Meant to Be
      Chapter 15 

I left while she was sleeping, my eyes never leaving her delicate form as I backed out of the room. Her curls covered the length of the pillow and the pink satin sheet was softly draped across one breast, the other fully exposed and awaiting my kiss. I fought the urge to touch her one last time, afraid I would awaken her. Her hot tears were like a dagger through my heart and I couldn't bare to see her cry anymore. My Michelle. My sweet, beautiful Michelle. What have I done to you.

I race down the freeway, my mind a kaleidoscope of images. Images of her eyes, her smile, her lips, her exquisite body. Images of the way her mouth curves and her eyes close when she's coming. Images that will forever haunt me until we can be together again. I simply cannot live without this woman by my side. I must do whatever it takes to be with her, so fuck my pride, fuck Theresa, and fuck my commitment to this goddamn family! I pray that what I'm about to do is right. I am a desperate man and desperate times call for desperate measures.

I pull up to the house and my pulse quickens when I see Theresa's car in the drive. My first instinct is to find her and slit her throat, but I restrain myself from the thought and walk through the front door.

"Danny! Where have you been?" Mother greets me with a kiss on both cheeks and a stern voice.

"Theresa and I have been worried sick about you. The wedding is in two days Danny. Two days! You've yet to pick out the grooms cake, there's the final fitting for your tux. There are a million things left to be done and Theresa is a nervous wreck! You're bride needs you Danny! Now apologize and give her a kiss!"

Theresa's standing by the door with a twisted little smirk on her face. It's obvious she hasn't informed mother of my whereabouts, and I can't help but wonder what kind of a sick game she's playing.

"Hello to you to mother." I kiss her back. "I've been away on business and I'm sorry if you and Theresa felt abandoned. Besides, I've always been under the impression that men should stay out of the wedding arrangements. Any man in his right mind knows he's bound to be out numbered, so why bother?"

Theresa saunters past mother and before I know it the bitter taste of her lips come crashing down on mine as she grinds her hip into my pelvis in a slow fucking motion. Choking back the urge to puke, I can't help but think of what a tasteless, tacky thing this is to do in the presence of mother. The word "class" is definitely not in this bitches vocabulary and I fight the urge to snap her neck in one quick motion and end this torture.

"Danny, sweetheart! Don't be silly. You're opinion about this wedding is very much valued. After all, it's going to be our day and I want you to be just as happy as me. I just know that everything is going to be perfect. Just perfect! We're going to spend the rest of our lives together and nothing…………and I mean nothing……….will ever come between us. Right Danny?"

I narrow my eyes and glare at her. She stands before me, not as the Theresa I once knew as a child, but as Lucifer himself, disguised in a red Versace suit. I don’t even bother to respond to her comment. In fact, I break free from her claws and turn to mother.

"May I have a word with you please" I glance back at Theresa. "Alone." Worry immediately invades mother's face.

"Certainly. Is everything okay?"

"Yes mother. Everything is fine. I just need to have a word with you in private please."

"Theresa dear, why don't you go to the kitchen and wait for the caterers? I'll be there in a second." Theresa is furious and flashes me a warning look before leaving the room. I follow mother into the study and close the door behind us.

"What's the matter Danny? Wedding jitters getting to you today?"

"Well mother, you could say that. I have a problem and I was hoping you could help me out. You know I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."

“Oh? Are we having a problem picking out a wedding gift for your lovely bride to be? Because I could…………….” I cut her off.

“No! That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

The expression on her face says she doesn't want to hear what I’m about to say. She slowly sinks into the leather chair and locks her fingers together, her mouth forming into a look of disappointment.

“Well………….I want……………..”

“Out with it Daniel! Quit beating around the bush!”

I take a deep breath and turn away. "I want to be released from my obligation to marry Theresa."

My statement sends her flying from the chair and into a frenzy.

"WHAT!!!?"

"Please mother. Just hear me out. Please."

"THIS HAD BETTER BE GOOD DANIEL! DEAR GOD!"

My hands are sweating and my mouth is dry. I can't help but have the feeling that I've just signed my death warrant, but I have to do this for Michelle.

"I’m not in love with her mother. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life in a loveless marriage."

Her body relaxes as she places her hand on my shoulder and begins to laugh. "Oh God Danny. You almost gave me a heart attack. Is that all? You had me scared to death. Listen to me. You'll grow to love her dear, I'm sure of it. Theresa's a wonderful girl. She's smart and beautiful. What's not to love?"

I feel the blood coursing through my veins as my anger threatens to consume me. I clench my fists to my side and hold back.

"You're not listening to me mother. I DON'T LOVE HER! I refuse to be stuck in a marriage with a woman I can barely stand to touch, all for the sake of the family. I won't do it and I need you to back me up on it!"

