Chapter 31
"This is hardly what I would call resting Soltini." Patrick strolled into Robin's room and glared at her.
Robin glared right back, not the least bit intimidated. "And I am hardly doing something stressful." She tickled Rylee's belly and laughed. "Right Ry?"
"Right Grandma." Rylee snuggled in closer to her grandma and pointed at the book in her hand. "We're almost done and I haven't seen grandma in forever."
Patrick winked at Michelle. "In that case, carry on." He sat down next to Robin on the bed. "Where were you?"
Robin patted Ry's back and then turned the last page of the book. "Me, I'm the monster at the end of the book."
Rylee giggled loudly at her grandma's Grover voice. "You're funny grandma." She turned around and looked at Patrick. "When can she come home?"
He shot Robin an accusing glance. "You told her to ask, didn't you?"
"Haven't you learned by now that my granddaughter has a mind of her own?" Robin laughed as she hugged the little girl close. "Besides, she misses having me at home."
"I love my grandma."
"And I love my Ry." Robin kissed Ry on the top of her head and then smiled warmly at Michelle. "In fact, I love both my girls."
"And we love you which means that we should get going so that you can rest." Michelle reached over and picked up her daughter's book. They had been there for hours visiting and she was worried that her mom was getting worn out.
"But mommy…"
"No buts Ry." Michelle picked up Rylee off the bed. "The more grandma rests, the sooner she can come home."
Ry's lower lip went out in a pout. "Fine."
"Don't worry Ry," Patrick winked at her, "your grandma is doing so well that I may be able to release her in a couple of days."
"Really?" Her dark brown eyes smiled at him.
"Really."
Rylee leaned over and Patrick took her from Michelle. She hugged the doctor close and then kissed his cheek. "Thank you for helping grandma feel better."
"It was my pleasure Ry." He handed her back to her mom. "I will see you two tomorrow?"
"Just try and keep us away." Michelle turned and gave Patrick a quick kiss on the cheek as well. "Thank you for taking care of my mom."
"You never need to thank me for that." He sat back down on the bed. "Now your mom on the other hand…"
Robin playfully elbowed him in the stomach. "Watch it Drake."
"See how she thanks me for saving her life?" He wrapped his arm around her. "I swear that if she keeps this up I won't take her on that date she wanted."
"I wanted?" Robin was about to say something else but Patrick but his hand over her mouth.
"She's still a little confused but I will clear things up for her."
Michelle just shook her head. Her mom may be sick but she looked happier than she had in years sitting next to Patrick. "And on that note, I will see you tomorrow. I love you mom."
"Love you too." Robin watched them leave and then yawned. "It was so great to see my girls again. I feel better just knowing that they are okay."
"And how about my girl?" Patrick placed his hand on her forehead, thrilled that she was no longer running a fever.
"I feel great." She scooted a little closer to him. "You never did say what happened to me."
"What do you mean?" Patrick had known that Robin would be curious about her sudden decline.
"I mean I was fine, a little sick, but fine and then suddenly I am one of the worst cases." She sighed. "I, I don't understand how that happened."
"We are still working on that. The important thing is that you are recovering." He didn't want her to worry about anything else but getting better right now.
She didn't believe him but decided to let it go for the time being. "And this mysterious donor? Will I ever get the chance to meet them?"
Patrick had been debating that question for the past two days. Robert had recovered from the procedure and wanted to see his daughter. Patrick had kept putting him off because he felt that Robin wasn't strong enough to handle the shock of her father being alive but now she was almost ready to go home and it was time that she knew the truth. "Robin, do you trust me?"
"Of course I do." She turned around so she was facing him and gently caressed his cheek. "I trust you with my life Patrick."
"So you know that if I didn't tell you something right when I found out, it was for your own good."
"Patrick, you're scaring me." She did trust him but she didn't like where this conversation was headed. "Who did the donation? It wasn't Michelle?"
"No, God no. Michelle and Rylee were never exposed, I promise." Patrick took her hands in hers. "Robin, I need you to understand that every decision I have made over the past week has been to protect you."
"Okay…"
"Robin," Patrick was trying to find the right words but couldn't seem to come up with them for some reason. "Robin, the person who saved your life, uh, who donated the blood, it was…"
"For God's sake man, just spit it out already." Robert casually walked into the room as if he had just gone down to get a cup of coffee from the cafeteria, not been gone for a quarter of a century.
Robin gasped at the sight before her. She rubbed her eyes, unsure if she was truly seeing what she thought she was seeing. She saw her mom and uncle walk in right behind the man, both looking incredibly guilty and realized that she was not seeing things.
She studied the man. His hair was gray now and he had a couple of more pounds but the eyes, those steely blue eyes, gave him away. "Daddy?"
Robert smiled at his little girl. "Hello sweetheart."
