ROBERT & HOLLY SCORPIO: DESTINED FOR ETERNITY

CHAPTER 12

JUNE 1983

After Grant and Celia's wedding, Robert had met Connie Townley at the University to go over the new security system for Dr. Jerrold. It had been a long day and he wasn't really in the mood to work, but he knew Holly could really use some time for herself. When he had danced with her at the wedding reception, it was all he could do not to kiss her like he really wanted to. When they were reminicing about the night they made love, he didn't think he could survive another minute. He had to get out of there and work seemed the best solution. Even though he never hid his feelings from Holly, he knew talking about them made her uncomfortable, and he did not want to cause her more stress and guilt. So he spent the night with Connie, being cranky and out of sorts and not really wanting to concentrate on the security system. It was quite late when he made the decision to go home.

Robert was surprised to find Holly awake and sitting on the sofa. "Well, hello. I didn't expect to see you still up at this hour. You had such a big day with the wedding. I thought you would be exhausted." He sits down beside her and as he gets a closer look at her, Robert realizes something is wrong.

"What happened?" He asks.

"Why do you ask?" She replies as she looks over at him.

Robert can't resist taking her hand in his. "Luv, I can tell by the look on your face that something is bothering you, and it is bad enough to be keeping you awake. Did you hear from Luke?" He guesses.

Holly sits quietly for a moment, thinking about what, if anything, that she wants to confide in him.

"Come on," Robert urges. "Talk to me. Get it out, you will feel better."

Hoping that Robert won't be ashamed of her, Holly gets up from the sofa and begins pacing. "I called Luke and invited him over here tonight."

Robert looks away sadly. "I see," He replies.

Holly hates to see how the words caused him pain. She should have never told him. No, she should have never called Luke. "I am sorry, Robert," She says sincerely.

Taken by surprise, Robert looks at her. "For what?"

"For all of it," She explains. "I should never have done it."

"Holly, you are entitled to do as you wish. I told you that and I meant it. You do not have to feel guilty for your actions."

"Well, I do," Holly tells him honestly. "But, I still invited him here, even when I knew better. All I did was make a huge mistake and everything is worse than it was before."

Robert doesn't like the sound of this. He instantly stands up and takes her into his arms to comfort her. "Tell me what happened?"

"To sum it all up, Luke wanted more than I was willing to give. He left angry. I guess 'furious' is the best way to describe him as he left. Oh, Robert this is all such a big disaster."

"Damn him!" Robert yells. "He has no right to be pushing you like this. I am going to talk some sense into that head of his if its the last thing I do!" He starts to head for the door.

"Robert, no!" She follows him. "Please, don't. It will only make matters worse."

"But, Holly . . ."

"No, Robert," She interrupts. "Besides, it was all my fault. I asked him to come over."

Robert puts his hands on her arms and forces her to look at him. "Holly, you may have asked him over, but that does not mean you invited him over to be harrassed into doing something you didn't want to do."

Holly goes back to the sofa and sits down. "To be honest, I am not even sure why I called Luke. But I do know that what happened was not what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Robert asks, curious to her answer.

"Never mind," Holly replies. "It doesn't matter."

"I have a feeling it matters very much if it is keeping you awake at such a late hour," He tells her.

"Robert, I really don't want to discuss this. Please."

"All right," He agrees. "You don't have to talk about anything you don't want. Just remember that I care about you and I'm here to listen anytime."

Holly manages a smile for him. "Thank you. It makes me feel better just to hear you say those words." Fighting the urge to melt into his arms, Holly decides she better change the subject. "Well, since we are both wide awake, how about a all-night movie marathon?"

"What?" Robert asks in surprise.

"Are you too tired?" She challenges. "Did Connie put you through your paces?" She teases.

Seeing her ploy to distance the intimacy that was occuring between them, Robert quickly joins in on her banter. "Fine. Why not? I will start the popcorn and get the sodas. YOU can find us a good movie, preferrably Charlie Chan or the Thin Man, or maybe James Bond."

Holly's mood brightens considerably. "Or maybe a nice romantic drama."

Robert's face falls and she can't help but laugh. "Okay. Okay. Murder mystery it is."

As Robert happily heads for the kitchen, Holly browses through the TV Guide. For a brief moment, Holly realizes just how quickly Robert was able to boost her spirits, and how just as quickly Luke could bring them down. How could she have told Robert that what she had expected from Luke tonight, was exactly what Robert had just given her in these last few moments: understanding, friendship, comfort, love. Not willing to deal with the place her thoughts were taking her, Holly decides to concentrate on the moment and turns on the television.

When Luke arrives back at Tiffany's apartment, he finds Jackie Templeton working at the desk.

"Well, Luke," She chides, "Where have you been at this late hour? Or should I say, WHO were you with?"

"Does my social life really concern you?" He asks angrily as he pours himself a drink.

"My, my," Jackie states, "What or WHO has put you in such a state?"

"It's been a long day," Is all Luke has to say. He downs his drink and pours another.

"Didn't you enjoy the wedding?" She asks innocently. "From the society point of the newspaper, I must say it was quite beautiful. And, of course, the Scorpio's put forth a 'united' front."

Luke turns to look at her. "What are you talking about?"

"Well, from my view of the reception, I noticed that the Commissioner and his wife sharing a nice LONG, SLOW dance."

Luke tries to keep from showing any emotion as he pours another drink. "Well, they are married, as I recall."

"Yes," Jackie seethes. "Too bad you weren't here to be a witness at the blessed event. On second thought, there would never have been a wedding if you had been here."

"Who knows?" Luke asks, "Maybe there would have been. After all, you were Robert's girl when I left, and you sure as hell didn't stop the wedding, did you?"

"I wasn't allowed the chance!" Jackie tells him angrily. "They were married before anyone, myself included, knew it. If I ever find a way to bring Robert and Holly Scorpio down, I guarantee you, I will use it."

Luke looks at her suspiciously. "What does that mean?"

"Why was Holly looking for you the other day?" Jackie interrogates.

"When?" Luke asks innocently.

"She came by here looking for you," Jackie tells him. "Why?"

Luke can see through her ploy. "I can't recall it be anything important. Is this news for that 'rag' you write for?"

"Not really?" Jackie lies. "Just asking for my own curiosity."

"Well, as I recall, Holly was thinking she could repair mine and her husband's friendship. I will tell you, as I told her, I am not interested. Now, if you are through interrogating me, I am calling it a night."

As Luke starts to leave the room, Jackie stops him. "Luke, do you get the feeling that Robert and Holly care more about one another than they ever did about us?"

Luke stops in his tracks. "Maybe that is the reason that you couldn't stop the wedding in the beginning, and I can't stop the marriage now."

Slowly, he walks out of the room as he ponders the truth in his own words. Something was holding Holly back. She was distancing herself from him, and Luke wasn't so sure it was the threat of deportation.