She’s angry now and she’s mere inches from my face. "Are you out of your mind? I will do no such thing Daniel! You will marry Theresa and you will make the best of this marriage! Do you understand me? I will not have you jeopardizing the family business just because you don’t love her! That would not make me happy Daniel, or Bernard for that matter!”

I knew it! I knew that turning to her would be a mistake. She’s never loved me like a mother should love a child. Her own selfish needs have always been put above my best interests. My eyes are brimming with tears and I’m trying so hard to be a man, but her refusal to help her own son is killing me.

“Well what about me mother? Huh? What about my happiness? Doesn’t that account for a goddamn thing!!?”

“DON’T YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY DANIEL! I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT!”

I respond as sarcastically as I possibly can. “What’s the matter mother? Am I being disrespectful? WELL GUESS WHAT!!? I’LL SPEAK TO YOU ANY GODDAMN WAY I PLEASE! YOUR REFUSAL TO PROTECT ME IS A COMPLETE LACK OF RESPECT FOR ME MOTHER! YOU COULD CARE LESS ABOUT ME OR MY FEELINGS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ANYTHING MORE TO YOU THAN A PAWN IN YOUR FUCKING LITTLE POWER GAME WITH BERNARDO!”

“That’s not true Daniel! I love you. You’re my son!”

“Oh really?? Then start treating me like one! Take my side on this and save me from a life of hell! Please mother…………I’m begging you here……….Please.”

In the most motherly affection she can conjure up, she takes my hands in her own, pulls them to her breasts, and holds them tight.

“Just calm down a minute Daniel. Just calm down. Now, what has gotten into you. Why this change of heart two days before the wedding?”

I wipe the falling tears from my cheek and continue my mantra. “I’ve always felt like this mother. Always. You just never listened.”

“Perhaps. But, I’m not buying it. You’re scared Daniel and there’s only one thing that could make you act like this…….. make you so desperate you would risk your own life and the safety of the family. Who is she?”

My heart stops and I wait……………..I feel the rhythm of it’s beating again and swallow hard. “What are you talking about mother?”

“Don’t try to con a con Daniel. I’ve been around long enough to know a love sick puppy when I see one. Who is she?”

I can’t hide this from her. Maybe if she knows, she’ll take pity on me and my love for Michelle will warm her heart. I close my eyes and a tear falls on the back of her hand. It evaporates in an instant against the red hot heat of the anger she’s trying so hard to conceal. My back is against the wall and I decide to take my chances anyway.

“She’s my everything Mama. My soulmate, my love, my life. You would love her Mama. You would.” I can’t help but smile through my tears as I sing her praises, the memory of our lovemaking still fresh on my mind. "She’s beautiful, funny and smart. God, she’s so smart……..and feisty too Mama. She matches me turn for turn, and you know how difficult I can be. I’ve never been so happy Mama. I love her. I just love her.”

The laugh that comes from her throat is as sinister as it gets. “God Daniel! Listen to yourself! You sound so pathetic! Now pull yourself together and get over your infatuation with this stupid girl! You’re getting married in two days and I’m sure Theresa will make you forget all about her on your wedding night, if you know what I mean. The two of us went shopping yesterday and she’s got some special treats in store for you Daniel! You’re gonna love it! Now run along and help Theresa with the caterers.”

Fury has blinded me and I fly into a rage. In one sweeping motion I’ve cleared the desk with my hands, and papers and pens go crashing to the floor. The phone is next to follow as I pick it up and hurl it across the room, barely missing her head as it slams into the wall. I pound my fists on the desk screaming at the top of my lungs as she cowers behind a chair, fearful for her life.

“DID…..YOU….NOT…..HEAR…..A…..FUCKING…..WORD…..I…..SAID…TO……YOU? WHAT KIND OF A COLD BITCH ARE YOU THAT YOU WOULD SACRIFICE THE HAPPINESS OF YOUR SON FOR THE FAMILY BUSINESS? HUH…………WHAT KIND MOTHER???!!!!!!!”

Just as she’s about to speak, Theresa bursts through the door and her eyes scan the room in horror! “What the hell is going on in here? Danny?…………………Carmen?” The room is all but silent, except for my heavy breathing.

In one quick stride, I reach Theresa and grab her by the throat, my voice cold and calculating as I snap her head backwards. “You want me to marry you Theresa? You want me to fucking marry you? Well get ready for a life of misery lady. I’m going to keep my end of the bargain and I’m going to marry your sorry, pathetic ass, but if you even think about laying one finger on Michelle…….one finger Theresa………, I’ll fucking gut you like a fish! And when I’m done doing that, you’ll beg me to slit your throat and finish you off. Believe me, you’ll welcome death. So don’t…….fuck……..with……..me! You got that? DO YOU!!!!!!!??????”

I slam her against the wall and dare either one of them to speak a fucking word to me. I leave the study and take the stairs 4 steps at a time as I head to my room to prepare myself for the wedding.