Hush a bye, don�t you cry, go to sleepy
little baby.
When you wake, you shall have, all the pretty little horses�
All the Pretty Little Horses
By Mona Liza
Chapter 1.
The Patch Man
Dragging in the Christmas tree, Steve half carried, half pulled it into the
living room. He pushed aside with his boot, the boxes of ornaments that Kayla
had brought out yesterday. The stand was all set by the bay window as he lifted
and slowly lowered the fir tree in place. As trees always do, it leaned
slightly off center and he bent down on his knees to adjust the tree trunk so
it stood as straight as he could manage. Already the fragrance of pine was
filling the air as he stood back to check on his work. Taking off his coat, he
placed it on the sofa as he went to get a pitcher of water from the kitchen.
Filling the stand with water, he reached over at the boxes of lights and
started to disengage them from the plastic holders. Steve placed them on the tree
first and turned them on, making certain each bulb was lit.
There were three boxes of assorted ornaments on the floor. He casually looked
through the nearest one and found the pieces that Stephanie handmade over the
years. Steve found himself smiling at the crude shaped stars and odd-looking
Santa�s his daughter had made. Kayla had kept them all, labeled by year and
carefully wrapped in tissue paper. As he inspected more of them, the melancholy
feeling hit him strong and hard. There were so many Christmas�s in that box.
Each funny shaped ornament was a Christmas he missed and would never get back.
At the very bottom, there was one covered in bubble wrap and tied with a red
ribbon. A solitary gift sticker was taped on the outside and the childish
scrawl was still legible though the writing had now faded.
�For my Papa.�
Slowly he started to pull at the bubble wrap until the Styrofoam shaped ball
sat staring up at him from his hand. Dozens of sparkling fake gems gleamed as a
cut out Santa picture adorned the center of the ball. Drawn over one of Santa�s
eyes was an eye patch. He circles the picture with his thumb, as the gems rub
up against his palm. He didn�t know it was possible for something so small to
hurt him so much. The first tear fell, closely followed by several friends. He
stood up then and faced the tree as the early morning sun streamed inside the
room. The tree lights illuminated various branches as he searched for one
special branch.
The one he chose stood just below his eye level. He took the single ornament
and hung it on the branch. A small smile came on his lips as he watched the
ball dangle in between the pine needles. He wipes the fallen tears and lets his
smile grow wider. Quickly turning he approaches the CD player and inserts a CD of
Christmas songs. Adjusting the volume, the air is soon filled with the first
bright, bouncy, melody.
�You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I�m telling you
why. Santa Claus is coming to town��
Steve takes the red velvet hat with white fur trim and places it on his head.
Taking several deep breaths, he leaves the rest of the ornaments scattered on
the coffee table and walks a few steps towards the kitchen. He stops short of
the dining room and takes one last glance at the tree. From where he stood, the
Christmas ball sparkles and slight rotates as though dancing to the merry tunes
filling the air. He frowns a little just then, wondering if he should have
waited until Stephanie got home. Brushing the sad thoughts away, he pulls up at
his shirtsleeves and walks into the kitchen to prepare lunch.
Humming along with the music, he prepares a seafood salad and places the
finished creation in the fridge. Checking at the clock over the far wall, he
sees that Kayla would be coming home soon. Working the graveyard shift for the
last few weeks, her evenings were spent at the hospital as his were alone in
their large, empty bed. Strangely, he found himself awake most nights she was
at work. He would reach over to her side of the bed and stroke at the sheets as
the long minutes slowly passed from night to day. As tired as he felt most
mornings, there was always a burst of energy that passed through him, when
Kayla came home and they could curl up in bed together in the afternoons.
Getting back into a simple ordinary life was as easy as it was hard. Barely
touching the money Portia left him, he didn�t worry about finances. He was at
liberty to do what he wanted, when he wanted. But the knowledge of his endless
free time ate away at him. He wasn�t truly living a normal life. Whether he
stayed at home, or ventured out visiting at the police station, he found
himself just floating from place to place, and never really standing ground.
Idle hands, bred an idle mind and the simple truth was he was tired of doing
nothing.
