Promises
         Chapter 20 
 

 Michelle entered her first class amid curious looks. Carlos didn't exactly look like a typical pre-med student with his dark suit and sunglasses. She was going to have to try to get him to dress a little more casual so maybe he wouldn't stand out like a sore thumb. Who was she kidding? People would still stare. No one else had a personal bodyguard to escort them around campus.
After a little while, she was actually able to concentrate on the professor and forget that Carlos was 'scoping' out the room. She hadn't realized how much she had missed going to school. She was one of the unusual ones in medical school who loved listening to lectures. She wrote furiously, trying to take as many notes as she could. Ever since she could remember, her life had involved medicine and she knew it was her destiny to be a doctor. Her mother had wanted that for her and she was determined to make her mother proud.
Under Dr. Sedwick's orders, Michelle had only signed up for three classes this semester. She would never admit it to Danny, but by the time the third class was over, she was exhausted. She did as she promised and called him as they were pulling out of the school parking lot.
"Yeah?" Danny snapped, answering the phone.
"Is that anyway to greet your wife?" she laughed.
"Hey sweetie," his voice softened. "How are you?"
"Fine," she lied. "I just wanted to report in and tell you that Carlos and I are on our way home. What's with you? You sound busy."
"I've just been trying to catch up on some work," he explained. "I'm still at the office, but I'm on my way out the door right now." He pulled the phone away from his head to say something to his secretary.
"Who are you talking to?" she asked.
"I was just telling Diane that I am on my way home to meet my beautiful wife," he explained.
"Well, I need to stop by the grocery store first, so you'll beat me home," she said.
"Carlos goes inside with you," Danny demanded.
"I know, I know," she sighed with a giggle. "I'll make him push the cart."
He couldn't help but laugh at the image of Carlos pushing a cart around the grocery store. "Just take it easy on him."
"I think he can handle it," she smiled as Carlos cut his eyes at her.
"Don't be long," he said. "I love you."
"I love you too," she said. "I'll see you soon."

Michelle arrived home a short time later. Carlos was getting some of the grocery bags from the back seat when Michelle went to the other side of the car and reached for some of the bags. She juggled them in her arms as she tried reached for the door handle. She almost fell forward as Danny suddenly opened the door from the other side.
"What are you doing?" he scolded, taking the bags from her arms.
"What?" she asked confused. "We're just bringing in the groceries."
"You shouldn't be carrying these," he said as he set the bags on the kitchen counter.
"They're not that heavy, Danny," she groaned.
"They're heavy enough," he said as Carlos brought the rest of the bags in and set them down beside the others.
"I tried to get her to wait on me and let me get them," Carlos explained. "But your wife is a little stubborn."
"Believe me I know," Danny laughed.
"I can't believe you're ganging up on me Carlos," Michelle smiled.
"It's only been a few weeks and he knows you so well already," Danny kissed her forehead. He then turned to Carlos, "I'm staying home for the rest of the night so you can go ahead and go home."
"Okay then, I'll be in touch," Carlos said. "Have a good evening."
"Thanks Carlos. I'll see you tomorrow," Michelle smiled. As the door closed, she turned back to her husband. "So what have you been doing all day."
"Just working," he smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "How was your first day of classes?"
"Okay," she forced a smiled.
"What is it?" he asked, noticing her expression.
"I got a lot of sideways glances today," she explained. "It just feels weird having Carlos follow me everywhere."
Danny sighed, hating that she was having to live this way. "I wish you didn't have to, but until we…"
"I know, I know," she cut him off. "Until we find out who poisoned me, we can't be too careful."
"Am I sounding like a broken record?" he smiled.
"No more than me," she sighed. "I'll just be glad when this is all over and the only worries we'll have is which wallpaper to put in the nursery."
"That's an easy one," he smiled. "Football."
"I don't think our daughter will want football wallpaper in her room," Michelle laughed.
"Who says we're going to have a girl?" he questioned.
"Who says we're going to have a boy?" she retorted.
"Want to bet?" he smiled.
"What?" she laughed. "You want to bet me whether or not our baby will be a boy or a girl?"
"Why not?" he said.
"So what do I get if I win?" she teased.
"Whatever you want," he said.
