Days later...
Danny was surprised when he heard Steve say he would have a dinner with Emma, the vet. "So you went out with Brooke and now you're going out with Emma?"
"Yes, that's it," Steve replied while he was ironing clothes.
Junior entered the kitchen and interrupted Danny and Steve's conversation, but Danny remained thoughtful. "What's going on with Steve? I know he's not fickle like that. Because he's going out one day with a woman and the next day going out with another woman. It wasn't like that when he was with Catherine. He could spend months without even looking at another woman while Catherine was working," Danny thought.
Danny looked at Steve again. He seemed to have aged more than Danny over the years, and even though he was getting ready for a date, he didn't look happy.
"He managed to resist Lori, Ellie, and Alicia. He couldn't move on with Lynn or Brooke and Emma. I have to admit that I miss seeing him happy as in Catherine's time," Danny continued with his thoughts.
Hours later, Danny questioned Steve wanting to know why he was unable to sleep, but Steve didn't want to talk about it. And when Steve wanted to stop to watch the sunset, Danny was even more concerned.
"Steve is depressed, Junior. He doesn't want to talk about it and not talking will make it worse," Danny told Junior hours later as they were having a beer, sitting on the couch
"But what can we do if he doesn't want to talk?" Junior told Danny.
"He would have a date today, but instead of going to the date, he went with us to that bar. Not even the women are making him happy," Danny told Junior in a low voice.
"Why are you whispering, Danny?" Junior asked.
"Because he doesn't sleep. From the couch, I can hear him walking around the bedroom all night," Danny replied.
"And what do you think we should do, Danny?" Junior asked.
"I'm going to talk to Lou, ask to spend more time with him. We can't leave him alone. I'm going on vacation with the kids and I'm worried about him."
"I'm here, Danny. He won't be alone," Junior replied.
"Hey, what are you guys whispering?" Steve asked from up there.
"We're talking bad about you," Danny replied.
"Are you living in my house, sitting on my couch, drinking my beer and still have the courage to speak ill of me? What about you, Junior? Are you going to disappoint me too?" Steve asked.
"Danny is kidding. We're not talking bad about you," Junior replied.
"I hope not," Steve replied and went back to his room. He sat on the bed, propped his elbows on his knees and put both hands on his head. "It will be another long night."
Steve couldn't stop thinking about Doris. He wondered what their lives would be like if she hadn't left with Kono and Adam long ago. He thought that maybe there would be more visits from Mary if their mother was around, maybe Catherine wasn't gone. "What are you thinking about, Steve? One thing has nothing to do with the other," he told himself.
Steve got up and walked around his bedroom.
"That girl loves you, Steve," Doris had told him the day he had a fight with Catherine. Maybe Doris would open his eyes if she thought he was neglecting Catherine. Anyway, many things were going through his head and that didn't let him sleep.
"Are you listening? That's what I say, he doesn't sleep," Danny told Junior.
"Maybe we should call Catherine. She seems to have a good influence on him," Junior said.
"Maybe. But this is a field in his life that we can't get involved in, Junior. A lot has happened between them," Danny replied.
Steve looked at the stars through the window. He thought about many things, but in the end she was always present in his mind: her face, the smile, the sparkle in her eyes, the sweet and caring way ...
PS: Laura and Cath, are you Ok? Give me some news. And to all readers: be safe. Hugs!