Chapter 213

Love is a temple
Love, a higher law

Feeling Patrick's lips against the back of her neck, Robin smiled sleepily and snuggled in against him. His arms were around her waist and she closed her hands over his.

"It's our wedding day," she murmured.

"I know" he whispered.

Turning in his arms she gently stroked his cheek. "I cannot wait to be your wife."

He closed his mouth over hers, his tongue slipping between her lips as his hands drew her closer to him. Robin moaned softly as she lost herself in the sensation of his kiss before reluctantly pulling away.

His eyebrow quirked up in a challenge. "You're really sticking to that no pre-wedding sex thing, aren't you?"

Smiling, she nodded. "Just think how great it will be tonight!"

Dipping his head he let his lips hover over hers. "I have news for you, it's great every night." Blushing, she shook her head in disbelief. "I'm going to get in the shower, spend some time with Kathleen and then head over to the church to get dressed."

"Okay," she replied, sweeping her hand over his chest. She paused as she touched his tattoo. Peering closer, she traced her finger over the heart of the claddagh. "When did you get that?"

Looking down at the small 'K' that he had added to the left of the R, he smiled. "A couple of days ago. I told the guy to make it small though, I'm hoping to add others."

"God, I love you" she sighed.

Patrick stole another quick kiss before kicking back the covers. "Me too."

He showered and dressed before joining Robin and Kathleen in the kitchen. They fed her together and with great assistance, helped her unwrap her first Christmas gift. It was a tiny silver locket from both of them with their pictures inside and on the back it was engraved Love Mom and Dad.

Patrick lingered as long as he could, reluctant to leave his girls but as he heard Brenda and Alexis outside the door he grabbed his coat, stole several more kisses and slid past them on the way to the church.

Robin watched as he drove away and turning around, she smiled at her friends. "The next time I see him he's going to be waiting for me at the foot of the altar."

"Then we better get you dressed!" Brenda exclaimed and the three of them got to work.

******
Patrick, clad in a jet black tuxedo, fidgeted with his tie as he paced restlessly in the anteroom of the church. Eric, seated in one of the wingback chairs, stared on in amusement.

"If memory serves I think you told me at my wedding that you were going to be a cool cat come your day. No nerves whatsoever."

"I'm not nervous" he replied quickly. "I just want to get this show on the road. Do you know if they're here yet?"

With a smile, Eric nodded. "I had a text from my wife, they are on their way."

"Good, good." He rubbed his hands together as he continued to pace. A knock at the door nearly made him jump from his skin.

Smirking, Eric got to his feet and opened the door.

"How is my son holding up?" Noah asked.

"Come in and see for yourself" Eric said. "I'll go see how the ladies are doing."

Noah closed the door behind him and smiled proudly at his son. "How are you?"

"Ready to get married already" Patrick replied. Looking at his father in his dark suit with a beautiful cranberry coloured rose pinned to his lapel, Patrick smiled. "You clean up nicely."

"Why thank you. You don't do too badly yourself." Clearing his throat, he smiled nervously. "I just….I guess you normally wish the groom luck at this point but I don't think you need it. I don't think you need luck because finding Robin, falling in love and surviving everything you have come through wasn't by chance. So I won't wish you good luck but I will tell you that I am incredibly proud that you are my son and I love you very much."

Momentarily overcome, Patrick paused before hugging his father tightly. "I love you too Dad. And I'm really glad you're here to share this with me."

"I have something for you," he said, reaching inside his jacket pocket. Pulling out an envelope, he passed it to him.

Patrick sucked in a breath as he took it and recognized his mother's handwriting. To my son, on his wedding day.

Taking a seat in the recently vacated wingback chairs, he slid his finger underneath the seal and opened the letter. When Noah made a move to leave, Patrick looked up and shook his head and motioned to his father to sit down. He didn't want to be alone for this. He was done being alone.

My darling Patrick,

Today is your wedding day and I would give anything to be there by your side, with you and your father, to witness you make your commitment to the woman you love. Though I cannot be there in person, trust that I am there in spirit, I am always with you in spirit.

Marriage is not an easy thing, despite what anyone tells you. But like most things in life that which requires great effort delivers the greatest rewards. There are no real secrets to a successful marriage but know that a little patience, kindness and compassion go a long way to making everything better. If your marriage is based on a strong foundation of love, and I am sure it is, it can survive anything.

