The two men vying for Laura's heart have a conversation.

Chapter 53

Robbie and Jack gave their impressions of Laura to the others. Robbie kept the hand squeeze to himself.

Jean quickly hugged both of them. "Thanks for keeping things civil gentlemen. Now, you should probably head to your homes and get whatever you need to stay overnight. We will stay here until you return."

The two men nodded and headed for the elevators. They waited in silence as the elevator arrived and all the way to the car park. As they prepared to go their separate ways, Jack turned to Robbie, "Look, I know this isn't the most comfortable of situations. Laura told me that she was in love with you for years but that those feelings were unrequited."

Robbie stared at Jack, "She told you that I didn't care for her?"

"She didn't say that you didn't care, it's just that you didn't love her.

Robbie bristled at the thought of Laura telling this man that he didn't love her. "Well, she was wrong about that. I do, as it happens, love her."

Jack nodded, "I suspected as much."

Robbie moved closer to Jack, standing taller. "And, what exactly made you think that?"

"I saw the way you responded when I said her name the day you questioned me. And, I watched the way you talked to her in her room. Neither of those responses were the actions of a many who isn't in love."

Robbie faltered, "So, what do we do, we're both in love with her."

Jack nodded at Robbie, "Yes, I am in love with her. But, unlike you, she knows I love her. However, it's all academic. You seem to be working under the assumption that we have any control. Laura will choose who she wants to choose. Until then, all we can do is support her and help her come back to us."

Once again Robbie's anger flared. "What's that supposed to mean? She knows you love her. She knows I love her. I've told her every day this week that I love her. She knows about my love. You've known her what a month?"

For a single second, Robbie saw anger pass across Jack's face. As soon as he saw it, it was gone. "Detective Lewis, you might be right if this were a contest over who has known her longer, maybe even who has loved her longer. But, what you fail to consider is I am the one who put her back together. You're the one who broke her." He saw the anger on Robbie's face. "Whether or not that was your intention, it still happened. I have watched her over the past month struggle with getting closer to me. She has expected me to run or push her away at every turn in our relationship. And, Detective Lewis, that is learned behavior."

Robbie took a step back, wounded. "So, you're saying I broke her?"

"I'm saying you broke her heart. You left her unable to trust that someone could love her the way she needed to be loved."

"Oh, and I guess you fixed that."

Jack shook his head, "I haven't fixed all of it. But, I've done my best and I plan on continuing that when she gets better. I plan on making her know that she is loved and treasured every day for the rest of her life."

"So, you think you've won?"

Jack laughed, "You still see this as a battle. It's not a battle detective. This is Laura's decision. The only role we play is in making sure she understands how much she is treasured. I've spent the last month showing her exactly that. All I can hope is that my actions are enough." With that, Jack walked towards his car leaving Robbie alone in the car park.