Making It Up As We Go Along

10. Telling the Truth

Elizabeth's POV
I sat nervously between Robbie and Nellie, holding Robbie's hand as he smiled at me. I knew I would be telling him the truth tonight, and frankly, that thought scared me half to death.

I loved Robbie. Ever since we met, I knew he was the one. He showed me compassion and the care that I had never gotten before. He accepted me for me, and that's what I love about him. However, I was scared that when I told him, it would cause him to want a divorce.

I didn't want to loose Robbie. Not now, not ever. So, as I sat in the car on the way to the restaurant, I had to cling to the hope that he would still love me, even after we talked tonight. I knew I had to do it, and I knew the twins were gonna be with me the whole time, but I wasn't ready.

"Woah this is so beautiful!" Nellie said as we got out of the car and walked in. I smiled at her and immediately recognized the place. It was a rooftop restaurant in NYC, one that the twins had taken me to many times.

"I know Nellie." My sister Mary-Kate says, taking her hand. "The best part, is the view." She continues. The waiter led us over to a table by the large window that overlooked the city.

"This is amazing!" Nellie exclaims as we sit down. I smile and sit between her and Robbie. We sit there for a while and everything is a blur to me. My thoughts loop in my head and all I can think about is Robbie smiling at me, naive to the situation.

"Hey guys, I'll be right back. I just need to get some fresh air." I say, standing up and taking my bag with me. "Are you okay Lizzie?" Nellie asks me, looking nervous. "Yea-I'm fine. Sometimes I just get a little anxious, I'll be okay."

I go to the roof and hold onto the handrails. I take a deep breath as I look out at the city. The sun was setting, but, I couldn't focus on that. I just had to focus on keeping my breathing steady. I hear the door push open to the roof and look behind me to see Ashley.

"Oh- it's just you." I let out a sigh of relief. "Sis, what's wrong? Nellie and Robbie are worried about you and I don't want your food to get cold." I hug her, burying my head in her chest. "I-I can't tell Robbie. I can't." She pushes my hair out of my face and looks me in the eyes.

"Elizabeth, he has to know. He deserves the right to know and if you don't tell him soon, he'll find out when he sees the documents when you guys adopt." She carefully looks at me. "I-I know. It's just hard for me. Will he still love me?" "Honey, I think by now he would have known you are not a virgin." I laugh and roll my eyes. "Hey, at least I got you to laugh."

I step back and look at her. "Will you tell him for me?" "Elizabeth, I really think he'd want to hear it from you." I give her a pouty face and she won't budge. "Fine-I'll tell him, but you and Mary-Kate better be there with me, and it has to be when Nellie's asleep." She nods. "Okay. Now come on Lizzie, your food is gonna get cold."

We walk downstairs and go to our table. When Nellie sees me, she immediately comes over and hugs me. "I know how bad panic attacks are Lizzie, I'm glad you're doing better." I nod and tell her thank you. For being my daughter, she was a lot like me.

I sat there eating as I listened to Robbie talk about how his tour went and the twins telling Nellie about their fashion line. Occasionally, I would jump into the conversation when one of them asked me about Multiverse, only to say the generic things that I was allowed to; 'March 2022', 'I can't tell you because Snitches End Up In Ditches', and 'I don't know'. We eventually get into a conversation about 90's sitcoms as we share a lava cake for desert.

As we got up to leave, I could hear Robbie whisper to Ashley, "Thank you for helping her. I know anxiety is a struggle for her, and I try to be there as much as I can, but I don't feel like I'm doing a good enough job of it." To that Ashley replies, "Robbie, I know you're doing really good at being there for her. That's all she talks about."

I feel someone grab my hand and I jump.

"Sorry Lizzie. I didn't mean to scare you." Nellie said, coming to my side. "It's fine Nellie, you ready to go?" She nods. "I'm tired." "Me too kiddo."

The entire ride back, Nellie sleeps, laying her head against the window of my sister's car. I stare at my phone, trying my best to distract myself with Candy Crush and texting my mom that we were okay.

We got back to the building and Nellie woke up. When we went inside, I helped her find her way to one of the guest rooms where I had unpacked her stuff earlier. She got ready for bed and I told her goodnight, before closing the door and going to Ashley's room where Robbie and the twins were.

"So, are we having a family meeting again like the one you guys had when Lizzie was dating me, to see if I was good enough? Is this like a halfway point test?" Robbie asks as I walk in and sit down on the bed next to Ashley. "Certainly a test on our marriage." I mumble to myself.

"No Robbie, Lizzie needs to tell you something." Ashley says, holding my hand in hers. I squeeze her hand and try to keep my tears back. Mary-Kate nods, telling me it's okay.

"Robbie, when I was f-fifteen I g-got pregnant. Then, when I was sixteen I-I had her. I-I never thought I'd have to hear from her or about her again. I thought everything was okay and I was free. B-but, I found out last night. Nellie's my daughter. P-please don't be mad at me." I breakdown and cry into Ashley. "Shh it's okay, you did the right thing." Ashley tells me, she rubs my back and looks at Robbie to see what he thinks.

"Lizzie, shh liz it's okay. I'm not upset, I understand why you didn't tell me. You know you can tell me anything right?" "I know Robbie. Thank you." He walks over and looks at Ashley. "May I?" She nods and he sits down to hold me.

"Lizzie, I'm so proud of you babe. I know you did what you had to do for yourself. If you don't want to go through with the adoption, I understand. It's up to you sweetie. I know this is hard for you, I just want to know that I support you all the way and I'm here for you." I nod and smile. "Thank you Robbie. I love you." "I love you too Lizzie."

"Awwww." The Twins exclaim. I take one of Ashley's pillows and throw it at her. "Oh shut up." I laugh and smile at Robbie.

"Wanna go to bed now?" Robbie asked me. "Not at my sister's place!" I exclaim, elbowing him. He laughs so hard. "No! Lizzie I meant are you ready to go to sleep?" He asks, trying so hard to keep his composure without laughing. "Yes." I get up and hug my sisters.

"Thank you guys." I tell them, wrapping them in a hug. "Of course."

Robbie and we go into the other guest room. "Thank you for being there for me Robbie, I was so scared to tell you. I love you." "I love you too Elizabeth." I kiss him and we fall asleep.