1988 (#24) - The departure of Joanna and the feelings between John and Jessica

The relationship between John and Joanna, which has been going on for a few months now, begins to encounter the first obstacles when Joanna refuses to live with the man, who cannot understand his partner's doubts. John seeks advice from Lauren, but doesn't get much from Joanna's daughter, who reveals to the man that she never understood the decisions of her mother, who apparently often runs away from problems. Joanna, on the other hand, doesn't deny herself this time either, surprisingly telling a bewildered John that she wants to leave Genoa City; news that certainly doesn't surprise Lauren, who, on the other hand, is not at all sorry not to have to deal with her mother with whom she has always had a non- idyllic relationship. Joanna's departure also allows Lauren to concentrate even more on her work, having to run the entire Fenmore company on her own, which allows her to distract herself from the unfortunate sentimental events. As time goes by, the relationship between Jessica and Christine gets better and better, and Katherine is overjoyed that a connection has finally been established between them after so many years; a connection that is strengthened when Christine is struck by an influence, which gives Jessica the opportunity to show Christine that she is still capable of giving her the attention she deserves. Although Katherine believes that Christine should know the truth about her mother's condition, Jessica begs the woman not to reveal anything to her, not wanting Christine's forgiveness to be dictated by her compassion for her condition. In the meantime, since John regularly visits the home of his old friend Katherine, Jessica and John have the opportunity to meet several times and a friendship is born between them that soon turns into a feeling of sincere love. After a few months, John decides to declare his love for Jessica and proposes to her to get married; the woman, after a long fight with her conscience because of her health condition, finally decides on Katherine's advice to accept the proposal, also to give Christine finally that father figure she never had.