Whisper My Name

Chapter 51

April 20, 1992

John and Marlena's Lakehouse

You never lost your magic vision

Always in your sight

Special intuition

Telling you, it's gonna be alright

~ Bright Light Girl ~ Heart ~

Within a week of John telling Marlena about Stefano DiMera's lifelong revenge against Shawn Brady, they had settled into the lake house with the twins, and temporarily, Carrie. The house had five bedrooms upstairs, with a master suite downstairs, and attached nursery. It was perfect. Marlena had never lived in a house so big, but having the ability to have her family with her, made it wonderful. The downstairs was an open concept. There were high vaulted ceilings, and a large stone fireplace. The back doors opened onto a large deck overlooking the lake. It was beautiful, and Marlena enjoyed standing in the cool morning air with a cup of coffee and breathing in the fresh air.

When they had first moved in, John worried that there wouldn't be a way for Carrie to stay with them. She was still underage, and neither Marlena nor John were her biological parents. Marlena had called Roman and left several messages for him at home, and at work, informing him that the children would be coming home from Colorado. He hadn't returned her calls or come by. She wasn't sure what to make of it, the whole family had made him aware of the children's location. Carrie was hurt more than she was saying. That much was obvious. She had shut down where it concerned Roman. She refused to even discuss him, sometimes standing up, and leaving the room when he was mentioned. She called John Dad, and because the twins had spent so little time with Roman to begin with, they barely seemed to notice Roman's absence from their lives. They were just happy to have their Daddy back. Marlena had tried to have them return to calling John by his first name, but they couldn't seem to remember. She had given up a few days earlier, and she had started referring to Roman as their Poppa. The twins took to it easily, and John was Daddy again.

John stood on the deck, leaning against the railing, and he stared out over the lake. The first leaves of spring were showing, since winter had lingered longer than normal. He took a deep breath, thinking about his call with Shawn earlier. Shane had run the DNA test, and Shawn Brady was John's father. He wouldn't know exactly how Shawn had known Vivian Alamain until he spoke with him. So, he'd called Shawn at the fish market, and asked him to come over. It was time to talk, and there was no way the conversation would be easy. He'd imagined it several different ways, but ultimately they all seemed outlandish.

"Shawn, you're my dad."

"I just found out you're my father."

"Shane did a DNA test and guess what?"

Marlena had promised to stay by John's side, and help him, when needed, because Shawn Brady was about to find out his oldest son was not Roman, it was John. That would be nothing less than shocking.

From where he stood outside, John heard Shawn enter the house in his usual jovial manner. He came in, setting his coffee cup on the table, and then closed the doors behind him. Shawn was carrying a plate of chocolate chip cookies. Handing Marlena the plate he said, "Now Caroline wouldn't let me come over if'n I didn't bring the cookies."

Marlena set the plate down on the table with a laugh, hugging Shawn tightly, "Thank you for coming... and thank you for—"

"—I'll hear none of it, missy. None. The situation with you, John, and Roman... well, that's not of your making is it?" Shawn said, making sure Marlena was looking at him when he told her. "What Stefano did wasn't yer fault, and I can't be blaming ye for how ye feel about each other. Understand?"