Family Ties - Robby's Story - 2. Chapter 2

Robby, what are you thinking?” Manny asked, his voice calm but searching.

“I don’t know.” I ran a hand through my hair, staring at the coffee cup in front of me. “I’m happy to see them, but it just doesn’t feel right. You don’t cross my parents and live to tell about it. I know what they’re like. My dad is ruthless—you saw them both.” My voice tightened, the memories of their coldness resurfacing.

Manny leaned forward slightly, his tone steady. “Maybe they did. Maybe they decided it wasn’t worth losing more. Maybe they relented. Give them a chance, Robby.”

I glanced at him, skeptical. “You really believe that? That my dad, the same man who erased me from the family room, just decided to let it go?”

“I don’t know what to believe,” Manny admitted. “But I do know that shutting them out before they even try won’t help. Let them prove themselves—or fail. Either way, at least you’ll know.”

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “It’s not that simple, Manny. What if this is some kind of game? What if they’re just trying to drag me back into their world so they can control me again?”

Manny’s gaze was unwavering, his voice soft but firm. “And what if it’s not? What if they really miss you, Robby? You don’t have to forgive them today—or ever—but don’t let fear make the decision for you.”

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “Fine… sorry, not trying to be terse with you. I don’t know. I’m confused by all of this. Why couldn’t they come and speak with me?”

Manny’s gaze softened. “Maybe they didn’t know how. Maybe they’re scared too. Everyone in this situation has something to lose, Robby.”

Manny and I finished our coffee and got up to head back to the dorm. It was a Saturday, but we had a full day of studying ahead to prepare for exams next week.

That’s all our lives had become—school, studying, and Manny working shifts at the record shop. At least he had an out. Sometimes being cooped up in our room felt suffocating. On those days, I’d go for a run or swing by the shop just to be near him. Manny was my anchor, the one thing keeping me grounded. I didn’t even want to think about what I’d do if I ever lost that.

The next few weeks passed in a blur of studying, writing exams, and staying on top of schoolwork. The girls were just as busy, so we didn’t see much of them. Manny kept up his weekly calls with his parents, updating them about school—and us. Us. I still wasn’t used to hearing that, even though I loved it.

His parents were so accepting. Why couldn’t mine be the same way? It was always nice to speak with Terry and Vivian when they called. They even surprised us by mailing a Christmas cake. It wasn’t home cooking, but it was the closest thing I’d had in months. Eating in the cafeteria or grabbing takeout from the same tired restaurants near campus was getting old.

I missed the little things: a homemade meal, the smell of fresh bread in the kitchen, or Mom’s lasagna. Even thinking about it now felt like a different life—one I’d never get back. What was the point of dwelling on it? At least I still had Manny.

Several weeks passed before we heard anything from Tanner, Sophia, or Sarah. By now, I’d gotten used to the idea that if I wanted a relationship with them, it would have to be on their terms. I hated it, but Manny wanted me to try, so I did. For him.

When the call finally came, I had just finished writing an exam and was relaxing in the dorm. Manny was in the shower, and we were winding down for the night. He had an early shift in the morning, but we’d planned to go for a run before he left.

The phone rang, startling me. Hardly anyone called us except Manny’s parents or the girls.

I picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

“Robby? It’s Sarah! How’s my little brother doing?” Her voice was cheerful, but there was an undercurrent of hesitation, like she wasn’t sure how I’d respond.

“Hi, Sarah. I’m doing okay. How about you? How are Sophia and Tanner?”

“They’re good. Tanner’s on the East Coast meeting with someone from the hospital. He’ll be back in about a week,” she said, her tone casual.

Things really had changed. There was a time when we shared everything going on in our lives. Now, it felt like I was the last to know.

“How are things at home? Mom and Dad?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

“They’re fine,” Sarah replied quickly. Then she hesitated, lowering her voice. “They don’t say it, but I can tell they miss you. Mom let slip that she misses you coming home on weekends, eating her cooking. She even said the cafeteria food must be getting to you.”

A small, bitter laugh escaped me. “Well, it’s not home-cooked, but it’ll do. Besides, they know what they need to do.”

“Robby,” Sarah said softly, “so do you. It has to go both ways. Everyone’s given up something.”

I gripped the phone tighter. “Sarah, I had this conversation with Tanner. You know where I stand.”

“I know,” she said quickly. “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to upset you.”

We shifted the conversation to lighter topics, talking for several more minutes before she mentioned an idea.

“Once Tanner’s back, we were thinking of meeting up at the Italian place in the city—the one we always used to go to for dinner.”

A flicker of nostalgia stirred in me. “That would be nice. I haven’t been there in ages. Manny and I usually stick close to campus. We’ve gone out to the coast a few times, but we’ve been too busy to do much else.”

“Perfect. I’ll have Tanner call you when he’s back, and we’ll figure out a time. Oh—Sophia sends her love.” Sarah’s voice brightened, and then she added softly, “It really is good to hear your voice again, Robby.”

“You too, Sarah,” I said, feeling a pang of something I couldn’t quite name.

