I've Loved You Before

Chapter 42 - When I Was Your Man

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Same bed, but it feels just a little bit bigger now

Our song on the radio, but it don't sound the same

When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down

'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name

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Bo stepped into the house bringing with him the heated air of early summer. Marlena smiled, "I wasn't expecting to see you today!"

He opened his arms wide, giving her a big hug. "How are you and the baby feeling?"

"We're doing well. John and I have our first doctor's appointment tomorrow. We're hoping to find out the baby's gender, but I feel strongly that it's a girl." She stepped towards the kitchen, "Would you like something to drink? I have iced tea, lemonade or grape Kool-Aid?"

Bo couldn't help laughing as he immediately thought of Sami. "Let me guess who's choice that was?"

"I won't even answer that," she said, opening the refrigerator. She looked over at Bo waiting for him to answer her question about a beverage.

"I can't stay. I just came to tell you, before you were blindsided, that Roman was at Ma and Pop's house this morning." He paused and then said with resignation, "He told them he's taking a deep cover ISA assignment. I walked in on the tail end of the conversation–"

Marlena stared at him in shock, " –he's leaving?" Why should she be surprised? If she really considered it, she wasn't. That's what Roman did - he ran away when things got hard. He'd never put his family first, although he liked to say that he did. Even still, she asked, "He's leaving the children?"

Bo sighed with frustration, "I don't understand it. I don't understand him! For seven years he was gone and he got it all back! He ruined his marriage to you, and now he's essentially walking away from Carrie and the twins." He threw his hands up and then said, "If Hope ever got a second chance, she wouldn't fuck it up the way Roman has. She wouldn't willingly walk away from our son the way Roman is walking away from his children."

"Hope was an amazing woman," Marlena said softly. "She wasn't afraid of living a full life the way Roman seems to be." She took Bo's hand in hers, "I know you miss her."

He sighed, "I think that's why my relationship with Carly failed. She never had faith in me the way Hope did, but that's a story for another day." He dropped Marlena's hand and then reached for the knob to open the front door. "He told Ma and Pop he's leaving tonight."

"Tonight? He hasn't called! He's leaving without saying goodbye? What about Carrie?" Marlena's heart pounded and her blood pulsed. He couldn't do this to Carrie again. Not after the last time.

"I tried to talk him out of it... but he's feeling sorry for himself. There's no explanation."

"Because of the divorce... and the baby..." Her voice trailed off. Bo was right. Roman was running away. She snatched up her keys and purse, "I have to stop him! He can't do this to them again. His stubborn pride will destroy his relationship with his children and he won't be able to repair it this time." Tears filled her eyes when she looked at Bo. "I can't let him leave Eric and Sami when they will only remember him as angry and broken. I can't let him make a mistake like that."

Bo grinned widely, "That's what I was hoping you'd say. Let's go."

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