Kayla had not pressured him about his lack of employment. She understood he
needed time to fit in again. She always gave him an errand to do, trying to
fill his empty days, but it wasn�t enough anymore. Sometimes, he just wanted her
to tell him to get off his butt and do something. Didn�t matter what, just so
long as he felt as though he was doing something worthwhile. Returning to the
living room, he grabs at the packets of mistletoe and attaches one to his
Santa's hat. Pulling at a nearby chair, he stands and lets another dangle from
the ceiling, just in front of the tree. Eyeing the hanging twig, he wonders if
he should have gotten a third one to place above their bed. While still in
contemplation over the idea, the sound of the front door catches his attention
as Kayla enters and removes her coat, hanging it at the coat stand by the door.
He climbs down from the chair as she enters the room
As always, her eyes light up when they see him and she walks quickly over to him, giving him a much needed and eager kiss. " Mmmm� Steve." She murmurs. "I needed that."
"Well, you can have more than one, Baby!" Taking her face in his hands he pulls her in for another kiss as she tugs at his shoulders to keep him close to her. The kiss lengthens, and then deepens as they quickly lose themselves in the pleasure of the moment.
Pushing slightly away to catch her breath, Kayla looks dreamily up at her husband, as his gaze is hungry on her. "Why don't we go up for a little rest, Baby. I'm sure you'd like to get off your feet and lay down for a while." His voice grows husky and the gleam in his eye shoots out to her.
"What about lunch? I'm awfully hungry." She tells him as her tongue darts out and dashes across her lips.
"I'm hungry too, Baby."
She gives him a little smile as her hands reach inside his shirt to feel the warm skin below. "For food?" She asks innocently.
Nodding his head in a negative response, he starts to pull at her blouse all the while placing small kisses at her throat. Her eyes close slightly, then open again as she spies the mistletoe on his hat. "You didn't need to put one there."
He looks back at her confused a moment before he realizes what she is referring to. "Not taking any chances, Sweetness. So..." He says as the buttons on her blouse are opened and his arms circle around her. "Ready for a little nap...?"
Standing on tiptoe, she kisses him all the while removing the hat from his head. "Only if I can wear this." She exclaims as she takes his hat and plops it down on her head. Her blouse falls to the floor, as she kicks away her shoes.
His shirt follows hers on the floor as they work their way to the stairs and up towards their bedroom.
**********
"Don't get too attached to that hat, Baby! " He tells her.
"No?"
"Ole Patchy Clause is going to need that come Christmas Eve!"
"I thought husbands and wives are suppose to share everything." Kayla gets up from bed and wraps a robe around herself as Steve puts on a pair of jeans and long-sleeved tee shirt. He comes up behind her and nuzzles at her neck while reaching for his hat. She moves her head away from him, all the while laughing at his attempt to snatch it from her.
"Share huh? Okay. Downstairs, that's mine, but up here.." He turns her to face him and gives her another deep kiss. "It's all yours."
After kissing him back, she finally pulls away and searches the closet for a change of clothes. Steve reclines back on the bed and watches as she dresses. Donning a skirt and sweater, she takes off the hat and tosses it at him. Combing her hair at the vanity mirror, she turns and tugs at his arms, dragging him back downstairs for a late lunch.
Reaching the living room, Kayla looks towards at the tree Steve bought that morning. The sparkling lights bring a faint memory that leaves her slightly unsettled. But looking again, she sees the single ornament adorning the branches and turns to her husband, a surprised look on her face. He smiles back at her as they walk to the tree to take a closer look. Kayla remembered the day she bought the little plastic gems and tube of glue for Stephanie. They had already cut out the Santa picture from a holiday card magazine and the Styrofoam ball was waiting at home to be decorated. Stephanie carefully picked out the exact number of gems she wanted to use and chose colors she said her papa would want.
Together, she helped her daughter glue the pieces onto the ball and attached a string so it could hang in the doorway while drying. Stephanie then asked for a black marker to use on Santa. Kayla had thought she would write her name, but Stephanie started to blacken one of Santa's eyes and drew two short lines from the dark circle to Santa's hair. "For my papa." She told her mother, as Kayla's eyes filled with tears. "Papa doesn't have an ornament."
"No honey, he didn't. But now you made him an extra special one."
