~ Chapter 33 ~
The sun was already high overhead as John slowly emerged from a very deep sleep. He opened his eyes cautiously, performing an inner check of his body and its reactions. Much to his relief, his headache was gone, and his nausea had dissipated.
Wrapping the robe that he'd slept in more tightly around him, he walked out to the sitting area. He cocked his head, listening for signs of life elsewhere in the suite, but heard none. As he poured himself a glass of water, he discovered a note from Kate. 'Gone for a run. Be back soon. Feel free to call room service for anything you might like.'
He flashed back to a time, several months earlier, when he and Kate had been engaged. She'd finally managed to coax him into sharing her daily runs, and he'd immediately regretted it.
"Come on, slowpoke. Can't you move any faster?"
Kate sprinted down the path, then jogged in place as she waited for him to catch up. His breathing was laboured as he strode towards her.
"Give me a break," he gasped. "You've been doing this for years, and I'm just getting started."
"Looks like you could really use the exercise. Last one home buys dinner," she challenged, her words already barely audible as she accelerated beyond his reach once again.
"The exercise probably would do me some good. I'll join her tomorrow," he vowed to himself.
Deciding that a shower would clear out the remaining cobwebs, he entered the bathroom and turned the water on full blast. As he stood beneath the soothing jets, steam rising all around him, he let his mind drift to his situation with Marlena.
His hackles rose at the thought of her alone in the penthouse with Alex North. This was exactly what that no-good shrink had been plotting all along – to eliminate the competition so that he'd have a clear path to Marlena. Well, her husband wasn't going to let that happen. He'd figure out a way to get his wife back, or his name wasn't John Black.
Turning off the faucet, his nose registered the scent of coffee as he towelled himself dry. Surmising that Kate must have returned, the corners of his mouth lifted. Things were always better when she was near. He dressed quickly, eager to share a cup of the hot, rich brew she so favoured.
"Good almost afternoon," she greeted him, as soon as he emerged from the hall. "How are you feeling today?"
"Much better, thanks to you."
"Oh, I don't think I had too much to do with it," she demurred. "The sleep you had last night was very restorative, I'm sure."
"It was, but you were the one who offered me a place to crash, a shoulder to cry on, and a listening ear. It made a world of difference."
"You're welcome, then. Can I pour you a cup of coffee?"
"I thought you'd never ask."
He accepted the aromatic beverage gratefully, and took a long swallow. It was only then that he noticed the food arrayed before him. The smells tempted his already grumbling stomach.
"In the hopes that you'd feel like eating this morning, I took the liberty of ordering brunch," Kate informed him.
"I'm starving, actually."
He sat down and quickly began to devour the eggs, toast and fruit that room service had delivered. It was only after he'd practically inhaled his first few bites that he realized she'd failed to join him.
"Aren't you going to have any of this? It's delicious."
"I had breakfast hours ago. But the fruit is tempting."
She reached for a piece of melon and took a tiny bite, as she stared at him from across the table. It took her a while to determine if she wanted to simply enjoy his company, or if she should broach the subject of his wife and her actions of the previous day. She opted to face the elephant in the room head on.
"We should talk about Marlena, and what you want to do next."
"I know I have to make a decision, but I'm at a total loss. Do I fight for her? Do I give her space? Do I try to find something to discredit that fraud who's sharing the penthouse with her? What?"
"Haven't you already done a thorough investigation of Dr. North's background? You found nothing."
"But remember that most of the records on North are sealed. It's gotta mean that there's something shady in his past that he's trying to hide, and if I could just get my hands on it…"
"Even if you could, John, there's no guarantee that Marlena would believe you when you tried to tell her about it. He'd no doubt accuse you of making everything up, and she'd be right by his side, defending him to the hilt. In my opinion, pursuing that option would be a mistake."
He groaned, her words echoing with the ring of truth.
"Alright, so trying to smear him is out – for now, anyway. How about I bang on the door till she lets me in?"
"I wouldn't recommend that, either. She'd likely see it as you refusing to respect her wishes, and it definitely wouldn't earn you any brownie points."
