“We need to do something about this. They haven’t sorted anything out between them.”
“Absolutely, leave it to me,” she replied.
We made the journey into work in near silence with just a surreal conversation about the weather and the traffic. Robert would look at me periodically with a ‘see, I told you so’ look and Travis would catch my eye in the rear view mirror. It was madness, whatever was happening had to be stopped before it went too far.
Travis didn’t walk beside Robert when we left the car. He stopped to tie a shoelace, one that looked perfectly okay to me, he stopped to chat to Stan at his desk before finally joining Robert at the lift doors. I had given Robert’s hand a squeeze before we parted and a pang of hurt hit me as I looked into his eyes, eyes that openly displayed his sadness. My man was hurting and there was no way I was going to sit back and let that happen.
When I got to my desk, I dumped my bag and headed for the empty kitchen where I called Evelyn.
“So much for their talk to clear the air last night, there is definitely something wrong with them still. We need a plan of action. I can’t let this continue, Ev. Robert is not to blame and I know Travis is grieving but this isn’t fair.”
“I agree. I don’t want to exclude you but I’ll bring some lunch in today and I’ll make sure they sit and talk, even if I have to lock the office door so they have no choice.”
“Okay, but I want to know the minute they have. I want to be with Robert if it doesn’t go as planned.”
“You and I can grab a coffee and leave them to thrash it out, not literally I hope.”
Plan made, I headed back to my desk. My mind wasn’t on my work and I struggled to concentrate. So many thoughts were running through my head and I missed my best friend. I didn’t want to call and unload on him though. Sam had enough on his plate and what could I really say? I would have to tell him about Caroline and that would open up more questions and lies. I felt a throb starting in my head and closing my eyes, I rubbed my temples.
“Are you okay?” I heard.
“I’m fine, thanks Bailey. I’ve got a headache coming I think,” I replied.
I looked at my watch constantly, counting down the minutes until Evelyn would arrive, and my stomach knotted the closer it got. Finally I received a text to say that she was making her way to Robert’s office. I gathered my bag and made my way to the lifts. I knew that Evelyn wanted to talk to the boys on her own and I accepted that, but I wanted to be at least on the same floor. I would wait in the kitchen and make us a coffee. As the lift doors opened I was met by Gina, bag in hand obviously heading out for lunch herself.
“Hi, Brooke, how are you today?” she asked.
I walked out of the lift and she stepped in before I answered.
“I’m good, heading off for lunch?” I asked.
“Yes, going to meet a friend. Can I get you anything before I go?”
“No, I’m meeting Evelyn. Have a nice lunch,” I replied.
The lift doors closed and I glanced through the office window. Robert had his back to the glass wall sitting on the sofa, Travis was sat opposite him. Evelyn was standing and it reminded me of being at school with Sam, one of the many times we had been scolded for being talkative. I made my way to the kitchen. As I opened the door a crash startled me. I rushed back to Robert’s office. Robert had Travis pinned to the wall, his hand on Travis’s chest holding him still. Evelyn was tugging on Robert’s sleeve.
“Get your fucking hands off me. I swear, Robert, just let me walk away,” I heard Travis say.
As I ran into the office Evelyn turned to me with tears in her eyes but neither Robert nor Travis seemed to acknowledge I was there. Both were breathing hard and I could see the tension in Robert’s shoulders, his fist clenched at his side.
“Stop it, now. Both of you,” I shouted.
I placed my hand on Robert’s arm, the one holding Travis to the wall and with my other I touched his face. It was as if he had no idea I was there at first. Slowly his black eyes moved to mine.
“Baby, come on. Step back for me,” I softly said.
At first he didn’t respond.
“Take a step back,” I said again.
