Chapter 207

It seems so exceptional, that things work out after all

Patrick opened the door and grinned as Kristina, Molly and Josh pushed their way through with Alexis and Eric following in behind. They had been home for a week and having finally found their groove were inviting friends to come and visit.

Alexis passed two carrier bags to Patrick. "There is lasagne, stuffed cannelloni, chicken casserole and two dozen muffins individually wrapped all ready for your freezer"

His eyes widened. "Did you make all that?"

Giving him an incredulous look, Alexis shook her head. "I like you, why would I try to poison you? All that is a contribution from your pal – he cooked, I supervised."

"Supervised?" Eric snorted. "I'm pretty sure you poured yourself a glass of wine and watched a movie."

"Sometimes, it's best to supervise from afar."

"Aww," Patrick teased, "I love it when married couples bicker."

"Who's bickering?" Alexis asked, "this is foreplay"

Patrick blushed to his roots and grabbing hold of the carrier bags, carried them out to the kitchen.

Robin was already seated on the couch in the family room with the three children huddled around her watching in complete awe as she fed Kathleen her bottle.

"Kristina?" Alexis called from the kitchen, "are you being quiet and gentle?"

"Yes mom – we all are."

Patrick led them down the stairs to the sunken family room and as he and Eric settled into the overstuffed la-z-boy chairs, Alexis joined the crew on the couch.

"She's beautiful Robin" she remarked.

"We think so. Would you like to hold her?"

With her arms outstretched, Alexis nodded. "I thought you would never ask."

Robin placed her daughter in her friend's arms and passed her the bottle. Eric could not help but smile as he watched his wife with the newborn.

"I hear you brought food" Robin said to him.

He nodded. "I remember when my sister had the twins, we stuffed their freezer full of food – enough for about two months – so they wouldn't have to worry about trying to cook in the middle of everything."

"You are very good to us" she told him gratefully.

"Well, I had an ulterior motive actually," he admitted.

Robin raised her eyebrows. "Oh?"

Leaning forward in his chair, he lowered his voice to a stage whisper. "I'm hoping for some compromising photos of Pantsy. You know – baby spit up on him or the diaper on backwards or him soaked to the bone giving her a bath – anything that can cause embarrassment. There'll be more lasagne in your future if you can deliver."

"HEY!" Patrick protested loudly.

Robin grinned. "I'll see what I can do."

"Some girlfriend you are" Patrick grumbled.

She shrugged unapologetically. "Patrick he's offering free lasagne and I know for a fact he's a better cook then either of us."

"Who knew you were so easy?"

Alexis raised her hand, ducking Robin's playful swat to the arm. Looking at the three children Robin smiled. "Would you guys like to hold Kathleen?"

Kristina and Molly jumped up and down, clapping their hands while Josh seemed less sure of the whole thing. Kristina, the clear ring leader of the group, grabbed his hand and pulled him up beside her on the couch while Molly sat on the other side of her sister. Robin, very carefully, laid her daughter in Kristina's lap and grinned as both girls immediately tried to kiss her while Josh tentatively touched her hair.

"She smells yummy" Kristina remarked.

Robin nodded. "You all smelled that yummy when you were new."

"Even me?" Molly asked.

"Especially you" Robin answered, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "You made all the scary stuff disappear when you came out."

Molly never tired of hearing the story of her birth and had once presented Robin with a picture she had drawn showing her with a cape on and an R on her chest – her very own personal superhero.

"We have a question for you Smitty" Patrick began as Robin sat down on the arm of the chair.

"No, I will not pull your finger."

"Har! Har!" Patrick deadpanned before turning his attention to Robin. "Perhaps we need to rethink our choice."

"No way," she smiled. "He keeps you in line and I like it."

With a roll of his eyes, Patrick playfully swatted her behind. "Eric, we would very much like for you to be Kathleen's godfather."

Eric's eyes widened in surprise. "Really?"

Robin nodded. "You are very important to us." She turned to Alexis, "you both are. And it would mean a lot to us if you would be godfather to our daughter."

His cheeks flushed and he looked over to his wife who was smiling happily at him. "I…I would be honoured."

For both Patrick and Robin it had been a short discussion about godparents. Each wanted their best friend and felt strongly their daughter would be well loved with Brenda and Eric in her life. And for Robin, though she had not voiced it to him, it also gave her a measure of comfort that should something happen to her he would have someone he trusted so deeply by his side to help him and that there would be someone who knew her better than she knew herself and would give her daughter all she needed to know about her mother.

Josh slipped from the couch, walked to Eric and kicked him hard in the shins. "NO!" he shouted. "Don't be her godfather!" Hot, angry tears streamed down the little boy's face as a stunned silence fell over the room.

Without hesitation, Eric bent down and scooped him up in his arms. "If you'll excuse us for a few moments."

