ROBERT & HOLLY SCORPIO: DESTINED FOR ETERNITY

CHAPTER 9

1983

Finally coming to her senses, Holly slowly breaks the kiss and backs away from Robert. The look on her face is hard for Robert to read, but he senses her regret.

"Robert, I . . ."

"No, don't," He interrupts. "I am sorry. I told you that I wouldn't do this to you and here I am putting as much pressure on you as Luke does. It won't happen again."

Holly looks away. "I can take responsibility for my own actions, Robert. I did not pull away or ask you to stop. I know you would have, had I asked. I think I am the one who needs to apologize."

Robert hates to see how emotionally torn Holly is from all the turmoils in her life. "I am going to try and give you more space. Maybe you are just being too crowded and need time away from me."

Holly looks into Robert's solemn eyes. "No, Robert, you have never made me feel that way. You are my best friend. Please, will you promise me one thing?"

"Anything," He answers quickly.

"Promise me that you will never totally leave me. That no matter where you go, I will always be a part of your life, even if it is a small part."

Robert smiles and touches her cheek gently. "That is the easiest promise I will ever make because I couldn't bare NOT to be a part of your life."

"Thank you. I really needed to hear you say that." She smiles. "Well, I think I better get out of your office so you can get some work done."

"How about lunch instead?" Robert asks her.

"Lunch?" She asks in surprise.

"Yea, I'm hungry. I will never get any work done until I eat. Want to join me?"

Holly smiles. "Why not? Where do you suggest feeding your starving stomach?"

"How about the Floating Rib?"

"Sounds good," She agrees, surprised to actually be excited about thinking of anything except the situation their life has become.

Robert picks up his phone. "Have the limo brought out front, please. My wife and I are going to the Floating Rib for lunch."

Once in the restaurant, the couple get back into their easy camraderie as they talk of things in general that has been going on around them.

"Remember," Holly tells him, "Celia and Grant's wedding is Friday."

Robert swallows his bite of food as he rolls his eyes. Holly can't help but laugh at the look on his face.

"You are an usher, remember?"

"I know. I know. I am still in shock that they are actually getting married. I have never met such an odd match."

"Well, Celia has definitely made up her mind," Holly informs him. "She is ready to be Grant's wife."

"Good," Robert states. "We will wish them all the best."

Holly can't help but laugh at his reaction. "You really don't like them, do you?"

"No," He argues, "Really, I do. It's just, I don't know, they are difficult to be around. I'm not even sure why."

"I have to agree wth you," Holly replies. "But Celia is a true friend and I feel obligated to show my support of her and Grant."

"And I will be there with you, tux and all." Robert promises her.

Holly giggles at the exaggerated look on his face. "I think you will survive the day." Robert is delighted to see Holly smiling again. It is pure joy to watch her like this, not tense and reserved as she had been lately. He hadn't seen her like this since Luke's return.

As they are laughing, Luke Spencer enters the restaurant. When he sees the Scorpio's at their table, he freezes. The hurt and anger explodes in him and he rushes over to their table.

"How dare you!" He yells at Holly.

Robert starts to speak, but Holly beats him to it. "How dare I WHAT?" She demands.

"Imagine my surprise this morning, when I opened my paper and saw THIS staring at me from the front page." He throws the newspaper down on the table and both Robert and Holly look at it in curiosity.It is the photo taken of the Scorpio's yesterday at The Versaille Room. Holly was placing a kiss on Robert's cheek and the small byline reads something about the Commissioner and his wife being seen about town at the local restaurant during meetings with The Mayor and Mrs. Adams. Neither Robert or Holly had taken the time to look at the paper this morning, so both were quiet as they stare at one another.

"What?" Luke asks. "Nothing to say. No comment? And, of course, when I went to see you at your HOME, you weren't there." He turns to Robert. "So, I went to your office and your secretary informed me that Mr. and Mrs. SCORPIO were dining together at The Rib."

By now, several of the customers and staff of the restaurant are staring at the three with a great deal of curiosity.

"Luke, just calm down," Holly says softly.

"Sit down, Luke," Robert adds. "We can have us a little chat."

Luke turns to Robert. "Stay out of this Scorpio." Luke takes hold of Holly's arm and attempts to pull her up from her chair. "Come on, Holly. Let's go."

"You are making a scene, Luke," Holly replies. "Stop this."

"Like I give a damn!" He yells louder. "Let's go, NOW."

By this point, Holly is angry and embarrassed. "Please, Luke," She glances around the room at all the people staring in their direction. She also notes that Ian Shelton, the nosiest reporter in town, was also there. Holly realizes that if she leaves with Luke, it will no doubt cause problems for Robert and herself.

"I can't go, Luke. We can talk later." She hopes Luke will see the silent plea in her eyes. That he will understand the consequences.

"Fine, Mrs. Scorpio, suit yourself." Luke hisses angrily and storms out.

Robert reaches across the table and takes her hand in his. "I'm sorry. Are you okay?"

"Why ever would you be sorry?" She asks in surprise.

"I invited you to lunch, therefore setting you up for this confrontation with Luke."

"You had no way of knowing that Luke would show up," Holly reminds him. "And I had no idea there was a photographer there yesterday."

"Neither did I," Robert replies as he picks up the paper to look at their picture again. "It's rather a nice photo. I think I will keep it," He tells her, trying to lighten up the situation with some humor. When he sees her sad eyes, it breaks his heart.

"If it helps any," Robert tells her, "I do believe you made the right decision. If you would have walked out with Luke, no doubt it would have been front page news. We just have to make Luke see the seriousness of your situation."

"I've tried, Robert, Lord knows I have tried."

"Maybe I should give it another go. Perhaps I can get throught that thick Spencer skull."

"Good luck," Holly laments. "Somehow I doubt he will listen."

Several hours later, Robert tracks Luke down at a bar on the waterfront. "I want to talk to you."

Half drunk, Luke glares at Robert. "Let me guess, could it be about your WIFE."

"Damn right it is," Robert angrily agrees. "You really amaze me. You swear to love Holly so much that you didn't even tell her you were alive. And now all you do is try to drive her insane. How can you do this to her?"

"To her!" Luke yells. "Do this to her? What about me? All I see is that she is constantly with you, or with her charities, or her luncheons. When do I get my time?"

Robert shakes her head. "SInce when did you become so selfish? Do you really want it plastered all over the papers that she is with you, that our marriage is a farce, and then Immigration can swoop in and pick her up. You had better be careful, Luke. Don't make Holly choose between you and her freedom. You might find yourself on the losing side."

As Robert walks out of the bar, Luke stares silently after him. Why does he feel as if nothing will ever be the same? Right now he couldn't say which bothered him the most, that his relationship with Holly would never be as it once was, or his friendship with Robert Scorpio? He takes another drink. He had never felt so alone.