Stephanie's small cherub face smiled back at her as she gave Kayla a hug. She wrapped her small arms around her mommy's neck and looked up at the ornament hanging in the doorway. It seemed so far away from where she stood, just like her papa was far away. She hoped he would like it. She hoped he wouldn't mind that the gems were a little crooked. The long ago memories of Christmas's past without Steve filled Kayla's thoughts then. The sudden sadness that came on her was reflected strongly on her face. Stephanie was two months from turning four that year. She had already missed three Christmas's without Steve. Running her fingers over the gems, she turned to find Steve with a far off look. Almost reading his thoughts, she knew he also must be thinking about the past.
"Steve?" She called to him softly, as he turned to face her. "I love you."
"And I love you Sweetness."
He lowered his head down to hers and captured her in another kiss. Looking back at her, he smiled. "It's okay, Baby."
Sensing the small lie, Kayla puts her arms around him, and gently weaves her fingers at his hair. Steve casts his glance to the floor as his arms circle around her waist. For several seconds they stand embraced as the afternoon light pulls back leaving the first small shadows in and around corners. Stephanie returns just then, in time to see her parents in each other's arms. Not yet seeing her, she enters the living room and comes across the clothes on the floor they hastily discarded earlier. Her eyes widen in part from amusement at her parents abundantly romantic behavior and in part from embarrassment, as she has yet to get used to their very openly demonstrative feelings for each other. Clearing her throat loudly she finally catches their attention as she joins them by the tree.
"AHEM!"
Her father turns to her first. "Baby, you shouldn't sneak up on your parents like that."
"Well... you two were a little busy to notice me."
"Get used to it. We're going to be busy like this for the rest of our lives."
"Steve!" Kayla tried jabbing at him, but he just took her hand in his and held it against him. "So... did you get news about the race in Italy."
�Yes!�
"What race in Italy?" Steve scowled slighty at his daughter.
"Dad you know, the race in Milan! It's during the week after New Years. The time trials are in three days, so I'll be leaving tomorrow for Indiana and returning probably before the weekend."
"Wait a minute, what race? I don't remember talking about any race in Milan!" Steve piped in as Stephanie notices the ornament on the tree. He looks to his wife who just raises her eyebrows at him and shrugs her shoulders.
"Lunch looks good just about now." She replies. "Honey, are you joining us?" Kayla asks her daughter.
"No thanks, Mom." Her eyes remain on the Christmas ball as she answers. "I ate already."
"Steve? You want to help me set the table?"
"In a minute." He looks to his daughter as she reaches towards the tree branch.
"Okay, well don't take too long. I'm starving." Kayla eyes the both of them a moment before turning to enter the kitchen.
Stephanie takes the ball from the tree and holds it in her hands. A look born of sadness and confusion is on his daughters face. Steve stands before her as her gaze still rests on the ball. A long moment passes and she looks to him. "We've never hung this on the tree before." She tells him. "After I made this, Mom wrapped it up and tied a ribbon around it. It's been sitting at the bottom of that box for so many years."
"Your mama said you made this."
She nods at him. "I did. For you." She places it back on the branch. "I don't really remember a lot of things I did when I was small, but somehow, I always remember making that." She turns it around as it twirls on the branch. "The gems are crooked."
"I didn't notice that."
"And I guess you're a fan of pink and purple gems too?"
"My favorite colors."
"The one I made for Mom has yellow gems on it. I think a good portion of them must have fallen off by now. But she still insists we put it up every year."
Steve places a finger under his daughters chin and lift her face up to him. The tears in her eyes just shimmer and are held fast. She holds them in, not allowing any to fall. "It's a sad little ornament, isn't it Dad?"
"No Baby. It's beautiful. Thank you for making it for me."
"I never thought I would see it on a tree." She told her papa. " I wanted to place it up a few times, but it didn't feel right."
"Why not?"
"Because it's your ornament Dad. Only you could hang it." Her tears fall then. "I never thought... I never thought..." Her sobs tear through her as Steve holds her in his arms
"Hush Baby. Your Papa's here now."
Standing in front of the tree, Steve holds his baby girl in his arms. His hand strokes at her soft hair as she cries into his shoulder. Kayla comes out carrying the platter of salad Steve prepared earlier. She quietly places it on the dining table and watches her husband and daughter. Sensing her near, Steve turns his head towards her and catches her glance from across the room. Their eyes lock as he continues to hold his daughter letting her tears subside. Kayla tilts her head and smiles back at them.
