Marriage of Convenience
Parts 10-11
By 'J'
Michelle awoke the next morning n her own bed. She spent the next several days there, tended mostly by Rosa, who took over for Danny once she saw what had happened. Danny came and went, going out in the morning and returning in the evening, or sometimes not returning at all. Michelle felt that she was not entitled to any explanations, so she asked no questions.
On her first day up she was in the kitchen, when the phone rang. Michelle was passing it and picked up the receiver. "Hello?" "May I speak to Mrs. Santos, please?" a man's voice said. Michelle thought briefly of Carmen, but her name hadn't been Santos since she married Ed Bauer.
"Uh," she said
"Mrs. Danny Santos," the man said.
Thats you, fool, Michelle said to herself. "Speaking," she replied.
"Congratulations on your wedding." the voice continued.
"Thank you," Michelle said briefly. "Who is calling please?"
"Mrs. Santos, this is David Morse. I represent Citrus Farms. We're land development company licensed to operate in this county. I assume you're heard of us."
"My.....Husband mentioned you," Michelle replied.
"Yes, I thought he might have done that. We approached your husband several weeks ago about selling your fathers property to us. At the time he was not receptive to our plan, but I would like the opportunity to present our case to you, since I understand you have a half interest in the ranch."
"Well, Mr. Morse, I'd like to be frank with you. My father would not have approved of my selling to you or any other developer, and, as you know, my husband is also against it. But, I'd like to keep and open mind, and so I think it only fair that I hear your proposal.
"Wonderful," said Morse, obviously surprised that she was willing to listen.
"Would it be possible for you to see me this afternoon if I came out there?
"I'll be here, Michelle said, amused. He wasn't wasting any time.
Michelle hung up the phone and shrugged at Rosa, who was shaking her head.
"You should have met him in town, "Rosa said. "You'd better hope Danny doesn't see him."
"What's Danny going to do, shoot him.
"Maybe,"Rosa said.
"Danny knew they would contact me".
"That doesn't mean that he's going to like it".
"All right,' Michelle said. "What's on your mind?"
Rosa folded her dish towel smartly. "You have no more intention of selling this place than I have flying to the moon. You're just doing this to aggravate Danny and show him that he can't control you or make decisions for you."
"You think its a bad idea for me to explore all the angles before making a decision?"
"I didn't say that. I said that your motivation for meeting Morse is not what you're telling yourself it is."
"Practicing psychiatry without a license, Rosa?"
"Humph," Rosa said. She put the last dish away and shut the cupboard door firmly. "You know I'm right." she marched out of the room.
Danny chose that day to come back to the house at lunch. Michelle was installed in the living room going over the ranch deeds when he returned, wearing fresh clothes, his hair damp. He stood behind her shoulder and asked, "why are you reading that stuff"?
"I have a meeting with Citrus Farms at two," Michelle replied.
He walked slowly and faced her. "Why didn't you tell me that?"
"I'm telling you now."
"Must I inform you in advance of my every move?" she inquired.
He swept the papers off the coffee table and onto the floor. Michelle leaped to her feet and flinched as her ankle protested.
"Are you okay?" he asked, stepping forward and taking her arm.
Michelle snatched it from his grasp. "Leave me alone. What do you think you're proving with that infantile display of temper? I have every right to talk to anybody I please concerning this ranch, and I will."
"Fine, Miss know it all. I'm sure he'll be impressed with your vast knowledge of real estate and everything else, especially after talking to me." He stalked out of the house, slamming the door behind him.
Two for two, Michelle thought. I wonder who else I can infuriate before dark?
"Did your husband discuss our financial terms with you?" Morse asked after they had gone over the preliminaries in some detail.
"No."
"I thought not," Morse said with satisfaction, clearly certain that he was about to play his trump card. "We are prepared to pay $80,000 an acre, half on signing and the rest on final transfer of the deed. I feel confident that you will not do better anywhere."
Michelle was stunned. The ranch was over twenty acres. They were talking about a figure in excess of a million and a half dollars.
