Promise of Forever
      Chapter 9
 

Michelle was still setting at her table in Company in total shock. What was she going to do? She didn’t kill Mick, Theresa did. She had a range of emotions flooding through her, joy; happiness; hurt; fear; guilt. She was happy for so many reasons, this was their way out; she wasn’t a killer; the one thing that she thought would always cast a cloud over her marriage to Danny was gone. Yet, she was so afraid, how could she tell Danny, he had once cared for Theresa, he had been so gentle with her that night at Millennium when he thanked her for bringing him out of his shell, and all along she had been using him, he was just a pawn in her master plan. Would Danny go back to his old way of life and seek revenge? After all, that’s how they ended up together, he was seeking revenge, but he couldn’t do it to her, was their entire marriage, their entire love based on a lie. No, she knew Danny really and truly loved her he had proven it over and over again, but still......”Stop it Michelle” she said to herself. She was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t notice Kevin had joined her at her table.

“Hey, are you OK, Mrs. Santos?”

“Hmmmm, oh, sorry, yes Kevin, I think so, and remember it’s Michelle.”

“Sorry, Michelle, I heard everything. I can’t believe it, but you know I will back you up.”

“Thanks, I know you will, which is good, but it won’t be just our word.”

“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”

Michelle reaches in her book bag.....Kevin instantly understands.

“You mean?”

“Yep, I got her confession all on tape. Now, I just have to figure out how to tell Danny.”

“Are you ready to go home, I know Danny’s coming over later.”

“No, I need you to take me someplace first.”

They arrive at St. Michael’s, “Are you sure that you are OK, Michelle.”

“Thanks Kevin, I’ll be fine, I’m just a bit shaken by what I have learned today. I think Ray can help me figure out a way to tell Danny.”

“I’ll be waiting for you, and Michelle, don’t worry about Danny, he loves you, no matter how you were brought together in the beginning, he fell in love with Michelle Bauer.”

Michelle smiles a Kevin and goes in to Ray’s office.

“Hey, Ray.”

“Michelle, this is a surprise.” Ray looks at Michelle’s face and immediately knows something is wrong. “What is it Michelle, did something happen to Danny?”

“No, Ray, Danny is fine, for now, but he may not be for long.”

“WHAT, what do you mean?”

“Ray, I had another run in with Theresa today. Nothing like the first time, actually this was much worse and better all in the same time.”

“OK, Michelle, you’ve got me confused. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know how to tell you this, Ray, I found out today that I didn’t kill Mick, Theresa did.”

Ray is in totally shock, “Excuse me, what are you saying?”

“I think you need to listen to this.”

Michelle pulls out her tape recorder and plays the tape of Theresa and her confession to Mick’s murder. Ray listens to the tape in horror and shock.

“Michelle, do you know what this means?”

“I do Ray, Danny and I can finally be free, but it also means I am going to have to hurt Danny by telling him the awful truth. I don’t know how to do it.” Michelle lets go of the tears she’s been holding back since Theresa left her her at Company. “Ray, this also means that our marriage all came out of a lie. What if Danny...” Michelle’s words are broken by her sobs.

“Shhh, Michelle, don’t, just don’t. Look at me, I know Danny. Yes, he came looking for Mick’s killer and that’s how he found you, but Danny fell in love with you BEFORE Drew told him you killed Mick. Danny did marry you to save your life, but it was just his excuse, he knew it was the only way to save you, but more importantly it was a way for him to be with you, and that’s all he ever wanted was a life with you. He just wanted a chance to make you see the real man, not Danny Santos, “Mob Prince”, just Danny Santos, the man totally and completely in love with Michelle Bauer. You should have seen him before your big wedding, he was beaming, he was so happy, and so in love, I never had seen him that happy, he was a changed man, for the first time in his life he was just a man in love with a woman, nothing more. You gave him that, and this truth will NEVER change the way he feels about you.”

“Michelle, it’s going to be hard on him to learn the truth, to learn that Theresa never cared for him, that he was just a pawn, that she killed his brother, for no reason other than he was changing her plan, and might cost her the only thing she craves, power, but you and your love will get him through it, trust me.”

“I do, Ray, I know you are right, I’m just really scared. What if Danny wants to handle this the “family way”? He can’t do that, I can’t let him do that. It would cost him too much and Theresa and revenge is not worth it.”

“You can convince Danny to do this right, take care of Theresa without getting his hands dirty. Danny’s hands are clean because of you and you are the one person who can convince him to keep them that way.”

Michelle gets up and hugs Ray. “Thanks Ray, you have been a big help. Now, I have to meet Danny, and tell him the hardest thing I will ever have to tell him.”

“I love you both Michelle, you guys will be fine.”

“Kevin, I’m ready to go home now.”

“Sure thing, Michelle, sure thing.”

Danny’s car is at the lighthouse when Michelle and Kevin arrive.

“Michelle, it will be fine. I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”

“Goodnight Kevin, and thanks.”

Michelle climbs the stairs and goes into the room. When she walks in her breath is taken away, Danny has filled the room with candles and white roses, there are rose petals everywhere, the floor, the bed, it’s beautiful, then she sees the most beautiful sight of all. Danny in just a pair of jeans, the candle light bouncing off his taut back, and casting a glow over his chocolate hair. In that instant he turns to see her. He crosses the room in no time and sweeps her into his arms. Michelle thinks she could easily surrender and just forget what she has to do until later, but she knows she has to do it now, their loving will come after.

“Danny,” she says pulling slightly away and taking his hand.

“Yes, Baby?”

“Come with me, I have something to tell you.”