John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 44 - Sweet Deceit

Kristen stepped out of the elevator and onto the landing, facing the dull grey door of John's loft. She regarded it for several moments before knocking out several sharp raps with her gloved knuckles. The baby shifted uncomfortably again, and she cursed it as she waited for the sounds of life within the loft. When they didn't come, she looked around and surreptitiously pulled a key from her purse. She had made a copy in case it would ever come in handy. It looked like now was one of those times.

She inserted the silver key in the door and turned it quietly. There was a click and the door loosened under her touch. Smiling, she slid it open and entered the quarters that she had once inhabited with John.

Shedding her coat, she did a quick once-over of the living room, scowling at what she saw. Most surfaces were adorned with framed pictures of Marlena, Belle, or both. Some even had John and Brady, looking like the happiest family. Kristen sneered as she saw the large, framed print of John and Marlena on the mantlepiece over the fireplace. It was the same as the one that had been in Marlena's room last year. The from when they had been married, Marlena in a yellow jersey, looking radiant, and John with a blissfully silly grin on his face.

Kristen had destroyed Marlena's copy all those months ago. She had smashed it and mangled it beyond recognition in a fit of jealous rage. And she had felt a certain sense of satisfaction when she was done. She felt like doing the same thing to this one. To *all* of them. She was so close to gathering them all up and pitching them out of the window, preferably into the river. Mind you, she thought nastily, I'd rather toss his precious *Doc* into the river instead. But it wasn't a risk she could take. John could come home at any minute, and she had to be ready for him.

She looked around the loft once again before walking over to the kitchen area and switching on a jug. Her poor, darling John, was going to need a cup of tea when he got home.

******

Marlena stepped off the lift in the basement and walked to her car. A quick fumble of her keys and a squeeze of the remote elicited a whoop from the alarm system as it switched off. Marlena opened the door and settled herself in the car. It had been serviced recently and smelt of the sickly-sweet fragrance that had been used to scent the plush interior. She looked in her rear-view mirror as she inserted her key in the ignition.

The area behind her was clear as she twisted the key. The engine spluttered into life, coughed, and then died. Marlena sighed and twisted the key again. Again, the engine responded for a moment before it choked to a halt. Marlena's heart sank in her chest. This wasn't the best of signs for a good night.

******

John entered the elevator blindly, his mind swimming. There was so much to comprehend, he wasn't sure how to tonight. And the last thing he wanted to have to deal with was Kristen. He would much rather have a good night's sleep and hope this all made more sense in the morning.

He rubbed his eyes exhaustedly. Maybe he could do that. He could call Mike and let him know what he intended to do. That he would tell Kristen that she was the mother and ......He would have to tell him that Marlena was the real mother. John shook his head. How the hell was he going to explain that one to Mike? And how could he justify it? His headache pinched at his temples as he quickly tried to run through possible problems in his mind. As wonderful as this news was it was going to take a lot of work to make sure that things went the way he wanted them to go. When he worked out what that way was.

His head pounded even more insistently as the elevator lurched to a halt. There were so many thoughts and so many questions wanting to be heard, to be addressed, that they seemed to batter at his skull trying to get out. He was so distracted that he barely noticed that the door to the loft was open until he reached it.