on the telephone you slammed out of the hand of one of them did the rest. Two of them are in hospital too. You are a hard hitter, sir."

"Good. So, what now. I can't go back."

Gus was aghast, "Why not?"

"I failed her, didn't I?"

"Why would you think that? That is utter nonsense."

"No. If I had been with her, it wouldn't have happened."

Gus was speechless for a minute. "Ok. Let's put this in perspective. First, those men were wanted is several states for rape and incitement to prostitution. They singled out a certain type of women and tried to make them addicted. If that didn't work fast enough, they had a plan B. That one is the one you prevented. They drug the woman, rape her, and record it, using the recording as blackmail. Nothing that you did, or didn't do, could have prevented that. Am I clear?"

Robert nodded, trying to process this information. He still felt some guilt.

====

A few days later.

Gus entered Robert's room and said, "Bad news, they want to contact your family."

"Ow shit. They didn't, did they? I definitely don't want that. I think I'm going to have to change my last name!"

"No, we got them stalled and the contacts are not in your phone, so it will take a while because you're not from this state."

Gus handed over a fat envelope. "Here this came in the mail today and handed Robert a fat envelope. Are you up to it?"

Robert opened the envelope and started reading. After a while he looked up and told Gus, "It's from the publisher." He read further. When finished he told Gus, "It's good news and I have a problem. The good news is that the publisher wants to publish my novel in the 'young adult' section. I get an advance and a percentage. The problem is that they have a policy and that policy states that I have to be 21 otherwise I need someone to handle the contracts."

Gus asked, "Can you wait a day, or maybe a few days? I may have a solution to all these problems including the one with the Police badgering you about your family, but I have to talk with Anne and our lawyer first."

Robert only nodded. He was getting tired and almost fell to sleep again. Gus bade him farewell and left with a light feeling in his heart.

====

Three days later.

Anne and Gus found Robert sitting straight up in bed. Anne grabbed his hand and gushed happily, "Oh, you're looking much better than last time I saw you! How are you feeling?"

"Much better thank you. The wound is less painful and the throbbing is almost gone. The infection is gone so I can leave the hospital soon."

Gus winced. He quickly said, "About that. Can we talk for a minute? We have some explaining to do and a proposition to make."

Robert regarded the two people he'd come to love over the last months. Actually, he still wanted to leave the house because of Annette's behavior but he couldn't say no to the man and the woman who had taken him under their wings. He replied, "I have a feeling that this will take longer than a minute but go ahead."

Anne clasped his hand in both of hers while Gus did the talking. "We found a way that can solve your two major problems at this moment. The issue with the publisher and a way to change your surname so that your relatives can't find you without spending a ton of money. But only if you want this, too."

Anne, still clutching Robert's hand, looked at Gus. He nodded and she looked back at Robert as she said, "We want to adopt you. Yes, that's still possible even if you are over eighteen. If you agree, Gus can act as your caregiver and co-sign the contract with your publisher."

Robert went very still. After long moments he stuttered. "I didn't see that one coming. You really want to adopt me? Because I saved Nette?"

Anne caressed his hand. "No, silly. Because you have our hearts. The gentle caring Robert who is helping the twins and making them happy with his shenanigans. And the silent strength he shows when dealing with my daughter. We both read your diary and were appalled by the treatment your family, especially your biological father, gave you. We want to show you how parents can be like. Please, be our child even if it's eighteen years late?"

The last sentence triggered a cascade of emotions in Robert. All his bad memories of the previous eighteen years surfaced. He usually kept them wrapped in a cocoon where they could do no harm, but now they ran through his mind like the credits at the end of a movie. This time it was different though; when they rolled past his mind they didn't hurt anymore. Tears of sorrow, pain, and frustration slowly changed into tears of hope and happiness. He wanted to answer but his mouth didn't want to form the words. Finally, Robert took out a notepad and wrote. "Yes!" in big capitals.

That morning the doctor doing her rounds found three very emotional and happy people in her ward.

====

Two months later

Robert's phone went off. It was late Saturday evening.

"Robert speaking."

A woman's voice asked, "Robert, can you pick Annette up from the dance club? We're afraid she is not able to make any decisions anymore."

"Ok. I'll be there in about an hour. Do I need a bucket?"

"Yes, you do. And Robert?"

"We really appreciate you taking care of her. Again"

"Why don't you prevent it from happening in the first place? This is the third time this month. "

"I'm sorry."

