Grant has been impatiently checking his watch. "Dammit, where is Robert? It's been two days, and I haven't heard from him." After hearing about Anna on the news, he assumed Robert had been busy tying up loose ends. But when he tried to contact him last night, and there was no answer at the townhouse, he just chalked it up to Robert's erratic behavior of late concerning Anna Devane. He wondered why he was always uptight whenever she was around, or her name was mentioned in conversation. He figured it had something to do with their working together during their WSB days. He needed for him to take over the surveillance as he was working the graveyard shift tonight. It had really been degrading having to start at the bottom rung again after being stripped of his license to practice medicine until he took his boards again under his new name. Although, he did feel fortunate that Dr. Hardy and the hospital board were willing to give him a second chance after his involvement in the Prometheus Disk scandal. At least, then he had Celia's support to start over. However, the arrival of Grant Putnam and his machinations had succeeded in driving a wedge between them. He never meant to turn to Tania Rostov, now Jones, for comfort, and Jimmy Lee seizing the opportunity to drive them farther apart. Now Celia was planning to marry Jimmy Lee. He really hoped he could prevent her further heartache even if it meant she would hate him more. "It's 4:30. I'll give him another ring, then I'll just have to let it go for tonight, and pick it up tomorrow if I don't hear from him," he thought.
The phone was ringing when Robert, Robin, and Filomena arrived at the townhouse. He hurriedly but their bags down, and rushed to the phone. "Scorpio." "Robert, this is Grant. I've been trying to reach you all day. Where have you been?" "Grant! I'm sorry, mate. I forgot our arrangements. Something unexpected came up and I had to go out of town overnight." "Listen, I'm sorry to hear about Anna. I know you were once close." Yeah, that was a long time ago." "I've got to work this evening. Are you going to take over tonight?" "I have some things I need to take care of, but I'll be there as soon as possible." "Okay. There's nothing to report so far, but maybe you can catch a break. I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight." Robert hung up then picked up the bags and led Filomena and Robin up to the spare room. "I'm sorry, there's only one bed here. I can order another bed to be delivered in the morning. Are you going to be alright sharing tonight?" "Oh, si, Roberto. Robin often sleeps with me when she has a bad dream. We'll be alright tonight. Won't we, bambina?" Robin nodded, smiling up at her. "Listen I have somewhere I need to be tonight, but I can make you something to eat if you're hungry." "Oh, Roberto, you are so skinny. I'll fix something to put some meat on your bones. Where's the kitchen?" Relieved he didn't have to display his lack of cooking skills, he agreed, and then proceeded to give them a tour of the house. After dinner, Robert explained to Filomena he had to go out to out for the night for the case he's working on. "I won't be back until morning. Are you okay for tonight?" he asked. Filomena said, "Si, the bambina is falling asleep. She's had a long day. I'll make a grocery list to go shopping tomorrow, and then I'll go to bed too." "Goodnight, then." "Goodnight. Be careful."