"Whatever I want, huh?" she replied. "I may have to think this one over for a little while…want to make sure I get something very good out of this deal."
"Oh, I promise it'll be good," he flashed her a sexy smile, pulling her back into his arms and giving her a not so gentle kiss.
Breathless, she pulled back. and whispered in his ear, "We better unload these groceries before the ice cream melts."
"It is a little hot in here, isn't it?" he said as his lips found hers again.
She finally pulled away despite his groans and started to unload the first bag. He followed her over to the counter and helped.
He looked over at her as she closed the refrigerator door. "You look tired."
"I'm okay," she said. "I have a lot of studying to do."
"Already?" he frowned.
"Yeah, I don't want to get behind right off the bat," she replied.
"Okay, but I think you really should go upstairs and rest for a little while," he said.
"I told you I'm…" she began as he pulled her into his arms.
"Michelle," he cut her off with a kiss. "I can see it in your eyes. You are tired. Please just go lay down for a little while. Besides, if you do, I may just have a surprise for you when you get up."
"A surprise?" she smiled. "What are you up to?"
"Now if I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?" he grinned.
"Okay, okay," she playfully hit his arm. "You win…this time anyway. I'll be upstairs if you need me for anything."
"Hmm," he moaned as they kissed again. "Don't tempt me."
"Your loss," she sang as she started up the stairs.
"Don't follow her. Stay in the kitchen," Danny told himself. "You have work to do."

A couple of hours later, Danny had finally finished dinner and was setting the table. He had gone up to check on Michelle a few times, thankful that she had fallen asleep. As he was placing the last plate on the table, the doorbell rang. He opened the door to find Rick and Abby holding Jacob in a carrier.
"I'm glad you could make it," Danny smiled. "Come on in."
"We're glad you asked us," Rick replied.
"Hey Abby," Danny leaned over and kissed her cheek. "How are you?"
"Wonderful, except for lack of sleep," she laughed. "Jacob has a thing for 3 AM. He seems to like that time of the morning."
And I can't wait to go through the same thing, Danny thought to himself.
"Where's your father?" Danny asked, worrying that Ed wouldn't come.
"He was on the phone with the clinic in Europe," Rick explained. "He told us to go ahead and he would be here shortly."
"Where's Michelle?" Abby asked, picking Jacob out of the carrier.
"She's upstairs resting," Danny explained.
"Is she feeling okay?" Rick questioned quickly.
"She's fine," Danny reassured. "She was just a little tired after classes today."
Danny couldn't keep his eyes off of Jacob. His thoughts kept drifting to his and Michelle's baby. He couldn't wait until they would have their own baby to hold.
"You want to hold him?" Abby asked, noticing Danny staring at Jacob.
"Can I?" he asked sheepishly.
"Of course," Abby said. "You are his uncle." Danny crossed the room and held out his arms as Abby placed Jacob into them. "Just hold his head up."
Danny smiled down at the baby in his arms, "Hey Jacob. I'm your uncle Danny." He started walking with him through the living room toward the back deck. He stood at the glass door talking to him.
"He's going to be a wonderful father one day," Abby whispered to Rick.
"Yeah, one day," Rick said hesitantly.
"What's wrong?" Abby asked.
"I was just thinking about Michelle," he explained.
"Did I hear my name?" Michelle entered the living room. "What are you two doing here?"
"Hey sis," Rick kissed her forehead. "Danny invited us over to dinner to surprise you."
"He did?" Michelle smiled. "Where is that husband of mine?"
"He's doing some male bonding with your nephew," Abby explained. "I think he took him over toward the back door."
Curious, Michelle went through the living room, planning on sneaking up on Danny. However, when she finally found him, she stopped in her tracks. She swallowed around the lump in her throat, unable to hold back her tears. She just stood there watching as Danny was whispering to Jacob. It wasn't until she got closer that she could make out what he was saying.
"Now you're going to have a cousin soon," he said. "Your aunt Michelle thinks it's going to be a girl. Don't tell her this, but I wouldn't mind a little girl, with blond hair and big brown eyes just like her mother. I'm going to count on you to look after her when you two get older. If she's anything like her mother, she's going to be stubborn and want to do everything on her own, but sometimes you just have to help her without her knowing it. You'll learn soon enough that women can drive you crazy. But they can also make you happier than you ever thought you could be. That's the way it is with me and your aunt Michelle. She is hardheaded sometimes and a little too independent all the time, but I love her more than anything in this world. I can't imagine my life without her."