Evelyn moved the coffee table that had been overturned and after what felt like minutes but was probably only seconds, he started to relax. He nodded just the once before turning away. Then it all kicked off. Travis swung his fist, Evelyn screamed and Robert spun around. Travis’s fist connected with the side of Robert’s head and as he lunged forwards, I fell to the side tripping over the still upturned coffee table. I felt my arm being tugged and looked up to see Evelyn trying to pull me out of the way. On my knees, I scrambled from under the feet of both Robert and Travis. Shaking, I stood. The boys were fighting and they meant every blow. There was nothing either Evelyn or I could do. We shouted, we tugged at their shirt sleeves but we couldn’t stop them.
The office door crashed open, I turned to see Mack and Gary. Mack ran to Robert and stepped in front of him. He wrapped him in his arms forcing him off balance until they fell to the sofa. Gary pinned Travis’s arms behind him. Evelyn and I had clung to each other, both shaking and with tears running down our cheeks.
“Breathe, Robert, take a deep breath,” Mack said.
I looked at the man sitting on the sofa and I didn’t recognise him. His wild black eyes were fixed on Travis and his chest was heaving. The veins bulged on the side of his neck and across his forehead, his whole body was tense. His shirt was torn and bloodied and with the back of his hand, he wiped the blood across his mouth from a split lip. Travis hadn’t fared any better, he had a split across his eyebrow and one on his cheek. As Travis started to relax, he slumped down the wall. I covered my mouth to stop my cries as I walked towards Robert. I pushed Mack to one side and knelt in front of my husband. Eventually his eyes found mine. His hand snaked around the back of my neck and he pulled me towards him, hugging me so tight against his chest, his head buried in my neck. We all stayed that way for a few minutes in silence.
Mack was texting and I raised my head as Jonathan walked into the office a minute or so later.
“What the fuck...?” he said, surveying the damage. There was a broken coffee table, an upturned sofa and lunch scattered across the floor.
“Ev, do you think you can find some cloths, something to clean them up with?” he asked her.
She left for the bathroom. I looked up at Jonathan, Robert hadn’t moved his head from the crook of my neck. Jonathan closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Are you okay, Brooke?” he said.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Evelyn returned with two wet cloths, she handed one to me and with the other, she crouched down in front of Travis. I lifted Robert’s head from my shoulder, my shirt was stained red with his blood. He didn’t speak as I held the cloth to his lip then wiped the blood from his cheek where he had smudged it. I heard someone stand and from the corner of my eye, I watched Travis walk from the office with not a backward glance.
As Robert straightened himself on the sofa, I stood. My legs had cramped from crouching. Evelyn and Jonathan set the sofa upright and started to clean the food that had scattered across the floor.
“Talk to me baby,” I gently coaxed. Robert looked at me and shook his head.
“Gary, can you go and get the car ready,” I said.
Turning back to Robert, I told him, “I’m taking you home, okay?”
He stood, straightened his shirt and turned to Mack. “Go find him, yeah?”
Mack nodded and headed out the office. With Evelyn following, we made our way to the lift. As it opened Gina stepped out and halted abruptly, shocked at the sight of Robert. Ignoring her, he walked in and jabbed the button for the car park.
“Cancel his appointments this afternoon and tomorrow, Gina,” Jonathan said as he joined us.
We travelled down in silence and I reached for Robert’s hand, lacing my fingers through his. Jonathan walked us to the car where he
bent his head to Evelyn’s ear and spoke, she nodded before he opened the door for her. We settled in the back of the car, Evelyn riding up front and made for home. I had no idea where Travis had gone or even what had caused that fight and at that moment Robert wasn’t talking.
As we walked through the front door, without looking at me Robert told us he was going to take a shower. Evelyn and I continued upstairs.
“What happened, Ev? What on earth caused that?” I asked.
“Oh Brooke. Let’s have a cup of tea or something first.”
Her hands shook and the cups rattled as she made us tea. I walked around the breakfast bar taking them from her and guiding her to a stool. I made us a drink and sat beside her, my arm around her shoulders.
“Please, don’t ask me,” she said quietly.
I looked at her not understanding. Her gaze was fixed on her cup. Why wasn’t I allowed to know?
