Unspoken

Chapter 24

November 7, 1992

It was just after midnight when Peter, Alais and Ryan arrived at Maison Blanche. They were greeted by Tony, Marlena, and John. Marlena was very concerned about overwhelming them, especially Alais. While she knew her daughter might remember her, she also understood that the trauma of separation could have caused memory loss, and even guilt in Alais. Children often blamed themselves for the sudden loss of a parent, leaving them with separation anxiety and attachment issues. Marlena had already told Tony that Paloma, if she was with them, needed to be sent away. She would never forget the look in that woman's eyes when she walked away with Ryan. Never.

When Peter walked in, he was holding Alais's hand, and flanked by Paloma, holding Ryan possessively in her arms. Paloma's eyes widened when she saw Marlena, and she turned to Peter, saying, "¿Por qué está ella aquí? ¡Tu padre me contrató para proteger a los niños de ella!" [Why is she here? Your father hired me to protect the children from her!]

Peter seemed confused, as he replied, "Protect them? From their mother?"

Tony stepped forward, saying easily, "Mi padre mintió y te manipuló. Marlena nunca lastimaría a sus hijos. Mi padre se los robó." [My father lied, and manipulated you. Marlena would never hurt her children. My father stole them from her.]

Paloma looked back and forth between Peter and Tony, and then her eyes shifted uneasily to where Marlena knelt down a few feet away in front of Alais, whispering, "Alais? Honey, it's mommy."

Alais looked at her mother. She remembered her slightly. She remembered softness, and the scent of flowers. Reaching out, she touched Marlena's hair. "Mamá?"

Smiling, Marlena nodded her head. "Yes, baby. It's mama."

Alais looked up at Paloma, whispering, "Dijiste que mamá era mala." [You said mama was bad.]

Paloma glanced at Tony, and then started speaking rapidly to Alais, "Tu mamá te hizo daño a ti y a tu hermano. Por eso tuvo que irse, para que no–" [Your mama hurt you and your brother. That is why she had to go away, so she won't–]

" –Peter, please take Ryan from Paloma," Tony said, cutting the woman off. He already saw the rage in John's eyes, and the confusion and sadness in Marlena's. John understood every word the woman uttered. Tony wasn't going to allow the lies to continue. Paloma's influence with the children needed to be ended.

He watched Peter reach for the toddler, and Paloma's eyes went wide. She tried to hold onto the child, crying, "¡No a mi hijo! ¡No puedes llevarte a mi bebé!" [Not my son! You can't take my baby!]

Ryan started crying, reaching for Paloma with a shrill cry as Peter pulled the child out of her arms. Paloma screamed, and John watched as another man entered from the foyer, grabbing hold of her. Tony's voice was laced with fury, "Mi padre te mintió. Te dijo lo que quería que creyeras, y le robó estos niños a su madre. ¡No son tuyos!" [My father lied to you. He told you what he wanted you to believe, and he stole these children from their mother. They are not yours!]

Alais started crying, trying to chase after Paloma as she was led from the room. Marlena reached out, wrapping her arms around her daughter as they both sobbed. Marlena stared up at John helplessly. "What do I do?" she asked.

John approached Peter, and took his son from the other man's arms, whispering, "Hey there, buddy." Ryan was caught off guard, turning his head quickly to stare at John. His cheeks were red from exertion, and tears filled his eyes, but he went utterly silent. They regarded each other for a moment, and then Ryan turned back towards where Paloma was taken out. He pointed, "Mamá?"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Marlena and John lay in the bed with Alais and Ryan between them. Both of the children were finally asleep, but the sun was just coming over the horizon. John saw the slow tears as they fell from her eyes, and he wished there was something he could do to make their new reality easier. Part of him felt guilty. Stefano's hatred of him, no matter how irrational, had brought this pain into her life. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry that all of this has happened... I'm sorry that–"