Chapter 37

Patrick walked into Robin's room, softly shutting the door behind him. "I just wanted to see for myself that you are okay."

"You can come in. I think we have a few things to discuss." Robin gestured to the chair on the left side of her bed and Patrick sat down.

They sat there in silence, trying to figure out exactly what to say when Patrick broke the silence. "So, another gunshot wound?"

Robin laughed out loud and patted her bandaged right arm. "At least it was a different arm this time."

The tension broken, Patrick leaned over and took her hand. "I'm just happy that both of you are going to be okay. That is all that matters to me."

Robin squeezed his hand. "I know."

"Well I would hope so…"

"No Patrick, I know. I know Victor blackmailed you into divorcing me." Robin needed to get it all out in the open.

"Oh." Patrick bit his lip before responding. "I wanted to tell you but every time I tried something happened."

"Like me getting attacked in the parking garage." Patrick nodded. "And those phone calls you would get when we were talking – those were Victor, weren't they?"

"Yes. He had my house bugged and men following you. I was so scared that he would do something to hurt you or Emma and I couldn't live with myself it that happened." Patrick hoped he was getting through to her.

"I understand and I would have done the same thing. But it doesn't change the fact that I am married to another man who I do love." Patrick felt the tears coming but held them back. "I am very confused right now – I never dreamed that I would ever be in the position where I love two very different men, and they love me, but here I am."

Patrick felt a little bit of relief when he realized what Robin was saying – she still loved him.

"I need some time to figure things out, it is just too much to try and figure out overnight. Zach, sorry, Jason is moving out so I am going to stay at my new place for now."

"I understand. Take all the time you need." Patrick wasn't just paying Robin lip service, he truly did understand her dilemma.

"There is something else we need to talk about – the baby."

Patrick gently rubbed his chin. "I know you told Jason that it might be mine."

Robin hadn't noticed the bruise forming on Patrick's jaw but she saw it now. "I'm so sorry, I didn't think he would attack you, especially not here in the hospital."

"It's okay – your Uncle Mac punched him for me. He wasn't too happy to discover you are married to Jason."

Robin chuckled. "Oh, I bet he wasn't." Robin closed her eyes and shook her head – she would talk to Mac in a little bit. "This is such a mess."

"Well, we'll figure a way out of it together." Patrick looked at her and gently rubbed her hand.

"About the night we made love, I know you weren't trying to take advantage of me. You respect me too much to do that. I was caught off guard when I remembered but I can't honestly say I regret it, especially if this baby is yours. No matter what happens, I want you to know that." Robin was trying desperately to be strong.

"I feel the same way."

"We won't know until the baby is born who is the father – any prenatal DNA tests carry too great a risk of additional exposure of HIV to the baby and I will not risk it." Robin had told Jason the same thing before he left.

"Again, I understand but it doesn't matter to me who the biological father is – I still want to be the father of this child and raise her with you." Patrick didn't know why he called the baby a girl, it was just a feeling he had.

Robin felt her resolve to not cry slipping. "Thank you for understanding." She needed to change the subject before she lost her composure. "Where is Emma?"

Patrick caught on to what she was doing but let it go. "At Maxie's, Mac dropped her off before he headed over. I'm going to go get her and take her home for the night and then tomorrow we can come together to pick you up and take you home, if it's okay with you?"

"It's definitely okay with me. Give her a kiss for me?"

Patrick leaned over and kissed Robin softly on the lips. "Of course. We'll see you in the morning."

Patrick left and Robin laid down, let the tears she had been holding back fall and tried to rest. Gently, she stroked her still flat stomach. "Well little one, one thing is for certain – no matter who your father is, he wants you and loves you."