The sun was beginning to beam through the window and Robert opened his eyes. Donna was still asleep beside him. He really meant what he'd said last night, but still, something about them laying here together, in their soon-to-be marital bed, it bothered him. He looked down at his hand and slipped the keyring over his knuckle, watching as the red imprint it left, faded away.

                     Robert got out of bed and looked out the window, where Jean was sitting in a chair on her porch, drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. With one last look at Donna, he stuck the ring in his pocket, and went down the stairs.

                   Robert had crossed the yard, to Jean's porch. "Morning, Robert!" She called, taking another sip.

                   "Morning," He said quietly, coming up. "Is something wrong?" She asked, noting his demeanor.

                   "I don't know actually." He said, looking back at his bedroom window.

                   "Why don't you tell me about it?" She said, using her foot to push the other chair toward him. Robert sighed and sat.

                  "I don't know if I told you, but, I'm getting married." He said, once again looking down at his ring-less finger. It felt so wrong to have it off.

                 "That's so great!" Exclaimed Jean, giving him a quick hug.

                 "Thanks, um, but the thing is, I don't think I can do it." He explained.

                 "Why not? Don't you love her?" Asked Jean, finishing her coffee.

                 "I don't know. I mean, I think I do."

                 "Then if you love her, that's that. True love can't be wrong." said Jean.

                 "But that's just it. Sometimes, I don't love her. And-and she's a wonderful woman, but she wants a family. She wants a home. Those aren't things I can give her." He said with a sigh.

                "So why don't you just talk to her about it? Maybe you can compromise." She suggested.

                "Maybe I should elaborate. You remember when we were together, and I said that my girlfriend before you was my boss' daughter?"

                "Yeah, Donna." said Jean.

                "Yes, her." said Robert. "Um, well after Mom and Dad died, they asked my uncle to take Mark and Delilah, but he said no, you know, with him and my aunt kind of being up there in age." He explained. Jean nodded along.

                "So then I said I was gonna take them, but, you know, I'm young, I'm single, or at least I was, and-"

               "-And they wouldn't let you." She finished.

               "Exactly, and so Donna proposed to me in front of CPS to help me keep them. And she agreed to marry me so we can raise Mark and Delilah together."

                Jean nodded in understanding. "So neither of you actually wants to be married."

                "That's about the epitome of it, yes." said Robert.

                "And what is it you're worried about? That you don't love her?"

               "Well I mean, I love her, but I don't think I can be with her. She deserves so much more out of her life. Like I said, a home and a family, and she's giving everything up to be with me, and I mean, she proposed with this keyring here." He said, digging it out of his pocket and holding it up.

               "But I don't have it on. I can't bring myself to keep it on, and be the husband she needs. I feel like there's someone else I love as much as her."

                Jean's emerald eyes softened. "But if she's giving it all up for you, don't you think it's only right to try giving her everything she deserves?"

                Robert looked at the window yet again. Jean grabbed his hand.

                "Go love your wife." She said with a sympathetic smile.