Chapter 182

Dreaming of mercy

Balancing the box on the porch railing Alexis watched in amusement as Robin removed the slim black leather case and set about picking the lock.

"You realize I'm an officer of the court," she teased, "and I should report you for breaking and entering?"

Robin smiled as she jimmied the lock. "You could do that," she replied, "but where would be the fun in that?" Hearing the click, she pushed open the door and turned to face Alexis with a triumphant smile on her face. "Besides, it's a crime of passion – I'm doing it in the name of love."

Chuckling, Alexis followed her into the house and let out a low whistle as Robin flicked on the lights. "Nice place."

"Patrick has good taste," she replied.

"So tell me again why we are breaking into his house that he doesn't live in?"

"Because I asked him to give me a week and that's up tomorrow. I'm ready to commit to him – fully and completely but I need to show him and not just tell him. And one of the ways to do that is to reclaim the mojo of this house."

"Reclaim the mojo?" she parroted, setting the box down.

She nodded. "He is going to be, naturally, a little wary of me just announcing that I'm good to go so I'm going to tell him through deeds and words."

"And you were able to resolve everything within the week?"

"Oh hell no" Robin replied smiling as she moved about the living room, repositioning the candles that had been there since he first surprised her with the house. Reaching into the box, she pulled out a dozen more.

"It's a work in progress – I'm a work in progress," she continued. "And I haven't put the issues to bed but….I understand my behaviour better now and I know why I've said the things I've said and I'm willing to lay that all out – to really be open with him. The rest we can work on together but I need to do this for him and for me and I need to do it now. It's time for me to take a leap of faith."

"I'm very proud of you" she told her softly. "I know how hard this has been."

Stroking her belly, she nodded. "Yes but look at what I'm working for – I'm incredibly blessed."

"So is he."

"Let's hope he feels that way too."

Digging into the box, Alexis pulled out a large, white down comforter. "Dare I ask?"

Robin smiled sheepishly. "I had a bed put in the master bedroom. It's rather bold of me but-"

"Deeds and words?" she offered.

Robin grinned in response. "Exactly. Can you help me upstairs?"

"Lead the way!"

Eric nervously rubbed his hands on his jeans before knocking on the door. He had an idea of what was waiting for him on the other side and while he would prefer not to deal with it, it was going to be the price he needed to pay to get what he wanted.

"Hey Pantsy," he greeted his friend as he opened the apartment door.

"I was beginning to think you just aren't that into me" he told him as he stood out of the way and let his friend through.

Following his conversation with Robin he had gone to see his friend but found him unwilling to talk and all offers of beer or coffee were rejected. His friend was being eaten alive from the inside out, refusing all help and it was killing Patrick to stand by and watch.

"Sorry, I've…uh…just been busy."

"You are the worst fucking liar Smitty so don't even try, okay?" Looking at his friend it was hard to miss the dark circles under his eyes and the worried look almost permanently creased on his face.

Exhaling slowly, he jammed his hands in his pockets. "I was wondering if you could cover my shift tomorrow?"

"Does this mean you're finally taking a day off to go home to your girlfriend?"

He shook his head. "No…I….I'm driving to the City tonight. I will call out on the shift tomorrow if I have to but if you were willing to pick it, I'd be grateful."

Patrick's eyes narrowed and he cast a skeptical glance in Eric's direction. "What are you going to the City for?"

Eric dropped his gaze. "A friend called asking for help and so I-"

"Oh hell NO!" Patrick roared. "You are NOT driving all the way up there for that bitch."

Too tired to even complain about his friend's choice in words Eric simply shrugged. "She called and said she needed my help – her and the baby and so I told her I would come."

Patrick's blood pressure started to climb as he clenched and unclenched his fists. "What about her husband? Or her friends? Or her family? Why the fuck is she calling you?"

"She…she's leaving her husband and needs some help moving. I told her she could move into my old loft."

"Are you out of your mind?" he seethed. "She's manipulating you and you're letting her. Eric, you haven't slept at home in days – call her back and tell her to fuck off and die and then go home and curl up with your girlfriend."

"She NEEDS me" he protested. "She and the baby need me."

"Alexis needs you" he countered. "Karen is your past – leave her there – lord knows she left you in the dust."

