Just a quick response to a question that was asked. Sami and Eric are in Salem. They were at the school during the shooting earlier and will appear in a few weeks.
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Steve pulled the pink sweater over Stephanie's head and then smoothed the hair back from her face. "There you go, little Sweetness. All done."
Stephanie smiled at Steve as he lifted her off the changing table and put her on the floor. "Are you ready to go see Mama?"
Her eyes lighting up at the mention of her mother, Stephanie nodded and said, "Mama!"
Steve chuckled. "That's right. Let's go show her what a good job that your Papa did getting you dressed."
Together, father and daughter walked down the hall to the kitchen. As they approached the entryway, Stephanie picked up speed and Steve had to smile as his fearless daughter charged towards her mother.
"Hey baby girl," he heard Kayla say as he rounded the corner. When he entered the kitchen, Kayla had already scooped up Stephanie and was holding her in her arms.
"So, how did I do, Sweetness?" Steve asked, a crooked grin on his face.
"Hmm, let's see." Kayla put Stephanie down and turned her around. "The pants and sweater match, she's got her undershirt to help keep her warm, and you managed to get the shoes on the right feet this time." She grinned at her husband. "Not bad."
"Sheesh," Steve replied. "You get the shoes wrong one time and nobody ever lets you forget it. It's not like you can really tell them apart anyway."
Kayla laughed and walked to where Steve was standing. "You did a wonderful job, Papa. I just can't wait until her hair finally gets long enough for ribbons and bows. You're going to have fun with those."
Steve rolled his eye and kissed Kayla on the cheek. "You might be surprised, Sweetness. I have lots of hidden talents."
"You never cease to amaze me with your talents, Mr. Johnson," Kayla replied, her voice dropping into the seductive tone that never failed to make his blood warm.
"Really," he said, wrapping his arms around her. "Tell me more about these talents I have that you enjoy so much."
Kayla stared into his eye and smiled a knowing smile. "Wait until tonight and maybe we can do more than just talk about them."
Sighing, Steve relaxed his grip. "Okay, baby, I'll wait until tonight." He stepped away from Kayla and asked, "So are you working in the lab today?"
Kayla nodded. "I don't have too much office work to do so I'm hoping to be in the lab most of the day. How about you? What's on your agenda?"
Before Steve could respond, the phone rang. Glancing at Kayla, Steve reached over and answered it.
"Hello."
"Johnson?" came the reply in a familiar Southern accent.
"Yeah, it's me. What's up, dude?"
"Don't got much time ta talk," Deakins said, his voice seeming to be barely above a whisper. "I told y'all I'd talk to my captain, remember?"
Steve's heart began to beat a little faster. "Yeah, I remember."
"Well . . . he weren't none too happy about it, but he done said he'd talk to y'all."
"When?" Steve asked, hoping the answer was soon.
"He's gonna be in New York City for a coupla days later this week. He said he can meet y'all there."
Steve listened as Deakins gave the details of where and when Steve would meet with Nowicki. When Deakins was finished, Steve said, "Thanks, dude. You don't know how much I appreciate this."
"I jes hope y'all can do something to help Spooky." Deakins voice grew even quieter. "Cap's at the Hilton in Times Square startin' tomorrow night through Friday. I gotta go." With that, Deakins hung up, leaving Steve staring at the phone.
"Steve?"
He looked up to see Kayla watching him, a curious expression on her face. Hanging up the phone, he said, "That was Deakins. He got his captain to agree to talk to me."
"That's great," Kayla said. "When do we leave?"
"Sorry, baby. . . ." Steve knew Kayla was not going to like what he had to say. "You can't go this time."
As expected, Kayla's shoulders stiffened and her chin lifted as she got that determined look in her eye that he knew so well. Before she could begin her protest, he explained, "I need to go tonight or tomorrow at the latest, baby. I can't wait for the weekend and you have to work. Not to mention this isn't a good time for you to be leaving town with everything that's going on with your family."
The fire left Kayla's eyes as she took in Steve's words. "But-" she started to say in a half-hearted tone.
"No buts, Sweetness." Steve reached out and drew her to him. "I know you don't like me going on my own, but that's how it has to be this time. You need to be here to help your family deal with whatever happens with those DNA tests."
Kayla sighed and leaned into Steve. "I think I'm going to need you to help me deal with whatever happens with those DNA tests."
Now it was Steve's turn to sigh. "I know, baby. And you know I would never leave if I didn't have to. But this may be my last shot at finding something to help clear Shane of these charges."
"I know," Kayla replied. "I just wish those tests would come back so I would know what to feel." She looked up at Steve. "Right now, I'm just kind of numb. I don't know whether I'm supposed to be hoping that the tests come back in a certain way. I don't know whether to be hoping my brother has finally come home after years locked in some kind of prison or to be hoping that my brother has been here for the last five years."
"I don't think there are any easy answers to that one, Kayla." Steve thought back to everything he and Roman - or the man he knew as Roman anyway - had been through as friends and enemies.
Kayla seemed to share his thoughts. "If Roman - I mean the man who's been Roman for five years - isn't really Roman, then who is he and why has he been pretending to be my brother?"
"I don't know, baby," Steve replied. "But I think you and I both know one thing."
"What's that?" Kayla asked.
"If he's not Roman, he certainly believes he is," Steve said. At Kayla's questioning look, he continued. "Think about the last five years, Sweetness. There isn't one thing he's done that would make either of us question his loyalty and commitment to your family. Whoever he is, all of that was genuine."
"I know," Kayla agreed. "I was thinking about that last night. No matter what happens, it can't change how I feel about him. We've been through too much together."
The moment was interrupted by another ring of the telephone. "I guess we're popular people this morning," Kayla said before she picked up the receiver.
"Hello."
"Hi, Marlena."
"Oh. . . . Yeah. Steve and I will be there just as soon as we can."
"Thanks for calling. See you in a little while."
Steve had watched the expressions flow across Kayla's face during the short conversation. As she hung up the phone, he was pretty sure he knew what Marlena had called about.
"The tests are back, aren't they?" he said, more as a statement than a question.
Kayla nodded. "They want the whole family over at the Fish Market as soon as we can." She checked her watch. "Jamie should be here any minute to watch Stephanie." Her eyes darted around the room. "I . . . I'm going to get . . . I'm-"
"It's okay, baby," Steve said soothingly, pulling Kayla to him. "No matter what happens, this family will get through it. When Jamie gets here, we'll go to the Fish Market and we'll just take the next step as it comes."
Steve felt Kayla sink into his arms as he held her. He kissed the top of her head and silently prayed for strength to help them all through whatever the day was about to bring them.