Chapter One - Robin
“I hate leaving you alone at Christmas,” Max said, placing a cocktail dress very carefully on top of the rest of her clothes, which were all neatly folded in her suitcase.
Robin laughed. “Don’t think you’re going to stay here and blame me for missing Christmas at your parent’s house.”
Max turned to her and pulled a face. “Now the time’s come, I really wish we were having Christmas here. But when my parents asked Dan’s parents to visit for the holidays. I knew they really wanted to accept so they could get to know each other.”
Robin gave a short laugh. “I'll give them two hours before they change their mind and high tail it back here.”
“Two hours, I think you’re being generous Robin.” Max smiled at her, and once again Robin saw her anguish at leaving.
“You know I have a special relationship with your father.” She went and hugged Max. “Listen, despite everything, I hope it goes well. Dan’s family is so nice, you never know, some of that Christmas spirit might rub off on your father. Anyway it’s good for them to meet, once you and Dan are married you’re all going to be related. I truly hope they all get on together.”
Max unconsciously fiddled with the engagement ring on her finger. “Don’t remind me about the wedding. I feel sick every time I think of it.”
“It’ll be fantastic, and you and Dan deserve to be happy together.”
Max held Robin tightly, her voice a little choked with tears. “And what about you Robin?”
“Don’t you worry. It’s time I let go of the apron strings.” She took a step away from Max, determined not to let her emotions get the better of her. If she burst into tears now, Max would cancel her plans, and that wouldn’t be fair on anyone.
“You know you can live with us once we’re married.” Max said.
“I know, Dan very thoughtfully told me that right after he proposed.”
“He did?” Max went back to her packing. “I hate the idea of you being alone, and you know we’d never see you homeless.”
“Who knows, I might surprise you and find Mr Right before you get married. The wedding is still another six months away. I have plenty of time.”
“I would have agreed with you when you were still seeing Greg.” Max paused in her packing again. “I thought you were serious about each other.”
“I don’t know. He gives me the impression he’s waiting for something, but I don’t know what. I told you I thought I’d met him before. But he never said anything, not directly.”
“And you didn’t ask him?”
“No. That’s the problem, I’m scared at which stage of my life I might have met him.”
“What does that mean? Do you have a secret life I don't know about?”
“No. Well maybe yes, I had been around a bit before you found me.”
Max laughed. “That makes you sound like a waif and stray. It’s not as if I found you at the dog pound.”
“It’s close. I dread to think where I might have ended up if you hadn’t let me move in with you.”
“Hey, you forget, you were the one who helped me finish my education. After the argument with my father.”
“Yes. That argument. Do you ever think how much better off you would have been if that had never happened?”
“Yes.”
Robin sighed. “I am sorry. Not that I spoke to him like that, but that it ruined your relationship with him, and your mom.”
“Now I am worried about leaving you.” Max sat down on the bed, looking directly at Robin, making sure she understood every word she had to say. “If I had continued to live under my father’s thumb, I would never have known what it was like to be myself, to make my own decisions. Think of all the mad things we’ve done. And most importantly you would never have persuaded me to hire an escort, and we both know how well that turned out. So never apologise for being yourself.”
“That’s the problem Max. All of a sudden, I’m not sure who I am.”
“Yes, you do Robin. You’re you.
“I hate leaving you alone at Christmas,” Max said, placing a cocktail dress very carefully on top of the rest of her clothes, which were all neatly folded in her suitcase.
Robin laughed. “Don’t think you’re going to stay here and blame me for missing Christmas at your parent’s house.”
Max turned to her and pulled a face. “Now the time’s come, I really wish we were having Christmas here. But when my parents asked Dan’s parents to visit for the holidays. I knew they really wanted to accept so they could get to know each other.”
Robin gave a short laugh. “I'll give them two hours before they change their mind and high tail it back here.”
“Two hours, I think you’re being generous Robin.” Max smiled at her, and once again Robin saw her anguish at leaving.
“You know I have a special relationship with your father.” She went and hugged Max. “Listen, despite everything, I hope it goes well. Dan’s family is so nice, you never know, some of that Christmas spirit might rub off on your father. Anyway it’s good for them to meet, once you and Dan are married you’re all going to be related. I truly hope they all get on together.”
Max unconsciously fiddled with the engagement ring on her finger. “Don’t remind me about the wedding. I feel sick every time I think of it.”
“It’ll be fantastic, and you and Dan deserve to be happy together.”
Max held Robin tightly, her voice a little choked with tears. “And what about you Robin?”
“Don’t you worry. It’s time I let go of the apron strings.” She took a step away from Max, determined not to let her emotions get the better of her. If she burst into tears now, Max would cancel her plans, and that wouldn’t be fair on anyone.
“You know you can live with us once we’re married.” Max said.
“I know, Dan very thoughtfully told me that right after he proposed.”
“He did?” Max went back to her packing. “I hate the idea of you being alone, and you know we’d never see you homeless.”
“Who knows, I might surprise you and find Mr Right before you get married. The wedding is still another six months away. I have plenty of time.”
“I would have agreed with you when you were still seeing Greg.” Max paused in her packing again. “I thought you were serious about each other.”
“I don’t know. He gives me the impression he’s waiting for something, but I don’t know what. I told you I thought I’d met him before. But he never said anything, not directly.”
“And you didn’t ask him?”
“No. That’s the problem, I’m scared at which stage of my life I might have met him.”
“What does that mean? Do you have a secret life I don't know about?”
“No. Well maybe yes, I had been around a bit before you found me.”
Max laughed. “That makes you sound like a waif and stray. It’s not as if I found you at the dog pound.”
“It’s close. I dread to think where I might have ended up if you hadn’t let me move in with you.”
“Hey, you forget, you were the one who helped me finish my education. After the argument with my father.”
“Yes. That argument. Do you ever think how much better off you would have been if that had never happened?”
“Yes.”
Robin sighed. “I am sorry. Not that I spoke to him like that, but that it ruined your relationship with him, and your mom.”
“Now I am worried about leaving you.” Max sat down on the bed, looking directly at Robin, making sure she understood every word she had to say. “If I had continued to live under my father’s thumb, I would never have known what it was like to be myself, to make my own decisions. Think of all the mad things we’ve done. And most importantly you would never have persuaded me to hire an escort, and we both know how well that turned out. So never apologise for being yourself.”
“That’s the problem Max. All of a sudden, I’m not sure who I am.”
“Yes, you do Robin. You’re you.
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