Robert was glad he didn't have to spend the night alone in his bed. He couldn't sleep well without Holly by his side. Hopefully, tonight won't be a waste of time. He needed something to keep his mind occupied on something other than missing her. Unfortunately it was going to be a long uneventful night, as Jimmy Lee had brought some work home to do, watched a little television, called Celia and talked to her for about a half hour, then went to bed. Walking into the townhouse the next morning, he was greeted with the aroma of fresh brewed coffee and what smelled like a delicious breakfast. Filomena walked out of the kitchen, spotted him, and said, "Good morning Roberto, I fixed you a good breakfast this morning. Come, eat." Robert said, "That smells wonderful, Filomena. I need to shower and change before going to work. I'll be down in a jiffy. Did you sleep well? Where's Robin?" "Yes, we both slept well. Robin is upstairs getting dressed." With that, Robin appeared and bounced down the steps, ran over and gave Filomena a hug and a big kiss. "Good morning, Grandma." "Good morning, bambina." Robert stooped down to Robin's height, and said, "Good morning, Robin. How are you this morning?" Robin skipped over to him, saying, "Good morning, Robbie," as she put her arms around his neck, a squeezed. Robert was pleasantly surprised at the ease at which Robin did not shy away from him, after all, he was a complete stranger to her, but she trusted him. "What are we going to do today, Robbie?" "Well I have to work this morning..." Seeing the disappointment on her face, he came up with an idea. But, I'll be sure to come home for lunch, and maybe we can picnic in the park, and then go to the zoo." "The zoo?" Robin said excitedly. "Then it's settled. I have to get ready for work, we'll have breakfast, and I'll go to work while you and your grandma go shopping, then I'll be back in no time." Over breakfast, Robert told Filomena that there was a market just a couple of blocks away. He would call a taxi if she needed one. "Oh no, Roberto, I walk to store at home. I can walk here too." Robert went to work that day feeling lighter than he had felt since Holly left. For the next couple of days, he spent his days between the office, home and tag-teaming with Grant on surveilling Jimmy Lee. He really enjoyed getting to know Robin. She was a bright girl with an active imagination. He couldn't help but thinking how she and Holly would get along. He truly believed Holly would love her as much as he was beginning to.
One evening, when he went to relieve Grant, Grant told him that he believed he had been barking up the wrong tree. "What do you mean?" Robert asked. "I always believed Jimmy Lee was going after Celia to get his hands on the Quartermaine fortune, and that he was two-timing her, as well. This evening he has a very interesting guest and they were discussing a very unusual subject." "Which was what?" "Apparently Lorena Sharpe has a beef with the Quartermaines, too." "Oh?" "Apparently, Edward would only finance her spa if she didn't have controlling interest in it. She and Jimmy Lee were discussing a way to come up with the cash she needs to buy out a couple of investors so that the board, headed by Edward, could not prevent her from making changes which would allow her to expand the services which the spa already provides. Jimmy Lee told her that he was working a deal as well, and wondered if she wanted in on it also. He went on to say that he knew someone who could provide information on which stocks to invest in to boost his "portfolio." "Insider trading?" Robert said incredulously. "That's my guess, but we need to get proof to back up those suspicions. Oh, and by the way, I haven't heard her leave yet either, and his music selection has changed as well." "Well, I can't do anything about his personal life, although I feel bad for Celia, and you, it looks like she may have to find out on her own. I'm sorry, mate, but, good work. I don't think he'll be contacting his source tonight. So, I'm going to call it a night. I'll come over here tomorrow afternoon after work. I want to get home tonight and spend some time with Robin." "I heard you had houseguests. What's the story, if you want to tell me about it?" "Well, everyone is going to find out sooner or later," Robert said smiling. "Robin is my daughter." "Your daughter?" Grant repeated, stunned. "Who's her mother? Or can I guess?" "Yes, Anna was her mother. We were married briefly, but the marriage ended before she knew she was pregnant and I was already on another mission. It appears the treasure wasn't her only motivation to come to Port Charles. She only told me about Robin the night after Holly left. We had an argument, and I said some pretty awful things to her. The next day, she was dead," Robert said sadly."If I wasn't wrapped up in my own grief, maybe things wouldn't have turned out the way they did." "Does Robin know how...?" "No, and I'm hoping to avoid that conversation as long as possible, although Anna requested that she be told when she could handle it. Anna had many regrets, but she wanted Robin to know she never regretted having her, only the poor choices that she made, in the hopes that Robin won't make those same mistakes." Her adopted grandmother will be leaving soon and I'm going to have to find someone to care for her while I'm at work...at least until school starts up again. I've asked Felicia to stop in tomorrow after her classes. She won't have to be at Kelly's to work until later. If she and Robin hit it off, maybe we can make temporary arrangements. I'll talk to you tomorrow. I hope we find answers if Jimmy Lee really is up to something illegal. See you then." Robert left Grant, eager to get back to Robin and spending a fun evening at home with her.