With that, we hung up, and I sat there for a moment, staring at the phone. It was strange hearing her say they missed me. It wasn’t enough to let go of the anger, but maybe—just maybe—it was enough to start chipping away at it.

A few weeks later, right on the dot, Sarah called to let me know Tanner was back, and they wanted to take Manny and me out for dinner at the Italian place in town. The date and time were set, and I told her we’d both be there.

“Robby, I told Mom and Dad that we were going to the Italian place,” Sarah said. “Dad let it slip that he wants to make things right. He wouldn’t commit to coming, but I think they’re starting to see things the way we all are. Hang tight. It’s probably going to happen sooner than you think.”

I was surprised to hear this, hopeful but cautious. Was this a genuine change, or was I being manipulated again? Either way, the thought of reconnecting with my parents stirred something in me. I missed them, whether I wanted to admit it or not.

The day of the dinner, Manny and I got dressed—not formal, but decent. It wasn’t a fancy place, but jeans and t-shirts wouldn’t do. We’d gone out a few days earlier to pick up some new clothes. At least we’d look presentable.

The car, on the other hand? No amount of effort could make that bucket of bolts look good. But it was mine. Ours, technically, though Manny hadn’t yet decided to learn how to drive.

The restaurant was about thirty minutes away, and we left with plenty of time. Along the way, we joked about finally eating something from a proper kitchen, something with actual flavor. It felt good to laugh. We were both excited—not just for the food, but to see Tanner, Sophia, and Sarah again. For all the doubts and tension, I did miss them.

Traffic made us about ten minutes late. The car wasn’t exactly built for speed, and I wondered if the bus might’ve been faster. When we got there, I found a parking spot close by. We parked and walked the minute or so to the restaurant.

Inside, I scanned the room, half-hoping to see Mom and Dad. But they weren’t there. Just Tanner, Sophia, and Sarah, sitting at a large table near the back.

As we approached, they stood and greeted us with hugs.

“Hey, guys! We thought you might not show up,” said Sophia.

“Italian? Never!” I joked. “But the bucket of bolts I’m driving means it takes us a little longer to get from point A to point B. I think the bus might’ve been faster!”

Sophia laughed, shaking her head. “Well, you made it.”

“Hey, Manny—thanks for coming,” Sarah added. “It’s nice for all of us to get together. Feels like old times, right, Robby?”

I don’t know why, but it always feels like every meeting with them has some subtle digs woven in. I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. But Manny told me to behave, so I kept my thoughts to myself. For him.

“Yeah, thanks for inviting us,” Manny replied, his tone polite but firm. “Robby told me a lot about this place. Said it holds some special memories for all of you.”

We sat down at the table, and Sarah smiled. “Yeah, it does. When Dad came into the city, this was where we’d eat. It was our go-to spot. Mom, Dad, and the four of us—it was like clockwork every weekend.”

Tanner chimed in for the first time, his voice carrying a faint note of nostalgia. “I remember one weekend when they were closing early for some reason. Dad wasn’t happy—we had a reservation. He argued with the owner until they agreed to stay open for a couple more hours. But, of course, Dad made it worth their while.”

I glanced at Tanner, caught off guard by the story. Of all the memories he could’ve shared, why that one? Manny looked just as surprised. How were we even supposed to respond to that?

The waiter came to take our order. They only needed to ask Manny what he wanted—everyone else stuck with their usuals. Even as adults, it seemed we’d all stayed the same when it came to food. The only difference this time was that we ordered wine with the meal—something that would’ve been unthinkable when we were younger.

While we waited for our food, Sophia turned to Manny. “So, Manny, tell us about yourself. How do you like living in the city? How’s college? It must be a big change for you.”

There it was again—that subtle edge, like every question was meant to test him. I wanted to jump in and defend him, but Manny had made me promise not to cause a scene.

Manny, ever composed, answered smoothly. He told them about growing up in a small town, getting a full scholarship to attend school, and working at the record store. He even talked about how I’d sometimes stop by, how we’d sit and chat during his shifts.

But every answer felt like a challenge, every comment from my siblings a thinly veiled jab. I bit my tongue, determined not to disrupt the evening. If rebuilding a relationship with my family meant enduring this, then I’d endure it. For now.

At one point, Sarah turned to me, her tone suddenly lighter. “Oh, Robby—Mom made some food for you. It’s in the car. Before you guys leave, make sure to grab it, okay?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Mom made food? For me? Or was it the housekeeper?”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “No, she did. She does know how to cook, you know. I told you—I really think they’re coming around.”

I let the comment slide, but my skepticism lingered.

We ate dinner, making small talk. Tanner talked about his trip to the East Coast, where hospital executives had hinted at fast-tracking him into a senior role in just a few years. Sophia and Sarah talked about an upcoming family vacation to Greece, reminiscing about past trips we’d taken as a family.

I couldn’t help but get swept up in the memories—first-class tickets, warm beaches, Dad arranging for me to sit in the cockpit with the pilots. Life had been simpler then. Easier. I missed those days more than I wanted to admit.

When the waiter brought the check, I reached for it instinctively, only to freeze when I saw the total. I had the money, but it would stretch me thin for weeks. Before I could say anything, Sophia grabbed the bill.

