Post by Tammy on Aug 17, 2006 12:08:17 GMT -5
I am in the bathroom in John’s bedroom changing my clothes. John has given me a pair of his jogging pants and a t-shirt to wear since my clothes got all wet when I “fell” into the pool. I examine myself in the mirror, “Dear lord… I can’t wear this! They are way too huge. The crotch of these pants hangs down to my knees.” Suddenly I hear a knock on the door. “Marlena… is everything all right in there…who are you talking too?” I heard John snickering. I whip the door open, “John I can’t wear this… look at me! I am swimming in these things.” John starts to laugh, “Well Doc it is either that or you walk around in your birthday suit.”, “Excuse me?” “Calm down…I just meant that I put your clothes in the washer. So it is either Jogging pants or naked. Honestly… I would prefer the latter of the two…” I giggled, “I am sure you would. So… jogging pants it is.” I walk over and sit on the edge of John’s bed to put my shoes back on. John walked over to the bed an gingerly sat down next to me. “Marlena?” I looked up from my shoes and saw John staring at me, “Yes?” He smiled, “I just wanted to say thank you for coming today. I had a really great time with you and the kids.” He is so handsome when he is being sincere, “Well thank you for inviting us. I must say… I had a great time too.” I turn toward him and look into his eyes, which are sparkling. “I know that we didn’t exactly get off on the right foot when we first meet. But over time I have come to realize that you are a wonderful man…most of the time.” , this comment causes him to laugh. “Anyways I just wanted to say…thank you.” He looked at me with a shocked expression, “Thank me…for what?” I take a deep breath, “Well… it’s just that…” I look away from him as I feel tears coming to my eyes. He puts his finger under my chin and turns my face toward him, “Marlena…Doc come on…what is it. I hope you know that you can tell me anything.” I’ll admit that in the beginning I didn’t like John at all. But over time I have seen a different side to him. He is sweet and tender, loving and compassionate, not to mention drop dead gorgeous. I smile at him sweetly. I raised my hand up and touch his face ever so gently, and caress it tenderly. He turns his face into my palm and kisses it. Then he takes my hand and holds it in both of his, “Doc… sweetie…what’s the matter? You look like…you are going to cry.” I take a deep breath which I let out shakily, “I just wanted to thank you… for being so good to the boys. They have had a difficult life to say the least, I am just happy that they have another male figure in their life now. I know that they have their Uncle Bo and they have Shawn and Abe, and they are wonderful. But you are more like a…a…” I can’t get the words out for some reason. John smiles at me, “I am more like a… father figure? Is that what you were going to say?” I nod my head and look away as John continues speaking, “Marlena…there is no need to be embarrassed. I am glad that the boys feel as though they can look up to me. I am also very happy that you think I am worthy of their acknowledgement.” I look him in the eyes, “You are! You are very worthy. You are a wonderful father to Maria. I am just happy that the boys have the opportunity to spend time with you. You can teach them things that I never could.” “Well… I want to thank you too. For taking Maria under your wing.” “Oh…you don’t have to thank me for that. She is a wonderful little girl…an angel, you have done a great job raising her John.” John wipes away a tear that escaped his eyes. “Thanks! I really do want to thank you though. Maria just adores the… water… that she ‘thinks’ you walk on.” We both get a hardy laugh from that. John catches his breath and continues, “Seriously…you have made such a difference in her life. She looks to you as a mother figure…and if she is going to look up to someone…I can’t think of anyone better than you.” I have tears running down my face. John scoots over closer to me on the bed. He raises his hand and soothingly wipes my tears from my cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. His hand cautiously glides up my cheek, over my neck, an works it’s way to the back of my head. He slowly pulls me toward him. I close my eyes in anticipation of what is about to happen. I can feel the heat of John’s breath on my face has he inhales my sent. Our lips are mere millimeters from each other…as I part my lips so they can welcome his in a sweet tender kiss. When suddenly…we hear a little voice scream, “GET AWAY FROM ME!” John and I pull apart. I look at him in bewilderment when I speak, “Was that Maria? She sounded so upset.” John nodded his head, “Yes she did. Wait… did you hear that? It sounded like Bo is yelling at someone. “ Then we heard Bo yell again, “I said GET THE HELL OUT!” I look over at John with worry covering my face. I stand up and grab his hand, “Come on… we have to go see what is happening. If Bo is yelling something must REALLY be wrong.” He grabs my hand tightly and we run downstairs hand in hand to see what the problem is.
