John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 122 - Engaging Conversation

They arrived at the cabin to find it small and simple, not unlike the one owned by the Hortons on Smith Island. John opened the door and Marlena looked around the interior of the cabin with a smile on her face. He set down the bags, telling her that the place was owned by a friend of Nicki's and Marlena took the time to walk around the small building, drawing her hand along textured surfaces, using every sense to take in the aura of the place.

Despite its simplicity and remoteness, the cabin was comfortably furnished, and it had an ambiance that she found herself immediately falling in love with. She knew that it was the ideal place to relax and get away from the stressful realities of their lives and get acquainted with each other again. And that was something they were going to do more than happily.

They slept late the next morning, happy to lie in each other's arms and simply enjoy being together with no distractions or reasons to rush away for either of them. Finally, they made it out of bed and John cooked Marlena a late brunch with the supplies that he had brought with him. Then, late in the afternoon, he packed a picnic basket and took the biography that Marlena was engrossed in out of her hands. She reached for the book, the elegant gold cipher on the cover flashing in the sunlight but John was too fast for her, and he tossed it on the table out of her grasp.

"C'mon beautiful," he said with a smile, "there's time for Judy later. Right now, we're going out."

"Where?" she asked, dubiously eyeing the blanket he had tucked under one arm.

"For a picnic," John answered evasively.

"Well, I can see that," she accepted his hand to help her up as she used her other to support her back. "But where is this picnic?"

"You'll find out soon enough," his blue eyes sparkled, a similar color to the sunshine-drenched sky outside, "but I do think you should put on some good walking shoes. And bring a warm jacket," he added mischievously.

"I'm not going tramping around the wilderness in this state!" Marlena protested immediately as she laid her hands protectively over her stomach.

"No tramping Doc," he laughed. "Just a gentle walk." She still looked doubtful despite his reassurance, and he caught her hand in his. "A short walk, okay? Just trust me baby."

"All right," she nodded eventually with her own impish grin, "I'll put our lives in your hands."

"Don't pull any punches do you Doc?" Fishing the keys out of his pocket, he handed them to her. "I'll be right out after you."

"We're taking the car?" she asked, a little surprised.

"Unless you do want to do that tramp you were talking about, yeah," he nodded. "We just walk the last few minutes, that's all."

"Oh, okay then," she took the keys and looked around for her shoes, which were hiding under the kitchen table. Slipping her feet into them, she leaned over to do up the laces. She managed to get one set finished but she was forced to straighten up with a groan of pain as the baby meted out one of its well-aimed kicks.

"I don't ever remember Belle being this brutal," she said breathlessly as she rubbed her side, which was now quite tender.

"That's because Belle takes after her Daddy." John kneeled down in front of her and tied her other lace with a big smile on his face. "You know, gentle and placid..."

"Oh please!" she laughed, "I think *this* kid is taking after you, argumentative and unable to sit still for five minutes."

"Hey, that sounds more like a description of *you* Doc," he helped her up again and laid her hands over her belly. "Stubborn, argumentative, always knows best."