Week 518 - 5
Now that everyone who wanted to pay their respects had made it to Marlena’s house, Eric stood in front of them all.
He blinked hard as he said, “This is the hardest speech I’ve ever had to make. I… John was not my biological father, as we all know. But my sister Sami and I were blessed to have two, maybe more than we knew.” He glanced at Sami, who looked away, her eyes wet with tears. “Now we’re back down to one and… well, God give me the strength to speak because I am so incredibly heartbroken. Heaven’s gain is our huge loss. God couldn’t ask for a better angel than John Black but he leaves a huge hole down here in this world, and while I generally don’t want to speak for everybody, I am comfortable saying we are all broken hearted.” He blinked hard. “I don’t know what else to say. I could tell you so many stories about John, about his kindness and love, and I am sure that everyone in this room could give me one that’s even better. So I will just say that John’s legacy is all of us, sitting together. I know this is a sad day in our lives, that we are heartbroken, that we can’t believe that he was so suddenly taken from us. For us, the whole world has ended. But the fact that John was so loved is a testament to the type of life he led.”
Eric looked around the room at everyone nodding and wiping their eyes, before he went on, “I’d like to say a little prayer for my stepfather and for all of us who are left behind and then I’d like to invite us all to say a few words about John, starting with my mother.”
He closed his eyes and said, “Father God, I know you are watching over John’s soul and that he is in heaven with you, at your right hand, as he deserves to be. But I humbly ask that you bring comfort to all those who are suffering as a result of that sudden loss. We down here are heartbroken and in need of your loving guidance. Please guide us through this grief, this pain, and help us see You in all your glory as we come out on the other side of it.”
Everyone said “amen” and then Eric called on Marlena to come up to the front.
Marlena came up slowly. “Oh, my,” she said. “I didn’t think this day would come quite so soon.” She sighed deeply. “You know, John spent much of his life not knowing who his parents were. When he first came to Salem, he was a mystery man wrapped in bandages and of course we all know what Stefano Dimera tried to do to him.
“I’m not going to dwell on that, though, because John never did. Although he longed to know where he had come from, who he once was, he understood that it was more important to become who he wanted to become than to fill in those gaps, that they didn’t matter anymore. And he was too humble to see it, but what he became… well, he added so much light to the world and he never even realized it.” Marlena blinked hard. “John was a wonderful and attentive husband, and there are so many things I will miss about him. BUt I think the things I will miss the most are the everyday, mundane things. His smile when we woke up in the morning. Every time he dropped by the office just to surprise me with lunch or check on me. E-even the last thing he said to me… I was going out and he said, ‘Call me if you need me.’ And I only wish that I haf called him, that I’d heard his voice one last time…” Marlena swallowed hard. “He always had my back and I hope he knew that I had his. I will miss that silver-haired, handsome secret agent of mine, more than words can say.”
Marlena suddenly felt woozy. She took a deep breath and it passed. Eric saw and got up to help her back to her seat.
“I’m fine, sweetheart,” she whispered.
“No, you’re not,” Eric said. “John would have helped you if he were here. So now let me do it.” He put his arm around her and led her back to her seat.
Everyone looked around at each other. Steve stood, slowly, and said, “Mind if I say a few words?”
“Of course,” Eric said. “Please, come up.”
“I think I’ll speak from right here,” Steve said. “The thing is, this is gonna be a very few words cause I’m at a loss for what to say. John was, um, the dude was my best friend, all right, and him and me cheated death so many times that I’m finding it hard to believe that this time it’s really the end. I guess it’s a good thing I only got one eye cause if I had two they’d both be so full of tears right now I wouldn’t be able to see at all.” Steve shook his head. “Rest well, my friend. Rest well. We’ll see each other again someday.”
After Steve, a lot of people spoke.
Brady said, “Wow… like Steve, I just don’t know what to say. My dad stood by me no matter what. Every time I relapsed, every time I broke his heart, even when I insisted hooking up with Kristen Dimera was a good idea… he was always there to pick up the pieces.”
Abe said, “He was the best partner I could ever have.”
Paul said, “I wish I’d had the chance to know him sooner but I’m grateful for the time we did have together. I’ll be swinging for the fences, Dad.”
Belle said, “I really wish you’d been able to grow up with me and Brady. Dad was… well, he was one of a kind. I’ll really miss him calling me Izzy B. I know that sounds silly and superficial but when he used that nickname for me, his voice was always so full of love.”
Roman said, “Him and I had the weirdest history anyone ever heard of. He came into Salem believin’ he was me til I showed up and turned the world upside down. It takes a strong man to get through something like that, but John was that kind of man.”
JJ said, “He barely knew me, but no one was happier than him that I straightened myself out. Every time he saw me, he’d say, ‘Lookin’ good, kid. Keep on keepin’ on.’”
Ciara said, “He used to take me for these nature walks. That’s what he called them, but it really meant walking around the backyard and pretending it was some exotic, faraway land.He’d point out the trees in the yard like they were something no one ever saw before. Then he’d get serious and tell me not to give my mom a hard time and I’d want to listen to please him cause he was so… gentle.” Her voice cracked and she leaned against Johnny, unhappily.
“Johnny said, “I’m honored to be named after him. I don’t know what else to say, except I hope I live up to his name when I grow up.”
Allie said, “Grandpa John didn’t judge me when I was having trouble eating. Or about anything else. I’ll never forget how patient he was with me. Ever..”
Sydney said, “Grandpa John didn’t care that I was a Dimera. I was always just as much part of his family as everyone else.”
They all turned toward Sami, waiting for her to say something. She stood and said, “Well. I know half of you were probably hoping I’d keep my mouth shut. What will Hurricane Sami say, right ?Don’t worry, I’m not going to go into that horrible day when I was sixteen. That was a long time ago, and I gave John a lot of grief for a lot of years because I thought he stole my mom from my dad, but the truth was, we were the perfect family. I just didn’t want to see it.” She blinked hard. “I’m sorry, John,” she whispered. “I hope you know I loved you so much.”
“He loved you so too,” Marlena said, “and I’m sure he knew how you felt about him. In fact, I know he did, because he’d always talk about ‘our Samantha.’ with nothing but pride and affection in his voice.”
“You’re probably making that up,” Sami said, “but I’ll take it.”
Marlena reached over and put her hand on Sami’s knee.
Claire nodded at JJ then and he took out his guitar. “Claire and I wanted to play something in honor of John,” JJ said.
“Grandpa John always believed in me and said I’m going to make it big as a singer someday,” Claire said. “So h-he won’t be here to see me on my first tour but in the meantime, this song is for him.”
JJ began playing and Claire
sang:
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?
When they were finished, everyone had tears in their eyes. Marlena turned toward a photo of John on her mantel. “I love you forever,” she whispered, looking at it.
This chapter is dedicated to the memory of Drake Hogestyn.
