Chapter 51
January and the horrors which it had contained gave way to February, a moment which provided more joy than any other had in a long time. Grayson and the shadow which he had cast were gone, meaning the lasting effect of the trial was Steph and Sophie's friendship, which, when all said and done did not seem like a bad legacy to Kayla.
They spent their first weekend of what Kayla felt was freedom having a quiet dinner on Saturday night with the Brady's which was followed by brunch on Sunday with the Johnson's and the Devereaux's.
And through all of this, Steve was looking at the future thinking of his and Kayla's hopes and dreams. And it was then he came up with what he was sure could be called a great idea.
He thought about it on his own for a while, but he knew he had to move quickly if it was going to come to fruition. And so he consulted his brother in law.
"Do you think she would like it, Beauregard?" he asked as the two of them sat at their desks at the station.
"I think you are on to a winner."
It was at that power then Hope walked in.
"I do not know if I like the sounds of this."
It felt as if they were plotting something.
"Fancy face, I do not think you know it now but I swear to you, you are going to love this."
Hope raised an eyebrow as she looked at the man she loved best in all the world and the best friend he had ever had.
"Curious and curiouser," she grinned.
Neither of the men needed to be told what that grin was. She wanted in on this.
"Shall we let her in on this Bo?" asked Steve.
"As long as she promises to keep what we are going to tell her a secret."
"Oh, I swear it," grinned Hope.
"Well then – maybe a women's perspective is going to be useful. What it is, is this…."
X x x
For the following few days, the secret trickled down among the family with the one's provision that none of this should reach Kayla's ears. If it had been anything else, then Stephanie was sure she would have gone and told her mother as fast she could for she felt she had been kept in the dark enough over the past year.
But even she had to admit her father's plan was genius.
She had heard plenty of stories when she had been a young girl of what her parents had been like when they had first met. She was the first to admit if she had her way then she would have been able to go with them on all the adventures which they had had. But this plan – it gave her the feeling that was just what she was now able to do.
It was as if she was going to be able to walk into the set of one of her dreams. All she had to do was keep mum until Valentine 's Day.
Deep down, she was just so glad she had given her father another chance when he had come asking for it at the beginning of the year. Looking back, she knew everything could be so very different and the truth was they were all so lucky because of the way things had turned out for them.
And this time she had no doubt, everyone, was playing for keeps and that was how it would stay.
Steve worked quietly and quickly over the next week, stealing every moment which he was able to at the police station so he did not have to do any of his plotting and planning at home.
And before any of them knew it, the day was upon them.
X x x
Valentines Day
"Good morning, my Valentine," beamed Shane as Kimberly came down the stairs.
So this was it.
The day was here... Kimberly felt a rush of thrill go through her.
"I am so excited for Kay!"
But the romance was not just for her sister and Steve which was something Shane was going to make sure of, he thought to himself, as he presented his love with a red rose.
It was not as if it was always easy for the two of them to get a moment to themselves these days, what with Theresa and the baby there – though it was to their great delight, it meant moments alone were precious and few, though always cherished.
"Oh, you - my Valentine," she said as she cupped his face with a smile.
The two of them shared a kiss before she heard the telltale cry from the kitchen which said yes their grandson was up and yes he wanted his breakfast and could his mother give it to him now, please. Theresa was trying to hush the baby as she did so, singing to her own little valentine.
How different their lives were now to when she and Shane first met, thought Kim to herself, though she would have been upset if they had just been the same. They were thirty years down the road now.
This was what life was about.
Change and growth and everything in between and she knew how lucky they were that they got to live it and live it to the full. She had known that for a long time.
"So, are you ready for the day?" he asked her.
"I think after everything we have all been through over the past year we are all going to be ready for this. It is going to be a day to remember and," she said as she checked the time, "we need to get on the move soon."
She had to get to her mothers and make sure she was sorted before that two of them went to pick up Kayla with Hope.
"I think we have time for a little breakfast on our own first," said Shane as he put his arm around her. When she had got up all she had been able to think of was the day ahead and where they were going.
Suddenly she realized she did just want to be in the here and now – for just a little bit.
"I think so," she agreed with a smile but it was not long until her thoughts were back with her sister. "I do hope Stephanie is going to be ok this morning."
"I think she is going to manger her mother just fine," Shane said with confidence.
Kim could do nothing but hope that was true.
X x x
When Kayla woke up, she was sad to see Steve was not by her side. This was Valentine's Day and she had big plans for the two of them – sometimes she cursed the fact she was such a deep sleeper these days, though there was a point in her own history not so long ago when she had longed for this to be the case. Sometimes she learnt you had to be very careful as to what you wished for.
She got out of bed and made her way into the living room where she found her daughter was up and about.
From the sounds of it, Stephanie had had a hectic few days so when she had said the night before that she had a day off, her mother had hoped she was going to get a chance to sleep in but that hadn't happened either.
