Chapter 8
It had been just over a month since the scene in Kelly's with Duke. Anna had not heard from Duke since then either. She knew he had been served a third set of divorce papers and now they were just waiting. It was clear she would have to file for a contested divorce and her lawyer had told her to wait at least one month to prove to the judge that yes she had given Duke time to think about it and reconsider agreeing to the divorce. So on the following Wednesday Anna was scheduled to appear before a judge. Her lawyer had also told her the fact Duke had ripped up the first two and had to be served three separate times will be good for their case once they are in front of a judge.
That wasn't what she was thinking about today though. Today they are going to look at their house, the painters are almost done and they will be able to move in, in two days. It was still in the same neighbourhood which made Robin very happy it would only take her about five minutes to walk over to her friends. It was two stories with four bedrooms upstairs. The living room and dining area were all in one big room with a nice little kitchen off the dining area. There is even a den on the main floor they agreed will be their shared home office space.
It had taken a couple of weeks but the people of Port Charles seem to have accepted that Robert and Anna are now dating. After the scene in Kelly's, word got around quickly that Anna wanted a divorce but Duke was refusing to give her one. Anna was happy now that the whispered conversations had stopped when they would go places together. There were still the people that couldn't be bothered to whisper when talking about them, Anna always just ignored them anyway.
After dropping Robin off at school Anna had gone over to Robert's. They had taken the morning off and wanted to spend a little time together before going to look at the house. The worst of the gossip seemed to be behind them for now. The little bump that won't be hidden much longer will spark the next wave of gossip. Robert was sitting at the table when Anna came back into the room. "You alright?"
"Yeah, just a little nauseous there for a moment. It's getting better and it is nowhere near as bad as it was with Robin."
Anna stepped closer as Robert put his hands on her hips, he leaned in and kissed her tummy as her hand moved through his hair. "Is it different for Mommy because you're a little boy or because Daddy's here this time?"
"Maybe it's both," Anna suggested with a grin. "It makes me very happy that Daddy is here this time."
He kissed her tummy again then put his hand on her bump, "I'm happy I am too, Luv." He looked up at her and she bent forward, kissing him tenderly.
"I wish you two would just tell me these things. I can't handle any more of these shocks." They looked over to see Tiffany standing at the bottom of the stairs, the shocked look still on her face, Sean following her down. "A baby? You're having a baby." Then she looked at Sean as he got closer, "Did you know?"
"We asked him not to say anything because we hadn't told Robin yet, then our names were in the news because of the scene in Kelly's. I didn't even think that he might not have told you yet," Anna explained.
Robert's arms were around Anna holding her close as he remained seated. "I am going to be a father again. I will be there for Anna every step of the way, this time."
"You two told me not to say anything about the baby, I said nothing about the baby," Sean said as he joined Tiff, putting his hand on her lower back as they walked over to Robert and Anna.
"Well, I will then." Anna grinned, "I'm having Robert's baby. Yes, I know it's his and I am a little over three months along."
"Oh!" Tiffany's expression proved she understood what that meant. Anna had told Tiffany about what had happened before her separation so she knew that was the night their baby had been conceived. "It was fate telling you two that you belong together," she said with a big smile then hugged them both.
Anna beamed with happiness. "I agree. This baby was unexpected but so was Robin. You're right I think it was a sign. This all happened for a reason."
Watching them Sean could see how happy they were, he had seen them this happy before. "So what are the two of you up to today that we are graced with Anna's presence this morning?"
Anna stepped out of Robert's arms and sat down beside him. "We get to look at the house. Hopefully, the paint looks like I hoped." She took Robert's hand as she spoke, "I can't wait to move in."
"When do I lose a roommate?" Sean asked with a grin.
"Not yet, Anna and Robin are moving in first. Hopefully, Anna and I will be married when I move in with them."
"Does that mean you've asked her to marry you?" Tiff asked, smiling over at them both.
"I have not asked her properly yet, no. I will soon enough though."
"He told me the night I told him about the baby that he wants to marry me and that he wants us to be a family. It might not be official but we are getting married."
"Oh, you don't say engaged," Tiff realized.
"No one has asked anyone a question yet," Robert said, then grinned at Sean, "Unless Sean has," he hinted. He knew Sean wanted a life with Tiff, that he wanted to marry her. Tiffany Hill is the woman that has tamed Sean Donely. That made Robert smile, would they both get married around the same time?
"Hey you just keep quiet over there," Sean said and they all laughed. "I promise this lovely lady breakfast before work this morning so we are off to Kelly's." Tiffany joined him as they started to walk across the room to the door. "Have a good day."
Anna smiled at Robert once they were alone, "Well you sure know how to clear a room."
"You just watch, within two months we will hear something about those two getting engaged. Donely has finally met his match."
"You just might be right."
"Should we get going as well?" Robert asked.
Anna smiled happily at him, "Yes, we should."
When they got to their house Anna smiled over at Robert, "I can't believe this is ours." She looked up at the beautiful two-story house and smiled. "Are you sure you can afford this?"