"And the money is only part of it, Morse said, pressing his assumed advantage. 'Think of all the jobs you'll be bringing to the area. We hire locals for construction and road work. And we pay for all the improvements like sewer and water systems, the hookups to existing homes, street lamps and underground utilities...."
Morse continued to extol the virtues of Citrus Farms while Michelle pondered Danny's behavior. he had told her everything except the amount of the offer. He must have thought that so much money would sway her, no wonder he was upset when he found out that Morse was coming later that day.
She was waiting for Danny when he returned to the house at six.
"Did you have a nice time this afternoon?" he asked as he strolled through the door.
"Why didn't you tell me that Morse was offering eighty thousand an acre?" Michelle countered.
"Not beating around the bush, are we?" Danny said. "Lets get right to the heart of the matter. Money."
"Danny, that's over three-quarters of a million each, " Michelle pointed out reasonably.
"I got an A in arithmetic" he replied. "I figured that out already. And I'll tell you something else I determined with my superior mathematical ability. Morse will put four box houses on every one of those acres and charge two hundred grand for each of them. Can you multiply? That means his company makes ten times what he paid us for the land."
"Most people wouldn't care how much Morse's company made, as long as they got their money."
"I'm not most people."
"Aren't you tempted?" Michelle replied.
"So you want to take the money and run, huh? Forget all the blood and sweat your father put into this place and go back to Springfield with a little nest egg. You can play lady lawyer all you want, you won't have to make a dime at it with that kind of money." Danny said.
"I'm not playing at it, I'm a good lawyer.." Michelle said quietly.
"Well, at least we know you can count." He yanked open the refrigerator door and removed a can of beer, popping the top.
"You wont' even consider it." Michelle said , determined not to let his attitude deter her from a thoughtful discussion.
"I've never been long on consideration,' he replied, taking a healthy swallow of his beer. He faced her directly. "Look, you can pocket the cash and go back to your job. IF we sell this place what do I have?"
"Seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars," she replied lifting her shoulders.
He shook his head. "I've got zip. I'm a bum, which is what I was before I got here.
"Nobody with that kind of money is a bum, "Michelle said.
He stared at her. "You think money makes the difference? I had money before I got here. I still have plenty of money, I inherited from my father. You've got to learn. I've met more rich bums, including myself than I care to count. If you're not useful, productive, involved, you're a bum."
"You can buy another, smaller place, and keep the difference." Michelle said. "That amount is only for the value of the land. IF you sell off your inventory----"
"My horses?" he said outraged. "I'm not selling my horses!"
"Will you please listen to me and let me finish? I'm not talking about the horses, you can transport them to where ever you're going. I'm talking about excess machinery and equipment, this ranch is too big for your operation anyway. Ten acres would be enough, and you'd have the rest of the money to invest. I'd help you find another place."
"I don't' want another place, I want this one." he sighed, obviously trying to control himself, and then said, "I can't believe you're talking this way, Michelle. You know what this ranch meant to our parents, and it means as much to me. I had nothing when I came here. I was....nothing. Your father took a chance on me, helped me to believe in myself because he believed in me. I turned my life around, right here, and I don't want to leave. Ever".
Michelle nodded slowly, inwardly elated. She had been playing devils advocate to eliminate any shadow of a doubt, but now she was convinced. She didn't want him to know that yet, however.
"So what are you going to tell Morse? Danny asked, watching her.
"I don't know," she said. "I have to think about it."
"What's to think about? he said impatiently.
"Unlike you, I am long on consideration," Michelle said.
"I've learned not to make snap decisions." she continued
"I suppose you will be taking to Sun City, too," he said.
"I suppose so".
The telephone rang.
"Maybe they're on the phone right now," he said with false cheer. He picked up the receiver and barked, "Yeah"?
There was a pause and then he said, "Oh George."
There was another longer pause before Danny said, "I don't know, you can talk to her."
Michelle stared at him as he handed her the phone. "What?" she said.
"I'll let him explain it to you," he said shortly and left the room.
