Chapter 17
"I really don't know if I can do this in less than a week." Maxie opened up her tablet and reviewed the list she had made. "I mean between the flowers and the food and the preacher and…"
Robin reached over and pushed the tablet down. "Maxie, we aren't doing a big ceremony – just something simple here in the house."
"Okay." Maxie looked down at her list. "First things first – dress?"
"Emma and I went shopping yesterday. I got a beautiful blue dress and Emma got herself a cute white one." Emma was beyond thrilled that her parents were getting remarried.
Maxie scrunched up her nose. "Blue?"
"Blue is Patrick's favorite color." Robin got up and opened up the closet door. She took out a garment bag and opened it up. "What do you think?"
Maxie studied the dress. It was sleeveless, dark blue and looked like it would hit Robin right at the knees. "I think it is perfect. Ooh – white roses would go perfectly with it."
Robin zipped the bag back up. "Sounds great and I bet we can get a cake from Mike and champagne from Carly."
"Carly?" Maxie couldn't believe Robin would even suggest that.
"She has been bending over backwards to thank me for helping save Jason and I realized that life is too short to hold grudges." Robin was proud of the fact that she and Carly were actually being pleasant to each other. "I'm not saying we are going to be BFFs but we are getting along."
"Wow – I really never thought I would see the day." Maxie shook her head and then picked back up her tablet as Robin put the dress back in the closet. "So I assume she and Sonny are on the guest list?"
"Yes along with Jason, Liz, and Epiphany." Robin wanted to keep the guest list small. "I actually thought about asking Uncle Mac to perform the ceremony."
"I know he would love that and it would save me from having to find a preacher." Maxie continued making notes. "Is Patrick's family going to be able to make it?"
"No – Noah used all his vacation time helping Matt get his conviction overturned and his license reinstated and Matt hasn't earned any vacation time yet." Matt had just gotten his license to practice medicine reinstated last month. He was now working with Noah and rebuilding his career. "They will be holding a reception for us later this year."
"Does this mean you took the job in Berkeley?" Maxie couldn't believe that Robin was telling her this way. "Because Port Charles has a lot to offer and…"
"Maxie – calm down." Robin laughed. "I haven't made a decision yet. Obrecht moved my meeting up to tomorrow so I will wait until I find out what GH has to offer me before any decision is made."
"Good." Maxie reviewed her list. "I think I have everything I need – this is going to be a beautiful wedding. I promise."
"I believe you." The doorbell rang and Robin got up to answer it. She opened the door and found a bouquet of wildflowers lying on the porch with a note. Robin opened it up and giggled.
"What does it say?" Maxie was looking over Robin's shoulder and surprised to see that the note was typewritten. "Come away with me – your not-so-secret admirer."
Robin flipped the card over and noticed an address. "His afternoon surgery must have gotten cancelled." She put the flowers on the table. "I'd better go see what he has planned."
"You are such a lucky woman." Maxie hugged her cousin. "Go – I'll get Emma from school and we'll get started on the wedding arrangements."
"Thanks Maxie." Robin grabbed the card, put on her coat and headed to the door. She was ready to spend the afternoon with the man she loved.
Patrick reviewed the chart. "Epiphany, are you still scrubbing in?"
"Of course I am." Epiphany took the chart from him. "See you in the OR in 20 minutes?"
"I'll be there." Patrick turned around and ran straight into Nikolas. He glared at the man before trying to brush past him. "Excuse me."
"Patrick wait." Nik waited until Patrick stopped. "I was wondering if you, Robin and Emma would like to come by Wyndamere for dinner. I haven't had a chance to see Robin since she was rescued."
Patrick looked at the man incredulously. "You have got to be kidding me. You are not going anywhere near my wife or daughter ever again. Robin was held hostage on your family compound twice and Emma was almost kidnapped under your watch by your grandmother."
Nikolas took a deep breath. "That wasn't me, it was Helena and Jerry Jacks was the one went after Emma – my grandmother was already dead when that madman tried to take Emma and I fired my driver as soon as I found out what happened. I would never hurt Robin or Emma. I love Robin – she is one of my oldest and dearest friends."
"Why should I believe you?" Patrick stood there seething. "You let me propose to Sam knowing that her husband was still alive and living here in Port Charles. You say you would never hurt Emma but don't you think it hurt her to have another mother figure torn from her life?"
"You and Sam were happy – why would I destroy her happiness with you so she could try and reunite with a man who didn't even know who she was?" Nikolas was trying his best to defend himself.
"That had nothing to do with me or Sam – it was all about the ELQ takeover and making sure you kept Jason's shares of the stock." Patrick wasn't about to let Nikolas off that easy. "I want to ask you a question – did you know Helena had Robin?"
Nikolas didn't even hesitate. "Of course not! I would have never let her keep Robin away from you and Emma."
"How can I believe you? After all the lies you have told – why should I believe you?" Patrick didn't even wait for a response. "I don't want to hear it. I have a surgery to perform. Stay the hell away from me and my family Nikolas – whatever relationship you had with Robin is over."
Patrick stormed off to the OR, making a mental note to himself to call Robin as soon as the surgery was over to give her a heads up about his conversation with Nikolas.
Robin pulled up to the cottage and parked the car. After taking a moment to check her reflection in the rear view mirror, she got out of the car and headed into the house. "Hello?"
She shut the door behind her as she entered the cottage and noticed that fireplace was already had a fire burning in it and there was a bottle of champagne chilling on the table. "Nice."
She heard footsteps behind her and smiled. The smile faded as she heard the voice that accompanied those steps. "Hello Robin."
Robin turned around and backed into the mantle, staring at the man in disbelief. "Manrico?"
