Unspoken

Chapter 35

December 4, 1992

Marlena sat in a booth at the pub with a cup of herbal tea in front of her. She still hadn't taken an official pregnancy test, but she was certain she was carrying John's child. She'd been having waves of nausea and dizziness for most of the day. It was still very early, and she suspected it could be a twin pregnancy. After all she'd been very sick with the twins early on. She stared into the steaming mug of chamomile thinking that she must have gotten pregnant the morning after John had kissed her in the hallway outside Colin's room. Talk about timing. She sighed as Caroline slid into the booth across from her.

"Is everything okay?" Caroline asked.

"I'm just tired," she replied carefully.

"Well, with six children I imagine that's true. When my children were small they ran me ragged, and helping Shawn run the fish market was an extra thing on my plate. Sometimes he'd be gone for days on fishing trips, and I'd think I would lose my mind." Caroline glanced towards the door of the pub, saying, "You know, John and the kids are probably going to be gone for a while. He said something about walking on the pier. Would you like to lay down in Kayla's old room?"

"No thank you. I'm just enjoying the quiet." The bell over the pub's entrance tinkled softly, and Caroline stood up, wiping her hands on her apron. Marlena glanced over Caroline's shoulder to see Rebecca Morrison entering, and she went back to her tea. That woman was an insufferable blow hard, and the last thing Marlena wanted was a conversation. Standing up, she said, "You know what, Caroline? I think I might take you up on that offer to lay down."

Caroline's small hand squeezed her arm. "You know where it is. Go on up."

Turning to walk towards the back stairs, Marlena paused when she heard Rebecca behind her. "Marlena. I didn't realize you were back in Salem. Is John back as well?"

She turned slowly. "He is."

"I was–I was hoping to speak with you about him," Rebecca said.

Marlena was not wanting to converse. She sighed for a second time. "I think that would be a conversation that you would have with the person you're inquiring about. I don't see how I can help you."

Rebecca stepped closer, not giving up. "I was hoping you might be able to help me get him to notice me... you know, as a woman."

"His wife just died," Marlena replied blandly. Her ire was up. Rebecca had always been interested in John. She'd never made any secret of that. She'd been watching him since he and Marlena had been married. Marlena had seen her watching him when he was married to Isabella. It was more than a little gauche. "Why don't you wait the prescribed amount of time before accosting him?"

Rebecca seemed taken aback, but pressed forward. "I–I know that, but I was thinking, if I spoke with you now, then perhaps when the time was right–"

"He's moving to Colorado, so I don't think he's interested in starting anything long distance." Marlena felt Caroline watching their interaction closely, and she added, "If you'll excuse me, I'd like to go lay down. I'm not feeling well."

"Oh, are you ill?" Rebecca asked.

Running on less than five hours of sleep, and completely overwhelmed, Marlena wasn't as careful with her words as she otherwise might have been. She said, "I'm pregnant, and I have young children. I'm not much for small talk, so if you'll–"

" –I suppose I should congratulate Roman the next time I see him," Rebecca said, adjusting her purse strap on her shoulder.

Caroline's eyes widened in surprise. Marlena was pregnant? Confusion was written plainly on her face, and then the door to the pub opened again. Marlena groaned as Roman stood there staring at her with a set of blue legal papers in his hand. Completely ignoring his mother and Rebecca, he yelled, "What the fuck is this, Doc? John's wife died, and now you're taking my kids away too?"