**********
�It�s on January 5th, Dad.�
�Isn�t there a race around here you can drive in?� Steve started pacing up and down the room. It was always a bad sign when he did that.
�No! The one that everyone�s looking forward is in Milan.�
�So Max is going too?�
�Don�t know! But he probably isn�t. I didn�t see him at the time trials.�
�Hold on here! You�re going alone!�
�I won�t exactly be alone with the pit crew there.�
�That�s not what I meant and you know it.�
�Alright. I guess technically� I am going solo on this trip.�
�Oh I�m not liking this!�
�Dad?�
�No, Baby. I may not be able to go with you, but you�re damn well not going by yourself.� He pulls out his small address book and flips through the pages searching for the email address. �Let�s see, ah here!�
�Dad? What are you doing?�
�Getting you a backup.�
�What�?�
On the computer, Steve opens up his email account and begins to compose the message to Benjamin DiMera. The family meeting was scheduled for New Years Day. He wasn�t certain, but it would most probably be held at Cozenza. If Benjy were already in Italy, it wouldn�t be too hard to ask him to go to Milan and watch the race.
Looking over his shoulder as he writes, Stephanie opens her mouth ready to complain about this interference. �Oh Dad! I can�t believe you�re doing this.�
�Believe it! I don�t think Benjy will mind spending a day or two in Milan.�
�You�re treating me like a child! I don�t need a babysitter.�
He stops and looks back at her �I thought you two were friends? Think of it as friends getting together for a visit.�
�Yeah! Friends visit. But not because someone�s father asks them too.�
�Fine. Then think of him like an older brother then. You know we almost adopted Benjy. If that had happened, he would be your older brother. Nothing wrong with a brother seeing his sister race.�
�He�s not my brother.� Stephanie starts pouting again as she heads towards the kitchen. �No wonder Aunt Adrienne lives far away in Texas.� She mumbles to herself.
�What�s that you said?�
�Nothing. Nothing! Just getting myself something to drink.�
Turning back to the computer, Steve types away at his message.
Dated: Dec. 14, 2006
Benjy,
How are you dude? Listen, I hear the family meeting is set up on Jan. 1st in Cozenza? If it is, I�ve got a favor to ask. Stephanie is racing in Milan on Jan. 5th. Think you can attend and keep her company. Kayla and I can�t go with her. I�d be relieved if you could just hang out with her, make sure she�s okay. You know what I mean? Can you help me out here?
Kayla and I are doing really good. It�s been hard living the normal life again. Still haven�t gotten used to things. Just taking things slow for now. Maybe you can come around for Christmas?
Let me know about Milan.
Take care,
Steve
After pressing the send button, Steve started to wonder if he was doing the right thing. He sat back in the chair and thought about the request he just made. Maybe he was overreacting? It�s been two months now since they got home. They had lived as normal and ordinary a life as anyone else in Salem. He thought about talking to Kayla, but she had gone up to get some sleep not too long ago. She had another shift at the hospital tonight and he didn�t have the heart to wake her over this.
�No.� He said to himself. �I�m doing the right thing!�
Stephanie had come back in the room carrying a cup of coffee. She still looked annoyed at him as she placed her cup down and started to hang some ornaments on the tree. She looked over at him as he joined her, reaching for another box. A few moments passed quietly between them before she spoke up.
�Sorry Dad.�
�Don�t be. I think we're suppose to do this from time to time.�
She raised her brows at him. �Do what?�
�You know. Rebel daughter. Concerned father. Lots of clashes!�
She snorted at him. �Haven�t you got that the other way around?�
�Nope!�
�Well, in spite of your fatherly interference, I wouldn�t mind seeing Ben again. He did say he would watch me race someday.�
�So it�s Ben now?�
�Benjy�s a kid�s name, Dad! Ben�s a man now, incase you haven�t noticed!�
A worried thought passes through him just then. Maybe he shouldn�t have asked Benjy? �Yeah! He is grown up.� He looks at his daughter as she smiles back at him.
�Yes! He is.�
**********
He had found the pool cue in one of the boxes Kayla had shipped from Los Angeles a few days after they came back from Cozenza. With tons of free time the past week, he spent many evenings over at the Cheatin Heart, hustling up some friendly games. Finance wise, he picked up a few hundred in just three days of play. He sat at one of the table by the bar and counted his winning. Folding the bills in half and putting it in his pocket, he wondered why he even bothered playing for money. His bank account was healthy thanks to Portia. He had only taken funds to play off the man he hired to watch Kayla and Stephanie and later for the trip to Italy. The rest just sat there, getting fatter everyday from the interest.