"So am I. See you in an hour. Don't leave her alone!"

"Will do. See you and thanks."

At half past two, Robert helped Annette into the bathroom. He undressed her and sat her on a plastic chair under the shower. He ran the shower and cleaned up the now-very-sick girl. Finally, he dressed her in a t-shirt and helped her to bed. He went back to the living room and waited for the first of many bouts of vomiting to come.

While waiting, a resolve was forming in his mind. Later this morning. he must have a very difficult conversation with Gus and Anne.

====

Anne and Gus were having breakfast when Robert entered the kitchen with two bags of laundry. He said in a tired voice, "Nette still doesn't know how to puke in a bucket and we need to talk. Sooner rather than later, preferably now."

Anne looked at Robert with worry in her eyes and said, "I don't think you've had breakfast yet. I'll make you some scrambled eggs while you tell us what's on your mind."

Robert took a deep shuddering breath. "I'm leaving. I'm leaving as soon as I can find other accommodations. I understand that I am blindsiding you but this is the third time this month I've had to pick her up, drunk and whatnot and clean up the mess. Seeing that she's destroying herself tears me up inside and I can't handle it anymore."

Gus gasped, "Oh, Robert please. No! "

"Yes. I had all night to think about it. If you want to stop the adoption because of me leaving, I understand. I only have to find some other adult to take care of the publisher."

Robert looked at Anne and went on, "You remember my confession about my feelings for your daughter? Did you talk to Gus about them?"

"No, I promised not to."

"Please tell Gus while I get some sleep, so he understands why I can't go on like this anymore."

"Yes, Robert, I will. And be assured that we will go through with the adoption process and we will help you to find another home for yourself. Please believe me, we really do love you as a son of ours. And I understand your needs."

====

Half a year later

Robert Kendrick was working out in his garden. The adoption had been relatively easy and Gus was a very skillful negotiator so the contract Robert signed was way better than the original proposal. On top of that, the book sold much better than Robert expected. The advance for his second book, which he'd just finished, was enough to let him buy this house outright. With his back to the door in the little courtyard, he didn't notice Annette coming out and silently observing him.

Annette had lifted the keys of Robert's house from her mother's handbag. For her, today was the day, now or never, do or die.

She was dressed in a simple, plain dress that showed everything without revealing anything, and low-heeled shoes so she could walk to and from the bus stop. She'd never seen Robert again after that last terrible weekend and she was beside herself from sorrow. It had taken two days to get back to reality and wake up in the big house; she didn't even remember being brought into the big house.

When she went back to her own house, Robert was gone. His closets were empty, his personal touches in the living room were gone; it was like he had never been there. In panic she ran back to her mother. Panting and almost vomiting from exertion she asked, "Where are Robert's things? Did you throw him out?"

Anne looked up. Red eyes and a handkerchief in her hand. Gus was sitting at the other end, not looking very happy. He was the one who answered, "No, he left. We just helped him move out this morning."

"Why? He was happy here!" Annette shouted.

"Why? You ask why? I think this is your answer." Gus said with a tremor in his voice and gave her an envelope with her name on it.

She tore it open and out came a short-handwritten letter.

Dear Annette,

When you read this, you've noticed that I'm gone.

I had to leave. I can't bear to see you destroying yourself.

Please stop with this lifestyle before it's too late.

I hope you can find peace for yourself and live a happy life.

With love,

Robert

Now a half year later she was clean and her lifestyle was almost completely the opposite of before. During that time, she heard rumors about Robert and women. She thought her friends might be exaggerating a bit, but the idea that Robert bedded other girls hurt her more than she thought possible. Worst of all, she had only herself to blame. Now that she saw him again, the rumors appeared altogether possible.

Robert had changed. He was built almost to perfection, his shoulders broader, his muscles taut, and his long legs looking stronger, less spindly. The man had replaced the boy she remembered.

With her heart thundering in her chest, she softly called, "Hello Robert!"

As Robert turned toward her, Annette looked at his pectoral muscles, his flat tummy, the bulge in his runners' tights, and again those long, strong legs. Nothing was overly muscled but muscle rippled under his skin whenever he moved. She thought How did I miss that? I knew that he was easy on the eyes. He really is gorgeous. And he still behaves as if he is not really aware of it. She was mesmerized and almost missed Robert's reply.

"Hello Annette. Long time no see. How are you?"

Annette had, in her mind, rehearsed what she wanted to say to Robert and now the moment was there she didn't remember a word. She even couldn't get a word out of her mouth. Embarrassed, she looked at the ground.

