DESTINED FOR ETERNITY

CHAPTER 26

JULY 1983

Within twelve hours Robert and Holly Scorpio are at the airport waiting to board their flight for St. Croix in the Bahamas. Both of them are far more excited about their holiday than they are willing to admit to one another.

Having an entire week to themselves is paradise in itself. With another thirty minutes until boarding begins, Holly excuses herself to go to the ladies room. On her return, she stops by a payphone to call Luke Spencer.

"Spencer here," Luke says into the phone.

"Luke, it's Holly," She answers.

There is a brief moment of silence. "Well," Luke finally replies, "If it isn't about time I heard from you. All reports have said that Robert is well on the road to recovery and you still haven't found the time to call or come see me."

Taking a deep breath, Holly replies, "I refuse to apologize for taking care of Robert. I am calling you now to let you know that I am leaving town for a while."

Luke isn't sure he heard correctly. "You are what? Where are you going?" He demands.

Holly sighs. She gets so tired of defending everything she does. "I need to get away, Luke." She couldn't help but remember how this trip had all been Robert's idea. How he cared about her well-being, that he had been worried for her.

"Holly, this is ridiculous," She hears Luke on the phone. "How do we solve anything if you aren't even in town?"

"I need time to get myself together, Luke. The last several weeks have been emotionally draining." She tries to explain.

All of sudden, Luke smiles as a thought comes to him. "Sounds reasonable. I will come with you. When do you want to leave and where do you want to go? I will make the arrangements."

"Luke, I don't think . . ."

Spencer ignores her and keeps talking. "This will be perfect. Exactly what we need. We can be alone, all by ourselves. Without Robert around we will be able to be ourselves, to get our relationship back to where we used to be before Scorpio wrecked everything."

Unable to hear another word, Holly states loudly, "No, Luke. I will talk to you when we return. Goodbye." She then hangs the telephone up.

Luke is furious when all he hears is a dial tone. He slams the phone down. How dare her? Well, she wasn't getting by with it this time. He was heading over to her house, and she would either take him with her on this trip, or she wouldn't be going anywhere. As he is driving over to the Scorpio's, Luke replays Holly's last words,

"I will talk to you when WE return." What did she mean by that? Surely Robert wasn't going with her.

Within minutes Luke is pounding on the Scorpio townhouse door. He is quite surprised when the maid answers the door. Luke barges in. "Would you get Holly for me?"

"She isn't here. The Commissioner and Mrs. Scorpio left for the airport sometime ago."

Luke closes his eyes as he realizes that what he had hoped wasn't true was definitely a reality. "Where were they going?" He asks the maid.

"I have no idea. They didn't say. They really deserve this time alone together after all they have been through with the Commissioner's shooting and all."

Luke silently walks out, wondering what Holly thought she was doing and why. Suddenly it dawns on Luke that it has to be Scorpio. He has Holly where he wants her. Robert's shooting had made her feel obligated to take care of him, to do whatever he needs. Scorpio was playing on her vulnerability and Luke wasn't going to let him get by with it. Holly was his, and Scorpio had better start remembering that.

Once their plane lands, Robert and Holly feel the weight of the last few months lift from their shoulders. A limousine takes them to their resort and Robert and Holly take in the beauty of their surroundings before going to check in.

"Isn't this beautiful, Robert? This is going to be so much fun." She takes his hand in hers. "And YOU will get all the rest you need. I promise not to run you ragged."

Robert can't help but smile as he sees the excitement on her face. "Are you sure this holiday won't be too tranquil for you? This is not New York City, you know. There isn't thousands of boutiques for you to shop in, or a different show every night. It's not London or Paris or. . ."

Holly stares at him in surprise. "Robert, I can't believe that you think I would rather. . ." She then notices him trying to hide his grin. "You are teasing me."

"Slightly," He admits as he pulls her along side him into the registration area.

"On the record," Holly continues, "I think both of us need the rest and quiet this place will provide. Besides, there will always be another holiday that we can have adventure and excitement."

Robert stops in his tracks and looks at her closely. Was she actually eluding to the fact that they would take vacations in the future, vacations together?

Seeing Robert stare at her intently, Holly says, "What is it? What is wrong?"

Coming out of his daze, Robert begins walking once more. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Lets get settled."

Suddenly, he pulls her aside and whispers, "I didn't even think to book more than one bungalow. Maybe they will have two close together, I don't know."