“I insist,” she said. “We invited you two. Next time, you can cover it, okay, Robby?”

I tried to protest, but she wouldn’t budge. Relieved, I thanked her.

As we left the restaurant, Sarah reminded me about the food. We walked to their car, and I couldn’t help but notice how sleek it was.

“Did you get a new car?” I asked Sarah. “Where’s your old one?”

“Oh, this?” she said with a laugh. “Yeah, the old one was giving me problems, so Dad bought me a new one. Kind of an early graduation gift.”

I nodded, trying not to feel envious. “Nice.”

She asked where we’d parked, and I pointed her in the direction of my car. When we got there, I couldn’t help but feel a bit self-conscious.

“Here she is,” I said with a grin, patting the hood. “Nothing like yours, Sarah, but it gets us where we need to go. Right, Manny?”

Manny smiled. “Yeah, it does. Besides, we’re usually on campus anyway.”

“Well, if you want, we could talk to Dad,” Sophia offered. “I’m sure he’d be happy to help you get something nicer.”

“No thanks,” I said firmly. “This works for us.”

Sophia raised her hands, backing off. “Okay, Robby.”

On the drive home, I finally opened up to Manny. “What did you think of dinner?”

“It was nice. Haven’t had Italian in a while. Why?” he asked.

“No, not the food. Them. Didn’t you feel like something was… off? Like every comment Sarah or Sophia made was a jab at us? And Tanner—he was so quiet.”

Manny glanced at me, his voice calm. “They seemed okay to me. But you know your family better than I do. Maybe Tanner’s just tired from the trip.”

I nodded, but the feeling lingered. Something didn’t feel right.

Sophia, Sarah and Tanner - Driving Home

The car was quiet for a while as they drove home, the low hum of the engine filling the silence. Tanner gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white against the smooth leather. Sarah sat in the passenger seat, her feet propped on the dashboard, while Sophia lounged in the backseat, scrolling through her phone.

“Well, what do you think?” Sarah finally asked, breaking the silence. Her tone was casual, but there was a sharpness underneath it.

“Chipping away,” Sophia replied from the back, not looking up. “I saw the look in his eyes tonight. He’s softer than he lets on. Remember, I practically raised him when you guys weren’t around. It’s only a matter of time.”

Tanner’s grip on the wheel tightened, his jaw flexing as he stared at the road ahead. “Is this… is this right?” he asked, his voice low. “He’s our little brother.”

Sarah rolled her eyes, her tone turning mocking. “Oh, Tanner. Don’t go getting all moral on us now. If you don’t have what it takes, well…” She trailed off, smirking as she glanced sideways at him. “We know why.”

Sophia giggled from the backseat, her voice light and teasing. “Oh yes, we know.”

Tanner’s head snapped toward Sarah, his face flushed with anger. “Shut up. Just shut the fuck up,” he hissed, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. His hands clenched even tighter on the steering wheel, the car drifting slightly before he corrected it.

“Ohhh, Tanner, Tanner, Tanner…” Sophia drawled from the backseat, leaning forward. “Always so sensitive.”

“Did you see his car?” Sarah said suddenly, laughing. “And Manny? Where do I even start?” She continued, her voice dripping with disdain.

Tanner’s head snapped toward Sarah, his anger flaring. “Leave them alone,” he snapped. “They’re doing the best they can.”

Sarah raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Really? A bucket of bolts for a car and a boyfriend who works in a record shop? Come on, Tanner. He’s better than that—or at least he used to be.”

“This isn’t about Manny or his car,” Tanner growled, his voice low and dangerous. “Drop it.”

“Touchy, touchy,” Sophia said, her tone sweet but biting. “It’s not our fault you’re so worked up.”

Sarah crossed her arms. “It’s not our fault he chose this path, either. But you know as well as we do—he’s not going to stay there forever. He’ll miss the life he had. You did, and look where you are.”

Tanner’s knuckles loosened slightly as he exhaled, but his face remained tight, his eyes dark. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said flatly.

“Oh, but we do,” Sophia said, her voice quiet now, almost smug. “Just don’t screw this up, Tanner. If Robby comes back, it makes everything easier for all of us. Especially you.”

Tanner’s lips pressed into a thin line, his gaze fixed on the road. “This isn’t the same,” he muttered through gritted teeth.

“Isn’t it?” Sophia countered, her voice sweet but biting. “Hiding who you are, keeping up appearances for Mom and Dad—it’s practically a family tradition. How Robby doesn’t know is beyond me, that boy has clouded his mind. He was smarter than that.”

“Drop it,” Tanner growled, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade.

Sarah chuckled softly, her smirk widening. “Fine, fine. For now. But let’s not pretend you’re some moral authority here, Tanner. You know this benefits everyone. Including you.”

Tanner’s knuckles loosened slightly as he exhaled, but his face remained tight, his eyes dark. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said flatly.

“Oh, but we do,” Sophia said, her voice quiet now, almost smug. “Just don’t screw this up, Tanner. If Robby comes back, it makes everything easier for all of us. Especially you.”