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I did not see Danny again for several weeks. Michelle pretended not to notice his absence, but I saw her eyes anxiously scan the windows every time a car passed the house.
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Marah was beside herself. She stomped around the house, ranting and raving about how Michelle and Bill drove Danny away. After about a week of this, much to everyone's relief, she calmed down. She seemed to have recovered from her childish crush.
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Then one day I was returning from the grocery store. I had just turned onto our street when I saw Danny's black BMW parked a few houses down from ours. I slowed my car as I passed, meaning only to say hello. Danny was inside his car with a woman, and they were locked in a passionate embrace. Thinking it was Michelle; I threw my car in park, and ran over to the passenger side of the other car. I wanted to warn Michelle that Bill was coming home early. Hearing my approach, the couple parted, and I was shocked to see Marah's sweet young face staring back at me. Danny quickly put his car in gear, the tires squealed, and they sped away, leaving me standing in the street with a cloud of acrid smoke swirling around me.
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When I got home, I said nothing of what I had seen. I busied myself about the kitchen, rushing around and fussing over dinner. Marah did not come home for dinner, and while the Lewises thought it was odd, they were not overly concerned. However, as the hour grew later, Bill started pacing around the living room anxiously. Every few minutes would glance at his watch and curse softly. I hid in the kitchen for the entire evening, hoping to avoid the entire situation. Finally, Bill left his sentry duty, and came to get a beer out of the refrigerator. He opened the bottle and took a long drink.
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"Maria do you have any idea where Marah is?" Bill asked, eyeing me suspiciously.
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"Uh�No Mr. Lewis, I have no idea," I replied as I wiped the same small patch of counter for the tenth time.
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He just stood there watching me. I gave up on the scrap of counter, and sat down at the table with my sewing basket. I desperately wanted to escape to my room, but thought that would make me look even guiltier.
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"Maybe I should call Fank Cooper," Bill said as he took a chair opposite mine.
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"Don't be silly Mr. Lewis, I'm sure she's just out with some friends from college," I replied, trying to sound convincing. "You know how kids are when they get together. The time just slips away."
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"I know you know something Maria. Please tell me. You won't be in trouble."
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With that I broke down and told him everything I saw that afternoon. Bill jumped up from the table, his eyes red with rage. "That bastard! I thought we had finally seen the last of him," he shouted. Bill grabbed the beer bottle and flung across the room, narrowly missing Michelle' head. She had just come to the kitchen to investigate the commotion.
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"Bill! What in the world is going on in here?" Michelle asked, her eyes following the projectile as it crashed to the floor.
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"Danny! That is what's going on in here. That mobster ex-husband of yours has been messing around with my cousin. Maria saw them making out in his car this afternoon."
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"Is this true Maria?" Michelle asked quietly as tears welled up in her eyes.
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I stared down at the table. I could not bear to see her anguished face. "Yes Michelle, it's true." Michelle flew from the room, and Bill followed behind her. I could hear angry shouts from their bedroom for over an hour. Finally they quieted, and Bill came back downstairs to resume his pacing.
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Marah did not return home until almost dawn. She was obviously intoxicated, and crashed into the hall table as she entered the door. She staggered toward the stairs, but halted when she heard her cousin's voice.
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"Where in the hell have you been?"
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