Gini loved when Robert cuddled her. Her favorite time was when they were alone together.
He sat on the bed, still squeezing Gini.
“Robert, let go, you’re hurting her.” Debbie grabbed his arm. He looked stunned, not realizing what he was doing, and released his grip.
Debbie took Gini’s arm and helped her walk out of the room. “You need to leave, Robert.”
He followed and slammed the door behind them.
“Debbie, we should get the family and go to the park,” Gini said in her mind, looking at Debbie. “It’s a nice day.”
Debbie brushed across Gini’s barely moving lips. “Sweet girl,” she said.
About an hour later, Robert walked out of the bedroom with his medical bag in one hand and a suitcase in the other.
“Robert, what are you doing?” Debbie asked.
He put the bags down and knelt next to Gini’s chair. She turned toward him and smiled with her blue eyes looking into his.
He put his hand on the side of her face, lowered his head, and let out a long breath, then looked at her again. “Sweetheart, I love you and I always will.” He leaned forward and kissed her, stood up, and took his bags down the hall to Jessica’s room.
She jumped up into his arms, facing him. “Daddy, I love you.”
“I love you too, princess. Take good care of your mama and brother.”
Then he made his way to Robbie’s crib where he was sleeping. Robert gently put his hand on the top of the baby’s head for a moment, then turned, picked up his bags, and went to the garage.
“Robert, answer me. What are you doing, where are you going?”
“I’m leaving.” The garage door closed behind him.
Debbie stood dumbfounded.
“What just happened?” Alyssa asked, standing next to Debbie.
“He yelled at Gini, and I told him to leave, but I didn’t mean leave leave; I just wanted him to go somewhere for a while and find his head.”
It was obvious Gini didn’t understand the gravity of the situation—nor did Debbie, really. Was Robert just hotheaded and having a knee-jerk moment, and he would be back as soon as he cooled down, or did he truly just walk out on his family?
They all went through the rest of the day, Gini being her sweet self, Jessica playing happily, and Alyssa and Debbie attending to their duties.
That evening with no word from Robert—even though Debbie had called and texted him several times—the two women sat in the great room after everyone else was in bed.
“Where do you think Robert went?” Alyssa asked.
“I’m thinking he’s with Dr. Meyer. John will help straighten him out.”
“Why is Robert so upset? Gini’s improving daily. She’s getting better.”
“He blames himself for her stroke, him being selfish and wanting another child, putting her at risk, letting her down. He deeply loves her and is more than ever frightened that he could lose her. He’s a very complex man with extreme emotions that sometimes he has a hard time controlling. But he always figures it out. I know how much he adores his family. He’ll be back tomorrow, I’m sure.”
Another day was passing by quickly, and still no Robert.
“Hi, Vicky, this is Debbie. I’m wondering if Robert is with you guys.”
“Robert? No, I haven’t seen him.” Vicky turned from her phone. “John, do you know where Robert is? …Nope, John said he hasn’t seen him since Thursday. Why, what’s going on?”
Debbie told her the whole story. “I’m getting worried. He’s been really down since Robbie’s birth, not acting like himself at all. Where do you think he could be?”
“John and I will get on it and find him.”
The doorbell rang, and it was Pastor Daniel to see Alyssa. He kissed her on the cheek. “Missed you in church this morning.”
Alyssa told him what had happened. She didn’t feel she could take the children by herself, and Debbie didn’t want to go.
“Interesting. When I left the church a few minutes ago, Dr. Young was in the sanctuary.”
“Did you talk to him?”
“No, Reverend Gilbert was sitting with him.”
About four o’clock, John walked into Robert’s office at the hospital. Robert was sitting on the couch with his face in his hands. When he looked up and saw John, he just turned away. Robert was unshaven, his hair not combed, and the clothes he was wearing were crumpled and wrinkled.
“Robert, come with me.”
“No!”
“Vicky is fixing us dinner. Get your things and let’s go. We’ll watch the game.”
“I don’t want to talk to anyone.”
“You don’t have to talk. We’ll have some beers, relax, and enjoy the game.”
After a lot of coaxing, the two men left together, Robert carrying his doctor bag and John the suitcase.
Vicky decided to let the two men watch the game alone upstairs in the TV room. She made some hot snacks and took them up. She had called Debbie and told her Robert was with them and not to worry.
Robert stood and said he had to go.
“No,” John said. “You are staying here for now.”
“I have to go take a shower,” Robert said.
“Well, yes, that I’ll let you do.”
When Robert came back, John announced their team was getting skunked. Robert was standing by the bar at the side of the room.
“Help yourself,” John said.
Robert took a small glass and a bottle of bourbon, poured a glassful and downed it. Then he took both to the couch and filled the glass again and set the bottle on the table and sat down. He quickly drank another shot and poured another.
“Hey, don’t you think you need to slow down?” John said.
Robert wasn’t much of a drinker. If anything, he slow-sipped fine