"Morning mom!" her daughter said with a big smile on her face.
Kayla felt the sixth sense within her when it came to her family begin to tingle. She did not know what it was but there was definitely something afoot and she was going to find out what it was before the end of the day.
That was for sure. But she was not going to let her know she was onto them this soon.
"How did you sleep?" she asked Stephanie.
The truth was she had been far too excited to sleep. But she was not going to tell her that.
"Oh, I slept really well – why don't I make us two girls a nice Valentine's Day breakfast," she suggested with a smile.
"That sounds as if it is a lovely idea but I would like to know where the men in my life are."
Kay had thought she might be able to see her son before he left the house even if she had not been able to see her husband.
The horrible thought Steve had headed off to work crossed Kayla's mind.
But she knew him a lot better than that and for him to do that on Valentines Days - it just would not happen. If he was up and out already then she had a feeling the police station was going to be the last place he was.
"Dads out…" Stephanie said in a manner which said she wished they could just brush over that little fact.
"Has Joey left too?"
"Yup - come on!"
"Baby girl, what's going on?"
"Nothing!"
Kayla looked at the door with curiosity for it was clear something was going on and her daughter was in on it… And with that, her daughter had got her way and they were off for there girlie breakfast.
It was quite clear she was not going to tell her what was occurring and almost more than anyone in the world, she trusted her daughter so she submitted to breakfast in the faith that at some point in the day she was going to be able to see her husband and son, if not quite as early in the day as she thought she would. She was beginning to think that all plots which were going on around here begun and ended with her little Stephanie Kay these days.
No matter about anything else though, they did have an admittedly lovely breakfast. Stephanie did waffles, and pancakes and her mother had no doubt every mouth full of food which she ate was made with love. The coffee was also divine.
"Thank you, sweetie."
"You are very welcome," her daughter said with a smile. I think this is the kind of thing I missed the most when I was not living at home." Stephanie admitted.
Kayla smiled. Well, it was certainly the kind of time which her mother missed having with her the very most.
"Now the trial Is over, I did not know if you were going to want to go back to the city – get your career and your life back on track to where it was before that man blew our lives apart," her mother admitted.
She would not have blamed her daughter if she had wanted to go back.
Salem was a small place ultimately and there were going to be a lot more chances for her somewhere like Chicago.
"No – no I am more than happy where I am," said Stephanie. She did not know when it was she had turned into such a homebody, but now that she had she did not think anything was going to change her back for a while. she was exactly where she wanted to be.
"Well, I am not going to say that does not make your old mom happy for it does." Kayla smiled as she took her daughter's hand in her own and rubbed her thumb back and forth.
Mother and daughter looked at each other for a moment, and it only came to an end when the doorbell rang.
Kayla did not have much time to observe Steph seemed to light up and buzz to hear there were people at the door.
"I will get it," mother and daughter said at the same time. Kayla had wondered if Stephanie was going to try and stop her, but she did not.
When the door opened she felt her heart flood with love for in the door stood her mother and Kimberly, with Theresa, as well as Ciara and Hope.
"Why are you all here?" she said with a wide smile. It was lovely to see them but she could not say she understood.
"Oh thanks, Aunt Kayla – that's love," Theresa said as they came into the house.
And it looked as if they were all planning to move into her house for they had dress bags and makeup and - and once more it occurred to her that this was not the Valentine's Day which Kayla had planned.
"What's going on?" and this time she asked with her best mom voice to her daughter. It was not the first time she had asked that question that day and she really did want to know.
"Do you trust me?" Stephanie asked.
And that was a very easy question for her mother to respond to for no matter what else was going on she knew that she very much did.
Steph was her best friend. She had proved that so many times over lately.
"Then why don't you just let us get you ready for a day you are not going to be able to forget in a hurry."
Steph a feeling that none of them was going to forget it for as long as they lived.
On the toss of it, it seemed to Kayla she did not have a lot of choices. It seemed to her they had all put work into this and for her to kick off and demand they told her was just going to spoil whatever was afoot – far better to go with it.
"Ok," said Kayla said submitting to her daughter.
They were just about to shut the door when the door to Adrienne apartment opened and she too dived over." Can I come and join the fun?" she asked.
She had Katie in her arms in a little party dress and she knew they were off out at least – the sooner she found out where the better.
"I am beginning to see it is more the merrier!" beamed Kayla as her sister in law dashed across the hall.
Kayla did not know where they were all off to, but it was quite apparent, they were all out for the day. When she was asked what she thought they were all doing she was forced to give the answer that she believed they were all off on some sort of lovely lady's day for everyone was putting their best on and though she did not know what they were up to, it did not take her long to get excited with them all about her.
She did hope she was wrong though – she would like a little male company given the day and she felt quite specific about whose male company she wanted.
