~ Chapter 43 ~

Marlena surveyed the penthouse living room with a critical eye. It was vital that no indication of her relationship with Alex be visible – at least, not now. In due time, it might be to her advantage to allow Kate to stumble upon a note or a picture, but that would come later. Much later.

A satisfied smile crossed her lips. The framed photograph that had jogged her memory of the wonderful night she and Alex had spent dancing was safely stowed upstairs in their bedroom. The surprise note she'd found on the desk just after Alex left was tucked in her pocket. Unable to resist, she pulled it out, and read it again. 'I'll be counting the minutes till we're together.' Her eyes sparkled as she hid the paper away once more. In doing so, her hand brushed against the other piece of evidence that she'd needed to conceal. It supplied concrete proof of the risks they often took in public, seemingly indifferent to the consequences.

Before leaving the fair the previous night, they'd snuck into the photo booth, and the automated camera had snapped four shots in quick succession. She grinned as she gazed at her half of the strip. Their passion was plainly visible – the first showed them rubbing noses, while the second had captured them kissing. The ones Alex was carrying with him were more discreet, which was the reason they'd decided he needn't leave them at home. And yet, even these tamer photos offered obvious clues that there was more between them than the standard doctor/patient relationship. She hoped that they wouldn't fall out of his wallet, should the Ethics Officer ask him to produce identification.

Glancing at her watch, she noted that Kate was due any minute. Humming to herself, she headed for the kitchen. There could be no better way to throw her guest off balance than to be far more hospitable than the woman expected.


Kate smoothed her skirt nervously as the elevator sped her to the building's top floor, and her mysterious meeting with Marlena. She'd gone over their conversation again and again in her mind, but she was still baffled. Why did her rival want to see her? More significantly, why had she insisted that their get-together be kept secret from John?

At first, Kate had surmised that Marlena might already have been served with the divorce papers, and that she'd somehow figured out Kate's part in the ruse. The more she thought about it, though, the less that made any sense. If Jeff had sent the papers, Marlena would either want to talk to Alex, her therapist, or John, the husband who was suing her for divorce. The last person she'd opt to confide in would be John's ex-fiancée, who hadn't exactly concealed the fact that she was still in love with him.

Stop this fruitless speculation! Just be patient. Marlena's holding all the cards, but that won't last long.

As the elevator doors opened, Kate took a deep breath. She was strong. She was clever. She could handle whatever surprises Marlena Evans threw her way. Squaring her shoulders, she strode down the hall and rang the bell purposefully.

Inside, Marlena positioned the tray she'd carried from the kitchen on the coffee table. It held a teapot full of her favourite chamomile blend, milk, sugar, two mugs and spoons, and a bowl of fresh fruit. Convinced that all was in readiness, she strolled over to open the door.

"Hello, Marlena."

"Hello, Kate. Thank you so much for agreeing to meet me. Please, come in."

Kate stepped across the threshold and glanced around suspiciously. There was no sign of Alex, or anyone else. She and Marlena appeared to be alone.

"May I take your coat?"

Marlena's words snapped Kate back to attention.

"Yes, thank you."

"Have a seat. Help yourself to some tea and fruit," Marlena suggested.

Kate approached the sofa cautiously, still half-certain that she was walking into a trap.

Get a grip. This is Marlena the good, not her twisted daughter, Sami. There's nothing nefarious going on here. Relax and enjoy the tea.

Pouring a cup of the steaming brew, Kate added a splash of milk, and sat back gracefully. Her face, fixed in a polite expression, betrayed none of her nervousness. She smiled at Marlena as the latter sat down across from her and filled her own mug.

"You're no doubt wondering why I asked you to come here," Marlena began, without further preamble.

"I must admit, your invitation piqued my curiosity."

"I thought it might. Well, I'll get right to it. I want to talk about you and John."

Endless questions swirled in Kate's head. Rather than voicing them, she waited to see what Marlena would say next.

"I know, because I've been told, that you and John became quite close while I was presumed dead."

Seeing no harm in confirming what was already public knowledge, Kate nodded.

"We did. I'm sure you've also been told that we were engaged."

Marlena noticed the look of pain that flashed across Kate's face. It vanished in an instant, replaced by the same calm façade she'd worn since arriving.

"Yes, I had heard that. It must've been very difficult for you, having me show up again, out of the blue."

"Roman came home, too. It was incredible to see you both alive."