I have no doubt in my mind the woman you are about to marry is incredible in every way because she would have to be for you to love her. Cherish her Patrick. A love like this is not to be taken for granted, ever. Talk to her, hold her hand, dance her around the kitchen. Tell her she's beautiful, tell her she's smart and let her know that your life is better and more complete with her in it because that, my darling boy, is what being in love means.

I have loved your father from the moment I met him and I cannot imagine a life without his love in it. I wish that for you. I wish for you to share with your wife what your father and I have shared. We didn't have the gift of long years in our marriage but the gift of love was much greater and made up for any shortfall.

I wish a life blessed with children and happiness. While I wish I could see the man you have become, I have every faith that I would be proud of you.

I love you very much.

Love,

Mom.

*****
Eric knocked on the door the other anteroom and smiled lazily as Alexis opened it. Dressed in a long green dress, her brown eyes seemed to sparkle and he was reminded yet again, though he needed no reminder, of just how beautiful his wife was.

"You look handsome," she told him.

"And you make it hard to breathe," he replied, brushing his lips over hers. "Is it possible to see the bride for a moment?"

Alexis looked over her shoulder and Robin nodded. Standing out of the way, she let her husband through the door.

Eric stopped as he saw her and gave a low whistle. "Patrick's head is going to explode when he sees you."

"That's the general idea" she teased.

He kissed her cheek. "You're beautiful."

"Thanks. How is my husband to be doing?"

"Pacing a hole in the carpet" he laughed. "But other than that he's fine." Reaching into his pocket, he pulled a small box. "This is a little something I wanted you to have. You….You took a chance on my best friend and I'm really glad you did."

Robin smiled and took the box from him. Prying it open she saw a small silver disc with Michael the Archangel on the front, flipping it over she saw the engraving on the back. A warrior.

"Eric," she whispered.

"Thank you for fighting for him and for not giving up."

She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. "I could never give up on him."

A second knock at the door brought Mac to the room. Eric returned to the groom's room and Brenda and Alexis stepped into the hall to do a last minute check on the church.

Mac stood in the centre of the room, gazing lovingly at his niece with tears in his eyes. "You are more beautiful than I ever could have imagined" he told her.

Wiping carefully at her eyes, she shook her head. "Stop it Uncle Mac, you aren't supposed to make me cry."

He folded her into his arms, taking care not to crease her dress. "I love you Robin. I love that you took this chance with Patrick. I am in awe, as always, with the woman you have become and with the quiet courage you display every day in living your life. Being your uncle, raising you, has been the greatest privilege of my life."

"Uncle Mac – the woman I have become is largely down to how you raised me. I love you."

"I love you too sweetheart," he replied, kissing her forehead. "I have something for you – it's from Noah and he's asked me to give it to you." Mac pulled an envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.

To my daughter-in-law on her wedding day"Do you want me to go?" he asked as she carefully studied the envelope.

Shaking her head, she reached for his hand. "No, please stay."

Sinking to the chair, she opened it and with a slightly shaky hand unfolded the letter.

Dear Daughter-in-law,

How I wish I knew your name! But unfortunately I am not so blessed as to be able to share this day with you and my son.

Robin gasped as she realized who the letter was from.

I have no doubt you are an extraordinary woman. I hope that you are patient as well because being married to a Drake man requires an ample amount of it! If I could give you any advice about the family you are about to marry into it is this – never doubt how much Patrick loves you. It has been my experience that Drake men are slow to embrace love but once they do, they do it completely and they do it for life.

Patrick has always been shy when it comes to expressing his feelings – he and his father share some antiquated macho ideal – but he has a bit of his mother in him too and if you are patient with him, he will reveal his whole heart to you. He will be a good husband because he has lived with that example. While his father and I never saw our golden years together, each day married to him was golden and I wish the very same for you and Patrick.

I wish for you both a home filled with love and passion and children. Being loved by a Drake man is a wonderful and exceptional gift and I hope that every day with Patrick brings you joy.

Welcome to the family – we are lucky to have you.

Love,

Mattie Drake.

Robin swiped again at the tears before carefully folding the letter and placing it back in the envelope. Smiling happily she stood up and looked at her uncle.

"It's time for me to get married."