Casey woke early, alert and apprehensive at the thought of meeting Robbie’s family. He remained still sound asleep, his slow, even breathing the only sound as she slid gently out of bed and rummaged quietly through the dresser drawer he’d given her, looking for some clean underwear. As she rooted around she found a flat wooden case tucked away at the back of the drawer. Intrigued, she pulled it out and flicked the catch. She looked inside and gasped, tears instantly gathering in her eyes, brimming over to spill down her cheeks, unable to tear her eyes away. Inside the case, padded with cotton balls, were a handful of battered and chewed cheap plastic toy soldiers, preserved as carefully as though they were priceless, fragile treasures, his babyhood toys, the only things he’d ever owned and could call his own. Seeing them brought crashing home again to Casey how little they’d ever given, or done or felt for their son and brother, how paltry was the existence they’d allowed him to lead that this was all he had to show for a lifetime among them. She leaned against the wall, and slid down to huddle against the wall, crying silently and bitterly for everything they’d done to him, and for giving him nothing, ever, and finally forcing him out without even a passing concern for his life and future. He really had been nothing to them; here was the proof…
“Casey, what’s wrong, what happened?” came the soft, anxious query from Robbie as he climbed out of bed, kneeling down next to her as she lifted her tear-streaked face to him. Wordlessly she showed him the open case, the toy soldiers inside, and Robbie understood immediately, moving to hold her close as she cried with the guilt still echoing inside her, now refreshed by this poignant reminder of the burden of shame she bore.
“I’m sorry, Case, I don’t know why I kept them, I meant to throw them away, I will if you want me to…” he began, and she jerked her head up to stare piercingly at him.
“NO, never let these go!” she gritted, “these are the only things we ever allowed you to have, you should keep them so you never forget how we treated you! This was unforgivable, and it always will be, so don’t ever let these go, promise me!”
He looked at her, concern washing over him as he realised that she still had much to forgive herself for, that her emotional state was still fragile and only tenuously maintained, and that the planned trip to Morgan Hill may not be such a good idea.
“I… promise, Case, I’ll keep them safe until you tell me it’s OK to get rid of them. OK?”
She pulled him in close, still jarred by her discovery, and he gently took the case away from her and slid it under the bed, to put it somewhere more secure later on.
Robbie stood up and helped her stand, urging her back to bed, to lie next to him so he could hold her and make the tears go away, his presence eventually calming her. Casey lay in silence, wondering how she could ever make it up to him; give him back what he should have had as his right. She lay silently, listening to Robbie breathe next to her, taking comfort in his nearness. At last, she decided that sleep wasn’t going to come, so she grabbed a quick shower and started breakfast.
When Joey and Karen came in for breakfast, Casey had already made pancakes, bacon, eggs and sausage patties, and there was a pot of coffee on. Joey smiled in happy anticipation. “Ah, the food of the Gods, thank you, Casey, thank you! This one’s definitely a keeper, bro; Karen only lets me have muesli, Switzerland’s Revenge — it’s like licking the floor of a parrot’s cage, and she says it’s good for me!”
Robbie grinned. “That’s what you get for taking up with a health-freak; I tried to warn yoOOWW!”
“Serves you right, Robert Anderson, you asked for it, and there’s more where that came from!” grinned Karen, one eyebrow raised in challenge as she dared him to say anything more.
“But that hurt!” protested Robbie, holding his shoulder.
Karen swatted him with a magazine.
“Oh stop crying, for such a big man you are such a little girl! Honestly, Robbie, I’m ashamed of you!” she grinned, watching his sweet smile as he held up his hands in surrender.
OK, OK, you’re the boss!” he grinned.
Karen swatted him once more. “And don’t you forget it! This is the way to treat him, Casey, let him know who’s boss, It works on all the Anderson men…!” she trailed off with a meaningful nod at Joey, who tried to look innocent, loading his plate with forbidden sausage and bacon while he had the chance, following the Man Credo that’s been true since the dawn of time; food eaten outside the home has no calories, and is always good for you…
Casey watched this by-play wistfully; she’d never had anyone to horseplay with, had never dreamed of doing it with Robbie, and she wished she knew how to join in, to play with Robbie and his family, realising how much she’d really missed-out on. Robbie saw her expression, and pulled her close to include her, tipping her nose to see her smile and be happy.
At last, everything was ready, and everyone sat down to breakfast, chatting about the plans for the day. Robbie had some news.
“Guys, we’ll come home with you tomorrow, Casey and I want to tell Mom in person; it’s the right thing to do. This means we’ll have to tell Uncle Frank today, so we need to head Aunt Kat off before she detonates, then tell Mom tomorrow. It’s not ideal, and it’s not the way I wanted to do it, but it’s the only way we can all be in the same place at the same time. Any objections?”
Nobody had, so after their meal they cleared up and headed out for Frank’s place in Morgan Hill, near San Jose, Robbie putting a couple of packages in the trunk.
“For the twins…” he explained, cryptically
Joey had called ahead, letting his uncle know they were on the way, Sarah having already told him that Joey and Karen were in town and would stop by to see them, so he was expecting them at some point during the day. He was pleased that Robbie was also with them; the boy was usually working, and only managed to see Frank and his family at widely spaced intervals, although they talked all the time, so it would be a treat for the twins as well.
Robbie was also relieved to hear that Caitlin was out with her friends, shopping in Oakland, and not expected back until late afternoon, which made things a little less complicated just then.
When they arrived, Frank Novak was waiting in the yard for them with the twins, Moira and Morag, who immediately mobbed Robbie, two puppies attacking a mastiff, squealing and giggling as he hugged them in a crushing bear hug. Casey could see he adored them, and they him, while Frank watched with amused tolerance. Casey couldn’t help but note his strong resemblance to Joey and Sarah, and the look of affection he gave Robbie as he greeted him.
Robbie introduced Casey quickly, informally, glossing-over her identity, something Frank noted but didn’t pry into, and they all went in out of the sun.
After the usual inquiries about work and health, Robbie asked Frank if he could speak with him in private. Frank looked puzzled but acquiesced, and called him into the den, Casey hand in hand with Robbie.
“Sit down, please both of you” said Frank, sitting in an armchair and waiting for Robbie to speak.
“Uncle Frank, you know about what happened with my… family, my parents…. and my sister. This is Casey, my sister. She’s been looking for me all these years, and we found each other a couple of days ago, in Sacramento. She told me how it had been for her, and apologised for what she’d done. She’s really been through the mill these last couple of days, so please, go easy on her, or at least give her a chance; Joey and Karen both accept her. They understand how it’s been for her, what she’s been through looking for me, and I’d like you and Aunt Kat, the girls, to accept her as well, for my sake…” Robbie trailed off, looking at Frank almost pleadingly.
Frank said nothing, merely looked in Robbie’s eyes. One of the things he found so attractive about the boy was that he had no idea how to lie, he always told the truth, he was painfully honest, sometimes embarrassingly so, and if he believed this girl was the real deal, then Frank was prepared to go with him on that. However…