"I'm sure it was. I'm also sure that, while you were happy to have your husband back, it couldn't have been easy to simply turn off your feelings for John."

"We both agreed…"

A tear trickled down Kate's cheek. Once she'd collected herself, she continued.

"It really didn't matter how we felt. We were both married. We'd exchanged vows, and made promises. There was no getting around that. And John never stopped loving you. He wouldn't have given me a second glance if you hadn't been gone."

"Are you sure? The two of you seem to have a special bond."

Where is she going with this?

Kate eyed Marlena warily.

"We do… I mean, we did. It's because I stood by him when he was in need of a friend. The relationship grew from there."

"As the best ones always do."

"But it's over now. Even though Roman and I are divorced, John doesn't have those feelings for me anymore. You're the one he wants to be with, not me."

"You're still friends, though, aren't you?"

"Of course! He's the best friend I've ever had, and I've tried to be the same for him."

"That's good to know. So, if ever…"

"If ever what?"

"If John needed someone to support him, you'd be there for him, right?"

"Absolutely. Why do you ask?"

Marlena paused deliberately before answering, making it appear as if she was considering her words carefully.

"I'm worried about him. About how he's taking our separation."

Hmm... how worried is she? And is she worried because she still wants him, or would she exhibit the same concern for anyone going through a breakup?

Kate wished she could ask these questions aloud, but it was far too early to tip her hand.

"He's taking it about as you would expect, Marlena. He's hurt and angry and confused."

Even if she hadn't been a licensed therapist, it wouldn't have taken any special training to detect the bitterness underlying Kate's answer. It was abundantly clear that she still harboured very strong feelings for John – which was precisely the state of affairs that Marlena had been hoping for.

"I feel bad about that. Really, I do. I didn't set out to hurt him, but I don't remember this past that means so much to him. He's still a stranger to me."

"He realizes that, Marlena, and he's perfectly willing to wait for you until you get your memory back. What he can't understand is why you have such faith in Dr. North – when no one else thinks the man is helping you – and why you've chosen to live with a man you've just met, rather than with your husband."

If you only knew.

"Do you agree?"

"Sorry?"

"Do you agree with the people who don't believe Alex is helping me?"

A quick confirmation sprang to Kate's lips, but she bit it back. Cocking her head to one side, she eyed Marlena appraisingly.

"You know, I used to, but now I'm not so sure."

"What made you reconsider?"

"You did. You've changed. You were so stressed before, so overwhelmed by the pressure you were feeling to remember everything and everyone. Any time I saw you, you just radiated tension. You're calmer now. You even seem – dare I say it? – happy."

A genuine smile lit Marlena's face.

"You're the first person to actually understand that. Thank you, Kate."

"You're welcome."

The two women sat quietly, until Marlena broke the silence.

"About what I was saying earlier… I know that we're not particularly close and that you have no reason to do me any favours, but I would really appreciate it if you'd keep an eye on John. Comfort him. Encourage him. Help him to..."

"To what?"

"To move on."

Did she just give me permission to pursue her husband?

Kate struggled to keep the shock she felt from registering on her face. Before she could respond to Marlena's request, a chime echoed through the penthouse.

"Saved by the bell," Kate murmured under her breath.

Marlena spotted a bicycle courier standing in the hallway when she opened the door.

"Marlena Evans?"

"Yes, that's me."

"This is for you. Please sign here."

Accepting the legal-sized envelope, she scrawled her signature where the young man had indicated. Once she'd tipped him, she headed back towards the sofa, the envelope firmly within her grasp. Kate couldn't help staring at it as Marlena examined the return address.

"That looks very official," Kate ventured, trying her best to keep her voice neutral.

"You're right, it does, but I have no idea what it is. I've never heard of Lupin and Associates."

Kate stifled a gasp, and instinctively rose from her seat. Wisdom dictated that she not be present during the opening of this particular envelope.

"If we're done, I should be going."

Marlena looked up absently, then quickly moved to stop Kate from leaving.

"Please, stay. Something about this is making me nervous, and Alex isn't here..."

Seeing no tactful way out, Kate reluctantly agreed.

"If you insist."

Sitting down again, Kate unconsciously held her breath as Marlena slit open the envelope, removed the enclosed documents, and scanned them. Although positive that she already knew the answer, Kate felt the need to confirm her hunch.

"Well? What are those?"

"Legal papers. John is suing me for divorce."