He was tempted to ask the new owner if he could keep the pool cue here, just like he used to back then. Jimbo had it behind the bar in the old days. But that was then and this was now. Somehow seeing the pool cue at home made is seem more a part of him. It was there with him. He liked having it nearby. It would feel wrong to have it far away from him again. Standing to his feet, he downed the rest of his beer and started to rack up the balls again when someone called out his name.
Billie had walked in and immediately approached him. �Steve? What are you doing here? I didn�t expect to see you around here. Is Kayla with you?�
�Kayla just started her shift at the hospital and Stephanie�s out of town until Friday. Just couldn�t stand being alone at home, so I dropped by for a few games.�
She stood just by the bar. Rubbing her hands together, she blew at them, trying to get them warm after being out in the cold. �So how are Kayla and Stephanie doing?�
�Really Good!�
�And� you?�
�Can�t complain much. What about you? What brings you out late at night?� He had gathered all the balls and placed them in the rack and positioned it on the table.
�I guess I was feeling lonely too. Chelsea�s out with friends and Patrick�s never home much these days. Mimi�s out too.�
He nodded his head at her as she went to order a club soda. �Well� if you�re up to it, want to shoot a couple of tables?�
�You sure you want to do this?� She brings her drink back and stops in her tracks at his question.
�Yeah! Why wouldn�t I?�
�I don�t know? I mean Kayla may not want me��
�Kayla knows I�m here. I told her I was hanging out for a few hours.�
�But she doesn�t know I�m here.�
�Want me to call her up and tell her?�
�No. I didn�t mean that. Oh� I don�t know what I mean!�
�Take it easy Billie. It�s just a friendly game between two friends.�
�You still want to be my friend? I�m not exactly everyone�s best pal you know.�
Steve smiles at her and pulls up another pool cue, handing it over to her. �Yeah. I know. But you were my friend when I really needed one. I won�t forget that. So� are we playing or not?�
�Yes. We�re playing. Thanks Steve.� She puts her drink down and places her jacket and purse on a chair and joins him at the table. �Course you may not be as nice to me after I win.�
�Dream on, Baby! Ole Patch is back and he�s taking no prisoners!�
**********
�You cheat! You know that!� Billie sits down at the table carrying a beer for Steve and another club soda for herself.
�Cheat! Never! Just superior playing, as you�ve obviously never seen.� He takes the beer she offers him. � Thanks for the beer.�
�Superior playing�Ha! Bet Bo beats you every time.�
�Bo has never gotten close to beating the Patchman.� Taking a large drink from the bottle, he starts thinking and reminisces about the time he taught Kayla how to play.
Billie looks at him and sees a huge smile suddenly appear on his face. �What are you smiling at?�
�I was just thinking about the first time I taught Kayla to play pool.� He shakes his head and moves forward in his seat as he starts to tell Billie, how Kayla followed him over there, at the Cheatin Heart and acted like she was some kind of pool shark.
�Man! I swear, the woman didn�t even know how to hold a pool stick! I had to show her how to do everything. But by the end of the evening, everyone was cheering for her. I think she won some money off me too. About a buck and a half.� He tells her laughing at the memory.
"Sounds like the two of you really had great times together."
" I tell you, it didn't matter where we were, or what we were doing, just being anywhere with her was wonderful."
"Yes, I can see that." She sighed back at him. "You really are the perfect couple."
Looking at Billie's face, he fails to see how his stories affects her. The sadness so evident, starts from her eyes and slowly covers her whole face as she continues listening to his tales. "I know most people find it hard to believe, looking at Kayla and me together, but we just belong to one another. It didn't matter if we came from different backgrounds, or liked different things because we were each other's half. I'm one lucky dude to have her in my life."
"I think Kayla is pretty lucky too."
Maybe Steve was saying it to remind himself that it was all real now. Maybe he said it to convince Billie. Or perhaps, it just felt good to speak the words aloud. Regardless of the reason, Billie knew then, what she had always known and felt, but never wanted to admit. Steve could never have loved anyone else because Kayla owned his heart completely. She just deluded herself into thinking� he could care for her. If he wanted her back then, it could only be because someone brainwashed him too.
