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Michelle's eyes misted with tears, and I reached out to take her hand. "We don't have to talk about it now," I said. "We have enough to deal with without that."
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"Yes we do Maria!" she cried. "You don't understand. Daddy's death changes everything. I was just trying to get us free I had no idea this would happen. I thought I could fix things once we were safely home."
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"What are you talking about Michelle?" I asked hesitantly, almost afraid to hear her answer.
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"Oh Maria! I have made a terrible mistake!" she sobbed.
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"I couldn't be that bad. Why don't you start at the beginning?" I said, with a great deal more confidence than I felt.
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"Well when Danny took me downstairs, he sat me down next to Lewis. He told me that he wanted me to marry Lewis, and I said that I was not ready for marriage. I said that because I did not want to hurt Lewis's feelings. I love him like a brother, but he is not the kind of man I want for a husband. Anyway, Lewis started to cry, and I started crying too. Danny got mad and told us to shut up that I would marry Lewis whether I liked it or not, and that I did not have a choice."
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"I asked Lewis if this was what he wanted, and he said yes. I felt so bad for him, because I know he is dying. So, I tried to reason with him and his father. I told them that I would always be there for Lewis, but I could not marry him because my father would not allow it. Then Danny flew into a rage! He got up from his chair, picked it up, and threw it across the room. Then he called Daddy terrible names, and said that he did not give a damn what Daddy would allow. Lewis and I cowered on the sofa together; we were both frightened by his father's temper."
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"Mick came into the room, and asked Danny what all the commotion was. Danny told him to mind his own business, that this did not concern him. Mick was about to protest when he saw me huddled on the sofa with Lewis. Then his eyes grew cold, and he turned from the room. Just as he was about to leave, we heard you pounding on the bedroom door."
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"Mick started up the stairs to investigate, but Danny grabbed him by his neck. He threw him down on the floor, smashing the side of Mick's face against the wood."
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" 'I told you to mind your own business!' he screamed. 'Stay away from that bedroom! How am I supposed to trust you to take over the family business, if you can not follow a simple order? Now I want you to sit here and keep an eye on Michelle. I am going to make a phone call, and I will be back in a few minutes. She is not, under any circumstances, to leave this room! Entiende sobrino?' "
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" 'Si, entiendo tio,' " he replied hoarsely."
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"Danny smiled, and yanked Mick roughly up from the floor. He gave Mick a hard look, and said, 'Recuerde, la familia viene primero.' Then he patted Mick tenderly on the cheek, and left the room."
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"Mick went to the kitchen, and brought back a tray of coffee and Danishes. He set it down in front of us, and sat in the chair by the sofa."
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" 'Give me some coffee .I'm thirsty,' Lewis said to me. I was still sobbing uncontrollably, but I prepared a cup for him. 'Now, Michelle, you are letting your tears fall into my cup. I won't drink that! Give me another.' "
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"I started to prepare another cup for him, but Mick jumped up from his chair, grabbing the little pitcher of cream from my hand. 'I have had about enough of your whining Lewis!' he shouted, as he poured the cream on Lewis's head."
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" 'Papa! Papa!' Lewis called, and Danny came running out of his office. He looked amused when he saw Mick standing there with the pitcher, and cream dripping from Lewis's hair. I would have thought it was funny too, if I hadn't been so frightened."
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"Danny forced a stern look, and told Mick to leave his cousin alone. He went back into his office, and returned a few minutes later with a sheaf of documents. He asked Mick to leave the room, and Mick went into the kitchen. Danny spread the papers on the table, and handed me a pen. He told me to sign them in the spaces marked with an X. I threw the pen down, and told him I would not sign anything."
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"Danny thrust the pen back into my hand, and told me I would sign them if I ever wanted to go home. I saw Mick creep from the kitchen with a plate in his hands. He tiptoed toward the stairs, and placed a finger to his lips. I understood that he was going up to see you, so I started screaming and crying to create a distraction."
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"Danny slapped my face, and told me to shut up. When Mick saw this, he started to run back down the stairs. I gave him a warning look, and he stopped and just stood there watching. I knew there was only one way out of that house, so I reluctantly signed my name in the spaces Danny indicated. Lewis put his signature on another set of documents, and Danny looked pleased."
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"Mick continued to watch from his place on the stairs. While Danny was gathering up the documents, I looked at Mick helplessly. Mick shrugged his shoulders, and continued up to the bedroom. Danny told us that it was time for Lewis to go to the hospital. He told me that I was going to go with them, and we got up to leave. I helped Lewis with his coat, and he leaned on my shoulder for support."
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"Just as we were almost out the door, Danny looked back and saw Mick coming down the stairs. Mick tried to run back up, but Danny flew up behind him, grabbing his shoulder. Mick spun around, and they both lost their balance, tumbling down the stairs."
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