I've Loved You Before

Chapter 8 - Green is the Colour

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Heavy hung the canopy of blue

Shade my eyes, and I can see you

White is the light that shines

Through the dress that you wore

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    The pub was bustling with the afternoon lunch crowd as Marlena sat at a small table in the corner. She was supposed to have lunch with Roman, but he'd canceled, telling her he was going to grab something quick at the pub. Hoping to catch him to at least say hello, she'd gone to the pub. Something was going on with the Stella Lombard investigation, and he wouldn't tell her anything. In truth, he'd been quite secretive about it all. His days had been long, often coming home after midnight, and his mornings were early, since he was often out of the house before she'd even gotten the twins on the school bus. He wasn't home for dinner, and he had no idea what was happening in anyone's life except his own. She hadn't even been able to tell him that Roger Lombard had kissed her, and that happened nearly two weeks ago.

    She stared down at her lukewarm coffee with a sigh. Roger was her patient, and that's all he was, although he'd made it clear he hoped for more. He was taking Stella's death hard, and Marlena was worried that he might go back to drinking. She'd gone to his studio a few times to check on him, but the last time he'd gotten too close. She'd hoped to find time to speak with Roman about the kiss. Afterall she didn't want any secrets between them. Admittedly, she'd put it off while Roman was in the hospital, but since he was released, finding the time for that conversation was almost impossible. It wasn't something she wanted to discuss while Roman was rushing out the door in the morning, and it most certainly wasn't a conversation she could have on those late nights when he came home and she was half asleep.

    The bell over the door rang, and she glanced up hoping to see Roman. A mixture of disappointment and pleasant surprise filled her. It wasn't Roman, but it was John. As he scanned the room, his bright blue eyes caught hers, and a wide smile came over his face. He dropped the door behind him, and immediately started in her direction. "It's always nice to see you, Doc."

    "What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised to see him on a Wednesday afternoon. He'd been burying himself in work recently to escape the pain of losing Isabella, and as much as she hated to admit it, there would come a point where he would be forced to face the grief.

    "I could ask you the same thing," he said. He reached up, loosening his neck tie, and then gestured toward the empty seat across from her, "May I?"

    "Always." She couldn't help smiling up at him. She'd barely seen him or spoken to him since he'd left New York, and that had been almost two and a half weeks earlier. She'd dreamt the other night about waking up to John's deep blue eyes. When she'd woken up, Roman had been watching her curiously, but he hadn't said a thing except, "Morning, Doc." Then he'd walked away, and finished getting ready for the day.

    John sat down, and tipped his head to catch her eye. "So, what brings you here on a Wednesday afternoon?"

    Marlena sighed, and then gave him a careless shrug, "I was hoping to catch my husband. He's so caught up in work we rarely see each other... but the longer I sit here the more I think I may have already missed him."

    "Ah, a few minutes on the fly with your wayward husband?" John asked with a grin.

    Marlena laughed, "Something like that."