Holly smiles. "It's fine, Robert. I prefer us to be in the same space. I have to keep a close eye on you. I am responsible for your well-being," She teases.

"Excuse me?" He asks in confusion.

"I'm your nurse, remember?"

"Are you saying that I am incapable of taking care of myself?" He says in mockery.

"Yes," She announces honestly, grabbing his hand and leading him over to the registration desk clerk.

"Hello, I am Mrs. Robert Scorpio. My husband and I should have a reservation."

He briefly checks his computer. "Yes, we have been expecting you."

As Holly deals with the details, Robert tries to come to terms with his wife's actions. She has been behaving so strangely. He intended to find out what was going on with her during this vacation. And he sure as hell did not expect her to play the role of nursemaid forever. Suddenly Robert grins mischieviously. On the other hand, now that he felt better, his mind could definitely picture some spicy images of that scenario.

"Robert! Robert!" He comes out of his daydream when he realizes Holly was trying to get his attention. She goes closer to him and looks at him in worry. "Are you feeling all right? You look flushed." She starts to put her hand on his forehead, but he grabs it before she can.

"I'm fine. Do they have our room ready?"

She smiles. "Yes. We have a bungalow in a very private area of the beach. Our luggage has already been taken there."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" He says as he grabs her hand, trying his best to rid himself of his private fantasies.

Once they arrive at their bungalow, both Robert and Holly are impressed by how nice it is. They have a large sitting room with a sofa and two chairs. A large window looks out over the beach. A small kitchenette with doors that lead out onto a patio where there is a hot tub and a hammock between two trees. Neither one of them say anything about their being one bedroom.

"This will be incredible," Holly says as she unpacks for them as Robert makes them some iced tea. "I intend to lay on the beach and do nothing."

Robert brings her a glass of tea. "In that case, my fair English Beauty, I hope you remembered to bring sunscreen."

"I did," She says with a smile. "I refuse to suffer with a sunburn. You are the only person on this holiday who will need to take extra care." Holly then looks at him closely. "How are you feeling?" She asks him.

"Fine," He tells her. "Why?"

"Because you were flushed earlier. You really don't look that good. Have you taken a pain pill? Let me get you one." She starts looking through her purse.

Robert starts to get angry. "Enough!" He yells at her.

Holly turns to look at him in surprise. "What is wrong?"

Seeing the hurt and confused look on her face,Robert immediatley feels badly for talking so roughly with her. He goes over to her and takes her hands in his. "Look, luv, I appreciate your concern. You have been incredible, absolutely wonderful. You make an excellent nurse. But I am fine, I promise. I know when or if I need a pain pill. I am quiete capable of waiting on myself. I promise I will tell you if I feel the need to pass out, okay. This holiday is for the BOTH of us, remember? It is not for you to wait on me hand and foot."

Holly looks down. "I'm sorry." She apologizes. "I didn't mean to make you feel incapable."

Robert puts his finger under her chin to tilt her head up so her eyes meet his. "You needn't be sorry. i love that you care so much."

"Actually," Holly admits, "I kind of like looking after you."

Robert looks at her as if she has lost her mind. "Oh, really?" He asks, obviously not believing her.

"Yes," She answers truthfully. "And you will look after me?" She asks him with a teasing smile.

Robert touches her cheek with his finger. He looks into her eyes and very seriously he replies, "For the rest of my life, sweetheart." He leans in and kisses her cheek.

When he looks at her, Holly smiles at him. Robert's heart starts racing. Realizing he has to distance himself, Robert walks away. "So what shall we do first?"

Holly says, "How about a nice long walk along the beach?"

"Sounds good," Robert agrees.

As she leaves to change into more casual clothing, Robert sits down and takes a deep breath, trying to steady his racing heart. This may very well be a long week, being in such a close proximity with Holly. He laughs to himself. They had lived together several months with no sexual involvement and now it is all he can think about. But he was not about to give up this time alone with her, not for anything. It could very well be the last time they spent any alone time together. Uncomfortable or not, he was determined to enjoy every second of it.

Meanwhile, as Holly changes her clothing, she can't help but recall the look in Robert's eyes. There is no doubt in her mind that he wants her. She smiles at the thought. She was so grateful that he talked her into this holiday. This was exactly what she wanted, time alone with Robert so she could tell him her true feelings. She just has to find the perfect moment.