The Girl In The Red Raincoat (Pennywise x Reader)

Chapter 15: 17 Years Later part 11

Robbie and I were on our way to the mall to look for Christmas presents. He offered to drive so I sat back and relaxed, looking out the window. It had been just over a month since he told me he's still been having dreams and he's actually come to me a couple of times in the middle of the night for support. Since then we've also been talking more about his father and what it was like for me to be a young, single mother.

"You know, they say that being raised by a single mother make you more sensitive to, like, chicks and stuff" he said with a smirk on his face.

"Is that all I am to you? Practice on how to treat a girl right?" i asked, pretending to be offended. 

We both just laughed as we pulled into a space in the parking lot. 

"That being said, there is something I want to tell you..." he said as we walked inside. 

I looked at him, raising an eyebrow. 

"Okay don't make a big out of it but there is a girl..." he said. 

"What?" i said stopping in my tracks. 

"Mom, i said don't make a big deal." he smirked, shaking his head.

"How long has been going on? What's her name? Is she from school?" i rattled off questions. 

Robbie came over and grabbed my arm, "i will tell you if we keep walking" he chuckled.  It's nothing official but yeah i met her at school, she's new and her name is Marian." 

"Marian?" i asked, a smile coming to my lips. "What's she like?" i said, nudging him. 

"Okay, mom stop." he chuckled again.

"C'mon i'm your mom! I have to know details." i said.

"She uh- she's nice, she's into art and likes Britney Spears..." he said, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. 

"Yeah?" i said, smiling up at him. 

"Yeah, she's cool. We actually have a date tonight." he said, avoiding eye contact with me. 

"Okay i won't ask anymore questions but i'd like to meet her sometime!" i said, excitedly. 

***

"The last one" i said as I handed Robbie his last present. 

"Woah a PS2? Thanks, mom!" Robbie said as he held the box in his hand. 

"Well it was from all of us" i said, looking over towards my parents.

"Oh I forgot something!" Robbie said as he rushed out of the living room. 

He came back quickly with a little bag in his hand and handed it to me. 

"Robbie, I said no gifts!" I said, slightly scolding him.

"I know, I know." he said, sitting back down.

I reached my hand in the bag and pulled out a box. I slowly opened and gasped as I saw what was inside. A tiny little heart necklace with a blue gem stone in the middle. I looked up at Robbie, tears filling my eyes, "honey..." i said. 

"I got it cause the blue kinda matches my eyes" he said, dramatically blinking, showing off his beautiful eyes.  

I passed the necklace to my mom as I made my way over to give him a hug, "oh Robbie this is beautiful" she exclaimed. 

"Very nice!" my dad said too. 

I took it out of box and put it on, feeling the heart pendant before giving him another tight hug. 

I wiped the tears from my face as we began to clean up all the tissue and wrapping paper. 

A while later we were all seated in the living room, watching Home Alone while drinking hot chocolate. I couldn't help but get nostalgic as I remember the first Christmas we all spent together after Robbie was born. I remember missing Penny so much and that feeling has never gone away. Each Christmas since then i've missed him just as much, oh what I would give to have him here with us, like a family...

***

"Congratulations!" the principal yelled as we saw grad caps fly into the air. 

Today was Robbie's high school graduation and I couldn't help but wonder where the time had gone. 

My parents and I were waiting out front as student shuffled out of the auditorium.  

"There he is!" my dad said, patting Robbie's back as he came up to greet us. 

"Congrats" we all said, giving him each a hug. 

"Thanks!" he said, a wide grin on his face. 

"Hey Ms. (y/l/n)!" Hugh said as he walked, giving me a hug.

"Congratulations." I said back to him.

"You coming to Henry's buddy?" He asked to Rob.

"Uh yeah" he said, handing his cap and diploma to me. 

"Please be safe" i said as he gave me one last hug and kiss on the cheek. 

"I will" he said, before turning around.

"Bye Ms. (y/l/n) and Robbie's grandparents." Hugh said as they both walked over to their group of friends. 

I was out to dinner with my parents at one of the local restaurants here in Derry later that night when my dad spoke up. 

"You know there's a new gentleman I just hired at the workshop." he said, taking a bite of his food. 

"Yeah?" i asked. 

"Mhm, he's maybe in his 40's, single dad..." he paused. 

I know where this was going...

"Dad" i said, shaking my head. 

"Sweetheart i'm just saying" he said shaking his head back.

"You know Robbie's gonna be in college next year and you haven't been with anybody since you had him and we never even met that guy-" he continued.

"All your father is trying to say is that we want you to find someone, we want you to be happy and now that Robbie is getting older, we are just looking out for you." my mom spoke up. 

"I know and I get it you guys want me to be happy and not be alone but I am happy." i said, looking between them. "I promise, I'm just fine by myself." 

They both sighed and looked at each other, then went back to their food. 

We'd had this conversation numerous times over the last almost 18 years. Each time my parents would try to set me up with someone and I would decline. I wasn't ready to move on. Frankly, I don't think i'll ever be ready to move on.