Growing Old With You (Part of Those Three Little Words threequel)

Part 6

14th February 1998
Roger's POV
"Go on then, love, have a good day" I kissed Emily's cheek before she left the house, "good luck today. Call me if you need me" Debbie leaned over and kissed my lips before she took the kids to her car. I had to be at the solicitor's office so I couldn't take them to school but Debbie had been so lovely and offered to take them.

I still wasn't sure of what I thought of her, I didn't know if I liked her as a friend, if I wanted to get with her or wether I was just trying to fill the hole that Brian left.

I didn't know and I didn't have much time to think about it since my taxi arrived a little earlier than I expected and I had to dash out of the door carrying my shoes because I didn't have time to put them on. The driver did give me a weird look but I didn't care, I couldn't be late to this.

"Going to the registry office, eh? Congratulations" the driver said and I looked at him in the mirror, "uh thanks... I'm actually getting a divorce but the solicitors is the other side from the registry office" I said and his face dropped, "oh man... I'm sorry, I thought you'd gotten married to that lady who was coming past me, going down your driveway" he said and I shook my head, "no, she's just a friend. She's dropping my kids to school today, bless her, she's so nice"

I think the driver felt bad so he didn't talk much for the rest of the drive so I just put my shoes on and checked I looked okay. I wore a nice plaid shirt that was a little too big for me but I tucked it into my trousers and rolled the sleeves up to make it look a bit more casual and less like a five year old wearing their dad's clothes.

We got there and I paid the driver, letting him keep his change as a tip, "thanks mate, good luck" he patted my hand and I smiled, "thank you, have a good day" I said and he nodded before I got out of the car and started walking towards the solicitor's office. I went in and saw a young man behind the desk who looked at me and smiled a little, "I'm guessing you're Roy" he said and I frowned before he showed me a bit of paper with my actual name on it.

"Yes... that's me, yeah" I cleared my throat then followed him through to a little room with a desk and I saw Brian already sat there in a black coat with a tank top and jeans on, "well then, I feel overdressed" I joked but he didn't find it very funny, he didn't even smile at it so I just sat down and put my bag on the floor, waiting for the young man to get his papers in the right order, "okay... so, do either of you have your wedding certificate?" He looked at us and I went into my bag to get it.

"Should be it there" I said as I put it on the table between us and he picked it up and started to fill in the form for us, muttering to himself, before he looked at both of us, "so have you been apart for two years now?" He asked and both of us nodded, "yeah, I moved out about two years ago" Brian said and my stomach sank.

Two years. It's been two years since I heard an 'I love you'. Two years since I'd felt his kiss. Two years since the best time of my life came to an end.

"Okay, and you were happy with him moving out?" The young man asked and I nodded, "Roger, I need verbal consent, yes or no" he said and I could feel my eyes starting to sting, "yeah... yeah I was" I squeaked and saw Brian looking at me as a tear fell down my cheek and I quickly wiped it away. "Rog, we don't have to do this if you don't want to" He put his hand on my knee to try to comfort me.

His face looked so sad and his eyes, even worse. I couldn't keep it together as I looked at him and burst into tears, "I'm sorry" I sobbed into my hand then felt warmth around me and looked up to see he'd moved to hug me. "Look at me" he said sternly and I looked him in the eyes as he grabbed me a tissue and wiped my eyes for me, "tell me the truth, do you want to do this or not?" He asked and I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know... I'll do it if you want me to"