"So, what you're saying is that doing nothing is my only alternative? I can't accept that!"
"I don't see what choice you have. She's been very clear about wanting to be alone to concentrate on her therapy with Dr. North. Ignoring that request will only serve to estrange you from her further."
"Damn it, Kate!" He stood, and began pacing the room like a caged animal. "I feel like my life is slipping away, and you think I should just let it. I thought you were my friend!"
"I am your friend, John. If I wasn't, I'd encourage you to go over there, so that you could ruin any possible chance you have of getting Marlena back. I'm trying to help you!"
Her voice rose, as she struggled to conceal the hurt his allegation was causing her. Despite her valiant attempt, he detected the hint of a sob she couldn't quite suppress, and he was beside her in an instant.
"I'm sorry, Kate. None of this is your fault. I'm just feeling terribly helpless, but that's no reason to take it out on you. Forgive me?"
"Of course, I forgive you," she assured him, as a lone tear slipped silently down her cheek. She quickly brushed it away with the back of her hand, and forced herself to smile at him. "I do have an idea, although it's quite radical."
"Let's hear it. I've got nothing left to lose."
"Okay, here goes. You need to make a bold move. Do something so outrageous that it might even cause Marlena's memory to return."
"Sounds good to me. What do you have in mind?"
"Ask her for a divorce."
The words hung in the air between them for what seemed like an eternity. His shock was palpable.
"Are you crazy?" he blurted out, once he'd regained the power of speech. "That would play right into North's hands."
"Maybe, but I'm positive it's not what Marlena wants. There was no real risk to her in asking you to leave the penthouse, since she knows you still love her. So, she figured she could toss you aside, and then when she was ready, you'd come back, grateful that she'd finally chosen you."
Kate strove to keep the bitterness from her tone. John, oblivious to her true intentions, was attempting to work out the logic of her proposal.
"And you think that, by threatening to file for divorce, she'll realize she can't take me for granted…"
"That's right. But the simple threat of filing won't be enough. With Dr. North at her side, she'll call your bluff. He'll encourage her to."
"But I don't want to divorce her."
"Of course, you don't. Remember that the wheels of justice grind ever so slowly, John. You'd just be setting things in motion. You could call the whole thing off whenever you chose to."
"I… I… don't know. What if she takes me up on it?"
"Is that really what you think will happen? If so, what does that say about the deep love and connection you supposedly share?"
He pondered her words, weighing the pros and cons as he tried to assess the possible consequences of following her advice. Finally, with a sigh, he lifted his head and stared deeply into her eyes.
"It's a daring plan. But, really, what other options do I have? I'll call Frankie Brady, explain everything to him, and have him get on it right away."
"I'm not sure that Frankie's the right man for this job," she demurred, stopping him in his tracks.
"Why do you say that?"
"Frankie's not just your lawyer. He's an old family friend. And he's Marlena's friend as well. He may let something slip, no matter how inadvertently, that would let her know you're not really serious about this."
"But I'm not!"
"You have to keep that to yourself. If Marlena finds out this is all a ploy, you've lost your advantage. Dr. North can convince her to beat you at your own game, and then where will you be?"
"Out in the cold," he muttered disconsolately.
"Right. And divorced from the woman you love."
"Understood. So, is there someone you'd recommend?"
His look of utter dejection caused her to hesitate, but only briefly.
Someday, John will thank me for this – once he realizes that I'm the best woman for him.
"Absolutely."
Kate squared her shoulders and strode to her Rolodex. Pulling out a business card, she crossed the room and handed it to John. He glanced at it, then back at her.
"Who's Jeff Lupin?"
"One of the sharpest lawyers in town. Victor uses him when he wants to give himself an extra edge."
John turned the card over and over in his hands, his mind groping for any excuse not to call the number printed on it. When inspiration failed to strike, he pulled out his cell phone and reluctantly punched in the seven digits. After two rings, a female voice answered.
"Lupin and Associates. How may I help you?"
"The name's John Black. Mr. Lupin was recommended to me, and I'd like to make an appointment with him to discuss a matter of some urgency."
"What would that be, sir?"
"I want to file a motion to divorce my wife."