Michelle moved in closer and put her arms around Danny's waist, "Jacob, you can tell your uncle Danny that he's stuck with me. I'm not going anywhere."
"How long have you been listening?" he asked blushing.
"Long enough," she smiled, reaching around to kiss Jacob's soft head.
"I guess I sound pretty silly talking to a baby like that," he forced a small laugh.
"Not at all," Michelle said seriously, leaning against Danny's shoulder. "You don't know what it means to me to see you like this with Jacob. I have always wanted to marry a man who would be gentle and loving with our children. I'm just lucky to have found such a man."
"He's so beautiful," Danny's voice cracked.
"I know," she whispered.
"Is my grandson being held captive?" Ed said walking in.
"Dad," Michelle turned around quickly, wiping the tears from her eyes. "What are you doing here?"
"Same as everyone else," he explained, giving her a hug. "I've heard rumors that my son-in-law here is a pretty good cook. I came to see if that's true or not."
"Oh, he is," Michelle laughed. "Thankfully. I think we would starve to death if I had to cook."
Danny cleared his throat and took a deep breath before turning back around. "That's not true, honey. You made dinner the other night."
"I don't think Hamburger Helper counts, Danny," she frowned.
"Well, I'm going to teach her to cook one day," Danny smiled, handing Jacob back to Abby. "Then you'll all have to come over and taste her cooking."
"Just warn us ahead of time," Rick whispered.
"You just wait big brother," Michelle hit him on the arm. "I'm going to cook you a dinner so fabulous you'll regret ever doubting me."
"I'm sure you will," he laughed.
"Speaking of dinner, we better eat before it gets cold," Danny said, leading Michelle into the kitchen. "Will you help me in the kitchen? You all can go ahead and sit down. Everything's ready, we just have to bring it into the dining room."
After Danny and Michelle set the food on the table, they started eating.
"Danny, this is fabulous," Ed said. "Who taught you how to cook?"
"My grandmother," he replied. "She always told me that it was important to be able to do things for yourself. She taught my father too, which was good because my moth…" he stopped in mid-sentence, dropping his eyes to his plate. "Well, anyway, we had servants most of the time, but he still liked to cook for us occasionally."
Everyone was silent, not knowing what to say next.
"Well your grandmother taught you well," Abby broke the silence.
"Thank you," Danny smiled.
"So, Michelle," Rick began. "How was school today?"
Michelle proceeded to tell them all about her day and the classes she was taking, all the while making sure not to mention Carlos. They continued talking in the living room after dinner. Michelle rocked Jacob to sleep and almost went to sleep herself.
"It's getting late," Ed finally said.
"I think we're about to lose Michelle," Rick commented.
"What?" her head snapped up at the sound of her name.
"I was just saying, it's time for us to get going," Rick laughed. "I've got an early day at the hospital tomorrow."
"Well, thank you again for dinner," Ed stood up, shaking Danny's hand.
"I'm glad you could all come," Danny said as he and Michelle walked them to the door.
Rick leaned over to hug Michelle and whispered in her ear, "You take care of yourself and don't overdo it."
"I promise," she whispered back.
Danny closed the door behind them and turned back to Michelle. "You go on to bed and I'll clean up."
"I really have some work to do," she said through a yawn.
"You wouldn't make it five minutes," he laughed, wrapping his arms around her. "You have a late class tomorrow. Why don't you just do your work in the morning?"
"Okay," she yawned again. "I am really tired."
"Go on up," he kissed her. "I'll be up in a few minutes."
"Don't be long," she smiled.
"I won't," he said. "Now go."
He watched her walk slowly up the stairs. He couldn't believe how happy he felt. Although he knew he wouldn't feel completely comfortable until he found out who had poisoned her, but tonight had given him a glimpse of the normal life that they both wanted. And for the first time, he actually began to believe that they could have that normal life. Everything was finally starting to turn around for them. At least that's what he thought.