Whisper My Name

Chapter 1

Christmas 1991

Caroline and Shawn Brady Residence

We lead two different lives

Just like two lines that never cross

And here we are together

Standing closer than we are...

~ Secret ~ Heart ~

John's face fell when Sami turned around, laying the silver hairbrush and mirror on the pile of presents behind her. She barely made eye contact as she whispered, "Thank you, Daddy..." She glanced at Roman quickly, as if she were afraid, and said, "I mean, John."

Marlena's heart ached. Sami was putting distance between herself and John, because she thought it would make Roman happy. Marlena could see it plainly. Roman seemed almost smug, and it made her angry. It was hard enough allowing him to have the time he was requesting so that he could bond with the twins, time without John's involvement, it was another for him to feel pride at having pushed John out of their lives.

John stood up quickly, refusing to make eye contact with anyone in the room, and he said in a rough voice, "I'm just going to step outside for some air." He was overwhelmed. He'd thought that Sami would love the gift. Coming there was a mistake. Everything felt different. Everything was different. The family that had been central to his whole life for the past five years was suddenly not his any longer. Roman had swooped in, and laid claim to it all.

Marlena and Isabella both moved, as if to go after him. Caroline reached out, stopping Isabella, saying softly, "Let Marlena talk to him. She has a way with him, and maybe she can help."

Isabella wanted to scream, watching helplessly as Marlena snatched up her coat, and left the house without another word. Roman barely seemed to notice, caught up in a moment of laughter with Bo and Kayla. Turning away from Caroline in frustration, she tried to school her features when her eyes caught with Kim's. She tried to smile, but it was shaky at best. She felt it all slipping away from her. When she and John had returned to Salem from Mexico a couple weeks earlier, she'd been so confident. He'd made love to her on the beach, he'd said goodbye to Marlena, and they'd each flown home with their respective partners. She was supposed to be happy, right? John should be happy.

She'd assumed that once John got over the shock of learning the truth, he would move on, but he hadn't. He seemed fixated on the children. He was trying to help Abe with cases on the side, even though he was no longer on the police force. Anytime Marlena was near his eyes were glued to her, following her every move. Isabella was trying to be patient, but as she watched Marlena go after John, all she felt was bitterness.

A stiff breeze hit Marlena's face as she stepped out into the cold evening. She saw John off in the distance, walking towards the pier, and she smiled softly. Knowing where he was going, she fastened her coat around her snugly, tying the belt at her waist, and she followed him.

John was barely on the pier five minutes when he felt Marlena's presence behind him. Without even glancing towards her, he said softly, "Doc, it's cold out here. I just needed to get some air."

"We both know you're lying," she told him, sidling up beside him.

John glanced down. The lamplight overhead shone off of her honey blonde hair, and he clenched his fist in an effort to stop himself from touching it. The gesture would be so natural. Brush her hair from her shoulder, and then gently trace along her jaw. Her lips would part, and she might whisper his name. She would stare up at him, eyes wide with anticipation...of what? They had nothing. He looked away again, moving closer to the water.