It took Rob two hours to be able to speak. He shuffled in his seat and stared out of the window at the dry flat land that surrounded them. "So where are we?"

"Just coming into a place called Keith." Michael glanced over his shoulder at his son. "We might pull over and have a cup of coffee and a toilet break. What do you think?"

"Yeah. Whatever you want, Dad." Rob hung his head and fiddled with his fingers. He felt so empty. Becky and he had never been apart since getting together ten months ago. A lot of shit had gone down. Her father's suicide. Linc's recovery. His parents fostering Linc. Finishing their final year and all the study, exams and choices they'd had to make, but they'd got through it.

Together.

Now they had to get through the next step of their lives living in two different cities one thousand kilometres apart, and in completely different states.

He dragged in a breath. Everything had been going so well. After Becky and Linc's father had committed suicide, Rob parents had become permanent foster parents to Linc. They had him undergo physiotherapy so his leg could properly recover from the injury he had sustained in the car accident, which had killed their dysfunctional mother. Becky and Linc had dealt with a ton of misery. Both parents had been addicts. From a young age, Becky had taken on the responsibility of raising her little brother until Rob's mum and dad had provided hope for their future. 

Rob glanced over at Linc, who was playing on his IPad, a big grin on his face. He was so happy and had settled into their family home as if he had always lived there. He even called Michael and Sheila, Dad and Mum.

Becky had taken a little longer to settle, but she had, with the help of Rob. He sensed she always felt like she owed his parents something. Being five years older than Linc and having been the one to carry the burden of their horrific earlier life, Rob could understand her feelings. She was a strong girl. He smiled at the thought of her. She would get through this better than he would.

"Are you okay, Rob?"

He looked up to see his mother studying him. Rob gave her a smile. "Yeah, Mum. I'm gonna be. Just a bit empty if you know what I mean."

"I know." She gave him an understanding look. As she turned to face the front she added, "It'll get easier once you get used to your new routine."

Linc reached across and patted Rob's forearm as he nodded his head in an all knowing way. "You'll be right, mate."

Rob couldn't help but boom with laughter, and then gave Linc a playful shove. "Look at you. Being the big man or what?"

"Well someone's gotta be." Linc beamed, and then screwed up his face and pretended to cry. "Mwah... I miss Becky. Mwah... mwah... mwah..." He jabbed Rob's shoulder with his fist as he said, "You big girl."

"Mum... Linc's picking on me." Rob laughed and recalled Becky teasing him the day before. He punched Linc's arm.

"Dad..! Rob just punched me."

Sheila and Michael looked at each other and laughed. In a gruff voice Michael said, "Boys. If you don't cut your shit I'll leave you both at the next service station."

"You won't." Linc and Rob said in unison.

"How about I give you both a clip around the ears, you cheeky buggers?"

"Yeah, old man." Rob chuckled. "I'd like to see you try."

"Rob!" Linc punched him in the arm again. "It's all good, Dad. I'll sort him out for you."

"Is that right?" Rob poked his fingers into Linc's ribs until he squealed. "Who's the girl now, mate?"

"Dad..!"

Michael and Sheila laughed. "Whose idea was this?" Mike asked.

"Mine," Sheila said. "And I love it."

*****

Rob pulled out his mobile phone, looked at Becky's number, almost hit call but held back and sent her a text instead. Hey. How's it going? ♥♥♥

He would have called earlier but wanted to give them both some time to get over the upset and be somewhat okay with the idea that they were no longer in the same town.

I'm all good now.  ♥♥♥ It took me a while to stop crying. Demi was so wonderful.

Rob took a breath. The urge to call her was so strong. Me too. I want to ring you but will wait until tonight. We're in a town called Keith having a coffee. It's not a very big place. I just hope Sale is bigger. Staying in Bundoora with Dad's sister, Aunt Helen, tonight. Everyone misses you already. I love you. ♥♥♥

I miss you too. My heart hurts so much. Drive safe. We'll talk tonight. I gotta go cause I'm crying again. ♥♥♥

"Shit." Rob looked up and sighed.

"What's up?" Sheila asked, frowning at him from across the table.

"Becky's crying again. I shouldn't have text her but I couldn't help it." He put his phone down and covered his eyes. How would they get through this? Rob had never felt this kind of pain before. It was physical and yet it wasn't. His whole body felt weak with grief. Rob wondered how people coped when their partners died.

He thought of Becky and Linc's upbringing again. She had never grieved over the death of her mother but her father's death was different. Even though he'd been a terrible father, he had tried in some small way to protect his children. Rob had never understood the connection Becky had with her father. He couldn't understand why she grieved over a man who'd often hit her. Rob remembered her words when he asked her this very thing.

She'd looked at him, tears welling in her eyes as she said, "You know the rhyme, Rob. When he was good, he was really, really good and when he was bad. Well... you know the story."

Rob hadn't pushed it any further. You couldn't help who or how your parents were but, you could choose to forgive them.

"It'll get easier, Rob. I promise." Sheila patted his arm. "Give it a few weeks. You'll both be so busy with your studies. Your minds will be filled with other stuff." She pushed his mug toward him. "Come on. Finish your coffee."

I hope that coffee is strong.

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