Chapter Text
Prologue
September 2015
"I had an affair. I , I ...fell in love..." Robert stammered.
"I know." The older man brushed kisses lightly across his shoulder. "It’s okay."
"But it isn’t okay really, is it?" he continued. "I hurt him and I hurt Chrissie, and now, all of that hurts you too." He hesitated for a moment. "That’s the last thing I wanted. You know that, don’t you?"
"Robert, it’s time to stop beating yourself up for the past. We’ve all done things we regret, but now it’s time to move on." Lawrence lifted himself up onto his elbow so he could look directly into Robert’s eyes, shining in the light from the bedside lamp.
"You have me now and together we will sort all this mess out."
September 2015
"I have something important I need to tell you."
Robert had gathered Diane, Andy and Victoria together in the backroom at the Woolpack.
"You’re going be hearing a lot of things about me, so I need you to hear them from me first."
Victoria stretched her eyes.
"What is it Rob? You're scaring me now!"
Robert took a deep breath.
"I am in a relationship with.... with a man. And, and there’s more, a lot more," he warned.
"What? Well I didn’t see that one coming!" Andy stuttered.
Unbeknownst to Robert, Aaron too was listening from the door, and his heart started racing with shock. What did it mean in a relationship ?
Diane looked confused. "But what about Chrissie? You’re married?"
"Listen, this is going to be very hard for you to hear, but please try to understand that things have been so mixed up for such a long time. I know you won’t forgive me at first. But please hear me out, and then I can go and give you some time to decide if you still want me in your family." Robert choked back his tears.
"I am in a relationship with Lawrence." He blurted it out. "He loves me and I need him," he added. "Chrissie's left us. She’s moved out and we're getting a divorce. It’s going to be in the papers. There’s more. Before Lawrence I had an af... "
Diane, Andy and Victoria just looked at him in utter astonishment.
Aaron walked into the room with tears streaming down his cheeks.
"What?’ He stared at Robert incredulously. ‘You’re with him? After everything we went through?"
Diane, Andy and Vic looked even more confused.
"We were over. You made that more than clear," Robert answered.
"Because you were living a lie!" Aaron spat back.
"Oh my God!" Victoria gasped. "Robert! What the hell have you been doing?"
Aaron stepped forward arms raised.
"Be happy then with your sugar daddy!"
He threw his fist at Robert’s face and Robert fell to the floor, blood spattering the carpet from his nose.
Andy grabbed Aaron who was about to leap on Robert with fists flailing.
Robert pulled up onto his knees.
"You gave up on me!," he shouted. "You told me you didn’t love me! Well, get used to it. I’ve moved on, Aaron, and there's nothing you can do to change that. Go and play with your best mate. That’s what you chose."
"Well you never chose me! And now... him?"
Chas walked in. "What the hell is going on he......?"
Diane shouted. "Get Aaron out of here, quickly. We need these two apart before someone gets killed!"