Kayla stared at Steve, her anger rendering her speechless. As she struggled for words, Dave arrived with their menus and began telling them about the specials that evening.
"That's not necessary," Kayla said through clenched teeth. She handed her menu back to Dave and stood up. "I'm really not that hungry." She glared at Steve. "I'm going to get some air. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding another dinner companion."
Without another word, she grabbed her purse and headed for the exit, ignoring Steve's voice as he called to her. Reaching the parking lot, she walked past her car and down the street to the pier.
"Kayla! Wait!" She heard Steve's voice behind her. Slowing as she reached the water, she could hear the sounds of Steve's boots as he pounded down the stairs.
Steve came to sudden halt as he reached Kayla. Refusing to look at him, Kayla kept her attention focused on the water and the lights of the boats anchored there.
"Baby, what's going on?" Steve slowly approached as if he was afraid of spooking her. "Why did you run off like that?"
Kayla flashed Steve an angry look but did not respond to his questions. She knew if she started talking she would not be able to hold back her anger.
"Kayla?" Steve's voice grew sharper. "Answer me, baby." He paused and, out of the corner of her eye, she could see him nervously adjusting his patch. "Okay, I get it. You're mad because I was talking to that Rachel Knight woman. But . . . I was just talking to her, baby. You know there's nothing more to it. You can't really be that upset about her."
Kayla finally turned and faced her husband. "You wanted to know how my day was, so let me tell you." She glared at him as her voice picked up a sarcastic tone. "That . . . woman you were so entranced with back there showed up at my office this afternoon. Apparently, she's decided to do some hatchet job on Kim and thought that, given our . . . recent history, I'd be more than happy to provide her with some juicy details about my sister."
"Baby-"
"Oh, no, we're just getting started," Kayla interrupted. "After that fun encounter, I decided to do the sisterly thing and stop by Shane's house to warn Kim. Instead of getting even a little credit for trying to warn her, I get accused of cooperating with that witch."
"Kayla-"
"Nope, I'm not finished yet." Kayla was on a roll now and nothing was going to stop her from finally venting her frustrations. "It gets even better. It turns out that, according to Kim, it's all my fault that her life is not what she wants it to be."
Kayla turned away and walked a few steps down the pier, feeling her anger being replaced by the hurt she felt from Kim's accusations. "You see, my sister believes that if it weren't for me, then she and Shane would be together and Shane wouldn't be going to jail."
Kayla turned back to Steve who was still watching her, a guilty and concerned look on his face. The anger returned to her voice. "And to top it all off, I walk into Wings and find you sitting there with that witch of a reporter, looking perfectly happy with her hands all over you." She took a deep breath. "So that's how my day was. Happy now?"
Steve hesitated as if he were not sure he should speak, but then said, "I'm sorry, baby." He opened his arms and gestured for her to come to him. "Come here, Sweetness."
"No," Kayla said sharply, turning away from him. "You're not just going to put your arms around me and make it all better. It doesn't always work like that."
Steve's eye widened in surprise. "Okay, baby," he said calmly. "You tell me what you need me to do to make things better."
Kayla gave a harsh chuckle. "Not flirting with that reporter would have been a good start."
"I wasn't flirting with her, Kayla." Steve pleaded. "She came over to the table and invited herself to sit down. I told her I wasn't interested, but she wouldn't take no for an answer."
"Maybe you shouldn't have been so subtle." Kayla's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I guess letting her run her hand down your arm must not have been quite the clear 'no' you thought it was."
"I didn't let her do anything," Steve replied, sounding defensive. "Besides you heard what I told her. She has absolutely nothing that I want. Do you really think I want to be with her?"
"Don't turn this around on me," Kayla said stubbornly. "You're not going to change the subject by making light of my feelings again."
"What does that mean?" Steve sounded exasperated. "I'm not making light of your feelings. I'm just trying to understand why you're so upset about that stupid reporter."
"I'm talking about the other night at our apartment when that . . . woman stopped by. You thought it was just so 'cute' that I was jealous." Kayla's tone was still sharp.
"Well, it kind of was," Steve replied, clearly confused.
"Really?" Kayla's anger flared again. "How would you feel if I just grinned and told you how cute it was whenever you get upset any time anybody mentions Shane?"
Kayla saw Steve's eye widen in surprise at her remark and then she saw the hurt flash as well. She felt a momentary twinge of guilt, but her anger pushed it away quickly.
"That's different." Steve's voice was low and any hint of humor had disappeared.
"Why?" Kayla asked. "Because they're your feelings and not mine?"
"No!" Steve's tone took on a sharp edge. "It's different because you were in love with him. Remember that? You were wearing his mother's ring, a ring that was . . . what was it that you told Shane . . . oh yeah, it was a symbol of a future together." Steve stared at Kayla. "You were practically engaged to him and he was helping you raise Stephanie. Do you really think that's the same as some reporter flirting with me to get a story?"
Kayla ran her hand across her face, trying to control the swirl of emotions running through her. She knew Steve had a point, but she was not ready to let this go just yet.
