DESTINED FOR ETERNITY
CHAPTER 21
JUNE 1983
Sometime later Bobbi Spencer brings Holly a cup of hot tea along with some toast.
"Monica told me the good news about Robert. I thought I would bring you a little bit of nourishment. I have a feelling you haven't been taking too good of yourself the last few days."
Holly smiles. "Thanks, Bobbi." She looks down at a sleeping Robert. "Isn't it wonderful. Monica is sure he will be just fine in time. I was so terrified for him."
Bobbi sighs. "Yes, we noticed."
Holly takes the cup of tea and begins sipping it as Holly continues. "Holly, I know that Robert has been your main concern the last several days, and . . ."
"Without a doubt," Holly agrees.
"Well," Bobbi continues, "Now that Robert is going to be getting better, if you could just talk to Luke." Holly turns away in agitation, not wanting to hear this. "He really needs you right now, Holly."
Holly takes a deep breath and turns her attention to Bobbi. "I am sorry, Bobbi. I don't mean to be rude or unfeeling, but I have no intention of speaking with Luke just to ease his conscious about being responsible for getting Robert shot." She whispers so as not to wake Robert.
"Holly, surely you know that Luke didn't mean for that to happen." Bobbi states. "He was only trying to save all of us, Robert included."
"And," Holly adds, "With no thought of the consequences of his actions. Well, now Luke can deal with the results of his actions. As for the moment, I am not leaving my husband's side." Bobbi is taken aback to hear Holly use the words 'my husband.' Holly continues. "Robert needs me and I am not going anywhere."
"Luke needs you, too, Holly," Bobbi reminds her. "You need to be there for him as well. You need to honor your commitment to him."
"Bobbi, I really don't want to discuss this." She turns to look at Robert. "I have more important things on my mind at the moment."
Silently, Bobbi leaves the ICU room, all the while looking back at Holly in total confusion.
Captain Bert Ramsey is the next to arrive. He is pleased to hear that Robert is doing so much better. He could hardly wait to spread the word down at the station. He had been a very somber place the last few days.
"It would never be the same without him." Bert tells Holly.
Holly stares at Robert intently. "Yes, I know. Our world would never be the same."
Bert puts his arm around her. "But he will be his old self in no time. He will be chomping at the bit to get back down to the station and get to work."
"Yes," Holly agrees, "He will and we are going to have to make sure he doesn't overdo it."
Before the day is over, Robert is moved out of ICU and placed in a regular room. He had woke up once during the day, but once he saw his wife there, he was able to fall back to sleep. Late that night, Holly walks over to the large windows that look out over the city. She looks out at the stars and says a silent prayer to thank God for sparing Robert's life. She then stretches her body, attempting to remove all the aches and kinks from her stiff muscles.
"I thought I told you to go home," Robert states, his voice raspy from lack of use.
Holly quickly ends her musings and rushes over to Robert. She smiles at seeing his eyes wide open, no sign of fever or pain. "Robert!" She cries, tears in her eyes. She sits on the edge of his bed and takes his hand in hers. "How do you feel?" She asks anxiously. "Are you in much pain?"
Robert moves about carefully as if to check his body out. He grits his teeth from the pain. "Nothing I can't survive." He assures her.
"You have had a terrible fever," Holly tells him. "I was really worried."
Seeing the serious expression on her face, Robert tries to get her to lighten up. "Worried about little old me?" He teases. "Have you forgotten who your husband is? I am super-spy CK8, I am invincible, darling."
"Robert!" She reprimands, but she can't help but smile just to see a glimpse of the man she thought she would possibly lose. "Do you need anything?" She asks.
"Water would be good." Holly rushes to get him a glass of water and brings it back to the bed. As he drinks the water, Robert looks very closely at his wife. "You look exhausted," He tells her bluntly.
"Gee thanks," Holly retorts as she sets his glass aside. "Is that the compliment I get for sitting at your bedside for three days?" She teases.
"Three days?" He repeats in surprise. "I have been out of it for three days?"
"More or less," Holly answers.
"And you have been here the entire time?" He asks curiously.
"Of course," She answers. "I wouldn't dare leave for fear that . . ." Holly stops her thoughts as the tears pool in her eyes. "I am going to go find Monica," Holly says abruptly. "I told her I would look her up when you woke. I will be right back."
Robert watches Holly's every move as she walks out of the room. She was, without any doubt, the most loyal woman he had ever known. Funny, the more he got to know her, the more he finds to love, admire, and respect about her.