Fixing What Was Broken

Learning Of The Past

  Dean and Robert sat across from each other, Dean's leg bouncing up and down from his nerves. Robert wanted to reach out and hug Dean so badly, but knew he couldn't yet.

 "Your mother and I weren't always alcoholic, drug addicts believe it or not. We met in college, through friends and it was love at first sight! We were inseparable, we were married a month after we graduated and thought our lives were going to be perfect! We were wrong, neither of us could find a good job and we began fighting. So to deal with it we began to drink, we went out all the time, then your mother got pregnant with you. We tried to clean up for you." Robert said sighing.

 "What happened?" Dean asked shocked to finally hear the truth.

 "Well, we managed to stay clean until you were a month old. Again though the stress got to us and we began drinking. It wasn't until you were four months we were introduced to drugs by a friend. From then on all we thought about was drinking and drugs, thankfully though we had a wonderful neighbour who took care of you! Do you remember her at all?"

 "I...I do actually! Miss. Jones, she was like a Grandmother to me!" Dean answered smiling, as he remembered the kind, loving elderly woman who raised him until she passed away when he was six.

 "Because of the drugs and alcohol, I  became a selfish, abusive bastard towards you and your mother! I didn't care about anything other than drinking and getting high! Then I got arrested, and besides you, that was the best thing that ever happened to me! I got clean in prison, and I thought about you every second. I wrote you letters all the time!"

 "I...I never got any of them." Dean answered truthfully.

 "I know, they were all returned to me. It must have been when you were homeless." Robert said sadly.

 "Yeah." Dean said quietly.

 "Dean, I love you! You're my son, and I'm so sorry I did what I did to you! I know I can't make up for the past, but I'd like to start over. Can we?" Robert asked.

 "I...I don't know." Dean answered truthfully. "I'm not ready to forgive you Robert...honestly, I don't think I'll ever be." Dean said truthfully.

 "I understand. At least now though you know what happened and that it wasn't because of you! I'll go say goodbye to everyone before..."

 "Wait, please." Dean said cutting Robert off. "Look, I might not be able to forgive you...but I' am willing to get to know you."

 "Really?" Robert asked smiling.

 "Yeah."

 "If that's all you're able to give me, then it's good enough!" Robert said smiling wider.

 "Why don't we go back inside? We can talk some more over coffee?" Dean suggested.

 "I'd..." Before Robert could answer his cellphone began to ring, he took it out and looked at it. "It's work calling."

 "Work? At this time?" Dean asked confused.

 "I work as a janitor at a bakery, part time. They must need me, why don't you go ahead and I'll meet you inside." Robert said.

 "Okay." Dean said as he got up and went inside.

 Once Dean had left, Robert got up and went to a corner of the yard away from the house and answered.

 "I told you not to call me tonight! I'm at my son's!" Robert said angrily.

 "I told you Robert, that I want my money!" The man on the other end said angrily. "I've been helping you out, and you've gotten yourself quite the bill Robert! My stuff isn't free, so I want my damn money!"