"No, it's not the same," she admitted. "But I've spent weeks trying to be considerate of your feelings about Shane, trying to make up for the hurt you feel about that. I've been walking on eggshells and feeling guilty if I so much as mentioned Shane. And instead of thinking for a minute about how I might feel about your little flirtation with that reporter, you just think it's cute."
Steve was silent, as if he were unsure of what to say. Finally, he raised his hands and stepped towards her. "You're right. I should have been more considerate of your feelings."
Steve apparent agreement just angered Kayla more. "Don't patronize me, Steve," she snapped as she stepped away from him again. "You don't really think I'm right. You're just trying to figure out what to say to placate me."
"That's not fair, Kayla." Steve sounded frustrated.
"Fair?" Kayla looked at him incredulously. "What about this entire situation has ever been fair? Was it fair that you were taken away? Was it fair that instead of being home with me and Stephanie you were being tortured? Was it fair that the man who helped me figure out how to live again was my sister's ex-husband and the love of her life? Was it fair that the ISA made Shane choose between placing his life and freedom at risk and rescuing you? Nothing that has gone on in the last year has been fair."
Again Steve was silent for a moment. Kayla had seen him flinch when she referenced her relationship with Shane, but she was in no mood to cater to his feelings. She watched as he paced for a moment, then turned to face her. "Okay," he said, his voice surprisingly calm. "You're right. None of this is fair." He took a deep breath. "But that doesn't make any of this your fault. I'm sorry you and Kim had a fight, but she's wrong, baby. What happened with her and Shane and the trouble Shane's facing is not your fault."
"Really?" Kayla stared at Steve. "If I hadn't gotten involved with Shane, they might have reconciled. And you certainly wouldn't have been so upset with Shane after you got back. You and Shane wouldn't have had all of that conflict and you would have never told Jack about the rescue." Kayla shrugged her shoulders. "So, like Kim said, this is all my fault."
"Stop it, Kayla!" The edge returned to Steve's voice. "The trouble Shane is in right now is nobody's fault but mine and Jack's. I'm not going to let you stand there and start blaming yourself."
"I'm not blaming myself," Kayla said. The anger had finally left and had been replaced by exhaustion. "I'm just recognizing the truth - my sister is barely speaking to me, Shane's facing years in prison, and I'm . . ." Her voice trailed off without finishing.
"You're what, baby?" Steve stepped towards Kayla and put his hand on her shoulder. Kayla did not move away this time. "Just tell me," he finished.
"I'm tired, Steve," she said honestly. "I'm tired of feeling guilty for what happened with Shane - for what it did to Kim and to you. I'm tired of feeling guilty when I tell myself I shouldn't feel guilty. I'm tired of always being expected to understand everybody else's feelings, no matter what. I'm tired of being at odds with my family and always wondering when the next crisis will hit." She sighed and ran her hand across her face. "I just want some peace and quiet and to live our life. Is that such a huge thing to ask?"
"No, baby," Steve replied quietly. "It's not too much to ask at all." He looked her deeply in the eyes. "And I really am sorry."
"Thank you." Kayla knew his apology was sincere, but she also knew that a simple apology would not fix everything. They needed time and some peace and, with all the conflict and chaos swirling around, she was not sure they would ever get it.
As they stood together in silence, Kayla noticed the cut on Steve's cheek. Her eyes widened as she realized she had been so angry before she had not even realized Steve had been injured. Reaching up, she brushed her fingers along the wound, feeling Steve flinch.
"What happened?" she asked, trying to keep calm.
"It's just a little cut, Sweetness. It's nothing to worry about."
"I can see that much, Steve." Kayla's anger began to resurface. "I want to do know how it happened."
"Okay, baby." Steve stepped away and looked down at the water. "Shane and I were talking-"
"Shane?" Kayla's voice rose. "You were fighting with Shane again?" Kayla's eyes blazed as she felt herself lose grip on her temper yet again. "This is ridiculous, Steve. I know you're angry with Shane - because of me; because of the ISA; because of ... everything, I guess. But you can't keep getting into fights with him. It has to stop."
Steve stood there silently, a solemn look on his face. When Kayla fell silent again, he asked softly, "Are you done? Can I explain what happened now?"
Kayla nodded stiffly, wondering what had caused this latest round of blows between her husband and Shane.
"I wasn't fighting Shane," Steve said, giving Kayla a small smile. "I ran into him on the pier and as we were leaving some idiots decided they wanted to teach him a lesson." He shrugged. "Shane and I taught them one instead. One of the guys had a ring and it cut my cheek. End of story."
Kayla felt her fury release like air from a balloon. Her body slumped slightly as she realized she had jumped to conclusions regarding Steve's actions. The familiar guilt washed over her yet again.
"I'm sorry-" she started to say.
"Don't apologize, baby," Steve interrupted. "I know why you thought what you did and I don't blame you. I haven't given you much reason to think otherwise lately." He smiled slightly. "But this time Shane and I really were on the same side."
Kayla returned Steve's small smile with one of her own. As the guilt faded, she felt the exhaustion take over once again. Stepping closer, she said, "I know you made these wonderful dinner plans, but I really am tired and I think I just need to go home."
"Alright, baby," Steve agreed. "If that's what you want, that's what we'll do."
Kayla nodded and, together, they silently walked back down the pier towards the parking lot.