Gertie

Chapter 18

John arrived at the Kiriakis mansion in time for dinner. He was just helping Brady out of his coat, when Isabella came around the corner, and said quietly, "I wasn't sure you'd bother coming home for dinner."

John glanced at Brady, and said to her quietly, "Don't do that. Not in front of Brady."

She shrugged carelessly. "When exactly would you like me to express my displeasure, John? I've barely seen you since you came to Salem," she said.

Brady looked at Isabella with excitement, and said loudly, "Did you know I have a sister, Mommy?"

Isabella smiled at her son, the smile never fully reaching her eyes, "Yes."

"Well, she's a girl, and I thought, I might not a like a girl, but guess what? She likes Blues Clues! She can't talk much, 'cause she's still little, and when she does talk it sounds funny," Brady told Isabella. "Doesn't she, Daddy? Gertie sounds funny when she talks, right?"

"She's very young yet," John said. "She'll talk more clearly when she's older."

Brady laughed, "Mommy, she says Boos Coos, 'cause she can't say Blues Clues! And guess what? She likes bugs! A girl that likes bugs!"

Isabella was having a hard time keeping her anger and jealousy contained, so she told her son, "Hey, Brady? Can you go check with the cook or Janet, and find out what's for dinner?"

"Okay!" Brady said, excited to be given a job and feel important.

John watched him run off in the direction of the kitchen, and said to Isabella, "I am not going to argue with you."

"I'm not trying to argue," Isabella said. "But you need to remember that I am your wife. We are both Brady's parents, and I feel like we need to have a conversation. About Gertie, about her illness, and about Brady's involvement with them. I should be part of the conversation, John!"

Running his fingers through his hair roughly, John said, "What kind of conversation?"

"I'm not sure I want Brady spending a lot of time with Gertie, not if that means he's also spending time with Marlena," Isabella said. "John, you cheated on me. She knew you were married, now our lives are forever changed. Who in their right mind would be okay with their child spending time with their husbands mistress?"

He knew she was right. It made sense intellectually, but in his heart, Marlena was not a mistress. She was his best friend. He knew why Isabella was insecure. He had been unfaithful, and of course, that made her doubt every decision he made in regards to Marlena and Gertie. Sighing he said, "Isabella, it was one time. Once. I know, I have to earn your trust back. I know that."

She said nothing for a moment, and then she whispered, "Once? Or one night?"

John looked at her, unwilling to lie, and he said, "One night."

"That's what I thought," she replied. "I'm not comfortable with Brady spending family time with Marlena."

"Does that include Sami? Caroline? Shawn?" John said. "I'm not going to be able to keep the two separate, Isabella. Gertie is my daughter, and Marlena will always be in my life because of that."

"That doesn't mean I want her in Brady's life!" Isabella said with frustration. "He doesn't have to spend all of his free time with his new sister! The child that's only here because you cheated on me! Not to mention, if he gets too attached, how is that going to affect him when we go back to San Diego?"

John was silent. Too silent. Isabella watched him sigh, and then he said, "I don't plan on returning to San Diego. I'm going to move the office here. To Salem."