DESTINED FOR ETERNITY
CHAPTER 35
JULY 1983
Luke arrives at the resort and immediately enters the reception area and asks for the room number of Robert and Holly Scorpio.
"They are staying in one of our private bungalows," The lobby director informs Luke.
"Where do I find that?" He asks impatiently.
"I am really not allowed to give out that information," She explains.
Luke is getting more agitated by the minute. "Look, they are very good friends of mine. I came all the way from New York to talk with them. This is very important. Please, tell me where they are."
During this time, the resort manager happens to walk through the lobby. Sensing there was a possible problem, he goes over to Luke and introduces himself.
"I am the manager, Howard Townsend. May I be of some help?"
"I am trying to find Robert Scorpio and Holly Sutton . .I mean Holly Scorpio. I am a friend of theirs from New York. This is quite important."
Knowing that Mr. Scorpio is a Police Commissioner, Mr. Townsend gives Luke the information he needs. "They are staying in Bungalow 12. It is the farthest one down on the beach, the most private and secluded that we have." He gives Luke the directions to find it. "But I doubt you will find them there."
Luke turns back to the manager. "Why would that be?"
"Mr. Scorpio came in here earlier and ordered a picnic luncheon for him and his wife. He also asked for directions to a remote part of the island where there is a waterfall. I had the impression they were off for a 'romantic' getaway." The manager smiles. "From what i understand, the Scorpios had a close call recently and really needed this vacation."
Inwardly seething, Luke heads out to the beach to find the bungalow. Findingit was easy enoughbut there was no answer when he knocked on the door. Finding the patio doors open, Luke went inside. Taking a quick survey of the rooms, Luke isn't too pleased to find only one bedroom. The bed covers are scattered around the room, with one sheet lying on the floor. Apparently maid service had yet to arrive, unless Robert and Holly asked not to have it. Luke sees their clothing scattered about on the floor and a empty champagne bottle and glasses on a bedside table.He closes his eyes against the obvious conclusion of his findings. He tries to tell himself that he is just letting his imagination run wild. He steps outside on the patio and sees the hot tub. He walks over and notices the towels laying by the tub. He also notices a bikini top on the side of the hot tub. Unable to look anymore, Luke takes off down the beach. It was certainly a beautiful and peaceful setting here on this island. Definitely a private setting, one that money bought. Luke sighs heavily. He wished Holly would have invited him to join her on this holiday of hers. Why did she invite Scorpio? Was it because of the shooting? Was she doing all of this to get back at him? No, Luke thought, it had to be Robert who planned this little romantic getaway. He wanted Holly away from him so he could seduce her into his way of thinking.
Luke chose to ignore the voice in his head that told him Robert had been his best friend. He would not deliberately seduce a woman who wanted to be with Luke and not him. That wasn't Robert's style, Luke did know that much. But Robert had always bragged how he loved a good conquest. He even went out on a date with his Laura once. He loved to brag about his women during the WSB days. Then again, he had never claimed to be in love. And Robert insisted time and again that he loved Holly. That she was different. Luke was driving himself crazy with all these questions. One thing he knew for sure, he would not leave this island without getting answers from both Robert and Holly.
Meanwhile, in their secluded glade by the waterfall, Robert and Holly celebrate their love and committment as only lovers do, in one anothers arms. Their bodies glided together in perfect harmony as slowly they build the passion until a firestorm of need roared through them, culminating in a sweet surrender. Shattering into thousands of bright stars of shimmering joy, Robert and Holly come back to earth with the realization that this time in this most beautiful of secluded places was where their life together was truly beginning.
Holly feels the tears stinging her eyes from the sheer perfection of the moment. The tears fall unheeded down her cheeks. Robert looks at her and kisses her cheek softly, his own eyes moist.
"Are you all right, luv?" He whispers.
Unable to speak for a moment, Holly looks at him and manages a smile and a nod.
"Are you sure?" He kisses her mouth. "I love you, Holly."
Seeing his own watery eyes, Holly frames his face with her hands. "What we just shared was so incredibly beautiful. I have never ever felt anything even close to this."
"Me either, my luv. Not ever." Falling to his side, Robert pulls her into his arms and holds her tightly to his side. Looking deeply into her eyes, he adds, "No matter how many times we are together like this, you take my breath away. I totally lose sight of everything else but you."
Smiling, Holly kisses his chest. "I hope it is like this for always."
"No doubt about it, sweetheart. Forever. As a matter of fact, thereis something I wanted to talk to you about."
Noticing the serious tone of his voice, Holly looks at him closely. "Yes," She says, "I'm listening."
Grabbing a nearby beach towel, Robert drags it over to place it over the middle of their bodies.He fidgits with it as he straightens it out just so. Taking note of his nervousness, Holly can't help but smile.
"Are you afraid that we are going to catch a cold?" She teases.
Looking at her with a roll of his eyes, Robert says "No. But I want to be serious here and I can't when you are laying their looking at me all sexy and seductive, especially when you have no clothes on."
Now he really has her curiosity. But she loves the fact that she distracts him. "I can put my bikini backon," She offers with a smile and reaches for it.
