"Hi, Steve," Kayla said into the answering machine. "I was just calling to let you know that I'm all settled in to my hotel room." She paused for a second, hoping Steve would pick up. "I guess you're not home. I'm going to go and get some dinner, but I shouldn't be too long. My room number is 215. I'll talk to later. I love you."
She hung up the phone in disappointment. Despite the tension between them, Kayla had really been hoping to hear his voice. Well, she would just talk to him later. He and Stephanie would surely be home after she returned from a dinner.
Picking up her purse, Kayla headed out of her room and down to the lobby. On her way in from the airport, she had noticed a little Italian place just down the block from the hotel, and had decided it looked like a nice place for a meal and a relaxing glass of wine.
As she walked down the street towards the restaurant, she again ran over what she planned to tell the state board the following day. She had to make them understand that hiding Bo's illness was the best way to ensure he got any possible treatment. As a nurse, it was her duty to do what was best for the patient under any particular circumstances. What she had done had violated hospital procedures and state regulations, but she knew in her heart that it had been consistent with her duties as a nurse - and as a sister.
The question was whether the board would understand that. She had researched the members of the state board and knew it was comprised primarily of former and current registered nurses. Unlike the board of directors at University Hospital, most of whom were business people not medical professionals, the members of the state licensing board knew that hospital policies and state regulations could not cover every possible situation.
Kayla's thoughts were interrupted as she realized she had reached the restaurant. She opened the door and entered, finding a small, but well-decorated and beautifully lit dining room. It was not crowded. Only a few tables were occupied.
A young woman approached Kayla and smiled. "May I help you?"
"Yes," Kayla replied, returning the smile. "I'd like a table for dinner, please."
"Are you dining alone?" Kayla saw the young woman look around.
"Yes, it's just me." Kayla felt the need to explain. "Business trip."
"Of course." The woman picked up a menu. "Please follow me."
Kayla was soon seated at a small table with a lovely view of the busy street outside the restaurant. The wait staff was attentive, and Kayla had soon ordered her entree and was sipping from a glass of wine.
Settling back into her chair, Kayla glanced around the restaurant. She was not sure why, but her eye quickly found a young couple a few tables over. Trying not to stare, Kayla watched as they sat close together, held hands, and frequently exchanged quick kisses. She smiled as she recognized the love they clearly shared.
Watching the couple and their closeness made Kayla miss Steve even more. For all the reasons why it was better for her to have taken this trip alone, she still wished that he was with her.
Kayla's wistful thoughts were interrupted as the waiter brought her food. She smiled slightly after the first bite, congratulating herself for finding a good restaurant so close to the hotel. She enjoyed her meal and passed the time by people-watching. It turned out that the busy street outside was a very popular place for an evening stroll.
When she had finished her meal, she paid the tab and began the walk back to the hotel. She hoped that she would find a message from Steve waiting for her.
As Kayla stepped into her room, she immediately looked at the phone. Her heart dropped with disappointment when she saw the message light was dark. She looked at the clock and realized it was already late in the evening. It was long past Stephanie's bedtime.
She walked to the phone and dialed. After several rings, the answering machine picked up again. Kayla waited for the message to end and then heard the familiar beep. "Steve? It's Kayla." She waited, again hoping he would pick up. "I guess you're still not home. Please call me when you get in. I'd really like to talk to you." She sighed. "I love you."
Hanging up, Kayla tried not to worry. Nothing's wrong. Just because he's not home doesn't mean that something is wrong. A sudden thought occurred to her. Her mother knew Kayla was going out of town. Maybe Caroline had invited Steve and Stephanie over for dinner. Yes, she thought to herself. That must be it.
Picking the phone up again, Kayla dialed her parents' house. After just two rings, Caroline answered.
"Hello."
"Hi, Ma. It's Kayla."
"Kayla!" Caroline sounded surprised. "Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine," Kayla said in a reassuring tone. "I was just wondering if Steve was there."
"No honey, he's not here," Caroline replied. "Did he tell you he would be?"