He carried Josh into the living room and sat him down on the couch. "You kicked me," he told him. "And what is our rule about that?"

Tears continued to fall. "I'm supposed to use…use my words."

"That's right" he answered sternly. "So when we get home tonight there will be no movie and no story time." Reaching for him, he pulled him onto his lap. "Now, do you want to tell me why you're so upset?"

Fisting his small hands into Eric's t-shirt, he looked up at him with watery eyes. "She…she already has a mom and a dad. She doesn't need you."

Recognition dawned over him and hugged the young boy tightly. The legacy of his abuse was so far reaching that he wondered if they were ever going to find the end of it. "Josh" he said softly. "Do you think if I'm her godmother that I'm not going to have time for you?"

Gulping air he nodded. "I only have you" he cried. "And Alexis."

He soothingly rubbed his back. "Buddy, I will always have time for you – always. I love you very, very much. Being Kathleen's godfather isn't going to take me from you. And remember that visit with the judge we had last week?"

Josh nodded as he wiped the back of his hand against his face.

"That was our first visit to make sure that you stay with us forever," he reminded him. "You are always going to have me. I have so much love," he told him, "that I can give some to Kathleen and still have tons and tons and tons to give to you. Okay?"

"Okay" he replied meekly.

"How's it going?" Patrick asked as he came in the living room.

"We're okay," Eric replied. "Josh is just worried that I might not have enough time for him if I'm Kathleen's godfather."

"I see" he replied, sitting down beside them. "You know Josh, one of the reasons we want Eric to Kathleen's godfather is because sometimes a kid needs an adult to talk to who isn't their parents and we think Eric would be a big help to her – like he is to you. We know how much you love Eric and we wouldn't do anything to take him away from you."

"I don't have a godfather" he said in a small voice.

The two friends exchanged a knowing look. "Would you like a godfather?" Patrick asked.

Josh shrugged first, pulling on his bottom lip and then nodded. "Yeah."

"How about if Patrick was your godfather?" Eric asked. "Would you like that? And then if you needed to talk to someone and you didn't want to tell us."

The young boy contemplated the offer as his face broke into a wide smile. Climbing over Eric he threw himself in to Patrick's arms and hugged him tightly. "Okay" he said.

"This is awesome" Patrick said, kissing the little boy's cheek. "And when you're older, I'll tell you all the ways to make Eric crazy."

Josh laughed, relieved that everything was back in balance, and slid down from Patrick's lap and took off to find the girls.

"You're really good with him" Patrick observed.

He smiled appreciatively. "You know, I really believe that there is a child in the universe for everyone who wants one. It may not come in the way that you expect it to but it's there if you want it."

Remembering the moment that Kathleen's wail filled the hospital room and her scrunched up face as she wriggled and squirmed against Robin, he nodded. "There absolutely is a child for everyone – some times when you least expect it."

*****
Patrick came into the bedroom and peeling off his t-shirt, tossed it in the hamper. Slowly turning around, his sweatpants sitting low on his hips, he noticed Robin staring at him.

"Stop it" he told her, suppressing a smile.

"Stop what?" she asked innocently.

"Looking at me like you're….hungry"

Robin pouted. "I am hungry. But I apparently have to fast for another month at least."

"Don't remind me" he groused good naturedly as he pulled back the covers and climbed into bed.

Her fingers danced lightly along his bare chest all the way down to the top of his sweatpants. She smiled at the sharp intake of breath.

"No reason for you to fast" she suggested. "I could….help."

As her hand started to move lower, Patrick closed his over it and pulled it back above his waist band. "Uh-uh," he told her. "I'm not….eating," he rolled his eyes, "until we both can."

"You're my hero" she teased.

Stealing a kiss, he threaded his fingers through her hair. "I'll thank you to remember that when you're thinking of sending compromising photos to my friend."

"A ha! You have an ulterior motive!"

"Maybe." Rolling over, he reached inside the nightstand and pulled out a small black leather pouch. "Which reminds me, I think this is yours."

Taking the pouch, Robin shook out its contents and felt her eyes well with tears as her engagement ring fell into her hand. Forced to take it off when she went into labour, she had been missing it. She slid it on her finger and stared at it, admiringly, for a moment.

Looking up suddenly, her brown eyes danced with excitement. "Christmas Eve."

Patrick furrowed his brow. "What?"

"Let's set a wedding date," she offered. "Christmas Eve. I know it's kind of cheesy and it's three months away but it could be kind of beautiful and it'll be Kathleen's first Christmas – is there a better gift than having her parents marry?"

"Are you sure?"

Robin chewed contemplatively on her bottom lip. "I am. If you are."

Patrick brushed his lips against first her eyes, then her cheeks and then, finally her lips. "I am very, very sure" he whispered. "Christmas Eve it is."