Unspoken

Chapter 10

October 3, 1992

Marlena had Brady bathed and ready for bed, when she softly knocked on the door to Isabella and John's room. This had been their routine for over a week. She heard Isabella's faint voice tell her to come in, so she shifted Brady to her hip, and entered the room. He babbled softly, his belly full of milk. His damp curls were combed down, and she'd tucked him into a soft cotton romper covered in cartoon dinosaurs.

The longer they were there, the more Isabella and John's suite looked like a hospital room. Isabella sat in bed, wearing a beautiful, yet modest, nightgown of satin and lace. Her long brown curls were pulled back into a loose ponytail, and Marlena could see the fatigue in her eyes, despite her smile when she saw her son.

"I thought you might want to spend some time with this little guy before I put him down for the night," Marlena said, approaching the bed where Isabella rested against some pillows.

"Oh, I do. I do," Isabella said happily, reaching out for her son. She felt the tremble in her muscles as she took him, but she refused to say she couldn't. Not yet, but she knew it would be soon. Her body was giving up.

Marlena could read her discomfort, even though she tried to hide it. She glanced towards the nightstand, loaded with medication. "Isabella? Have you taken your pain pills? Or the anti-nausea medication?"

She kissed Brady, and snuggled him against her chest. She murmured, "Not yet... but if you could get them for me, I will."

Reaching for the pills, Marlena realized there wasn't any water in the empty glass. She could hear the shower running, which meant John was in the bathroom. She couldn't go in there. She looked towards Isabella. Would she be okay to hold Brady if she went quickly to the kitchen? "Let me just run and get some water from the kitchen."

"That's not necessary. Just knock on the bathroom door, and warn John that you're coming in," Isabella said weakly, rubbing her hand softly over her sleepy son's back. She saw the panic in Marlena's eyes, saying, "Is that okay? I don't want to put Brady down, and I'd like you to stay close by... in case—in case..."

She hesitated. A steamy bathroom with a naked John was something she didn't want to think about, but she understood that leaving Isabella in her weakened state with Brady was unsafe. "Okay, um...okay." Marlena picked up the water glass, and rounded the end of the bed, heading to the bathroom door. She knocked briskly, waiting for John's reply, but he didn't answer. Cracking the door slightly, steam billowed out as she poked her head in, calling out, "John?"

He cracked the shower door, and stuck his head out. "Yeah, Doc. Is everything okay?"

G-d he was gorgeous. Her mouth went dry, and she stumbled over her words. "I–I'm getting some water for I–Isabella, so she can take her medication. I–I just wanted to warn you that I was in here."

A look of concern crossed his face. "Is she okay? Where's Brady? Do I need to get out?"

"She is looking a little pale, so I offered to get her pain medicine, and anti-nausea for her," Marlena said, turning away from him. She turned on the tap, filling the cup. "Brady is with her now."

He shut the shower door, saying, "Okay. I'll get out of here, and spend some time with the two of them." He shut off the water, asking, "Can you hand me the towel hanging on the back of the door, Doc?" He didn't get a response, all he heard was the click of the bathroom door as it closed.

When John exited the bathroom a minute later, Marlena was taken aback to see his chest glistening with water, and only a towel around his hips. He hadn't even dried off. She was barely able to find words as she looked everywhere but at him. "I'm, uh, I'm going to go. Let me know if you need anything."