Chapter 35
Patrick watched Robin closely as she stared at the front door, anxiously awaiting her father's arrival. It was 6:15 and Robert was the only guest missing. Moving carefully, he sat down next to her on the couch and wrapped his arm around her. "He'll be here Robin."
She shook her head. "I should have known better. He stayed away for 25 years without…"
Suddenly the front door flew open and Robert came running through the doorway. He ran to Robin's side and instantly began apologizing. "I'm sorry that I kept you waiting."
"Seriously?" Robin scoffed.
"I was in the middle of a debriefing about the epidemic and it took forever."
"Yeah, well why should seeing me interfere with your work?" Robin couldn't help but be hurt that her father's work was, once again, more important than her.
"Robin, it's not like that. This was about you, finding and punishing the people who hurt you." Robert had been working with Frisco to finalize the deal that would be presented to Dr. Miller. Thanks to Robert, she would never be free of the WSB.
"Sure dad." Robin turned to Patrick. "Could you let everyone know that my dad finally showed up?" It was a beautiful night and Mac had volunteered to do steaks on the grill instead of them ordering in pizza. Robin had stayed inside to wait for her father while Patrick fixed up a salad to go with supper.
"Are you sure?" He wasn't quite sure Robin was strong enough to deal with her father on her own just yet.
Robin leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'm sure. My dad and I need a few minutes alone."
Reluctantly, Patrick stood up and headed out of the living room. "If you need me…"
"I'll yell – I promise." Robin threw him one last smile before turning stone faced back to her dad. "I understand you have met my daughter and granddaughter."
Robert sat down in the recliner next to the couch and nodded his head. "Yes – they are amazing but that really isn't shocking given their role model."
"Thank you, I guess."
"Still can't take a compliment I see."
"Just a little skeptical about the source. Let's face it – what do you really know about me?"
"I know you're are strong and smart. I know that you have done an amazing job of creating a great life even with all the obstacles thrown in your way." Robert leaned over and smiled at her. "Robin, if I had been there…"
Anger overwhelmed her. "Don't you dare blame Mac for my HIV status. He has been a wonderful father to me from the moment you left me behind. Mac loves me and has been the one constant in my life for the last 25 years."
"But he couldn't stop you from…"
"From being with the boy I loved – you're right, he couldn't. You couldn't have either. But I made the decision to have unprotected sex knowing the possible outcomes and that is not his fault. He has been by my side no matter what and it nearly killed him when he found out about my medical status." Robin wiped away the tears that had come to her eyes. "Mac is a good man and a wonderful father and no one, especially not you, will badmouth him to me."
Robert put up his hands. "I was out of line and I apologize. It's obvious that Mac did a wonderful job raising you and I will never take that away from him."
"Can I ask you a question?" Robin waited for Robert to nod his head before continuing. "If the virus hadn't come to Port Charles, would I even know you were alive?"
Robert considered his answer carefully before responding. The truth was that he had been free from his deal with the WSB for over a year now and had not attempted to contact his daughter even once. "Honestly, no. You have built yourself a great life and I wouldn't have wanted to disrupt it."
"Disrupt it?" Robin's tears flowed even faster. "Do you not understand how much it hurt when I thought you were dead?"
"But…"
"I have spent years just praying for another moment with you and you were willing to stay away from me?"
"Not willing just resigned to it." Robert felt like he was failing miserably at explaining his decision.
Robin's voice was small as she asked her next question. "Didn't you miss me at all?"
"I missed you every damn day." Robert reached over and took Robin's hand in his. "You are the most wonderful thing I have ever had in my life and it killed me not to be able to tell you I was alive. To not be there when you lost Stone and Roger. To have not been able to walk you down the aisle or see you graduate from college. All of these things I heard about second hand and I wanted nothing more than to see you and be a part of your life."
"Then why didn't you fight to be here with me?"
"Because I would rather have you safe and believe I was dead than put you in the line of fire because you knew I was alive." Robert reached up and gently tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I have been back in your life for only a week and you almost died because someone was trying to get to me."
As much as she hated to admit it, Robin knew what he was saying was true. It still didn't take away all the pain. "I guess I can't deny that but still…"
"Sweetheart, I love you more than anything and I want the chance to be the father you need." Robert stared Robin straight in the eyes. "All I am asking for is that chance."
Robin could feel he was sincere but she wasn't quite ready to risk trusting him. "This won't happen overnight – it can't."
Robert got a small smirk on his face. "I understand."
"And I'm not the only one you need to talk to. Mac deserves not only an apology but your never ending gratitude for being the father you couldn't be, whatever the reason." Robin would defend Mac until her dying day.
"My little brother is a good man who did the right thing. I don't think I will ever be able to repay him for what he has done for you, Maxie and Georgie." Robert had been impressed by his brother's skills as a father.
"No you won't but being good to my niece is a good start." Mac walked in and sat down next to Robin. "Ready to come outside? Rylee is beating Matt at croquet."
"Of course she is." Robin laughed as Mac held out his hand to her. Robin took it so she could stand up and then turned to her father. "Shall we?"
"After you luv." Robert watched as his brother helped his little girl out the back door and into the backyard. Following closely, he decided it was time to put his two cents in regarding his great granddaughter. "Now, we need to get that little girl into karate. I will, of course, teaching her lock picking and I think your mother can handle teaching her some basic knots although I will want to take over the advanced methods…"
