A Secret in Salem Read Online Free Page A

Sami and Eric, had seemed to always have strong, independent lives since they popped out of her womb. Sami, so mercurial and uncontrollable, with her constant neediness and desire for control, rarely leaned on her mother. Ultimately she was as headstrong as Roman, the man who had once swept Marlena off her feet and who she’d always love in some part of her heart. Eric, more sophisticated and intelligent, flourished away from the lifestyle of Salem and his divorced parents. Marlena had also raised two stepchildren, Carrie and Brady, as though they were her own.
    Belle was named Isabella as a tribute to the luminescent young woman who had borne Brady and who John had married when Marlena had been presumed dead. Isabella, who had succumbed to the torture of pancreatic cancer, had a beautiful soul, and so did her namesake.
    As Marlena studied the photos sent by Belle, she thought she heard voices coming from downstairs. Wide-awake now and curious, Marlena took her black silk robe that was draped over her chair. She slipped it over her trim body and, as she did, caught sight of herself in the full-length framed mirror. The luxurious fabric fell softly over her still-toned breasts.
    “Not bad for an old broad,” she said wistfully. To think she’d borne three children who now had children too.
    Smoothing the fabric with her hand, she welcomed the touchof flesh against her body, even if it was her own. Her hand lingered for a moment, until she was distracted once again by the muffled sound of arguing.
    Wrapping the robe securely around herself, she headed downstairs.

    The house was dark except for the security lights that lit the path as Marlena made her way to the kitchen. She could hear only one voice and recognized it as that of John’s night nurse, Desiree.
    In the dimly lit kitchen, Marlena could see the statuesque brunette on their landline. She was wearing a short robe, and her hair was tousled as though she’d just gotten out of bed.
    Desiree lived in the guesthouse, and Marlena was deeply curious as to what she was doing there in her kitchen. She realized Desiree was blasting someone in her native French.
    “What do you mean you have no idea? It’s my money, and I need it now,” she sputtered in French. “Papa, three of my friends are desperate too, and none of us can get our cash. I don’t care about your rich friends! It was you who suggested that investment!”
    Desiree was near tears and slammed down the phone. “ Merde! ” she shouted. Then she nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw Marlena in the open doorway.
    “ Docteur Evans.” She gasped.
    “I didn’t mean to intrude, Desiree,” Marlena said calmly. “Are you all right?”
    Desiree stammered, “My cell phone went dead, and I had to call my papa. It was an emergency. I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be, it’s fine,” Marlena answered. “I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, and my French isn’t quite that good, so don’t worry.”
    Marlena was being kind. She recognized enough to know it was a major blowup with Desiree’s father, one of Paris’s top surgeons, and that it involved money.
    “I have three friends who are going to hate me,” she sputtered.
    “Would you like to talk about it?” Marlena asked.
    Desiree hesitated. Yes, she would like to talk about the news she’d just heard. But each of John’s employees signed a strict confidentiality agreement Marlena didn’t know about, and she was afraid where the conversation would go. With her entire savings down the tubes, not to mention her father’s, she couldn’t afford to lose this job.
    “No,” Desiree answered flatly, then quickly changed the subject before she started to cry. “Would you like me to check on Monsieur Black?”
    Marlena thought for a moment, then shook her head. “He’s sleeping. Would you like some tea? Or a drink?”
    “Thank you, but I need to be alone,” Desiree answered quietly. “ Bonne nuit, Docteur Evans.”
    “Night.”
    Desiree exited through the