Love Leads The Way
Part Five
By Pepper
There, lying in the soft red satin lining of that old wooden box laid letters. Old letters. Dozens of them, carefully bound with a red satin ribbon. He removed the ribbon, laying it gently inside the box. Danny shuffled throug h most of them, seeing that they were mostly from Ed, with a few from Maureen. Michelle's parents' love letters. On top was a note from Michelle. "Read these Danny," it said.
"I wonder what she wants with these," Danny asked himself softly. "And why she wants me to read them."
They were obviously special. The aged letters, having been worn down with time and being read lovingly over and over again, were tearstained and frayed. Danny opened the first letter, it was from Ed. He sat there, in his car, totally ignorant of the increasing heat of the day. He read each letter, marveling at the love and devotion Ed and Maureen had for each other. The love they shared shone through each and every letter, regardless of the problems each of them faced in their lives together; the affairs, the heartbreak.
They surely loved each other through it all.
Danny finally came to the last letter. It was also from Ed.
He opened it, expecting to find a letter to Maureen.
However, it was a letter to Michelle.
Curious, Danny proceeded to read.
"My dear Michelle,
I was so glad that I got to see you last month. Your visit meant the world to me. I was so pleased to finally meet your husband. Danny was a complete gentleman, nothing like I expected. I know he is a fine man honey, but you have to admit, what I first heard of him was not the greatest of news. I have to admit I was disconcerted to learn that my baby girl had married a mobster; and scared. But, just as you said, my opinion changed the moment I met him. A kind, decent young man, he obviously loves you very much. I could see it in his eyes when he looked at you, hear it in his voice when he talked to you or about you, and I can see it in the way he treats you. And to hear him talk about his family and his struggle to save it and their business dealings, I know he will do everything in his power to protect you; and save himself and his family. I know he is well on his way. I am proud to tell my friends that my daughter has such a wonderful, decent husband. I'm proud of my new son-in-law and of my baby girl. I love you darling.
Write soon,
Your loving father,
Ed"
Danny sat back in his seat, totally unaware of the tears in his eyes and on his cheeks.
"I never realized how important it was to me that this man approve of me. I still can't believe he does," Danny whispered to himself, in amazement of what he had just read.
"I never thought his opinion would change about me."
Danny thought back to their trip last month to Spain to see Michelle's father. He had been so nervous, anxious to make that very important good first impression.
"I suppose I was so nervous that I just didn't see it," he thought to himself, laughing softly.
He went to put the letter back in it's envelope when he saw it. His little card waiting there in the envelope.
He smiled, taking the card out and opening it.
There on the front was a little dog and cat, playing together. It said, "Have I told you lately that I love you?"
He smiled even bigger as he opened the card to see what was written on the inside.
"Dear Danny,
I hope that you don't mind that I asked you to read those letters. It was important to me, as I'm sure you understood. I'll tell you why later. First, would you please go by the Millennium and pick up our supper. You'll have more instructions once you get there.
I love you baby,
Michelle."
"Why do I almost feel like I'm on a wild goose chase?" Danny said aloud. "When do I get my prize?" He laughed, "I already have that, don't I."
He thinks of Michelle and this crazy day she has planned out for him so far. Again he wondered as he cranked the car and headed for his new destination, "What is so special about today?"