Now she was feeling sorry for herself. Steve had gotten up to play some music on the jukebox. The last time he did that they had a couple of dances together. There was no doubt in her mind that he wasn't going to ask her to dance this time. First Bo and now Steve? Why can't she find someone single and available like them to want her, she thought. They only came to her when they couldn't be with the woman they really wanted. She was always second best. She was really tired of being someone's second choice.
"You want another soda, Billie?" He was standing by the bar and called out to her, shaking her out of her depressed thoughts.
"No. I think I'm done for tonight. Chelsea will probably be home soon. I'm going to get going."
"What? Come on! Stick around for one more game. I'll let you win this time."
"It's late Steve and... I'm tired." She stands and puts on her jacket and places the strap of her bag over her shoulder. "I've had fun. It's been a while since I've enjoyed playing pool. Thanks for the games. Maybe we can do it again another time."
"Anytime. You let me know when you want a re-match."
"Sure." She starts walking to the door as Steve racks the balls up again. She pauses a moment before turning around and calling back to him.
"Hey Steve!"
He turns to her and leans back against the table. She sighs again at what she wishes could have been. But now, it was just time to say goodbye. "What?"
"Just tell Kayla for me... that she is one lucky lady."
He looks at her a moment, measuring the meaning of her words before he gives her a smile to remember. "Thanks Billie."
The smile brought pain, but it also gave her a sense of release. Her smile was smaller, but it was freely given. "Bye Steve." Grasping the door knob, she pulls the door open and walked out the door shutting it firmly behind her.
**********
It was his first Christmas back and Kayla had asked everyone to take things slow with him. He was still feeling a little out of place and the constant comments about having him back home with the family got to be overwhelming at times. Kayla, Steve and Stephanie had attended Midnight Mass last night, and today, joined the other Brady's at the Pub to celebrate Christmas Day. He had been going back and forth on several trips, from the car to the pub, unloading the presents for the family. Kayla and Stephanie appear to have gone overboard in getting gifts, but no one was complaining. Entering with the last pile, he was greeted with a kiss by Caroline who opened the door for him.
"Merry Christmas Steve!" She leaned up on her toes and gave him a kiss on his cheek. Shawn Sr was tending bar and filling cups full of eggnog as Kayla and Stephanie arranged the presents under the tree. Instead of having the party upstairs, they decided to just celebrate in the restaurant. Holding two cups of eggnog, Shawn handed one to Steve as he shrugged off his coat and sat down in one of the booths. Kayla came by then and hugged her father as she joined Steve. Shawn took the seat across from them. He looked at little teary eyed, but the smile so evident on his face clearly showed how happy his was.
"Well son? You don't know how much we've all been looking forward to this Christmas. With all three of you back home with us... well... this is the best present I could have hoped for."
Taking her husband's hand in hers, Kayla gave his hand a gentle squeeze. He turned his head to her for an instant before returning to face his father-in-law. "I'm just glad to be home."
"You know, you were always Mr. Santa around here! Do you remember how you used to dress up and hand out presents to the kids down at the riverfront?"
"Yeah, I remember that."
"A lot of people never forgot that Steve. They never forgot how good a man you were... and still are." He added.
"Oh there's was never any doubt about that, Shawn!" Hope spoke up from behind them. She stood by the table as Shawn got up and gave his daughter-in-law a big kiss on the cheek.
"So how are you and my newest grandbaby doing?"
"Were' just fine." She said patty her huge belly. "Your grandchild has been kicking up a storm lately."
"We'll you just sit down here and I'll get you some warm cider. That should calm the little one down."
"Thanks Shawn. That sounds nice." Taking the seat he offered her, she faces Steve and reached over to place her hand over his a moment. She smiles at him as Steve winks back at her. Kayla watches the two of them, a content smile on her face. Steve puts his arms around his wife's shoulders as she leans back against him. "Are you doing okay?" Hope asks him.
"Getting by." He thinks a moment and gives a small sigh. "It's just a lot to take in, you know? Last Christmas, I was celebrating at a bar in Cincy, and now... who would have thought!"
