"Well, it's a little late for that now," Holly stated, her pain evident. Holly showed him the letter she received from Nanny telling her that Anna was arriving in Port Charles and she suggested she look her up. "Damn her! Holly, I think this was all a set up. I did not know she planned on following us here from New York, I swear!" "You must have given her some reason to believe you would welcome her back into your life, because it appears she'll be here in Port Charles within the next few days." "Since the letter is from Nanny, I'll assume she may have been one of her charges before she cared for you. Why don't you call her and find out how it happened that she would suggest Anna look you up?" "It's about 9:30 in London now. She's probably about ready to turn in for the night. I hope I won't be disturbing her." "While you're doing that, I'll get on the computer and see if I can find out what she's been up to the last seven years. There's something suspicious about the timing of all of this. That letter had to be written and sent about five days ago to reach you after she appeared in New York, but before she would arrive here."

Holly dials Nanny's number, looking forward to hear her sweet, comforting voice, which she needed right now. She was about to hang up, when Nanny finally reached the phone. "Hello?" Holly felt a great wave of relief hear the voice of the woman who had been her greatest confidant since she was fifteen. "Nanny? This is Holly. I'm sorry to be calling you so late. Did I wake you?" "Poppet! No, I just turned off the telly and was getting myself a drink of water before heading off to bed. What's the matter, child? I can tell you're upset. What's happened? Is that husband of yours okay?" "Yes, Robert's fine. The reason I'm calling is about the letter I received from you today. It says that you suggested an Anna Devane to look me up. How do you know her? And why did you suggest she look me up?" "Ah yes. Anna Devane. I cared for her well before your father hired me to care for you. It was the strangest thing. I hadn't heard from her since just before her seventeenth birthday when she ran away. She felt she was too old for a nanny and that she could take care of herself better and get the things I couldn't afford to give her. A wild child that one was; ever since she came to me when she was twelve. She caused a lot of grief for me, even within my own family." "Why? What happened?" "She acted like we owed her everything she lost when her parents died. My husband and I were already having marital problems before she arrived. Her shenanigans just deepened the wedge between us until he left." "Oh, Nanny, I'm so sorry! I didn't know!" "That's alright, child. It was for the best. But what really broke my heart, was how she treated my son, Cesar. He was a bright, loving, giving child until she arrived. He was a few years older and was ready to start university in the fall when she turned her feminine wiles on him. He was quite smitten by her and she led him on terribly. His attitudes and demeanor began to change, and not for the better. By the time he was ready to graduate, I could hardly recognize him as the son I raised. That's when he decided to go into that horrid organization. Come to think of it, that's about the time Anna left, too." "I remember him. I never told you Nanny, but I never could like him, no matter how hard I tried. He frightened me." "I knew, poppet. That's why I never encouraged his visits. You know, it was funny about Anna contacting me after all these years." "How so?" "Well, nary a word from her since she left, then out of the blue last week she called me. It seems she was looking to move to New York, and remembering that some of my charges summered in the States, she thought I might know of some quiet town where she could start over, so naturally I thought of Port Charles and how you love it there." "Naturally," Holly said under her breath. "What was that, child?" "Oh nothing, Nanny. It's been so good hearing your voice. You must plan a holiday with us soon." "I'd like nothing better, child. It's a busy season for me now, but maybe in the autumn when I'm not as needed." "We'll look forward to it. Well, I'd better let you go. You need your sleep to keep up with your charges. Goodnight, sleep well." "I will, poppet, especially since I've heard from you. Give Robert my love." "I will." Holly hung up the phone, pondering the information Nanny gave her. She wasn't ready to forgive Robert yet, but at least, for now, she's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt about Anna's visit.

Robert came out of the communications room a few minutes later and saw Holly sitting on the sofa apparently deep in thought. He hated to disturb her but they really did need to share information. "Holly?" he said quietly. Holly shook herself out of her reverie and tried to focus on what they needed to discuss. "What did Nanny have to say?" Holly related what Nanny had told her. "So it appears you were set up after all. Anna probably saw the notice that you were to be honored and decided it was a good time to make herself known. But, why? Did you find anything out?" "No. I didn't have any success on that front, but I did discover she's been living on the upper eastside of Manhattan for the past five years running what appears to be a successful import/export business." "Legitimate?" "All outward appearances indicate it is." "But you're not so sure." "No, I'm not. I'm remembering how she relished taking on the role of a lovesick wife on her honeymoon. Not an easy thing to accomplish for an agent supposedly on her first covert mission. I don't know why I didn't realize it at the time." "Maybe because you found her attractive." "Oh, she was pretty enough, but I was still ticked that Sean paired us together. O'Reilly and I could have found a way to make it work." "Well, something changed. Otherwise, you wouldn't have married her. Unless of course…" "Unless of course what?" Unless you were trying to protect her. You have a habit of rescuing damsels in distress." "Only those who are unable to rescue themselves." He looked intently at her until she broke eye contact. "Besides she set out to prove to me she was not in distress." He continued, rising and walking away from her, trying not to add to her discomfort. He decided to change the subject.

"It's almost time for dinner. Would you like to order in and find something to watch on television?" he asked hopefully, guessing what her answer would really be. "No, how about Kelly's? I'm missing Ruby's fish and chips." Robert nodded, realizing he was right. Holly was not ready to be alone with him for very long. She was only tolerating his presence in order to work on the issue neither wanted to discuss further that night. Kelly's was bustling as always when they arrived. It seemed that the half of Port Charles that wasn't at the tribute last evening was here and they all wanted to talk to Robert and Holly about it. Holly was glad that she wouldn't have to talk to Robert, which she suspected he already knew. He fielded most of the questions and comments never letting on that there was any trouble between them, while she picked at her food. She hadn't had any appetite since discovering about Robert's past.

Saying goodbye to their friends after dinner, they rode home in silence, the air thick between them. Robert would have given anything to have prevented this from happening, but he knew it was better it was in the open now instead of her being blindsided by it later. He wondered what would have happened had he not told her and Anna just showed up at their door. He was sure Holly would have welcomed her into their home. How would he have reacted? Would he have told her then or just hoped that Anna would leave without Holly ever finding out. Little did he know, the same thoughts were going through Holly's mind. "Maybe," she thought, "I should just be grateful that I don't have to find out the answers to those questions." When they arrived home, Holly turned to Robert and before he could speak, said, "I'm going to get a hot shower and find a book to read. Oh, and Robert? I'll be sleeping in the guest room for now." "I had a feeling you would. I can't say I blame you. But Holly, this isn't going away. We will need to work it out eventually." "I know, but not tonight. I'll see you in the morning so we can plan what we'll do when Anna arrives." Robert watched as she ascended the stairs. His mind wandered back to another time he watched her climb those stairs. Just as it was then, now he was powerless to make her turn around and run into his arms.