Love Leads The Way
Part Ten
By Pepper
"Well you do know what today is by now right?"
Danny nodded silently, "Ray helped me figure it out," he said, encouraging her with his look to continue.
"Ray? I always liked him. Anyway, being the anniversary of our first marriage, I wanted to do something special for you, since it was when you were...we were...were first married."
"So that's why you sent me all over the city today?"
"Well I wanted all my friends and family to..." She paused unsure of what to say.
"You wanted them to tell me that they liked me now? Cared about me even? Is that it?"
"Well yes, but I wanted you to have fun with it too. Did you have any fun?"
Danny silently nodded.
"I loved the cards, Chelle, but, why your parents love letters? Why that letter to you from your father? Why Rick and Abby at all? I thought they all hated me. Why my MOTHER?"
"I wanted you to read those letters because I wanted you to see how important a good relationship is to me. My mother and father at one time had a wonderful relationship, the kind I want for us. No secrets, no lies, only us being totally honest and open with each other, the way my parents once were. I also wanted you to see that my father has come to accept you and that he is happy for us."
She paused, taking his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. "That's also why I sent you to Bill's...Rick and Abby's...even to your mother, to show you that the people most important to me in my life have come to accept you and trust you. And that Carmen and I are working on our relationship, slowly of course," she said with a smirk. "But working. I wanted you too see that they didn't HATE you any more."
"You told them to say those things to me?" Danny asked, not quite daring to hope that their words had been true, at least not yet.
"No, I didn't give them a script or anything. I just told them what I was doing and that if they could, to tell you what you mean to them now, how they felt about you now. It's been a year you know, they have gotten to know you better now. Their words were their own. I had nothing to do with what they said."
"You mean, you made them say those things?" Danny said, still not quite believing that they meant what they had said to him.
"No, I gave them the choice. What they did, they did on their own Danny," she said, leaning over and wrapping her arms around his neck, forcing him to look at her in the eyes. "I promise, whatever they said, they meant. I didn't tell them what to say."
Danny's eyes began to fill with tears. Michelle pulled him closer to her, hugging him with all her might.
"Do you understand now Danny? Why I put you through all this? I wanted you too see how important you are to me and to my family, my friends. They have truly come to care for you. I knew it, but I could see that you didn't. I knew how important it was for you, to be accepted by my family. So, this is my anniversary present to you. A family that loves you and friends who care too."
Danny didn't respond, except to tighten his grip on her, pulling her into his lap and holding her close. She held him, as he cried, finally free to show the emotions he had been holding back for so long. To feel and see the things he'd been denying himself.
When he finally calmed, he looked up at her. His dark eyes shone with unshed tears and all the love in his heart.
"Thank you Michelle. You have given me the...the greatest gift you could have ever given me. You've given me my mother back, your family and friends, and most importantly your love and the best year of my life. I couldn't have asked for more."
"Well..." Michelle said, pausing and looking up at him, biting her lip hesitantly.
"What?" said Danny.
"There's more."