Chapter Twenty Eight
Donna and Robert worked until twelve and then took their break inside. Michelle handed Donna the claim ticket for their wedding cake.
"You need to pick your cake up." said Michelle. "And Robert, I want you to go back home and get your suit, in case I need to make alterations."
Robert looked between Donna and Michelle. "So I can take you to the store, drop you off, and go get my suit, does that work? I mean, the bakery at the store will probably have a line anyway."
"Yeah, you can do that. That way by the time you get back I'll already have it." She answered. The pair got up and set out to do just that.
After dropping Donna off at the store, Robert headed for home. He could've just gone with her and then gotten his suit after but he had something far more important he had to do. For what he assumed would be the last time, he parked in the driveway of his house, got out, and crossed the lawn to Jean's house.
He headed up onto her porch, and knocked on her door. It opened, and there she was, dressed in a blue sequin top and black jeans, the top of her hair clipped back. She looked disappointed to see him.
"Can we talk?" He asked, not looking at her. Jean sighed warily and looked back at the empty living room behind her.
"I guess," She said with a shrug, stepping out of the way to let him in. He followed her to the couch, where they sat facing each other awkwardly.
"What is it you want to talk about?" Asked Jean, her voice somewhat trembling.
"I came because, I like you."
"I know." She said with a sad smile.
"But I also like Donna, and she's the one I'm gonna marry. So I have to...be committed to her." He said, struggling to find his words. "She saw when you kissed me that night. And she told me I had to figure it out. Whether I wanted to be with you or her. I choose her." He said, tears forming in his eyes.
"I can't ever come over here again." Robert finished.
Jean's eyes were shining with tears of their own. "So don't," She said with a shrug.
"The thing is, I don't want to just leave you like this. I don't want to hurt you."
"Don't you see that this is what's hurting me? You keep coming over here, saying things like 'I like you' and then also telling me that you need my help in staying committed to the girl you're gonna marry. I can't, I can't take it, Robert."
"I know. That's why I'm not gonna keep doing this. I just need to hold your hand one more time, kiss you for the last time before we say goodbye. Can-can I do that?" Jean gave the smallest nod Robert had ever seen, and he grabbed her hand from her lap. He leaned forward and brushed the tears from her cheek with his fingers, before kissing her lips for all they were worth.
Robert pulled up in front of the store where Donna sat waiting on the curb, with a gray store bag containing something rectangular-shaped. She smiled when she saw him and stood up, walking towards the passenger side door. He didn't know that she'd caught the faintest hint of pink lipstick smeared onto his bottom lip, but just let it slide.
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