Surviving Alex North - short story compilation

Accomplishing Something Here

Accomplishing Something Here

"I remembered being in your arms." Marlena looks up at her husband as they continue to shift slowly to the music. His teary eyes cause a foreign wave of emotion to pass through her, "I felt safe. Safe and loved." The last word comes out as a soft whisper as she buries her face back into his neck and inhales deeply, forcing her mind to remember something- anything. "I just feel safe. Like nothing can ever harm me if I stay right here. Does-" Stepping back to look at him more fully, "Does that make any sense?"

Emotions interrupt his reply as the first words come out rough and causes John to clear his throat and begin again, "Yeah Doc. It does." Not trusting himself at the moment to say anything more, he simply pulls his wife back into his arms and continues tracing small circles on the ballroom floor. He caresses his cheek against her hair and whispers, "You have no idea how- how good it is to hear you say that."

The music begins to die out as John takes in a deep breath and releases her from his arms, "Could we-" His gesture causes Marlena to look from him to the area that he is pointing out. Seeing the doors to the balcony, she stares at it before looking back at John with an unsure glance. Her head tilts and stray pieces of hair fall into her eyes. John reaches out and pushes them back behind her ear and smiles gently, "Just for a minute. I have something I'd like to tell you."

A simple nod is his answer as he begins to lead her towards the doors. He glances over his shoulder quickly as he opens the door for her, checking to see if Dr. North is watching or not.

Stepping out onto the balcony after her, he hears Marlena's comment, "It's a beautiful night, isn't it?"

"Yeah- been a perfect day."

Leaning against the railing, Marlena looks out over the trees and gardens, "Brady seems so happy. He really loves Chloe."

"Yeah, he deserves happiness. They both do- they've had a long hard road to fight."

"Because of her accident?"

John waits for her to turn around before responding, "Yes. That's one thing but there were other people in the way at times, misunderstandings, and even at one point, when Chloe was in her accident, Brady thought she was gone forever... so it's been a long road." His eyes glaze over as memories of their past misunderstandings and time wasted invades his mind.

"John-" Marlena lightly caresses his cheek, "What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing." Covering her hand with his own, "I was just thinking... that description parallels our relationship as well. Well, I think we have more of everything, but I know how good it feels to finally win. Finally beat the odds and say those vows and I'm just so proud and happy for my boy."

She squeezes his hand before letting it go and stepping back, "I can see that."

"And I know he is very happy that you came. Wouldn't have been the same without you."

"Had to be here for the wedding pictures, remember?"

They share a laugh, as John rubs his face with his hands, "Yeah. We're going to have some great pictures to add to the piano." Silence fills the air as Marlena turns back to look at the garden, "Marlena, I'm sorry for being so forceful about you coming today. That's what I wanted to say, why I asked you out here. I didn't mean to push, but you already missed our daughter's wedding and I know how much that hurt you..." He steps behind her and gently rubs her shoulders. Leaning down, he whispers the rest in her ear, "I couldn't let you miss our son's as well. You would never forgive me for that." He feels the shiver that she was trying to suppress and instinctively, John begins to rub her arms a little more firmly, "I'm sorry Doc, you must be chilly, I didn't even think about the sun going down. Here- we can go back in now."