"Don't bother because it wouldn't be much better." He tells her.
Finally, Holly laughs aloud. She pulls his head down and gives him a very intense kiss. "That isn't exactly one-sided, darling. I catch myself more often than not being unable to concentrate on anything but you and the way your body feels. The way your musclesfeel when you hold me, the way you . . ."
Robert bends down and kisses her deeply. "You drive me insane."
Smiling against his mouth, Holly whispers, "Good." Then returns his kiss again.
Taking all the strength he possesses, Robert manages to pull free from the kiss. "Holly," He says softly as he notices her eyes closed and a dreamy look on her face. "Holly, look at me."
Opening her eyes, Holly stares into his blue eyes and notices his serious expression once again. "Robert, what is it, darling. Please, don't tell me you have more doubts."
"Marry me," He says quickly.
Holly stares at him in total silence for what seems like an eternity. "What?"
"I want you to marry me, sweetheart," He repeats.
'Robert, in case you forgot, we are married. For nearly six months now." She reminds him with a smile. Suddenly, she frowns. "It was legal, wasn't it?"
"Of course it was," Robert replies. "I guess I am not doing this very well. I want you to REMARRY me."
Surprised, but delighted, Holly holds the towel upto herself as she sits up. She looks down at Robert, who seems to have a very nervous look on his face. "You really want to do this?" She asks. "Are you sure?"
"I think I am supposed to ask you that?" Robert says as he sits up."I want it more than ANYTHING in this world. I love you, Holly, and I want to declare my feelings before God and the world. When we repeat those wedding vows, I want us to really mean them this time. So, what do you say?"
Laughing in delight, Holly throws her arms around him, forgetting the beach towel as she does so. "I will. I will. I will. I love you, Robert Scorpio. I would be honored to marry you."
Robert gives her a passionate kiss and lays her back onto the blanket as he begins kissing her neck and shoulders. Holly's arms tighten around him. Her last thought as she succumbs to their passion is that this is where they belonged forever, where they were always meant to be, in each others arms.
Luke impatiently walks the beach, not really sure what he is looking for and if he really wants to find it. He sees a couple walking the beach and stops to ask them if they know where a nearby waterfall could possibly be. Pointing him in the general direction, Luke thanks them and moves onward. Before long he notices that further inland is an area with alot of tropical trees, bushes and flowers. He walks closer and hears the sound of a waterfall. Walking closer he imagines he should be finding Robert and Holly any time. He couldn't wait until he could confront Robert, but at the same time he felt like he was intruding. The beauty of the site brings back memories of a happier time. When he was with Laura and they were together on the Casssadine Island was one of the happiest times of his life. With Laura by his side he had been invincible. Who would have known just how fast it would have been taken from him. Luke sits down on a large rock and reaches over to pick a pink flower. He remembers putting a flower much like this one in Laura's hair. God, she was so beautiful. He had never known such a complete and perfect love. He had never though himself worthy of such an 'angel'. Feeling tears beginning to form in his eyes, Luke quickly wipes them aside and takes a deep breath. After Laura's death, he had wanted to curl up and die. He refused to give in to those feelings of dispair. He was determined to live his life the best he could without the love of his life. Then he met Holly Sutton. She was one of the most gorgeous women he had ever laid his eyes on. The chemistry was there and she was willing. So why not? Then he really started to care for her. But it became complicated once her role in the oil scam came out in the open. Luke sighed as he looked at the waterfall, feeling no peace of mind in this perfect setting. Even though he didn't trust Holly, he never dreamed she would ever get involved with someone else while he had been gone, especially not Robert. He was sure that Holly loved him, or was that his own egotism speaking? Disgusted with his own doubts, Luke gets up and starts searching around the area for any sign of Holly and Robert. As he gets a little closer to the waterfall, he notices a beach towel on a large flat rock, but he sees no sign of Robert or Holly in the water. He walks on a little further into the lush greenery, palm trees, and flowering bushes. He hears a faint whisper of voices and follows the sound. Walking quietly, just in case it wasn't Robert and Holly, he advances further and the voices are some louder. Movingthe foliage of alarge plant out of his view, he stops quickly in his tracks. He felt as if the very air had been knocked out of him. Before his eyes were Robert and Holly, lying on a blanket, naked with their legs and arms entwined, talking and laughing very intimately as only lovers do. At first, Luke only manages to stare at the couple as the emotions overwhelm him. Deep inside, Luke realized that this was what he had already known, but actually accepting it was a different story. Trying to get a grip on his feelings of anger and betrayal, he eventually moves further into the clearing and interrupts their solitude.
"Well, well. And WHAT do we have here?"
Robert and Holly gasp in shock and embarrassment at seeing Luke before them.
Robert quickly grabs a beach towel lying beside him and throws it over Holly hoping to alleviate some of her embarrassment.
"What are you doing here?" Robert demands.
Luke laughs sarcastically. "So, this is what you 'marriage of convenience' means? This is the way you 'maintain' this marriage so Holly isn't deported?"
Both Robert and Holly are so stunned they are having a difficult time getting even a word out as Luke stands over them with the betrayed look on his face.