“Should one of us call Travis?” I asked.
“I will. Will you let Robert know I’ll be back in a bit? I think he needs just you right now.”
With that she got up from her stool and made her way downstairs. She could have called Travis from where she was. Instead she had opted to head to her apartment. Perhaps she needed to be alone, it was very clear how upset she was. Eventually Robert made his way upstairs, his hair was still wet from his shower, a faint bruise showed beside his eye and his lip looked tender and sore.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
He ran his tongue over the cut to his lip. I placed my hand on his cheek and he covered it with his own, leaning into my touch.
“Do you want to talk about it?” I asked, hoping for a response.
“No, not yet.”
“At least let me make you a coffee, get you a beer or something.”
“Coffee would be good.”
I stood and while he sat, his eyes were fixed on the counter top. I made his coffee, sliding the cup into his line of vision. He looked up, gave me a weak smile before taking a sip and wincing as the hot liquid hit the cut. I didn’t know what to say, he obviously didn’t want to tell me what had caused their fight. All I could do was sit beside him with my hand on the back of his neck and my fingers caressing.
I could hear the beep of a phone and not knowing if it was Robert’s or mine, I reached for my bag. Finding mine I swiped across the screen, no message. Robert ignored his. The silence was awful and I was trying hard not to get upset.
I don’t know how long we sat but eventually the front door opened and footsteps made their way up towards us. I knew it wouldn’t have been Travis, I would have heard the car. Evelyn looked at me as she rounded the corner and it was clear she had been crying, her eyes were red. She came straight to Robert and placed a hand on his shoulder, he didn’t look up.
“I’m going to get dinner started, is there anything in particular you fancy?” she asked.
“Whatever is easiest, Ev, I don’t mind,” he replied.
“Brooke?”
“I don’t mind either, thanks.”
I was confused, I looked between them and felt a pang of sadness. Both were shutting me out. They knew what had happened, what had been said to cause that vicious fight yet neither was telling me. I pulled my hand away from Robert’s neck and just sat. I couldn’t do the forced smile especially knowing I was being kept in the dark. I slid off my stool.
“I think I’ll have a shower,” I said, making my way across the room.
I’d witnessed my husband beat his best friend, his brother. I’d seen a look on Robert’s face of pure anger. He acted like he desperately needed me at the office and now I felt like I was being pushed away. I knew in time he would come round but it hurt a little.
I stood under the shower far longer than necessary. I sat on the bed until my skin dried naturally and my hair curled from not being brushed or tied back. I watched the bedroom door open and Robert walk towards me. Leaning at the waist, he cupped my face in his hands and his lips found mine. I tasted the blood on his lip as his tongue probed. He leant further towards me, causing me to fall back onto the bed and while his kisses got more desperate, he fumbled with his jeans. My body was screaming for him, my skin a mass of static but I placed my hands on his chest and tried to push him away.
“No,” I said.
I didn’t think he heard me, his mouth sought my throat and his teeth nipped.
“No,” I said louder.
He looked at me. “No?”
‘No,” I said softly.
He didn’t know what to do, he was half on the bed lying on top of me. He pushed himself upright and I sat, covering myself back up with the towel that had slipped.
“Any other time, Robert, I would give myself to you, you know that. But right now you just need something to fuck and I need to be held.”
I let the tears that had been threatening to fall slide down my cheek. I had been scared in that office, I had fallen and hurt my hip and it was only then that I was starting to feel the ache. He hadn’t even noticed I had fallen.
“I don’t need something to fuck, I need you to fuck,” he said.
“See, you need, you don’t want.”
“Need, want, I don’t understand, Brooke. What’s the difference?” he replied.
He clearly didn’t understand. I stood, tightening the towel around my chest and as I passed him he grabbed my wrist.
“I’ve just lost my best friend, my brother, someone I have known most of my life. Don’t you walk away from me as well,” he said, his voice catching.
