John was enjoying his little stroll, positive that his constitutional was going to leave him in a far better mood than Melissa's little walk had done for her that morning. John was really a little curious as to what had happened to upset his wife as much as it obviously had that morning. Whatever, Melissa didn't seem at all inclined to talk it over with her husband.

Melissa had come into the room, slamming the door behind her. She had then hurriedly locked it. Yes, damn it, locked it, as if she had been pursued by all the furies turned loose from hell. She had leaned her back against the closed door and had looked wide-eyed into the room, obviously not having realized John had been lying on the bed.

"Run into a bear in the woods?" John had asked, not knowing if he should really be concerned or not. As of late, his wife had become a bit erratic in her behavior, to say the least.

Melissa had turned her attention on him, and for a moment hadn't seemed to recognize him at all. Strange, very strange. Then she had calmed down faster than John could have ever thought possible.

"Don't be silly," Melissa had said. "There hasn't been a bear around here in ages."

She had then turned and tried to open the door to leave, actually surprised to find that the door was locked. She had already forgotten she had just locked it. John had watched while she had finally managed to get the door open. She then stepped into the hallway beyond and pulled the door shut behind her.

John really wished Melissa would go see a doctor. She had actually looked flushed. However, about an hour ago, Melissa and Creagon entering the downstairs library for another conference with the family lawyers, Melissa had looked well enough.

Oh, well, John couldn't be bothered. It was a beautiful day for a stroll. Melissa and Creagon probably wouldn't be done with all that legal shit before dinner, Marne was off somewhere (probably taking a beauty nap-she had to do something to maintain those sizzling good looks).