relationship with your parents to go to hell over this. You only get one set of parents. And believe me, I’ve seen how much pain results when that relationship breaks down.”
Robin breathed a little more evenly. “You’re not saying we’re through, are you?”
“Sweetheart, I love you. I’m not suddenly going to fall out of love with you. All I’m saying right now is give your parents time. I’m here if you need to talk, okay?”
“Okay.” Robin swallowed. “I love you.”
“Love you too, so much. Try to get some sleep. Things might look brighter in the morning.”
“Hey, Dean?” Robin’s chest was so fucking tight. “If I… if I need a place to stay…”
“You don’t have to ask.” Dean’s voice radiated assurance. “But… let’s hope it doesn’t get that far. He’ll be more reasonable when he’s calmed down.”
Robin so wanted to believe that. “Goodnight.” He disconnected the call and put his phone on the nightstand. Then he lay face-down, his face buried in his pillow, still wearing his coat and boots.
Everything is fucked.
The tears he’d fought so hard to keep inside would no longer be held in check, and he sobbed into the white cotton. In less than fifteen minutes, his dad had ruined his life. A deep ache ran through him, all the way down to his soul, and his tears spilled out without restraint.
A gentle hand tentatively squeezed his shoulder, and Robin almost leaped out of his skin. Ryan stood beside his bed. “Hey, bro,” he said softly. He looked as miserable as Robin felt. “It’s okay. I heard everything.”
“Oh Ryan.”
That was all it took for Ryan to stretch out beside him on the bed, his arms wide. Robin clung to him, and Ryan stroked his back, soft supportive murmurs falling from his lips. “Let it out, bro. I got ya.”
Robin laid his head on Ryan’s chest, his tears soaking into Ryan’s sweater. “I love him.”
“I know you do.” Ryan’s hand was gentle on Robin’s hair. “We’ll find a way to make it work out.” He sighed. “Dad can’t see past Dean’s age, but I can. And if Dad was thinking clearly, he’d realize he knows exactly how you’re feeling right now.”
“D-Dean said to give him time, l-let him calm d-down.” Sobs wracked his body.
“Dean’s right. So don’t go bringing it up again. Let Dad simmer for a while.” Ryan tightened his arm around Robin. “I gotcha, bro.”
Robin lay in his twin’s arms, the two of them saying nothing as Robin’s tears slowed.
At least Ryan knows how I feel.
Then he figured maybe Mom knew too. Some of the things she’d said gave him a glimmer of hope.
Now all he had to do was hope she could work a little magic on his dad.
Christmas is the time for miracles, right?
Robin sighed. Maybe this was one Christmas miracle that was beyond even Santa.
Then something Ryan had said finally sank in. “Why should Dad know how I’m feeling right now? What did you mean by that?” He wiped his eyes.
Ryan gaped at him. “Because he’s been in your shoes, dude.”
Robin sat up. “Okay, explain.”
“You know he’s older than Mom, right?”
Robin rolled his eyes. “Duh.” There was eight years’ difference. The fourteen years between him and Dean sounded way more to Robin’s mind. What surprised him was that he hadn’t brought it up when Dad kicked off. Yeah right. My head was too busy spinning to come out with logical shit. But now? Jesus, the hypocrisy…
Ryan nodded. “But what you probably don’t know is what happened when Mom first brought Dad home to meet Grandma and Granddad.”
“And how come you do?”
“Another of those conversations I wasn’t supposed to overhear. It was maybe two years ago, when we visited Grandma. She and Mom were talking in the kitchen.” Ryan took a deep breath. “Okay. I didn’t hear all of it, just enough to understand that when Mom first brought Dad home, Granddad hit the roof. He said Dad was way too old for her, she was still a kid….” Ryan cocked his head. “Any of this sound familiar?”
Cold washed over Robin’s skin. “Are you sure about this?” When he came to think about it, Dad talked a lot about meeting Mom for the first time, but not a word about after that. “How come you’ve never mentioned any of this?”
“I had a lot going on at the time, okay?” When Robin gave him a hard stare, he sighed. “My mind was on other stuff. Let’s leave it at that. And then I forgot all about