Page 19 of Robin and Marian
At his words, Scarlett edged into the shadows behind Marian. Apparently, Alan wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to see Robin. Marian tensed as Midge nodded and blabbed everything, “She’s not feeling well. I heard her fighting with Alan. She wants him to be nice to you, but he hates you.”
Robin’s expression filled with pain. Marian couldn’t take much more of this. Midge patted his nephew’s suit pocket. “Where’s Uncle Franco?”
Robin’s hands immediately went to his jacket. “Did you just pickpocket me?”
Midge let out a light laugh and returned his wallet. “See? I can be a thief like you!”
“Midge!” A stern voice made the boy’s back stiffen, and Marian sucked in her breath when Alan came from the crowd to claim the boy from his sworn enemy. He still looked the tormented artist, with his slicked-back auburn hair and the shadow of a beard. His clear blue eyes were guarded as they darted from Robin to Midge. “I told you not to run off!”
Robin faced his brother-in-law, his hands dropping to his sides. “Alan?”
Alan took a deep breath, and then with a clenched jaw, refused to acknowledge Robin, only focused on the boy. “Come with me.”
“What? I like my nephew!” Midge struggled as Alan pulled him away. “I want Robin! I want to be in his gang of thieves!”
“It’s your bedtime, Midge. Scarlett is asking for you.”
That was a lie.Scarlett stood behind Marian and hadn’t asked for Midge once. Robin watched them go, looking lost. Alan wouldn’t lower himself to recognize Robin, even with a cutting remark. And for once, Marian realized how traumatizing this night would be for the disgraced businessman.
Scarlett groaned behind her. “I cannot talk tohimtonight. Alan, he’s just… so, so hurt and angry. I don’t want to make things worse between us. Help me get out of here before Robin sees me!”
“But…” Her brother could use a friendly face… or at least one that didn’t despise him. “Scarlett,” Marian began. Before she could plead his case, Tuck came back to the table for more food. He had quite the appetite.
“This party is great!” he yelled over the crowd to Robin, then catching sight of Marian again, Tuck grinned and pointed her out just as Scarlett ducked behind the table. “Hey, look who it is!”
Luckily Robin hadn’t caught sight of his sister hiding from him, but when his eyes rested on Marian instead, he actually grimaced. Marian frowned in response. She held a half-eaten cookie to her lips like she was frozen in time.
Tuck waved her over, the same time Scarlett shooed Marian away from her, not wanting to get caught. Setting her shoulders, Marian felt like she was on the other end of a rope as she came unwillingly to where Robin stood. She was aware that, besides Tuck, it was the closest anyone over the age of ten had dared come to Robin all night, and she tried to act natural. With her eyes still on Tuck, she said the first thing that came to mind. “He’sstill here?”
Robin glanced over at his friend, who lurched away to wander through the party again. “Yeah… he keeps coming back.”
It was more than he could say for any of his other friends. Marian’s forgotten chocolate chip cookie dangled in her hand, and for some reason, it captured Robin’s attention. He took it from her, his warm fingers brushing through hers. “This is Mrs. Koch’s recipe,” he said. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had one of these?”
She wagered a guess. “Four years?” His face reddened, and she realized that she’d given away that his prison stint was on the forefront of her mind—on everyone’s really. “And now you have to put up with us?” she whispered. “I saw what happened with Alan. I’m sorry.”
His beautiful gaze met hers. “You feel sorry for me?”
She did, but Robin wasn’t stupid. He would’ve known what would happen to him at the party. “You’re brave for coming back here.”
With a start, she noticed her Aunt Elinor across the way watching her. Her relative’s lips had firmed with disapproval. There were more obstacles to their friendship than he knew. Marian tried to wrap up her conversation before she hurt her aunt further. “Look,” she said. “I think that Tuck’s a good friend, but he’s going to get you into more trouble. Maybe you should get rid of him.”
She tried to leave with those words of advice and Robin caught her hand. “Guy is allowed to bring aspecial guest…”
And just like that, Robin reeled her back in. “It’s not like that,” she argued. “Guy only invited me to write an article on Richard’s retirement.”
“For the paper that Guy owns?” Robin was touching every sensitive point, including the ones on the back of her wrist, and to her horror he kept at it. “So you’re Guy’s propaganda arm now? I can hardly wait to read your glowing reports on him.”
“You think I’d do that?”
“Maybe.” He drew her closer. The sensations running through her as his thumb rubbed against her skin made her feel helpless against his charm. It almost made her forget what he was saying, until she heard, “I’m sure Guy wouldn’t mind getting a little more from you. That’s what this is, isn’t it? He wants to mix business with pleasure?”
It was like he’d splashed cold water all over her. Why was he picking a fight with the one person from his past who would still talk to him? She bristled. “Oh? So I can’t move on from you? What was I supposed to do? The world didn’t just stop after you left, Robin.”
Pain flooded his eyes. “It stopped for me.” The declaration completely flattened her irritation, and she watched the display of emotions play through his face—hurt, desire, anger. “I’d hoped that maybe it would’ve stopped for you, even for a little bit.”
That ripped a hole through her heart, but she knew he was the one at fault here. She wouldn’t let him turn this on her. Jerking her hand from his, she crossed her arms defiantly, hoping to create a barrier between them, one that Marian wouldn’t dare cross herself.
“Because it’s all about you?” she asked. “Did you ever stop to think about what we all went through while you were gone? I’m trying to make a life for myself and forget I ever knew you! It’s been hard.”
