I can see your fallin' for her
Friend you know she once was mine
So I guess I oughta warn you
Cause your showin' all the signs
Another month had come and gone, John and Marlena saw less and less of each other. Hoping it was better to heal the heart that had been shattered, Marlena made a point of staying away from functions she knew John would be at and only finding out about him through her children's eyes. She knew she couldn't keep running for long and it was only a matter of time before she saw him with someone else or he saw her with someone. Not that she had anyone serious, but she still went out on an occasion with a colleague at times. When things got to heavy of a burden on her, it was always nice to find someone who could save her from a night of memories at home. Tonight was one of those times and she was pleasantly surprised when a familiar face smiled at her when she opened the door.
John had decided to take a break from his plot to gain Marlena back; so far he'd hardly seen her to do any good anyhow. He'd called Sami and asked her for a 'date'. She was more than happy to oblige him, still feeling he was very much her father. They made quite the pair in their dressy attire.
Arriving at Tuscany, they were greeted by a rather perplexed looking Dave. He placed them in a far corner and handed them their menus. Sami looked around, admiring the wonderful d�cor when her eyes fell to the couple across the room from them. Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened in shock. Her mother was setting there with another man! John's hand on hers brought her out of her trance.
"Sami, honey, is something wrong?" John started to turn his head, but Sami caught his attention before he could make it around.
"Uh, John, it's nothing really. Just a guy I was seeing a while back. He's here with another girl. Kinda hurts." She hated lying to him like that, but she would hate it even more to see him in pain.
"Well, let's just have a look, shall we." John's face lit up at the chance to tease his 'daughter'. They'd come so far, and this sort of teasing was a regular occurrence now. Sami reached over to stop him but the damage had been done and he'd seen her.
She was dressed in a stunning outfit. The black pinstriped sheath fell just above her knees. Her hair was pinned up in a seemingly haphazard way that John found so attractive. She looked so simple, yet to John, she was the most stunning woman in the place. Sami stood next to John, hooking her arm into his and leaning her head onto his shoulder.
"I'm sorry John. I tried to stop you. I didn't want you to see her." John tore his glance away from his love and placed a tender hand on Sami's head, leaning over to place a kiss on top of the golden tresses.
"Hey, it's okay. She can be with who ever she wants. We aren't married anymore. But see, I have a beautiful date and I think I am neglecting her, so..." Sami smiled at John's attempt to make light of the fact his heart was breaking. She knew John was so in love with her mother and it pained her to see him so hurt.
"Well then Mr. Black, I think we need to set down and chow down. Whaddya say?" She hugged his arm and smiled up to his face.
"I say..." He looked over and saw Marlena get up and leave the room, probably to freshen up. "I say set right down there, and I will return shortly." He kissed Sami's forehead and made his way to the table from where Marlena had just come.
Jordan Barr watched Marlena go with an appreciative stare. This trip was even better than he'd imagined. She was free and had accepted his proposal to go to dinner. Things were looking up; he'd finally been delt the hand with the queen in it. His thoughts were clipped though by a rather upset looking man standing just beside the table. Reaching his hand over to the stranger, Jordan was rather put off when the man simply stared at him for a moment.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe I caught you're name. I'm Jor..." The man held his hand up and shook his head before Jordan could get another syllable out.
"No need for introductions. I see you're out with Marlena. You know that's a really special woman, and I can see, just by looking at you, that she's something special to you. Well, if that's the case, friend, you'd better watch your step." John leaned over to Jordan to emphasize his point. "See, I used to be married to that precious creature, and I hurt her. That my friend is something that should NEVER be done to a woman like that! I'm warning ya, she's a woman who will get into your heart and soul and you will never want her out." John stared Jordan in the eyes for what seemed an eternity. He tapped the table with his fist and turned to join Sami at their table.
She's a devil, she's an angel, she's a woman, she's a child
She's a heartache, when she leaves you
But she'll leave you with a smile
Marlena made her way back to the table, glad that Jordan had picked tonight to come visit her. She smiled as she thought of the way she was about to spend the night. Normally, she would have pulled her hair back, thrown on her jeans and t shirt and watched 'Pocket Full of Miracles' for the millionth time, all topped off with a bowl of chocolate mint chip ice cream. She'd noticed this was putting some weight on her, so any thing to get her out of the normal rut was a blessing in disguise.
