Realizing that Marlena was standing there waiting for him, he turned to face her saying, “I’m sorry, Marlena, I was..just..thinking. You ready?” he asked, putting on a smile for her benefit. No sense making her feel bad too.
She touched him on the shoulder and replied, “Yes, I am…but I can see that you’re not Roman. Are you sure you want to do this now, tonight? I know you’re worried about hurting Isabella on what was supposed to be a happy occasion for her.”
He sighed..and admitted the truth, “Yea…I am, Doc. But…you’ve already been hurt so much, kept from everyone you love, I can’t ask you to wait. It has to be done and that’s all there is to it, I just wouldn’t feel right about you being in that *dive* another night, you should be….home.”
The way he said it made her feel welcome and his protective attitude toward her was pleasantly familiar as well. And, yet there was guilt about hurting Isabella, who would be completely shocked by the news of her return. “Thank you, Roman, you amaze me you know that, I know this must be so difficult for you.”
Touching her on the cheek with the back of the bent fingers of his right hand, he said, “No, Doc…you are amazing and no matter what, I am so…grateful to have you back and there’s a whole houseful of people who are gonna feel exactly the same way. Let’s go see em, pretty lady!”
This time his smile was genuine and it warmed her heart to see it there, “Alright, let’s go Roman!” she said enthusiastically as he put his arm over her shoulders.
They rode in silence for a few minutes and then Roman started to fill her in on some changes. “Well, Doc…I want to tell you some things to prepare you, the twins are so..big and so grown up, they’re doing great though. They both play soccer and softball, they’re just full of life and bursting with energy. They look so much like you..and…”
“I saw them,” she said, interrupting. I was at the park the other day when you and Isabella were there for their game. I watched from a distance and you’re right, they’ve grown so much and they seemed so happy and well behaved. As hard as it must have been for you, it appears you’ve done a terrific job of raising them.”
He found himself blushing at that. “Thanks, Doc that means alot to me. I’ve worked really hard at it and there were so many times I wished you were there to help me, times when I felt like I really needed your tenderness and your wisdom.” He smiled wistfully and said, “I would talk to you sometimes and I’d say, well Doc what would you do in this situation? and I’d sit and think for a while and then it would come to me. You helped me a lot that way,” he said while grinning at her.
She chuckled at the thought and replied, “Well, I’m so glad I could help you out, Roman.”
Remembering how many times he felt like he was just floundering without her, being a single father, working crazy cop’s hours, he said, “Oh, Doc they needed you so much! I… did the best I could and we managed, but we all needed you and missed you…more than you’ll ever know.”