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Dawn is just breaking as Mr. Lockwood pulls into the driveway of the Lewis house and staggers to the front door. Maria, the maid that was included in the rent, immediately greets him.
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"Mr. Lockwood! I have been so worried about you! Oh my you look terrible. Come inside and sit on the sofa," she exclaims. "I'll go get you some coffee."
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Returning with the coffee and a plate of croissants Maria takes a seat opposite the couch. She watches in silence as Mr. Lockwood eats his breakfast. After a time he recovers enough to tell her the tale of the previous night.
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"Oh Dios mio, I should have warned you about Daniel Santos. Even so, I had no idea he had deteriorated to such a state. It has been months since I have entered his home. Not since I helped young Michelle Lewis move there. She was so sad leaving this house, the home of her childhood," Maria says wringing her hands.
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"It is not you fault Maria. Don't blame yourself for my ordeal." An impish grin lights Mr. Lockwood's face. "However, if you would like to make it up to me, you could tell me the story of Daniel Santos and Michelle Bauer."
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"Que triste�so sad," she says with a faraway look. "Perhaps another day. You look tired Mr. Lockwood. Wouldn't you rather go up to your bed?"
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"You're right Maria as always. I am exhausted. I believe I will go take a nap. But don't think you are off the hook. I'll expect the inside scoop on Daniel Santos," he laughs.
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He and Maria had become fast friends in the few weeks he had been living in Springfield. The sweet old woman had made his rented mansion a real home. He smiles, gets up and goes upstairs.
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Mr. Lockwood sleeps all day and through the following night. When he wakes he sees Maria sitting in a chair beside his bed. A look of worry clouds her round face. "How long have I been asleep?" he asks.
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"About twenty four hours," she replies. "I called Dr. Spaulding and she is coming right away."
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"That wasn't necessary Maria, I am fine," Mr. Lockwood says as he pulls back the covers and sits up. A sharp pain pierces his forehead. He groans and lies back down.
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"When will I ever learn. Resisting you is futile."
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The doorbell rings and Maria leaves to answer it. She re-enters in a few minutes escorting a beautiful woman. "Mr. Lockwood, I would like to introduce Dr. Spaulding."
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Mr. Lockwood is flustered by the woman's beauty. He stammers, "p...pleased to met you uh�Dr. Spaulding."
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"A pleasure Mr. Lockwood. Please call me Lizzie." Lizzie's brown eyes sparkle as she smiles at the invalid man. She self-consciously rakes her fingers through her short blond hair. "What seems to be the problem?"
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"I feel like I have been run over by a truck. I am afraid I might die, but I am also afraid I might not die," he moans.
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"Sound like the flu to me. It has been going around. Let me examine you anyway, just to be sure it isn't something more serious." Lizzie walks to the bed and opens her black bag. She thinks to herself, "Even with the flu this man is really cute. Maybe when he is feeling better�Stop it Lizzie. You can't fall all over every handsome man you meet. Or you'll end up like your mother."
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Mr. Lockwood beams at the doctor. "Boy this is real service. Doctors in Chicago don't do house calls. And they are rarely as pretty as you."
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Lizzie feels the flush rising in her cheeks. "I came as a favor to Maria," she replies. "Not to mention wanting to check out the new tenant in the Lewis house everyone's been swooning over," she thinks to herself.
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After her examination, Lizzie confirms her origional diagnosis of the flu. She gives a prescription to Maria and turns to leave.
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Mr. Lockwood calls to her, "Maybe when I have recovered you could join me for dinner?"
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Lizzie smiles at him and says, "Maybe I could."
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Maria returns to Mr. Lockwood's room after seeing Lizzie to the door.
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"Is there anything I can do for you?" she asks.
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"Yes, when I was a boy my mother would always tell me a story when I was sick. I want you to tell me the tale of Daniel and Michelle."
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"Oh Dios mio, you don't want to hear about that now. It would probably make you even sicker," she protests.
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"Please Maria. You can't deny a dying man his last request."
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"Oh very well," she says and pulls a chair to his bedside.
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"Let me see where shall I start�"
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"I worked for Danny's mother, Carmen, many years ago. She was an ungrateful employer, but she paid me well. I was working there the day Danny brought his new wife Michelle home. Carmen was livid. That girl seemed to push all of Carmen's buttons. Danny's too, although different ones. I could tell immediately that his feelings for Michelle were very deep.
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Michelle was from a nice girl from a good family. She certainly didn't belong in that lion's den. Although, she was surprisingly tough. Her fights with Carmen were legendary. I knew she was afraid of Carmen, but it didn't stop her from defying her every chance she got.
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Poor Michelle was so unhappy in that house. The only time I saw her smile was at her wedding. She was such a beautiful bride. She and Danny had an ethereal glow about them that day. I think that was the day her feelings for Danny started to change. There was this tension between the two of them. It was like trying to hold two magnets together. They repel each other. Yet, there is a moment, when they almost meet, right before they fly apart. The magnets quiver with the powerful force surrounding them. They lived in this constant state. It permeated the air when they were together.
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Still, Michelle plotted her escape. Carmen was always breathing down her neck, but I don't think that was what she was really trying to flee. I think she was truly frightened by her growing feelings for Danny. She called the FBI on the family, but she changed he mind at the last minute. She tried desperately to shield him from them. She even went so far as to fake blindness to keep him away from the raid. Her plan worked, and even got her out of Casa Santos.
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However, Danny soon learned of his wife's betrayal. He was crushed. I had never seen him like that. He was totally out of control. He even got himself arrested. I heard rumors about a one-night stand with Michelle's friend Drew.
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It was about this time that I befriended Michelle's aunt, Meta Bauer. We attended the same church. She sought me out after the services one day and invited me to lunch. At first, she wanted to pump me for information about Danny and his family, but we soon hit it off. She was so worried about her niece. Meta told me Michelle was deeply in love with Danny, but frightened by his loyalty to the family.
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Meta also had misgivings about their relationship. "It is so volatile," she once told me. "I have never seen anything like it." I told her about my magnet theory and she laughed in agreement. "I think this relationship could be very dangerous for both of them," she said.
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Then, of course, there was Carmen thrown into the mix. Her hatred for Michelle consumed her as much as Danny's love consumed him. She would do anything to get Michelle out of her son's life. She pulled out all the stops, even going so far as trying to have Michelle killed.
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Danny fought to protect Michelle from his mother's wrath. He even threatened to bring down the family if she ever tried to hurt Michelle. Finally, he decided the best way to protect Michelle was to leave her. He had annulment papers drawn up, but she refused to sign them. The more he persisted the more she fought him. She told him she wanted their marriage to work. This confused Danny even more. Michelle had fought so had for her freedom from him. Then when he offered it to her, she clung to him even tighter.
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He told her that they were wrong together. She would never be able to accept his family, and her family would never be able to accept him. She begged him to leave his family, but he told her that was something he couldn't do.
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One night she tried to show him what their life could be like, that they could overcome their obstacles. "Come with me Danny," she told him. "I want to show you something."
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Taking his hand she led him through the hedges, and to the house next door to her family's home. Up to the window of this very house. There was a wedding reception that night and the house was full of people. They were celebrating the wedding of Josh Lewis and Reva Shayne. They peered through the window and she pointed out the happy couple to him. She told him about everything that they had conquered to be together. "We could be happy like that Danny. If you would only take the chance."
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Just then, someone noticed the pair looking in the window. Shouts came from the house. "Who's out there?"
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