Chapter 2

As Bo watched his niece leave, he was more than just a little concerned. Chris was not the same man he had been when Natalie had married him a year ago.

"He has so much anger in him," Nora said. "I'm really starting to worry about that."

"You're not the only one," Bo said. "I don't know all of what happened to him while he was gone, but I'm beginning to think that Natalie isn't safe around all of that bottled-up rage. She could get caught in the crossfire—again. Chris needs therapy before he really hurts himself or someone else."

"There's going to be a big explosion when Chris finds out about Natalie and John. You see how he reacts when John is even in the same room with him," Nora said. She shook her head sadly. Everyone had been so happy when Chris had returned from the dead, but their joy was short-lived. She felt guilty for even thinking it, but perhaps it would have been better for everyone if Chris had stayed dead.

"You are definitely right about an explosion, Nora. I need to protect Natalie from that. The poor kid has been through enough. It's bad enough that she hasn't been completely cleared of Paul's murder. John swears that she didn't do it, and I agree, but there's so much evidence and too many unanswered questions. Natalie won't open up to anyone- not even to Jessica. I really need to know what happened between her and Cramer. "

"I know," Nora said. "She gets really tense and upset when anyone asks her about him."

"She's going to be okay, right? You're not going to arrest Natalie again, Dad?" Matthew asked.

Nora and Bo looked at each other. They had been so caught up in their conversation that they had forgotten that their son was with them.

"I'm doing my best to clear your cousin," Bo said. "She's innocent. Don't let anyone try to tell you otherwise. Understand?"

"Yeah, Dad," Matthew said.

John was not really in a mood to eat anymore. All he could do was remember Natalie on the floor with blood on her head. He blamed no one else but himself. If only he hadn't gotten into that fight with Christian.

Across the table, Evangeline watched him closely. "What's wrong, John? You're not eating and it was your idea to come here tonight." She had a pretty good idea what was bothering him, but she held on to a thread of hope that he was worried about a case or something other than Natalie.

John failed at an attempt to smile. "Everything is fine. I'm here with the most beautiful girl in the world." Evangeline was gorgeous. She was also smart and successful, so why couldn't John get Natalie out of his head?

Evangeline sighed. "What happened earlier wasn't your fault. Christian is just being a hothead. Someone just needs to get through to him."

"That's an understatement," John said. He was worried about Natalie. If Chris ever dared to harm a hair on her head, John would kill him.

"John, can I talk to you?" Bo asked. He smiled at Evangeline and apologized for interrupting their meal. John had been so caught up in his thoughts, that he had not even seen Bo come over to his table.

John got up and followed Bo outside of the Palace.

"John, it's obvious that Christian hates you. I love my niece and because of that, I need a favor from you," Bo said.

"Yeah, sure. What is it?"

"I need you to stay away from Natalie. You haven't done anything wrong, but I don't want her to get hurt. Right now, Chris is being irrational. I'd hate to see his reaction when he finds out that you and Natalie were together. She's been through a lot, and I don't want Chris's anger to turn on her. I'm trying to be patient with him because of what he has been through," Bo said. He didn't miss the pain that flashed across John's face.

"I understand," John said, "I would never put Natalie in any danger. I lov…"

"You what?" Bo asked. He knew what John was about to say. He saw the answer in John's eyes every time that he looked at Natalie. "You're in a bit of a dilemma, aren't you, John? You still love Natalie, but her husband is back, and you're dating Evangeline, who is very much in love with you."

John didn't even bother denying it. He leaned against the Palace wall, feeling like it was the only thing holding him up. "I have to move on. She does, too. I love Natalie so much that it hurts, and that means that I have to take a step back. I can't have anything to do with her."

"I bet that you never admitted that you love her to anyone," Bo said.

"No. I can't ruin what she has now," John said. He dug his hands in the pockets of his pants.

"Can you live with this decision?"

"I'm going to have to. I don't have a choice." John closed his eyes and tried to replace the images of Natalie that kept popping into his head with ones of Evangeline.

"You know, it could end up blowing up in your face," Bo said.

"Look, Bo, I know you're trying to help, but you and I both know that Natalie loves Christian."

"But what would you do if she said that she loved you?"

John shrugged. "I don't have to think about that because it's never going to happen."

"Okay, John. Well, I thought I'd talk to you, first. I'm going to talk to Natalie and Chris as well. Hang in there, John. I know that you're in a rough place right now, but things are going to work out." Bo left John alone, hoping that his talk with him had done some good.