~ Chapter 53 ~

"No! You can't do that!" John repeated, unable to disguise the panic in his voice.

As Marlena lowered the pen she'd been holding, she eyed John curiously.

"Why not? You sent these. I assumed you'd want me to sign them as quickly as possible."

John's mind whirled. He'd clearly indicated to Jeff Lupin that he hadn't wanted Marlena served immediately. This was supposed to drag out as long as was legally feasible, and Jeff had assured him that would be the case. Somehow, something had gone terribly awry.

From her side of the table, Marlena observed John closely, and a small smile flashed across her face. Frank's conjecture had been right on the money. Filing for divorce was a ruse on John's part, one he couldn't maintain when she moved to sign the document. She leaned back, eager to see how he'd handle his slip up. She didn't have long to wait.

"I just meant… uh… shouldn't you have your lawyer look this over? Make sure it's all in order?"

"Do I need to do that? I trust you, John. I know you have my best interests at heart, right?" She offered him her most innocent look.

"Yes… of course…" he stammered, searching in vain for any reasonable excuse to stop her.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to John. Jeff Lupin was clever. He'd insisted that this had to appear totally legitimate, or Marlena would never believe it. Make it look real, he'd said. And that's evidently what he'd done. But there must be a catch – something in the papers that wasn't quite right, that would render them invalid – so that even if Marlena signed them, the divorce couldn't go through.

Marlena's brow furrowed as she noticed John visibly relax. Whatever he'd been contemplating just then had calmed him. Feeling it was now safe to do so, she reached for the pen once more. John made no effort to thwart her. Within seconds, the deed was done.

"Your turn," she announced, her tone neutral.

Trying to keep his hand from trembling, John picked up the ball point. He held it gingerly, as if it were a knife that might slice his palm if he wasn't careful. Reluctantly, he signed the document in all of the obligatory places. Once he was finished, his grip slackened, and the pen clattered to the table. Marlena snatched the papers and checked them methodically, reassuring herself that nothing else was required.

"Thank you, John. Did you want me to send these back to Mr. Lupin to file, or have my own lawyer handle it?"

"Send them back to Jeff, please. I'd appreciate it."

That way, he'll be the one to 'discover' whatever inaccuracy they contain, and this whole episode will be nothing but a distant nightmare.

At that moment, John's cell phone rang. Noting that the call was from his attorney, John hurried to answer it.

"I have to take this," he announced, as he moved across the room to allow himself a modicum of privacy.

"Jeff! What's up?"

"John, I regret having to inform you that my assistant made a terrible mistake with your divorce papers."

John's voice dropped to a whisper.

"Yes, I know. It's what we discussed, right? But why are you telling me about it now? Shouldn't we attempt to file first, so that you can then conveniently find the error, and invalidate the entire process?"

"Unfortunately, that won't be possible. With all good intentions, my assistant typed those papers up, and couriered them out without any further input from me."

John's face blanched.

"What exactly are you saying?"

"The paperwork's legitimate. Not to panic, though. We can still salvage this, as long as you haven't signed anything yet."

Silence stretched out between the two men, as John attempted to process what he'd heard.

"I. Just. Did," he confessed through clenched teeth.

"You did? What was the rush?"

"Marlena called me over. Even though the papers jogged her memory…"

"So, it worked! Congratulations! But, wait… if she remembers you, what happened?"

"You didn't let me finish. The amnesia's gone, but she still wants a divorce."

"Ouch. That's a tough break, and I'm sorry to say that I'm about to make it worse. Given that you've signed the document – in front of Marlena, no less – there's no way I can stall on the filing. She, and her lawyer, would know something's off. It's done. Your marriage is over."

"No! We had a deal!"

Marlena's ears perked up as John's voice rose. He, feeling wounded and betrayed, was oblivious to the fact that his conversation was now loud enough to be overheard.

"This wasn't supposed to happen! I still love her! I don't want a divorce! You assured me nothing would go wrong!"

Her suspicions confirmed, Marlena moved discreetly into the kitchen. Although she wasn't without sympathy for John, and what he was going through, she was thrilled to know that she would soon be a free woman – free to be with the man she truly loved.

John, having hung up on Jeff, struggled to contain his emotions. Briefly, he considered ripping the papers to shreds, but he quickly realized the futility of such a move. No. Given the failure of plan A, he needed to move on to plan B – if he could just figure out what it was. Out of the blue, the germ of an idea sprouted in his mind. It was risky, and born of desperation – but, as far as he was concerned, he had nothing left to lose.

"Go big or go home," he muttered to himself.

Without so much as a goodbye, John rushed out of the apartment. Still busying herself in the kitchen, Marlena was startled to hear the door slam behind her soon-to-be ex-husband.

That's odd. I wonder where he's off to in such a hurry.

In spite of her curiosity, Marlena spared John's behaviour no more than a passing thought. Glancing at her watch, she tried to gauge whether Alex's disciplinary meeting would be over yet. Taking a chance, she dialled his number. When it went straight to voice mail, she opted not to leave a message. Then, scrolling through her contact list, she placed another call.

Alone in her suite, Kate paced. She was dying to know how things were progressing between John and Marlena. Did John know by now that Marlena had regained her memories? Were they sharing an incredibly happy reunion? The mere thought made her nauseous. She was about to pour herself a consolatory glass of wine, when the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Kate, darling. It's Jeff. I have some news I think you'll like."

"Really?" The sarcasm in her tone was unmistakable. "This from the man who was supposed to help me keep John and Marlena apart?"

Stifling his urge to laugh, Jeff decided to string Kate along for a bit.

"What makes you think they're together?"

"I was at Marlena's this morning…"

Jeff cut her off.

"You were at Marlena's? How on earth did that happen?"

"She asked me to come over. But that's beside the point. Those divorce papers you drew up arrived while I was there."

"That's what you wanted, isn't it? I took great pains to ensure they were delivered posthaste."

"Yes, it is. But it didn't work out the way I'd hoped. When she started reading them, it triggered something."

"So, what happened?"

"She regained her memory, that's what happened! Now John's over there, and they're no doubt reconciling as we speak."

"I wouldn't be so sure…"

Jeff let his words trail off as he waited for Kate to react.

"What do you mean? What aren't you telling me?"

"Oh, just that I spoke to John a few minutes ago."

"Will you spit it out, Jeff? The suspense is killing me!"

"The papers are signed – much to John's chagrin. The guy's about to be a free agent very soon."

"What?! I don't believe you! Even if Marlena was willing, John would never agree so easily."

"You're wrong, my dear."

"Please explain."

"Based on her actions this afternoon, Marlena categorically no longer wishes to be married to John. He, on the other hand, wants no part of this divorce."

"Then why did he sign?"

"It seems he assumed – incorrectly, as it turns out – that I'd altered the papers, so as to make them invalid. He was stunned when I informed him that my assistant, efficient woman that she is, had drawn them up and couriered them out before I was able to modify them in any way. Now that both parties have signed, all I have to do is file them. It'll just be a matter of days."

"Oh, Jeff! That was positively brilliant! I could kiss you!"

"That can be arranged," he chuckled. "I do aim to please."

"And you have. You've met the terms of our deal, and then some. Trust me when I tell you that you'll be handsomely rewarded."

"That's what I'm counting on. Always a delight doing business with you, Kate," he affirmed, before severing the connection.

Kate's grin stretched from ear to ear. John had fallen into the trap she and Jeff had set – which, for some unknown reason, Marlena had played along with beautifully. And, although John was profoundly hurt, Kate was certain that, given time, she'd find a way to mend his broken heart.