"Listen, I've been trying to persuade your husband to come to a little party the wife and I are having this Saturday night. It's an anniversary party, and we've invited some people from the area.
"All right", she said. "We'll be there". Michelle hung up the phone, certain that Danny wouldn't mind going, or he would have refused the invitation without consulting her. For some reason, he wanted people to know that they were married and see them as a couple. Maybe he thought she would find it harder to sell the ranch and take off if she felt part of the community.
"what did you tell him?" Danny asked, coming back into the room. "I told him that we would go, Isn't that what you wanted?"
"I don't care either way," he said with infuriating indifference.
"I'm going out," he announced. Rosa will be in to make dinner in a few minutes.
"You don't have to keep bringing her here to cook," Michelle said. "If you're not going to eat, I can make something for myself."
"Not with a bad foot."
"The foot's all better." Michelle dropped her eyes. "You can eat with me if you want, you know. you don't have to shun this place during the day as if it were a plague house."
"I've got a lot to do, "he replied, not meeting her gaze. "And rosa doesn't mind stopping by, she told me so."
'I feel funny having her come over here to make an elaborate meal just for me."
"She wants to check on you. Don't you know that?" Danny said, "She cares about you". He didn't add, "I can't imagine why," but Michelle thought she heard it in his tone.
On Saturday night Michelle stayed in her room until the last minute. Her palms were clammy and her heart was in her mouth. She felt as though she were going on her first date and told herself to grow up.
When her wristwatch told her she could delay no longer, she stepped into the hall and went to look for Danny. She found Danny outside on the patio, his hands in his pockets, looking up at the stars. The floodlights were on, and they bathed him in a yellow radiance like moon glow, He turned at her step and stared at her. He didn't say a word, but his expression told her everything she needed to know. The dress was a success.
He was wearing a black tuxedo with a boiled shirt and a black satin tie. The dark tailored clothes made him appear slimmer than he actually was, and his black hair shone like sable.
"You are the most beautiful man," Michelle whispered. she didn't even try to stop the words, she had to say them. He looked away. "Men aren't beautiful," he said huskily.
"You are. I always thought so." She moved closer until she was standing in front of him and she reached up to touch his hair. "So soft" she said. "I remember how it felt all this time".
He closed his eyes.
Rosa opened the back door and said, "I called Miguel and he said he left the car..." Michelle's hand fell away and the magic moment passed. "At the main gate," Rosa finished weekly, aware that she had interrupted something. "I'll get it, " Danny said and walked around the corner of the house. "I'm sorry," Rosa said to Michelle. "Don't worry about it, Michelle said wearily. Timing has always been a problem for Danny and me.
"Good luck tonight" Rosa added.
"Thanks".
Michelle got into the car without a word. Dr. George Jensen lived only three miles away, surrounded by four acres of fruit and flowering trees. He had his own horses, and two of them raised their heads inquiringly as the car drove past to corral. Three dogs two spaniels and a black Labrador, raced madly around the front yard as a valet appeared to take the keys from Danny.
Danny and Michelle walked past a splashing fountain in the center of a circular driveway paved with crushed white stones and up a wide front staircase flanked by reclining lions.
The house was ablaze with light. The carved double doors were opened by a uniformed maid who showed them into a two story entry hall inlaid with ceramic tiles in a Toltec design. Scattered rugs picked up the black and white accents from the floor and walls, and a gleaming brass chandelier suspended from the medallion in the ceiling dominated the visual space.
They entered a large dinning room where they were greeted by their hostess, a youthful looking woman in her forties. An elaborate buffet was laid out on the dinning table of Spanish cedar, and Danny had just gone to get drinks from a bar set up in the adjoining living room when Michelle felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Who are you?" a man's voice said.
Michelle turned to see an attractive blond in his thirties, smiling down at her.
"Hello." he said "I've never seen you before, I certainly would have remembered."
"No, we've never met," Michelle replied.'
"Let me remedy that immediately. I'm Jim Sanders, George's accountant." Michelle shook his hand, saying, "Michelle Bau...Santos. how do you do?"
