CHAPTER 5

ROBERT & HOLLY: DESTINED FOR ETERNITY

MAY 1983

As Holly leaves Robert's office, she is overwhelmed by her feeling of loss, and she couldn't even explain to herself why she felt so empty. Robert had been her rock the last few months. Her friend, her confidante. She had never in her life been closer to another person. She trusted him with her life. And eve n though her feeling were very confused, there is one thing she is very sure of, she did not want to lose Robert. She needed him to be a part of her life. But she could see the pain in his eyes and it wasn't fair to do this to him. He didn't deserve this. But then, neither did Luke. He had been betrayed by his lover and his best friend. Holly feels the tears on her face and she wipes them away. How were the three of them ever going to get through this?

Sometime later, Holly manages to find Luke on the docks. He doesn't say a word as he turns and sees her coming toward him.

"I'm sorry, Luke," Holly begins.

Luke stares at her coldly. "About what? The fact that you are allowing Scorpio to manipulate you into staying married to him?"

Holly sighs. "Luke, it isn't that way and you know it. The three of us are in a situation right now that is beyond our control. We just have to be patient for a while."

"A while?" Luke yells. "Look, English, we are talking a year out of our lives. A YEAR! And all because Robert thinks. . ."

"Would you quit blaming Robert!" Holly cries. "Robert is your best friend, he has always been your friend. And he saved my life, Luke. Why are you being so blind to what happened while you were gone?"

Luke laughs. "I am not blind to anything. I was gone and my best friend managed to manipulate himself right into my woman's bed!"

Holly flinches as if she was hit by a rock. "I thought we had gotten through all of this," She says sadly. "Maybe this is never going to work between us."

Luke regrets his words when he sees how it effected Holly. "I'm sorry, darlin'. I am really working on this, it's just not easy when I have to see you going home with Robert all the time." But we can get past this, Holly. I know we can."

"Can we, Luke?" She asks softly. "Are you going to be able to control your temper for as long as this takes? Because we can't live like this, none of us. Maybe you better give this some serious thought." Holly then turns to walk away.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Home," Holly answers.

"Home to Robert?" Luke manages to ask.

Holly looks back at Luke, and he can see the disappointment in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, English."

"Good night, Luke," Holly says softly and walks off into the night. Luke paces the docks as her words continue to haunt him. "Maybe this is never going to work between us." He hears it over and over and over.