"No." Kayla could not hide her disappointment. "I've just called the house a couple of times and he's not home. I thought maybe he and Stephanie had gone to your house for dinner or something."
"Well Stephanie's here, but I haven't seen Steve since he dropped Stephanie off a few hours ago."
"Stephanie's there? Did Steve say where he was going when he dropped her off?"
"No, dear," her mother said. "He just asked if we could watch Stephanie for a while, because he had some urgent business to take care of."
"Oh." Kayla did not like the sound of that at all.
"Are you sure everything's okay?" Caroline asked.
Forcing a cheery tone, Kayla said, "Yes. Everything's fine. I was just missing Steve." She took a deep breath. "Give Stephanie a kiss for me, okay?"
"Of course, dear. I'll let Steve know you called when he picks up Stephanie."
"Thanks, Ma. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Kayla. Good luck tomorrow."
Kayla hung up the phone and sat on the bed. "Urgent business." What did that mean? Steve had not said anything to her about any business, urgent or otherwise, before she left. Even with the difficulties they were having, she was sure he would not have kept something like that from her. Well, she was pretty sure anyway.
Maybe something was going on with Bo. Kayla knew that Bo and Carly were at odds with Victor Kiriakis. Or maybe it was Jack. Or maybe there had been another incident with Andrew or Kimmie. Stop it. She was going to drive herself crazy at this rate.
Kayla briefly pondered calling Bo, Jack and Kim. She even picked up the phone, but quickly put it down again. Steve was a grown man, not a child. Calling all over Salem to try and find him would certainly not help their current problems. She had to trust that, whatever he was doing, he could take care of himself.
Easier said than done. As much as she tried to stop it, she could not help her thoughts from drifting back to the days just before the boat explosion. She paced around the hotel room as she remembered how she had all but begged him to tell her what was really going on with his investigation into the Riverfront Raider. But all he would tell her is that he was working on the case, getting close to solving it, and that it was not dangerous.
That had been a lie. She knew that Steve had not intentionally lied to her about it, but it was a lie nonetheless. She had known there was danger involved all along. She had felt it deep inside. But she let Steve convince her that she was just being paranoid, that nothing was going to stop them from taking their trip around the world.
Then the boat explosion happened. She would never forget how Steve had come to her at the party, told her that Bo was in trouble, and said he had to go. She remembered how he had told her that he was not going to keep secrets this time and admitted that it was dangerous. Then he had kissed her and Stephanie and walked out, pausing at the door to wave one last time. The next time she had seen him was in the hospital, when he had fallen into a coma after surgery.
She had begged him to wake up. Begged him not to leave her and Stephanie. And for a brief, wonderful time, he had. Kayla had believed that they had survived another close call, just like they had survived so many over the years. But she had been wrong. Thanks to Lawrence Alamain and his corrupt doctor, Steve had died. Or so she had thought.
Kayla felt the tears run down her face as she relived those last few moments at the hospital. It had been a long time since she had let herself remember what had happened. She could hear the sound of the heart monitor when his heart stopped. She heard Marcus tell her Steve was gone. She could feel Steve's body next to hers when she had laid down beside him in that hospital bed.
She pulled herself from those painful memories. Steve was not gone. He was home. They had a second chance at "happily ever after." That was what she had to focus on. Except he's not at home. Try as she might, Kayla could not completely quiet that inner voice.
Kayla looked at the clock again and realized she needed to sleep. She had to meet with the state licensing board staff in the morning and she needed to be well-rested. She quickly performed her nightly routine and climbed into bed. Lying there, she realized it was the first night that she had spent without Steve since she had arrived at Donovan Manor all those weeks ago.
She tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable spot. She missed his arms around her and the feel of his body next to hers. She had never stopped missing him during all of the months they had spent apart. Even when she had fallen in love with Shane, it had been Steve in her dreams at night.
The long day finally caught up with her. As she drifted off, her last thoughts were, as they had always been, about Steve.