Chapter 4

Marlena's eyelids fluttered, and she opened them cautiously. Where was she? She closed her eyes and let her brain wake up too. She was at John's home in Napa, California, and she had slept straight through without a dream or an interruption of any kind. Even at home she never did that. Something always kept her awake: worry or loneliness or revisiting conversations of the day. Maybe she had just been too wiped out to follow her usual pattern. Or, maybe she and John going on a confession spree last night had given her a plateau of peace.

She checked the clock on the nightstand: 7:36. That meant it was 9:36 in Salem. She hadn't called anyone back home last night. She reached for the phone, but then thought better of it. She had not told her family of her destination, not wanting to raise any hopes that might be dashed. They thought she was at a medical convention.

Getting out of bed and standing at the window, the new day was readying itself for more summer heat. She turned the window latch and breathed in the ripe grape smell of the surrounding vineyards. Today was Saturday and she had no idea what John did on the weekends. But his little boy would be coming home this morning - maybe he'd already been brought back.

Now she was in a hurry to take a shower, get dressed, and go downstairs. Soon she descended the stairs, wearing a pair of flax-colored linen pants, and a white blouse.

No one was up and around. It was just after 8 am now, and she wondered if this was John's day to sleep in - especially with Tommy away. She weighed peeking into his bedroom, but talked herself out of that. Just then a woman, probably a little older than Marlena, bustled into the kitchen area from behind a door holding a large basket of freshly dried laundry. Seeing Marlena, she smiled and said, "Good morning! I'm Peggy, the housekeeper and Tommy's nanny."

"Good morning. Nice to meet you." Marlena replied as Peggy passed her with the clothes.

"Sorry," Peggy said. "I've got to get these put away. John left you a note on the kitchen counter."

Opening the folded piece of paper, she read,

"Dearest Marlena,

I left early this morning to do some needed work. Tommy's coming at 8:30 so I'll be back by then. If you're hungry, please help yourself. If you want to wait, we three can go out for breakfast if you'd like."

Love,

John

Peggy returned. "Sorry about my rudeness just now."

"You weren't rude. You were busy," Marlena assured her. "I'm Marlena Evans." She held out her hand, and Peggy grasped it with just the right pressure.

Peggy explained that usually she didn't work on weekends, but during harvest time, even the weekends were work days for everyone here. "They have to get the fruit off the vines at exactly the right time for the type of wine they want to make. And every morning, early, John and others go out and check the grapes. From what I've heard, they're not quite ready to be picked. If they don't start picking today, I'll go home when John comes back. He forgot to tell me that Tommy wasn't here." She smiled.

"Oh, my. I guess I picked a hectic time to come."

"Vineyards have their yearly cycles. There's always something to be done. But there are a lot of good people here professionally doing their jobs. It's a pretty well-oiled machine."

Peggy, who was short but stout, with a kind face and a head full of curly, copper hair, started toward the front set of windows. A car drove into the driveway. ""Yeah, there they are. Okay, I'll get my things and slip out the back before Tommy sees me, so we don't have any drama."

Marlena wondered if they were going to come in the front door or in through the garage. They chose the garage, and Marlena waited in the kitchen for them to emerge from the mud room. She was so excited to be meeting John's son.

John was carrying and talking to Tommy, and the boy was nodding his head enthusiastically as she got her first glimpse of him.

Seeing her, John beamed again - she loved that. "Good morning, Marlena."

'Good morning to you!" she replied, all smiles too. He approached, making sure Tommy saw this new person. The boy looked at her, fascinated but a little shy, she thought.

"Hello, Tommy. My name is Marlena. I'm so happy to meet you."

"Can you say 'Hi', partner?" His father prompted him.

Tommy cocked his head, still looking at her curiously. He gave a little hop upward in his father's arms and sang out, "Da!" Then he looked at his dad and grinned.

John laughed. "Yeah, that's me, kid." John gave Marlena a "just wait" look and stepped over near the sofa in the Great Room. He put Tommy on the floor about five feet away. Tommy emitted a self-satisfied chuckle and scooted until he could pull himself up by it and stand there. He turned his head toward his father and shot him another grin. Then he gingerly maneuvered his body around so his back was to the sofa. "Da!" he said again. John knelt down on the floor a few feet in front of him and held out his arms. "Come on, Tom, you can do it. Come see Daddy."

The little guy was not so sure. He looked a little suspicious of the length he'd have to walk. But he didn't resort to the easy way and just drop down and crawl again. He steadied himself and then carefully he took a wobbly step and another while his father kept calling him. "Come to Daddy."

Marlena thrilled at the boy's steps. He almost fell but he trotted into John's arms, giggling when his dad tickled him and praised, "That's my boy! Good work!"

The child stood up holding onto his father, and John slowly maneuvered himself so Tommy only had one point of contact with him, his index finger. John ever so carefully got to his feet, still maintaining that contact. Then he took a tiny step and lightly led Tommy to walk by his side, bent over nearly double to accomplish that. Tommy saw they were walking together and he laughed shyly. John helped him reach another padded chair and as soon as Tommy had touched it, let go, again, praising Tommy. Tommy glowed with pride.

A big grin on his face, John looked at Marlena and said, "Tommy's going to be walking all over the house in no time."

She nodded vigorously. Tears in her eyes. John went to her and she said in a choked voice, "There are two incredibly adorable sweethearts in this room. One BEAUTIFUL little son, and one incredibly wonderful big, strong daddy."

That choked up John too, so he held her close.

Remembering the picture of Grace, Marlena reflected that Tommy looked more like his mother than his father. His hair was her particular shade of honey auburn, and he had her slightly upturned nose. His eyes too were shades of faded green and grey, not blue. But he had John's lips and, it seemed, his laugh and sense of good humor.

The boy watched his daddy with the new woman. He saw his daddy holding her. He decided he wanted to be held too, so he got himself over to their feet. He decided to pull himself upright with the help of the lady's leg. And then he looked up at them and raised an arm to signal he wanted up.

Marlena quirked an eyebrow at John - the way he often had done to her. "May I? She asked.

"Sure, if he'll let you."

John gave her room to crouch down and carefully pick up the child. John thought Tommy might scream at being held by a stranger. But once Marlena had him, she stood, and Tommy found himself between them. He looked back and forth at them, his eyes following their movements, especially toward each other.

"Hi, Tommy." Marlena practically whispered. She gave him a big smile and told him what a fine boy he was. Tommy smiled at her and laid his head down on her shoulder where he could look at his dad.

John's view of Marlena with Tommy made his heart fill to bursting with love. Marlena already loved his son, and he was sure Tommy would love her too.