Chapter Text
“I’m with Ben now Vic. Robert’s made his choice.”
“When he thought he’d be locked up for fourteen years! He has a chance now of getting out!” Vic said, frustrated. “If anyone can make him see he needs to appeal it’s you!”
“I’m sure you can convince him. You can be very persuasive when you want to be.”
“Just not enough to persuade you to come see Robert.”
“I’m sorry Vic, I hope it works out for him… but I can’t be involved. I just can’t.”
“I’m seeing him next week. Thursday. I leave Wednesday morning. There is room in the car for one more.”
“I can’t Vic. I doubt he’ll even want to see me.”
“Of course he does! He loves you!”
“He cut me out of his life and divorced me. I can’t sit around and wait for him. Ben is a good guy…” Aaron trailed off. “He’s good for me… I have to go.” He said and walked away.
“I leave Wednesday morning around 10 if you change your mind.” Vic called out after him and Aaron forced himself to keep walking. It was better this way.
By Wednesday morning Aaron had talked himself out of going with Vic multiple times, and even Ben had caught on something was bothering him. When he’d asked what was wrong, Aaron had managed to distract him with sex, in a move that was so much like Robert it hurt him deep within his soul.
He’d dropped Ben off at work and was on his way home, when he saw Vic putting her bag in the car and kissing Harry goodbye. Diane was holding him and made him wave at his mum as she got in the car and drove away.
Aaron had watched from a distance and hoped she hadn’t seen him stare. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go with her, he just couldn’t.
Robert had set him free to live his life, and that’s what he had to do now. With Ben. He was a nice guy, they could make it work.
Unfortunately for him, Diane and Harry were much more perceptive than Vic and had seen him.
“Hiya pet.” Diane greeted him as she walked over with Harry in her arms.
“Hi…”
“You out and about early this morning.”
“It’s not that early is it? Just gone ten.”
“I suppose not. We’ve just been up since the crack of dawn to help Vic get the car packed up. She’s off to see Robert.”
Aaron nodded.
“Yeah… she uh… told me…”
“We put together a little care package for him. They’re allowed that, you know?” Diane told him. “Some of those sweets he likes, you know, those orange slices and - ”
“Peach.” Aaron interrupted. “They’re peach sweets he likes.” He said, remembering always finding half eaten packets of them everywhere because Robert practically lived on the things, especially when he was stressed.
“Right, right. Well we got those and Vic talked to Rebecca and she sent over some pictures and Seb even drew him a picture. I reckon she’ll be ok to let him visit soon. It’s been so long, it’ll be nice to have him back home with us.”
Aaron nodded again.
“Yeah… definitely…” he trailed off. “I uh… have to go. Busy day at work. Take care, Diane.” He said and tickled Harry before walking away and trying to ignore the way his heart had skipped a beat at the thought of Seb being back in the village. Back in his life.
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That Thursday morning, Vic had woken up early, or rather, she’d barely slept. She’d gone through the motions of showering and getting dressed, and getting some breakfast at the B&B she was staying at, until it was time to head to the prison.
She was nervous and worried Robert might have changed his mind about letting her visit and that she’d come all this way for nothing.
She got through security without any trouble and handed the care package off at what the security guard called the post office.
The woman at the post desk took pity on her and helped her fill out the right forms and promised her Robert would get it by the end of the day.
She put on the visitor name tag she’d been given and followed the rest of the visitors into a large room filled with tables and chairs on either side them.
“All visitors take a seat, the inmates will be here shortly.” One of the guards announced. “They will come to you, don’t get up and go to them.” He continued. “Standing up for a greeting is allowed unless you’ve been informed otherwise, but please remain seated for the rest of your visit. Any personal belongings that have been confiscated, can be reclaimed afterwards.”
Vic listened to the guard while nervously glancing around the room. There were people who were obviously nervous like she was, and others who looked completely at ease. She noticed one woman of about her age touching up her make up, and she briefly wondered how she’d managed to get all that through security.
A buzzer sounded somewhere followed by the sound of heavy locks being opened.
She looked to where the sounds were coming from and saw a gate open and the first men in prison uniforms walking through it.
She strained her neck to look around other people to try spot Robert between them and smiled when she saw him.
His hair was longer and tied up in a ponytail and he’d grown a beard, but he looked healthy and returned the smile when he spotted her.
He walked up to the table and Vic was out of her seat in 2 seconds flat and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I’ve missed you so much.” She said into his neck and was relieved when he hugged her back.
“I missed you too… I’m sorry for… what I did…”
“It’s ok. I understand.” Vic said and squeezed him a little tighter. “And when we win this appeal you can make it up to me by babysitting Harry.” She said, only half joking. “And don’t worry, I’ve had both shots so it’s safe to hug.”
They sat down after a guard ordered them to and Vic reached out to take Robert’s hands in hers across the table.
“How are you?”
Robert shrugged.
“I don’t know. I’m alright.”
“Alright?”
“I keep my head down. I work in the kitchen or library most days… and just… get on with it.” He shrugged again. “The other guys mostly leave me to it… especially since I don’t have a cellmate anymore.”
“Why not?”
Robert shifted in his seat and looked uncomfortable.
“He uhm… died.”
Vic frowned and leaned forward.
“Did you…”
“What? No. He was the closest thing to a friend I had in here. He got me through the first months. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him… but he caught the virus. Back when they knew even less about it than now… and he died.”
“Oh Rob I’m so sorry.”
Robert shook his head.
“It’s been a while. And I was pretty out of it myself and he was up in the ICU of the hospital down the road… so I didn’t exactly… see anything. He was just… gone when I got back.”
“Back? From where?”
“I uh… caught it too. I was in hospital for almost 3 weeks… apparently it was touch and go for a while. I don’t remember much of it to be honest.”
“And they didn’t call me?!”
“I told them not to, didn’t I? And I’m alright now. I got the shot too a few weeks ago.”
“Robert…” Vic squeezed his hands, not sure what she wanted to say.
“Tell me about everyone back home. How is Diane? And Harry? You named your boy Harry?”
Vic smiled softly.
“Harry John. After dad.”
“He would have loved that.” Robert said, forcing himself to smile.
“We made you a care package, Diane and I… they said you’d get it by the end of the day. We put some pictures in from all of us.”
“Thanks.” Robert said and got her talking about life in the village and what was going on in her own life.
“David? You’re seeing David of all people?”
“He’s a nice guy! But we’re just friends. He has a girlfriend!”
“But you kissed.”
“Yes. But that was a mistake. It won’t happen again.”
“That’s what I used to say…” Robert said and absent-mindedly touched the finger that once held his wedding ring. “So uhm…” he cleared his throat. “How uh… how is Aaron?”