During the course of the morning, she saw Kim and Theresa trying to keep baby sick off their clothes and Hope and Ciara had words over how much make up the younger was allowed to wear that day and as for herself, her hair was done by her daughter.
Once that was done, it was time to change. "Now mom, as it is a surprise I had to pick your outfit for today," Stephanie said. Due to the chaos which reigned in the apartment, she had pulled Kayla back into her own room and the two of them were on their own when her daughter showed her the long gown which she had chosen from her. Due to her mother's love of yellow roses, she had chosen soft lemon for the dress, which was floor length and completed by a long-sleeved shrug. After all, due to the time of year there was a good chance that Kayla might just get cold whenever they were off to but as the doctor looked at the dress which had been chosen for her, she really did feel quite speechless. She had known her baby girl had good taste but she had not realised she knew her quite that well.
"Do you like it, mom?" Stephanie asked for she had been really quite terrified by this task. Though deep down she knew it was not as if the whole day depended on her get the dress right, she was honest enough to say to herself it mattered a lot.
"Oh, baby girl – I love it!"
"Well then, let's get you in it! We need to be off soon!"
X x x
When they left the apartment, Kayla still had no idea where she was going.
"I do feel as if we are going on a magical mystery tour," she said to her mother with a smile.
"Oh I think you are going to like where we are going more than there," Caroline said as they got in the car.
"So, you know as well?"
"I am your mother darling – I know everything!"
"Well, I am glad – if you know and you think this is right then I am sure it is."
"Oh sweetheart, I know it is right."
Just from the outfits which everyone had put on Kayla was sure it was to be a day to remember.
"If I did not know much better, you know I would think we were off to a wedding," Kayla murmured to her mother.
And as they drove done to the Marina, that feeling only increased. They pulled into the harbour, and it was then that she knew just where she was and just why she was there thought she had no idea how Steve had pulled it off for a second time in their lifetime…
She did not need to be told that the yacht which she could see Steve was on right there was the very one which they had married for the first time they had survived against the odds.
When she had met him here once before it had just been Marcus who he had had as his best man, but she did not need to be told that was why Joey was by his father's side. There was so much about that moment which she did not need to be told – so much which she just knew.
And it felt to her as if it was the most wonderful thing in all the world.
She got out of the car and Steve stepped off the boat and walked down the gangway.
"I am guessing you know what is going on here sweetness," he said as he came towards her and took her hands in his own. "I do not know if any of the girls have mentioned the 'w' word to you but - but either way I want to do this properly," he said to her.
It felt as if the girls, Joey, Marcus - as if everyone who was not Steven Earl Johnson had faded away to her. She did not think she had ever loved anyone so much as she loved him at that moment.
"Oh, Steve - " Kayla murmured as he took a step back and got down one knee.
If Steve felt chocked at that moment he did not think there was anyone in the world who could rightly blame him.
He had Kayla had gone through so much that year and he was still well able to remember the sheer relief when he had got to the hospital that night when he had got back and she had let him hold her.
He had never wanted to let go – and he never planned to again.
"Will you marry me?" he asked.
It was a question which he had asked her more than once. And it was always met with the same answer.
"Yes." A thousand times yes.
He got up off of his knees and put his hands tenderly on her arms. "Are you sure?"
The last thing in the world which he wanted to do was pressure her and when he had been planning this day, he had asked all of the family if he was putting her under too much pressure. All of the said the same thing – no, she was going to bite his hand off.
And she had a strong enough mind to say no that was for sure.
"I do not think I have ever been so sure about anything."
She felt quite breathless.
She was getting married. To the love of her life. Again.
Kay stepped forward into his arms.
This was not the Valentine's Day she had planned any more than her breakfast with Stephanie had been, but it was so much better.
"Mom, can I walk you down the aisle?" asked Joey – that was the plan. His plan, anyway.
"I can't think of anyone I would rather do that for me today," in her mind the image of her father came and went – but in her heart, she knew this was Joe's day. This was about their family coming back together.
There were a few traditions which would be different that day. After all, she and Steve had spent the evening together the night before.
Stephanie came to her father's side.
And then, together, united, all four of the Johnsons walked on to the yacht together.
Kayla stepped on the boat and could not help but be glad – glad because despite it all she was the one who got to live on and be happy with her life.
Grayson was never going to get to that from his jail cell.
He had taken so much form her. For a while at least. He had taken time and he had ever robbed her of her heart.
And yes he had taken her power over her own body for the night. But even if he had not known it at the time, it has been his own freedom he had stolen.
It was going to be many years and endless nights in jail before he got it back.
And even now she was rich. She was so rich in help and love. That was what all the shining faces about her said.
But she only saw one.
Please review!
Author note – with this chapter, No Sounds has become my longest fic ever! The next chapter concludes the story….