"Yes Luv, I told you I used some of the money that was left to me. I never wanted it but using it to provide a home for their grandkids is what they would have wanted." Anna knew Robert had lost his parents years before but he didn't like to talk about it. She hadn't realized they had left him so much until he had told her money wasn't an issue when they were looking at houses. All he had said was that Robin's grandparents were paying for the house.
"Alright." Then Anna smiled at him and took his hand, "Let's go see how soon I can move in." There was a little work they had wanted to be done before the painters came in so they wanted to see how that had turned out as well. Hopefully, it will be this weekend that Anna and Robin can move in.
They looked around and it was about ninety per cent finished. There was a little to finish in the kitchen and living room and it would be done. "This is so exciting. I love this house and soon we will all be living here together."
Robert smiled, seeing Anna look so happy, he knew she wanted out of Duke house, that she wanted that behind them so they could get on with their life together. He touched the ring box in his pocket, soon he'll be able to ask Anna to marry him.
…
Anna was waiting for her case to be brought before the judge, the following Wednesday. Her lawyer was there and had told her again that the judge should side with her and grant her the divorce. She knew it was true but she was still worried. When she saw Robert walking toward her, she relaxed instantly. "I'm so glad you're here."
"I told you I wanted to be here for you," he said as he gave her a hug.
"Thank you." Robert leaned in and kissed her tenderly. Anna turned and took his arm.
A few minutes later her lawyer looked over, "Alright, it's time for us to go in. Commissioner, I take it you are coming in with us."
"As long as that's alright."
"Of course," she said and turned towards the courtroom doors. Anna took a deep breath and followed. Robert's hand on her back as they walked through the door together.
It took about forty-five minutes for the judge to hear Anna out. He looked at the files in front of him, he had read that Mr. Lavery had been served three separate times with divorce papers. The fact he had ripped up the first two annoyed the judge. He didn't like people wasting the court's time. It seems very clear to him that the woman in front of him today knew what she wanted and that Mr. Lavery wanted to control her and not let her move on with her life and that was why he didn't want to give her a divorce. He did not think his reason had anything to do with loving her and wanting to work on their marriage. He signed the papers in front of him, "Anna Lavery, I am granting your partition to the court and you are getting your divorce." Anna thanked him and once her lawyer had the papers they left the courtroom.
"What happens now?" Anna asked out in the hallway.
"Now I file these and in a couple of weeks you will have your divorce papers."
Anna thanked her lawyer then turned to Robert, they smiled happily at each other then he took her in his arms. They just held each other, neither one needed to say anything, they were both just so happy that they will be free to move on with their life. Everything was falling into place now.
When they left Robert suggested going to Kelly's. Once they were there and seated Anna pulled a keyring out of her pocket. "What do I do with these? He won't return my calls and everything of ours is out of that house now."
"What if you took them over to the club, give them to Angel, he'd make sure Duke gets them," Robert suggested.
"Yeah, that should work. Then I don't have to worry about them any more. Duke will know we've moved out even if he won't talk to me."
"He will when he finds out that the two of you are divorced."
"That's fine, he has no control over my life now and that is just how I want it." Robert smiled he knew Anna was happy about this, she wants to be with him, she is having his baby. "What are smiling about, Scorpio?"
"I am looking at the woman I love, why wouldn't I be smiling?" Anna put her hand on his cheek and kissed him lovingly. Anna smiled back, he's right. They are in love, they are together and soon they will be married again.
…
Duke was going over numbers in his office at the New York club. This club was starting to really make money and he didn't have to be here all the time. He was thinking about sharing his time between here and Port Charles. He still thought of the club there as his, this one was the Jerome's, his name was just on it. He wanted to be in Port Charles because that's where Anna is, even if she thinks she is leaving him, that won't happen. He had ended things with Olivia, she wasn't happy about it but he didn't care. Sleeping with her had been a big mistake that he had let it go on far too long. He didn't have feelings for her, she didn't make him happy. The woman he loves is in Port Charles. Now he had to figure out how to win her back from Scorpio.
The phone rang bringing Duke out of his thoughts, "Hello."
"Duke, hi. It's Angel here."
"Angel, it's good to hear from you. What's going on there?"
"The clubs doing great business is good. I actually called about another matter."
"Oh, what's that?"
Angel looked down at the keys in his hand. "I thought you should know I have your house keys. All of them that Anna had. She has moved out of your place and said since she can't get a hold of you she wanted to drop them off here."
"She's moved out? Where did she go? Is she living with Scorpio?"
"I don't know where she moved to. As far as I know, Scorpio is still living at Sean Donely."
"Did he move them in there? No, there wouldn't be room there. Where the hell did he take my wife?" Duke asked, getting angrier by the second.
"All I know is Anna came in here a little while ago and gave me the keys so I could give them to you. She didn't tell me anything other than all of their belongings have been moved out of your house."
Duke put his hand to his forehead, he didn't like this, not at all. Where was Anna now, where were they staying if not with Scorpio? Why had she moved out of their home? She can't seriously think her and Robert are meant to be together. "I'm coming to Port Charles," Duke finally said. "I'll see you later this evening." Then he hung up. He will go there and he will find her. Anna is his wife and she does not get to leave him. She does not get to play house with Scorpio, no matter what she thinks.