"Steve, I know you've been hearing this so much that you're probably sick of it already, but... it's been an absolute miracle that you came back." She looks at him with teary eyes and the warmest smile of an old dear friend. "I am so happy you're here with us."
"I know, Hope." He softly answers her. Before she can reply, Caroline calls out to everyone then.
"Okay everyone, dinner's ready! But before we start eating, I just want to say a prayer." She tell all of them.
Kayla scoots out of the booth, followed by Steve. Hope stands beside them and is joined by Bo who wraps his arms around his wife. Stephanie stands by the Christmas tree apart from everyone who has gathered closer to the bar. Steve caught Max giving her a confused look as she hung back, but turned again when his mother begins the prayer. "Heavenly father, we thank you for bringing our family together this Christmas Day. We ask you to watch over those who cannot be with us today, and to bless the ones you have returned back into our homes and hearts. Amen."
"Amen!"
"All right, so who's going to carve the turkey? Roman?" Caroline turned over the carving knife and fork to her eldest son. As Kayla was helping her mother with the dishes at the dinner table, Steve went to where Stephanie stood. She had been able to watch all of them during the prayer. On her face was an unrecognizable look that made Steve worry for her. He came and stood by her side as she faced him.
"Something wrong?" He cupped her cheek in his hand as she smiled back at him.
She nodded her head. "I'm just happy, Dad." She touched his hand with hers. "This is our first Christmas together. I always knew it would look beautiful."
"Hey you two? You'd better get over here if you want a drumstick." Bo called out to them. "It's each man for himself!" Bo's plate was already piled high with a lot of everything as he took a seat at the nearest table and started eating. Stephanie just laughed at him as she went to get a plate for herself. Steve followed after her and got in line just behind Max. With his plate already filled, he remained standing by Steve rather than sitting down to eat. He looked a little upset at him, which caused Steve to wonder if there was a problem between him and Stephanie. His daughter's interest in Max may have subsided, but he never did find out how Max felt about the whole matter.
Max opened the conversation first. "I should have known. I can't believe you got your memory and I wasn't able to tell."
"Look Maxwell..."
"You see! I should have figured it out when you called me that! But I didn't! No one calls me Maxwell. Only you." He had felt embarrassed and stupid all the while. "Man, I really must be blind, not to figure it out."
"You weren't the only one, dude. I guess I was a better actor than I thought, huh?"
"Yeah. Right." Max frowns at him, shifting in his stance while absentmindedly looking at his plate of food.
"Come on. Forget about it!" Steve pats him on the back. As he starts to fill his own plate, he looks again at the younger man and brings up Stephanie. "Stephanie told me you won't be racing in Milan. How come?"
"Isn't it obvious? Without a car, it'll be a few months before I can race anywhere."
"Oh! Sorry! I forgot about the accident last month."
"I'd like to forget about it too. Now I'm starting from the ground up again."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Not unless you know how to rebuild a car with the next week? Look. Don't mind me. Just jealous Stephanie will get to race in Italy."
"Is that my name I just heard?" Stephanie joined them flashing an exhuberant smile at the two of them.
"Yes we were talking about you, Red! And don't look so pleased with yourself. You maybe racing in Milan in a couple of weeks, but you just watch your back next year... cause you'll be eating my dust when I cross the finish line first."
Tossing her red curls over her shoulder, she just snickered at him as they made their way to a table. " Yeah, yeah! I've heard that before."
"Hey! Just stating the facts." He told her as he sat down across the table. "So you'd better get use to it now. I don't want to say I told you so."
"Uh huh!"
Watching the playful banter between them pretty much answered the questions he almost asked of Max. Seeing the two together, he plainly saw they were simply friends and nothing more. Slightly relieved, he let out the breath he held in check as they sat down to eat. Quickly, his thoughts turned to Benjy. Their friendship had sprung up fast. Since coming back from Italy, neither he, Kayla or Stephanie had heard from Benjy much. There was one long email he sent a week after their return home, but since then, it had been quiet. Even the attorney from Brymera who handled the ownership changes in the stocks Steve had held temporarily could not offer anymore news. All he was able to tell them was Benjy had taken control over the family business and was making a lot of changes with how the company was run.
