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I recovered from my cold a few days later. Bill was not so lucky. His cold developed into pneumonia and Dr. Spaulding put him in the hospital. Michelle and I visited him every morning. Although she was concerned about her father, she would disappear for hours in the afternoon. I knew where she was going, but I said nothing. I did not want to have a confrontation with her while her father was not well enough to back me up.
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On one of these occasions, Michelle did not return home in the evening. It was snowing outside, and a blizzard was forecasted. I was worried about her, so I called the lighthouse to tell her to come home. All I could get was a recording saying the lines were down in that area. Fearing she would be stuck there for the duration of the storm, I drove to the lighthouse to get her. By the time I arrived, the snow was falling so fast I could barely see the road.
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I was surprised when Danny answered the door. He smiled and said, "What brings you out here on a night like this Maria?"
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"I came to take Michelle home. I know she is here," I replied.
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"Well come in," he said, looking out at the snow. "Michelle is upstairs with Lewis, but it doesn't look like you are going anywhere. You can't drive home in this storm."
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"We will see about that!" I quipped, but I knew he was right.
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Michelle was upstairs as promised; spoon feeding Lewis soup. He was propped on the sofa, and he looked much worse than he did the last time I had seen him. His skin and eyes had darkened to an appalling shade of mustard yellow.
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"Ow! Michelle!" He cried. "That burned my mouth! I told you to blow on it first!"
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"I did blow on it Lewis!" she replied, in frustration. "You saw me do it! Stop being such a baby!"
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Danny turned to me and said, "Michelle is taking good care of my son, but I am afraid her efforts may be in vain. His doctors said he will have to go back to the hospital soon, to wait for another kidney. They have tested Michelle, Mick, and me for compatibility, but none of us is a match. I was tempted to call Bill and ask him to be tested, but I heard he was very ill himself. How is he doing?"
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I was shocked that Michelle did not tell me she was tested to donate her kidney, but I understood her desire to do so. As much as I disliked Lewis, I would have given him one of mine.
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"I'm sorry to hear that Danny," I replied. "I wish there was something I could do. Bill is not doing well either, and I am very worried about him. Dr. Spaulding said if he doesn't improve soon she was going to have to put him on a ventilator."
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"That's too bad," Danny said, trying to look concerned, but I could see the corners of his mouth fighting a smile. I knew he hated Bill, and the feeling was quite mutual.
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Our conversation was interrupted by another cry from Lewis. "Oh you did it again! My mouth is too sore now to eat any more! Put down that bowl and rub my feet until I fall asleep."
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Michelle's shoulders slumped a little upon hearing his request, but she set the bowl down and reluctantly complied. I raised my eyebrow to Danny, and he laughed.
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"Aren't they sweet Maria? It warms my heart to see two young people so much in love."
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"Love!" I hissed. "You call that love? Could a slave love its master?"
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"I would have happily been a slave to her mother," Danny muttered.
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I was about to reply when Mick entered. He shook the snow from his coat, and hung it on the back of a chair. Michelle turned her head to look at him, but quickly looked away. I could see a deep flush rising in her cheeks. Mick smiled to himself, but he said nothing to her. His smile quickly faded, however, when she resumed rubbing Lewis's feet. I could see the jealousy clouding his eyes. Lewis shot him a knowing smirk from his perch on the sofa. Mick clenched his teeth, and turned to Danny and me.
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"Hello Maria!" he said brightly, as if the previous exchange had never occurred. "It's good to see you again. Did you come with Michelle?"
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"Actually I came to get Michelle, but now it looks like we cannot leave. I would be afraid to drive in this storm."
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"You are right to be afraid," he replied. "My car got stuck down the road, and I had to walk the rest of the way."
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Michelle finally got Lewis to sleep, and Danny offered his bedroom to us. He said he would stay downstairs, and sleep in the chair beside Lewis. I put up a mild protest, but I agreed to take his room when I noticed Lewis was snoring loudly, and a small pool of spittle had collected on his chin.
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Michelle fell asleep right away, but I tossed and turned fitfully. Just as I was drifting off, I heard voices coming from downstairs. I crept to the door, and opened it quietly. The voices were too faint for me to discern from this vantage point, so I tiptoed out onto the landing. The voices were those of Danny and Lewis.
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"I want her Papa," Lewis said. "I know she doesn't love me in that way, but I have to have her. I see the way she and Mick look at each other, and I am afraid he will steal her away from me."
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"I see it too Lewis, but you can't make somebody love you. Michelle's father learned that lesson the hard way," Danny replied.
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"I don't care Papa. I will not lose her to Mick. He does not deserve a girl like Michelle. Please help me get her Papa. I am afraid I will die if I can't have her."
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Danny sighed, and there was silence for a few minutes. Finally, he gave his son an answer. "I think I know a way for both of us to have what we want mijo."
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"What are you going to do Papa?" Lewis asked gleefully.
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"Don't worry. Just go back to sleep and I will take care of everything."
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"Thank you Papa!"
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I stood at the top of the stairs in shock. I wanted to run away with Michelle, but I knew we would not get far in the blizzard. So, I reluctantly got back in the bed beside her and slept a troubled sleep. My dreams were filled with nightmares, and I woke just before dawn with a start. Michelle was still sleeping, and she had a peaceful smile on her face. I decided to get up and confront Danny about the conversation I overheard before she awakened, but when I tried to open the door, I was horrified to find it bolted shut.
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