Kayla entered the hospital cafeteria and scanned the room. It was mostly empty at this time of day, and it only took a few seconds to spot Kim and Marlena sitting at a table in the corner. Even at a distance, Kayla could see the worry and exhaustion on Kim's face as she picked at the plate in front of her.
Walking towards the table, Kayla flashed back to the days she spent waiting by Steve's bedside after the boat explosion. She knew exactly what Kim was feeling right now - the fear, the frustration, and even a little anger.
Kayla's footsteps slowed as her memories overtook her. She had spent hours praying that Steve would just wake up and then he finally had. And for a brief moment, Kayla had believed they had dodged yet another bullet.
But we didn't dodge anything at all, did we?
"Kayla!" Marlena's voice jarred Kayla from her thoughts. She looked up to see Marlena waving her over.
Picking up her pace, Kayla quickly reached the table. She leaned down, hugged Kim, and took a seat next to her sister.
"How are you holding up?" she asked, taking Kim's hand.
Kim offered a wan smile. "I'm hanging in there, I guess." She looked around. "Where's Steve? I'm surprised he let you out of his sight."
Kayla smiled at her sister's words. "Yeah, I think he's going to be hovering for a while. Not that I mind too much." Her expression grew serious. "He's actually with Shane at the moment. He . . . he said he had something he needed to say."
Kim's eyes widened at that, but she just nodded and began picking at her food again. Kayla shared a glance with Marlena and then saw the copy of the Chronicle sitting on the table.
Reaching out, she picked it up and began reading. Her anger grew with every word she read. She could not believe that somebody, even Rachel Knight, was trying to make it sound like Shane had been working with Cal.
Tossing the paper back down, she snarled, "I can't believe the nerve of that. . . ." Kayla took a breath to calm herself. "That whole article is a bunch of trash."
"We know," Marlena said evenly. "And so does anybody who knows Shane."
"I'm sorry," Kayla said, trying to put her anger aside. "I know that stupid article doesn't mean anything right now. All that matters is that Shane is going to be okay." She looked Kim in the eye. "And he is going to be okay."
"That's right," Marlena chimed in. "Shane's got too much to live for to give up now." She smiled at Kim. "He's got you and the kids to come home to."
Kim nodded, but still did not say anything. Kayla remembered how empty her family's words of encouragement had sounded when Steve had been hurt. She desperately wished she had something she could say to help Kim, but Kayla knew the only thing that would really help would be if Shane recovered. Nonetheless, she echoed Marlena's words.
"Marlena's right," she said firmly. "Shane won't leave you and his children. You just have to hold on to that."
Kim raised her head at Kayla's words, a question in her eyes. "But Shane doesn't even know Jeannie is his daughter." Her eyes widened. "Unless you told him." Her voice rose with excitement. "Did you tell him, Kay? When you were in that room with him?"
Kayla felt guilt come crashing down on her, knowing she was going to have to disappoint her sister. She shook her head and said, "No, Kim. I didn't tell him. I . . . I never really had the chance."
"Oh," Kim said, her disappointment evident. "I just thought that if he knew . . ." Her voice trailed off.
"I'm sorry," Kayla replied. "It was all just so crazy in there. . . . Shane wasn't conscious really, until just before. . . ." Kayla tried not to remember that moment when she thought Shane had died. "He was desperate to tell me what to say to you. . . ." She shook her head. "It doesn't matter, I should have found a way to tell him. I'm sorry."
"No, Kay," Kim said, shaking her head. "You were trying to keep him alive. I understand." She sighed. "I just wish he knew, that's all. I wish I would have told him when he was at the door. I wish . . . I wish that I'd been smart enough to get confirmation of the ultrasound." Tears began to form in Kim's eyes.
"That's not your fault, Kim." Kayla put her arm around Kim's shoulders.
"I know you keep saying that, but it sure feels that way," Kim said bitterly. "So much pain and anger that could have been prevented."
"Don't think about that right now, Kim." Marlena's voice was calm and soothing as always. "All that matters is the truth is out now and Shane can get to know his daughter."
Kim nodded, but Kayla could tell it was not going to be that easy for Kim to put Cal's lies behind her. She could only hope that time would heal those wounds too.