Steve wondered then if he would even have the time to see Stephanie race. Benjy had emailed him back a few days ago that he would definitely go to Milan, but maybe his plans would change after the family meeting on January 1st. With Benjy running the company now, Steve couldn't help but be worried it was too much for him too handle. Portia's son chose to be a silent partner rather than running the company with his cousin and was now living in Salem. They had yet to meet in person though Elliot Jules had been informed by his cousin of what had happened to his mother and how Steve was involved. It was a meeting Steve was loath to have, but sooner or later, he would have to meet with Portia's son.
Looking around for Kayla, he saw she was still at the table helping to serve, as he walked back to their booth. Sitting down he was surprised when Roman came up and asked to join him.
"Have a seat." Steve told him. Truth be told, he was surprised when Kayla re-introduced her brother to him last month. He remembered Roman, or to be more precise, he remembered a different Roman than the brother-in-law who now sat across from him. This was the real Roman Brady. He had been held captive for years until he was finally able to escape and come home to his family. The Roman he knew back then was an imposter. Manipulated and brainwashed by Stefano, the man was made to believe he was Roman Brady. Now calling himself John Black, he had remained in Salem and married Marlena Evans. He had met John before regaining his memory and liked the man. He was straight forward and honest. When he first regained his memory, he still thought of him as Roman, but not anymore. He finally met the real Roman after returning from Portia's house. And as much as he tried to accept him, this brother-in-law was still a stranger to him.
"So Steve? How are you doing?"
"Good. So far."
"Bo tells me you're thinking about rejoining the force?" Steve looked a little surprised but the topic in question.
"He said that?"
"Well, he mentioned something like that. I've seen you around the station these last couple of weeks too."
"I've... I've had a lot of free time lately. Can't seem to find anything to do."
"You know, we can always use another good man back at the station. Both Bo and John said you did great work back then."
"That was a long time ago. I couldn't say I would be any good now."
"Don't count yourself out."
"I'm not, But I hadn' t really thought about going back to police work. Actually, I'm not sure what I want to do."
"Well, if you interested, I can contact a buddy of mine who can sign you up for a refresher course at the academy."
"Refresher course?"
"It's two to three weeks long. To help cops who've left but decide to come back. I think you should think about it. Consider it?"
"Yeah. Okay. I'll keep it in mind."
"Look? I hope you don't mind me talking to you about this out of the blue. I guess it seems a little strange?"
"Truthfully?� Not really." He answers him back before taking a bite of food and washing it down with a gulp of beer. "Considering all the crazy things that have happened in the last few months, this seems pretty normal."
Roman gives a small laugh at the truthfullness of his answer. "I guess your're right about that! So... you just let me know what you decide." He gets up then as Kayla finally walks over to join Steve.
"Sure. I'll let you know when I've made a decision." Nodding at Steve, he leaves the two of them to enjoy their dinner together.
"Decision about what?" Kayla sets down her plate and take the seat her brother just vacated."Steve?"
"Roman was just asking if I wanted to rejoin the police force. He mentioned there's a re-fresher course I can take."
"I didn't know you were thinking about being a cop again?"
"I haven't really been thinking about it all that much, but it is something I could go back to doing."
Kayla starts to eat, but stops after taking her first bite. Steve stares down at his plate, moving the food around with his fork, but not eating. Tentatively, she asks him if he had something else in mind. "Was there something else you wanted to do Steve?"
"I don't know Sweetness? I really don't know what I want to do."
She reaches over and takes his hand. She smiles at him and he tries to return one back, but it is slow in coming. "It's alright Steve. I'm not worried. When the time is right... you'll know what to do."
"You seem so sure. I'd hate to disappoint you."
"You could never to do."
"Never is a pretty long time, Baby?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Well, I hope you're right, cause I'm really not that certain myself."
"Just give it time Steve. Just give it some more time." He nods back at her as he starts to eat again. Someone plays a cd of Christmas songs just then as Caroline walks around the room seeing that everyone has a full plate before finally getting one for herself. He takes one last look around, watching as everyone is enjoying the food Caroline spent all morning preparing. It was a long way from the Christmasses he had in the last six years. He tries to push down the sad recollections and focuses once more of his still nearly full plate of food. Caroline stops by their table carrying her plate as she tell them there's still tons of food.
"Don't forget to go for second helpings Steve." She reminds him.
"Oh I will. You don't need to worry." He answers her as he takes a large spoonful into his mouth.