Chapter 15

Carly smiled at Jax. "You look happy."

"Do I?" he said, grinning

They were at the Metro Court going over paperwork.

"You have a big night planned for us or something? Hot tub? Me wearing that bikini you like or nothing at all? Your pick, Mr. Jacks."

He winked at her but said, "Sorry, can't. I got a better offer."

Carly sputtered "Oh yeah, who?"

"Angel Baby."

Carly relaxed. "Oh, so Robin is letting you see her again? That's great. I'm surprised she is willing to be so generous with her daughters time."

" I knew she wouldn't cut me out. And it's been wonderful spending time with them. Angel really needs a family and ... I guess, it feels good to be needed."

Carly stood up and walked around the desk. She sat on his lap and said "I need you."

Her lips brushed over his.

Carly said, "Unless you are too busy working?"

Jax pushed the papers onto the floor. "What work?"

Lea was sitting at the counter at Kelly's waiting for Maxie to come back. When maxie walked in she started to move past lea's table, heading up the stairs. Lea followed her.

"I saw the paper."

"Good for you." Maxie said

"There was an article about- "

"I can read, Lea. I know." Maxie entered her room and tried to close the door quickly.

Lea pushed her way inside. "Kyle told me what he did. Running that man over."

Maxie spun around, "So that is why you came? To rat me out? I should have known you didn't care about helping me."

"After all the stuff we've done for each other, how can you say that? I'm the best friend you have. And you're mine. Without you I couldn't have gotten through the-"

"I don't have any friends. Best or otherwise." Maxie opened the door to her room. "So leave me the hell alone."

Robin watched as Patrick pushed the stroller through the park. The baby was fussing and would only stop when the stroller was moving.

Patrick volunteered to circle the path around the park and Robin was watching, from a bench, in amusement. He was talking to the baby the whole time but not in baby talk. He spoke as if the nearly newborn was an adult.

"So," Robin heard Patrick say as they approached " then the President held a news conference and announced his policy on economic redevelopment as far as the next two quarters were concerned.."

Robin peeked in the stroller. She smiled. "She's asleep. You bored her right into dream land."

"Bored!" he pretended to be offended "I was educating her. Next time we"ll discuss the implications of the balance of power shifting on the Supreme Court."

"Are you trying to make Izzy into a politician?" Robin said with a easy smile

"She can be whatever she wants once she completes her education at Oxford."

"No Harvard or Yale for our girl?"

Patrick froze. One little OUR and he was freaking out.

He murmured, "Whatever you two decide."

Then he sat next to Robin on the bench and said, "So did Georgie agree to baby sit tonight?"

"I still haven't spoken to her. I think she is avoiding me. I'll have to track her down at the hospital and figure out if she is mad at me."

"So no dinner at the Metro Court then?"

"No, we can still go. Jax is baby sitting."

"Jax, huh? He's really coming through for you lately. What a good friend."

"Don't be jealous, Dr. Drake."

"Me? Please."

"Sure, you're not. Anyway you will always be number one for me and my girl. As long as you want to be at least."

He looked down.

"Patrick?" she put her hand under his chin and forced him to look at her. "I am not trying to pressure you but I need to know you want to be in her life. That she can count on you as a father figure."

"I can't make any promises, Robin."

She scooted a inch back.

Patrick added, " I want to. I want to say I can do this. That I can be Isabella's dad. I know she needs one. But.. It's just too big for me to commit .. right now. I'm here. Isn't that enough?"

Robin had a look of pain on her face but also understanding and acceptance. "For me, it is, Patrick. But she needs more. She needs a father... today and everyday from here on out. Not just a guy around. She needs a daddy."

Patrick looked like he wanted to say something, his mouth opened, closed, open "I...can't promise anything to her or you."

Robin nodded. "I don't want to rush you. Take your time. I was the one who decided to adopt. Not you. But I have to do what is right by her." She looked down at her daughter with a look of fierce protectiveness all over her face.

"Does that mean..." his voice trailed off. Fear was running through his blood. "Are we over, Robin?"

Robin's hand cocked around quickly, her gaze meeting his, shock and hurt on her features.

She whispered, "You want to be?"

Patrick wanted to say no. He wanted to do that more than anything. But a huge part of him didn't want this all to mean so much.

He wanted to be able to walk away and know it would not kill him.

His pager went off. "I got to get back to work. So... dinner tonight still?"

"Sure." she said quietly and then Patrick was off the bench, leaving her and her daughter behind, and hurrying away without saying I love you or even Good bye.

Georgie stared at her textbook. She needed to study for her correspondence course. But her mind wouldn't stay focused.

The picnic basket was flashing through her mind. It was a one of a kind. At least, she had never seen one like that before. The police, or Mac at least, would figure it eventually.

She let out a breath.

I have to figure out what to do, she thought, because Lulu will crack soon. I know it.

Lulu was keeping her mouth shut for now. But Georgie couldn't count on her doing that forever.