Robert noticed, so he went on, "You look good. How did you get in?"

Annette sighed with relief. "I lifted mom's keys from her purse. I need to talk to you. Will you let me?"

To Robert it was obvious that this moment was very difficult for Annette. He said gently, "Of course. Who am I to refuse you?"

All the scenarios Annette played in her head banked on Robert being angry and full of resentment but he was gentle and caring. This wasn't what she had foreseen. Now she didn't know what to say to him! Desperate, she stammered, "Will you hold me for a moment?"

Robert asked, with surprise in his voice, "Hold you, now?"

"If you don't want to, I can understand."

"I want nothing more than to hold you, but I'm all drenched with sweat, wet and sticky from my workout."

Three big steps and Annette slammed into him, wrapped her arms around him and held onto him as if her life depended on it.

Robert whispered in her ear, "Hey, hey. Take it easy, relax, I'm going nowhere."

A semblance of calm descended over her. She looked into the dark brown eyes of Robert and almost drowned in them. She whispered back, "Now I know what all the girls are talking about. You do feel so good."

Robert was taken aback. "Huh, what do you mean with that, what girls?"

Now it was Annette's turn to be thunderstruck. She replied, "All those girls you held here in your arms. You are the talk of the town.

"How would they know? I've never been with any girl. Never!"

Robert led Annette inside and sat her on the couch. He kneeled in front of her and said softly, "Annette, please look at me. Look into my eyes."

Annette obliged and Robert went on. "They are lying to you. For as long as I can remember I've not held, nor have been held, by someone like you just did, that includes my mother and your mother. I don't know what they are telling you, but it's very far from the truth. You really are the first woman I've ever held in my arms."

"Robert, you mean that?"

"Yes. That means that I've never kissed a girl and that I'm a virgin. There's only one woman I want. I don't care for another."

Annette was in turmoil and with a panicky voice, she asked, "Who is it, do I know her?"

Robert had an idea. "I can show her to you. She's very beautiful. I can show her to you in my bedroom. Do you trust me?"

"You know that. With my life."

Robert pulled on a shirt and gently led Annette to his bedroom. He closed the door and stepped aside. He walked around Annette to face her and said gently. "If you turn around, I'll introduce her to you."

Annette's heart hammered rapidly in her chest. Where did he hide a woman in here? she wondered before slowly turning around to see herself in a full-length mirror.

She stuttered, "What? What? Robert, I don't understand. Are you toying with me?"

"No, Nette. It's you; it always was you and nobody else since you told me that it looked like I had left the planet."

Annette looked around, her eyes wide with shock and regret. "I came here to ask you on a date and wanted to seduce you."

She fell silent and softly started to cry. Robert led her back out of the bedroom, sat on the couch, and pulled Annette in his lap. Annette cried her heart out. It took a long time and all that time she was held firmly by Robert's arms. When she started to calm down, and for the first time since the attempted rape, she felt safe and at peace.

Haltingly she started to talk. "When you were gone, Gus read me the riot-act in front of my mother. Clean-up my act or be gone. That's when I realized that I alienated my best friend and was well underway to do that with my parents as well. From that moment on I went cold turkey.

"Two weeks later, I felt a burning sensation in my vagina and went to the doctor. I'd contracted gonorrhea. I had unprotected sex and I couldn't even remember it. Deeply ashamed, I asked Gus and my mother for help and went into a rehab program as a result. During those months, I had a lot of time to think; each time when things got difficult, I remembered the times you talked me through my problems and that you were always there for me. Slowly my love for you changed from love for you as my younger brother to being in love with the balanced and beautiful person you actually are. And that you don't look half bad is a big bonus."

After a silence, with a naughty gleam in her eyes, Annette asked, "So if I kiss you, I am the first girl ever to do so?"

"Yes." Robert whispered.

With one hand Annette pulled Robert's hands onto her breasts. She didn't wear a bra and the thin fabric of the dress did nothing to hide her rock-hard nipples for Robert to feel. With the other hand she slowly pulled Robert's face to her and huskily said, "Kiss me. I want to be the first and the last girl you ever kiss."

An indeterminable time later, both slowly descended down to earth from the heaven they created between themselves. Annette made Robert well aware of what awaited him if their budding relationship were to grow. When she had her breath back, amazed that they only kissed, she asked, "Now that this is out of the way, will you go on a date with me?"