Nearing the table she noticed the grin on her dates face. Raising her eyebrow in a wondering fashion she happily obliged him when he went to take her seat out for her. "Well, what has got you so chipper?" She smiled and helped him scoot her chair under the table.
Jordan took his place once again and nodded his head toward the direction of his 'attacker', trying to stave off the smirk that threatened to overtake his face. "Apparently, you have an admirer." Marlena followed his gesture to the corner of the room where she found John's back to her and Sami's smiling face.
"Oh I see. Jordan would you excuse me please. I think I need to pay my… uh how did you say that, 'admirer', a little visit." Marlena threw her napkin down on the table, Jordan knew that look and there was going to be hell to pay. He laughed at her angelic statement, and knew it hid a wrath that even the devil would admire.
Standing to be a gentleman, he watched her gracefully move toward her ex husband, concealing the fact that she was like a kid in a candy store and was about to get everything she needed. Jordan had to smile as she left. "Some things never change."
When she held me, it was heaven
It was worth the losin' pain
And when she's gone, she'll leave you wishin', she'd just roll your way
again
Sami's laughter was ceased by the image of her mother just behind John. He'd just finished his story on how he told that guy off, putting in some 'extra' details for flair. Marlena put her finger to her mouth, and shook her head no, to warn Sami not to tell of her presence. Sami bit her lip and began to twirl her noodles around her fork, knowing her mom wasn't pleased with her at the moment. Marlena decided to have some fun with John.
Leaning forward, she looped her arms around his neck and put her lips near his ear. John immediately knew it was her and stopped breathing. He knew that she'd heard all the things he'd been telling Sami, by the look on Sami's face. He wanted to jump up and explain himself, but having her near him, with her arms around him, it was all he could do not to just sweep her off of her feet and kiss her then and there. Marlena's eyes twinkled with mischievousness, something they had been missing since she'd been away from him. She felt his heart beating in his throat and knew her plan was working.
"John, I see you've met my date for this evening. Would you like to join us? I'm sure Maggie wouldn't mind." Her lips pursed together, stifling a grin, as she felt his heart pick up several beats when she spoke so close to his ear.
"Uh, Marlena, I..." John was having trouble breathing. "I had better take a rain check on that. I promised Sami here that we would have a nice dinner. Maybe sometime later huh?" His mouth ran dry and his hands began to drum on the table. Marlena put her hands on either side of his, and spoke much closer to him.
"Oh, okay, but you must come over and say goodnight." She made sure to brush her lips to the side of his face as she said this. Straightening back up, she smoothed out her dress and waved bye to a stunned Sami.
"She's good." Sami never had seen this side of her mother, and she wasn't so sure she hated it. Her attention drew back to John, who was stunned into silence. His hands still in the place she'd left them, his eyes focused ahead. He didn't like the fact that she'd embarrassed him in front of his 'daughter', but to have her that close, he'd suffer embarrassment all over again and again.
She's a devil, she's an angel, she's a woman, she's a child
She's a heartache, when she leaves you
But she'll leave you with a smile
Jordan and Marlena finished their dinner, and were about to leave. John had come to his senses and had enjoyed his dinner with Sami. Turning to go, they spotted Marlena and her date leaving. Marlena turned and looked back over her shoulder at them. Her face lit up with glee as she turned toward them and tossed John's watch back to him. Stunning him for a moment, he tried to figure out when she took the watch off of his hand.
"Remember John." She put an extra sway in her walk as she turned to go, knowing he was watching her every move. With one more look over her shoulder, she was out the door. John's heart wrenched with sadness as he watched her go. Then he caught what she said.
"Remember John?" Turning the watch over, he looked at the inscription. To JB, Thanks for giving me time, M. "What did that mean?" John furrowed his brow and bit the side of his cheek in intense thought. Then, like a bolt out of the blue it hit him. His face erupted in a smile, the smile he saved for her. He had given her time, and now it was time for them to return to the grandeur they once had held.
To be continued...