“I’m not walking away, I’m just getting dressed,” I replied as I turned to him. I was surprised at his comment.
“Why do you think I’m walking away? I’m not going to let you just fuck my body when I know I’m not even figuring in here,” I said, tapping his head.
“I’ve given myself to you in the past, but I’ve always known you at least wanted me at that moment. Right now you don’t, you just need your release.”
He sat on the edge of the bed. I walked to the closet and pulled on my joggers and a T-shirt before sitting down next to him. I took his hand, his knuckles were raw from his punches and brought it to my lips, kissing each one gently.
“I love you so much, Robert. I would never walk away and neither would Travis, you haven’t lost him,” I said.
He looked at me and sighed. “You don’t understand, I can’t forgive him.”
“Tell me what happened, make me understand. All I saw was you pinning him to a wall and then when you turned away, he hit you.”
“Let’s go and eat first, okay?”
Whatever was said, he didn’t want to tell me just then. I nodded. I took his face in my hands and gently kissed his lips. I smiled at him until eventually he smiled back. He stood, wrapped me in his arms, kissed the top of my head and told me he was sorry. He had nothing to be sorry about.
Evelyn was sitting at the breakfast bar looking at her phone when we walked up the stairs. Robert wrapped his arms around her as well. She hugged him back fiercely. Pulling apart she smiled at him.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“Sure, hungry,” he said as he sat.
She plated up our meal and joined us. There had been no sign of Travis returning to his apartment and I noticed Evelyn had not left a meal plated for him either. There was no talk about what had happened in the office. I placed my cutlery on my plate, the last to finish and took a sip of my wine. Replacing my glass on the breakfast bar, I turned slightly on my stool
“Are you going to tell me what happened today?” I asked. My eyes looked from Robert to Evelyn.
Evelyn started to clear the dishes, Robert looked at me, deliberating. I stared straight back at him.
“Well?” I said.
“He said some shitty things, I got pissed,” he replied.
“So you beat your friend up because he said something shitty?”
“It wasn’t quite like that.”
Robert’s voice had an agitated tone to it. I did
n’t understand why he wouldn’t tell me straight. What could have been that bad?
“Evelyn, you were there, what was said?”
She looked between me and Robert, of course she wouldn’t say anything unless he gave her the okay. A silence followed. I slammed my napkin down on the counter and stood.
“Fine. I’m going to have an early night. Goodnight, Evelyn,” I said as I made my way from the room.
Once in the bedroom, I stripped off my clothes and angrily dragged a brush through my hair, pulling it back into a bun before climbing into bed. With just a side light on, I picked up my book from the night stand to read. I hadn’t walked away expecting Robert to follow me, I wouldn’t play those games but when an hour had passed I felt tears pool in my eyes. I put my book down and turned off the light. I was tired, my hip was aching and I settled down to sleep.
I was lying on my side facing away from the door and dozing when I felt the bed dip. Robert snaked one arm under my neck and the other around my waist. He pulled me into his chest. He kissed my shoulder and the side of my neck. I covered one of his hands with mine.
“He said that if we weren’t together, none of our troubles would have happened. Gabby wouldn’t have given Rogers that information and in turn, Rogers wouldn’t have got to Caroline. He doesn’t blame me, he blames you,” he whispered.
I spun in his arms.
“Me. What has Caroline’s death got to do with me? Rogers gave her the file, Travis was the one who ran away from his pregnant girlfriend.” I was stunned.
“I know. He isn’t rational at the moment. I got pissed, he spouted off more crap. I wasn’t going to have him bring you into this. I didn’t want to tell you because I don’t want you upset. He’s being a prick, Brooke, and I won’t stand for that.”
“Gabby could have given Rogers information long before I came on the scene. Surely he can see that?”
“He can’t see anything other than Joey, Gabby, you and then Caroline. In his mind it all happened because I met you and that gave Joey an excuse to up his game.”
Fallen Angel, Part III Page 22