"Santos"? Any relation to Danny Santos?"'
"His wife," Michelle said, thinking here it comes.
"His wife! When the hell did he get married?"
"About ten days ago".
"That so and so, he never said a word to anybody. He goes around here for years like he's in love with those horses of his, and all of a sudden he turns up with you. How do you like that?"
Michelle smiled inanely, trying to think of a way to make a graceful exit. Sanders was still gripping her shoulder. She was moving backward to elude his grasp as he said, "I love that dress."
"Take your hand off of her or you'll be wearing it," Danny's voice said behind them.
Michelle closed her eyes. Please, she prayed silently, please let him behave.
"Sure thing pal,' Sanders said frostily, glancing at Michelle as if to ask Who's your crazy friend? He turned and melted in the crowd.
"Was that absolutely necessary?" Michelle said to Danny through clenched teeth.
"He was mauling you," Danny replied handing her a glass of champagne.
"I was handling it."
"Didn't look like it," he observed, his gaze penetrating.
"Are you suggesting that I was enjoying his attention?" Michelle demanded, her temperature rising.
"Why not? Your not committed to our......arrangement, as you constantly find ways of reminding me. Why don't you go after him? Maybe you can meet him later and have a great time."
Michelle walked away, too angry to reply. She was munching a canape, silently fuming, when a woman in a blue dress walked up to her and said. "So you are Danny's wife."
Here we go again, Michelle thought. She definitely should have stayed home.
"Thats right," Michelle said politely.
"I never expected him to get married," the blue lady said, sipping ruby claret from a delicate glass.
"Is that right?"
"Yeah. He always seemed like a free spirit, to me. But then, some guys get married and still don't change, you know?"
Thank you so much for that piece of wisdom, Michelle thought. "Excuse me," she said aloud and fled.
She stood next to the fieldstone fireplace in the living room, feeling like a wall flower, until a woman in her thirties with frosted blond hair came up to her and said "Mrs, Santos?"
"Yes",
"I'm Claire Bryant. I used to date Danny a couple of years ago when I was a sale representative for Dover Dry Goods. He was one of my accounts." I'll bet Michelle thought.
"How do you do?" Michelle said.
Michelle shook hands with her. This isn't a party, she thought despairingly, this is a convention of Danny's old girlfriends. Apparently there wasn't anyone in the community he had missed. Was this why he wanted her to come tonight, because he knew that these people would be on hand to torment her?
"Thats quite a man you have there" Claire said, smiling. "I was madly in love with him, I'm sure you are, too."
Michelle smiled back but didn't reply.
"I never thought he would get married," Claire said. Join the club, Michelle thought. "I guess the time comes for most people," Michelle replied, appalled at her bluntness.
"Will you be living on the ranch?" Claire asked.
"Yes"
"That must be quite an adjustment for you. I hear you are from the States."
Word was certainly getting around fast.
"Not really. The place was my fathers, I spent time out here years ago. My dad left it to Danny and me". She saw the information register with Claire and knew that she was thinking, so that's why Danny married her.
"I see," Claire said, satisfied that she had solved the mystery. "Well, I see my date over there, it was nice to meet you." Michelle nodded miserably and watched the other woman walk away. She was seriously considering going to sit by herself in the car when George Jensen popped out of the crowd at her elbow and said,"Look who I found".
Danny was with him, wearing his "I'm going along with this but I'm not happy about it" face.
"Thanks so much for coming," George said, kissing her cheek. "IS the ankle okay?"
"Good enough to wear heels," Michelle replied.
"I'm so glad".
George reached past her and removed a small brass gong from the mantelpiece at her back. As she watched he began to strike it, making a sound sizable enough to attract the attention of the gathering. She waited, thinking that he was going to announce dinner. But when his guests quieted, George said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a pair of newlyweds in our midst. I'd like you to join me in congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Danny Santos, who just got married last week".