Eric's cheeks burned brightly. "I'm not asking your fucking permission, okay? I'm asking if you want to take my shift. If you don't, fabulous. But I'm driving to the City tonight to help my friend and our….her baby."

Patrick's eyes widened and he took a step back as though he was hit by a sudden rush of clarity. He had not understood Eric's inability to completely cut the ties that joined them but the light bulb clicked on. "She was pregnant" he stated in surprise.

Eric said nothing.

"What happened?"

He shrugged. "She miscarried and then I got sick."

"Are you….are you still in love with her?" he asked incredulously.

"No. I'm in love with Alexis but she's asked for my help and I need to give it to her." He made his way to the door. "Don't worry about the shift, I'll call Alan tonight and tell him I can't be in. I'll talk to you later."

Patrick swiped his wallet from the table and followed him. "You'll talk to me now. I'm coming with you."

"Pantsy-"

"Don't argue or I won't let you drive. You want to help her, fine. I'm coming along to make sure you don't blow up your life in the process."

****
"What do you think?" Robin asked as they looked around the bedroom.

"I think it's stunning" she replied.

A large mahogany bed frame was the crowning piece in the room. The king size mattress was almost overstuffed and with layers of white linens looked like a bed you could spend days lazing in. There was one nightstand with a lamp perched in the middle of it providing a soft, ethereal glow.

"Just one more thing and then we're done"

Robin reached into the box and pulled out the painting of Patrick as a boy that she had brought home from the Hamptons. She leaned it against the nightstand and standing back, gave a satisfied smile.

"So when are you bringing Patrick here?" she asked.

"Tomorrow. I'm going to blindfold him and bring him here and then lay my heart on the line."

"Are you scared?"

Robin shook her head. "For the first time in a long time, I'm not. I'm ready to embrace all of this and he and I aren't leaving here until I convince him of that."

Alexis hugged her tightly. "So many good things are going to be yours Robin and I could not be happier for you."

"Thank you. And thank you for all your support through everything."

"What are friends for?" Bending down, Alexis picked up the empty box and started to pack up the empty bags and wrappings.

"How are things with Eric?" she asked gently.

Alexis smiled wistfully. "I'm afraid you'd have to ask him that. He has slept at the hospital for the last four days and beyond a few text messages, I haven't spoken with him."

Robin's face fell. "Oh Alexis."

"I'm trying to give him some space" she sighed, "but I'm beginning to think he doesn't want space, he wants out. And I'm not interested in trying to convince someone to stay with me – too many times bitten I suppose."

"He will come around" she told her emphatically.

"Maybe but it's up to him. He knows where I am and he knows there is a home waiting for him – he just has to want it."

Robin gave a small rueful chuckle. "You sound like Patrick and he sounds like me. Don't give up Alexis."

"I'll try not to" she said quietly, "but that's getting harder and harder not to do."

The scenery whizzed by in a darkened blur as they drove along the highway. Eric had grudgingly allowed his friend to come with him but had met any attempts at conversation with either stony silence or by turning up the radio.

Patrick was churning with anger at his friend, at Karen, at Child and Family Services, at anyone and everyone who had turned Eric's life upside down. His first instinct had been to call Robin, to tell her where they were going and why he was going along but she had asked for a week and he was determined to give it to her.

Frustrated, he turned the radio off. "You could turn around and go home" he repeated for the hundredth time.

"Shut up."

Sighing, Patrick leaned his head against the window and looked at him from the corner of his eye. "Why didn't you ever tell me she was pregnant?"

"Because it was none of your business" he snapped. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head. "Sorry," he muttered.

"No, you're right. It's not my business."

"I always thought we would try again so I didn't need to talk about it. And then….well then it just became too hard to talk about."

"I'm really sorry," he told him sincerely.

"Thanks. Have you talked to Robin lately?" he asked, changing the subject.

"She asked for time, I'm giving it to her" he replied.

"Just don't give her too much, okay?"

Patrick scoffed as he tiredly ran his hand over his face. "You do realize you are a living, breathing hypocrite, right?"

His mouth twitched upwards into the briefest of smiles. "Do as I say and not as I-"

A bright flash of light cut through the darkness, nearly blinding them both. As the lights continued to approach, Eric swerved the car but it was too late. Tires screamed, glass shattered and the long uninterrupted drone of the horn echoed through the silence