Chapter 16

“Baby...you still there?” John asked quietly after a couple of silent moments on the line “mmm yeah..” she muttered silently “ this was… unbelievably amazing and so unlike me.. you have such power over me..” she felt like she needed to explain herself to him when actually she was trying to reassure it to herself. Having a booty call in the middle of the night, when Roman was right there sleeping, wasn’t something Marlena thought she’d ever experience.

“I miss you” was all he said “ could we meet tomorrow morning? We need to talk” his voice was low now. She was trying to remember what’s her schedule for tomorrow “ I’m sorry, I have a meeting tomorrow morning actually. Launch?” She snuggled with her big blanket “sure”.

“Good night Doc”.

The next morning was hectic. Traffic was an issue and she wasn’t focused. She couldn’t take John’s phone call out of her mind. She couldn’t understand the power he has over her, she felt so alive, so daring when she was with him and she loved that woman. With each day, her fears and bad memories of Maison Blanche got a little bit bearable and it was only John’s doing.

Sitting on her chair looking for the detailed of her next meeting, she got a glance on her wrists. They didn’t heal yet and she hated that. Hated the fact she still has noticeable reminders from that terrible night. The knock on her office’s door brought her back to reality “come in” she said, standing up. Mike walked in, followed by a young handsome man, she has never seen before. He was tall, his hair was somewhat curly and it reached till his earlobes, his beard was unshaved but in an aesthetic manner, he smiled and his grin made her smile back “ hi Marlena” Mike reached to hug her. They were good friends and she was always happy to see him “ Marlena, this is Dr. Kit Harington, he just transferred here from Beit-Lechem hospital” he reached his hand to shake Marlena’s hand. His shake was firm but his smile was beaming “So nice to finally meet you, Dr. Evans”

“ Thank you Dr. Harington, please have a sit” she sat in the chair and both men took the sofa

“ Marlena” Mike started “ Dr. Harington just received his Ph.D. in psychiatry and he reached to "university hospital" for wanting to have his apprenticeship with you” her eyes grew wide when her name was mentioned, she was surprised “ well, thank you D.r Harington, I’m honored” her eyes were smiling. It’s been a while since she had an apprentice and she remembered it was very refreshing of seeing things through someone that’s lacking the actual experience in psychiatry.

“Call me Kit, please” he shifted his hair to the back “ I read all about your work and Dr. Ford wouldn’t stop talking about you and your bright assumptions”. She flushed and hope no one has noticed.

“Why thank you Kit, D.r Ford was always my favorite teacher. I’d be happy to be your mentor, I’m sure it’ll be eye opening ” she smiled again.

For both of us I’m sure, he thought, still smiling.

“Abe, I can’t just go to his house and arrest the bastard. Not if Marlena wouldn’t press charges..which I don’t know why she hadn’t yet. Especially, when he’s in town now” Roman sat at his desk and played around with a rubber ball, sharing his thoughts out loud.

“ have you tried to talk with Marlena about what happened? Did she open up? Maybe after she would, she’ll be able to face the police” Abe was puzzled at that as well but he couldn’t blame her. He didn’t know what she’s going through and didn’t want to push Roman too much with this delicate issue. “ N,o and I didn’t want to pressure her in doing so. It’s been a while, maybe I should at least ask her about it… poor Doc..it’s the second time this thing happened to her..why all the Marlenatics are after my wife Abe?” Rhetorically asking, he throw the ball at the wall.

The restaurant was busy at lunch time. John was the first one to arrive. He sat and scanned the menu, not really hungry he decided on a sea bass, he was sure Marlena would have the same but he waited for her to arrive. Than he saw her. She walked inside the room and it almost seemed as though she has brought the sun with her. She was always the most beautiful woman in every room she stepped into. She wore a white skirt suit that complimented her well shaped figure. Her eyes roamed around and than she spotted him, sitting there, smiling at her ,she got closer to him. He looks so good, she thought while she sat down. He wanted to kiss her, even a small kiss on the cheek but he reluctant to do so, it was a public place and she was a married woman, at least in the eyes of the law. “ were you waiting a long time?” She took the menu in her hand “ no. I just arrived. How’s your day so far?” He smiled

“It been an interesting morning. Apparently, I would mentor a new psychiatrist. He has heard of my work from Dr Ford and wanted to work with me. I love mentoring” her eyes lighten up when she mentioned mentoring. He loved seeing her like this again, happy, calm. He’ll do anything to keep her happy “ sound good baby” he stroke her hand for a second, knowing he can’t just leave it there.

“I wish we could be happy like this all the time..” he said, knowing she’ll understand what he’s talking about, lowering her eyes she let a sight slip between her lips “ I thought a lot about what happened at my office and last night..it made me feel like myself again...I was walking around for the past month, feeling like a zombie.. I couldn’t talk to Roman.. from the obvious reason..” her hands trembled and she put them under the table, looking away “ Doc, I get it… I want to help you through this terrible ordeal, if you let me” he found her hand on her knee under the table and squeezed it. Marlena nodded her head “ I don’t know what to do John. I mean...I was so devastated when Roman filed for divorce a couple of months ago but now.. with all that has happened, I’m not sure how I feel anymore” she looked straight into his blue eyes.

“ I love you” he whispered and instantly her eyes shut “ don’t..John..you know I love you too..but it’s too complicated..I betrayed Roman, again.. I promised myself that I would never do that. Not ever again..”

The waiter came to take their order, even he could feel that tension at the table. He took their order and left. John continued “ Doc, we’ve tried putting our feeling on hold in the past. It doesn’t work..we love each other too much to deny it” he was making sense but she didn’t know what to do. All she knew was that she loved him but she couldn’t break Roman’s heart again. “I don’t get to be with you like I want to...Roman withdrew the divorce papers-“

“ so just because he have, does that mean that it’s over for us? I know you love me Doc.. I know you don’t want to betray Roman again but that is not love. I can give you love. Don’t stay with him only because he wants too. What about you? What about what you want to do?” He caught her eyes. She knew he was right, he was… but could she do it? Could she walk away from her marriage after getting a second chance to build her family back together?

She wasn’t so hungry anymore “ I have to go..” she mumbled, standing to her feet. John caught her wrist, they both glanced at where his hand grabbed her and saw the now, yellow-brown marks from the assault “ I’m sorry..” he muttered while releasing her wrist and standing up. “ I’m sorry too.. I’ll see you..” and just like that, she was gone.