Everyone applauded, and Michelle shot a quick glance at Danny, who looked as horrified as she felt. Someone began to tap a glass with a spoon, and the crowd followed suit, making a chiming noise that set Michelle's nerves on edge.
"I think it's time you kissed the bride, Danny," George said, beaming.
Michelle knew he was a decent man who meant well, but at that moment she felt like kicking him. The group picked up the refrain, and Michelle saw they were not going to get out of it. Danny moved to her side and put his arm around her, kissing her lightly on the mouth.
Boos followed.
"Is that the best you can do?" Jim Sanders yelled, getting some of his own back.
"You're slipping , Santos," somebody else caroled, laughing. "Let me at her, I'll show you how its done," a third man shouted. Michelle could see Danny's expression change, and she knew he had decided to give the audience what it wanted.
He turned to her and embraced her, bending his head to hers swiftly. He took her mouth with his, gently at first, and then with increasing intensity, pulling her against him fully and slipping his tongue between her lips. She felt the muscles of his thighs tighten up against her legs and his hands move caressingly across her back.
Michelle couldn't restrain herself from cooperating. This might be her only chance to kiss him, and she forgot their cheering section and everything else in the pleasure of the moment. She sank her fingers into his hair and stood on tiptoe, letting him take her weight.
The approval of the onlookers was enthusiastic and vocal. The whistling and clapping escalated to such a point that it finally intruded on their daydream, and Michelle drew back, her mouth wet and her breath coming in short gasps.
Danny, who was also breathing harshly, looked down at her, his expression more vulnerable than she had seen it since she came back to Europe. Then he bowed to his admirers and turned away, downing a half a glass of wine in one swallow.
---------------------------------------------
A decade had been erased in an instant. During that kiss the memory of being with Danny in the guesthouse came back with such power that she was lost in it.
Michelle pulled through the crowd, nodding and smiling automatically when people congratulated her or commented on Danny's performance She didn't hear a thing they said. She finally found herself in the kitchen and bypassed the staff working there, ending up in a sort of pantry where the tableware was stored. She closed the door behind her and sat on the stepladder under the china cabinet, wondering how long she would be able to remain there before she was discovered.
I'm as much in love with him as ever, she thought. It was depressing to admit that nothing had changed in all the time they'd been apart, but lying to herself wasn't going to help. She was sitting with her arms wrapped around here knees when the door opened suddenly and Mrs. Jensen walked into the room. She stopped short when she saw Michelle.
"My dear, what are you doing in here?" she asked, startled.
"I, uh..." Michelle said.
"Aren't you feeling well?"
"I guess not," Michelle said seizing upon the excuse. "I didn't want to make a fuss, and I just needed to be alone for a few moments."
Mrs Jensen picked up the silver set she'd come to get and handed it through the door to one of the caterers. "Well, you must come upstairs and lie down in the guest room."
"Oh, don't go to any trouble.." Michelle began, feeling trapped by her lie.
"Nonsense. I'll show you to the room and bring you a cup of tea. Then I'll go and find that handsome husband of yours."
"No," Michelle said quickly. Too quickly. Mrs. Jensen stared at her. "I mean," Michelle amended,'I want him to have a good time.
"But he'll be concerned about your absence, won't he?"
"Not for a while. He was talking to some of the men when I left him, and he was absorbed in the conversation.
"All right. Come along now, I want you to rest. Do you think something disagreed with you?"
"No, I'm sure it was just the champagne. I really shouldn't drink the stuff, its been disagreeing with me lately," Michelle smiled weakly.
"Its this way," the older woman said, leading her through the kitchen and up the back staircase to the second floor of the mansion. They passed an elaborate master bedroom and bathe decorated in neutral tones. "Here we are,"She switched on a bedside lamp and said, "Just make yourself comfortable. I'll bring up the tea in a bit."
"Please, that's not necessary. I've kept you from your guests long enough."
"Don't be silly. you are one of my guests. Be back in a jiffy." Mrs. Jensen went out, closing the door. Michelle felt ashamed about lying to such a nice lady, but the alternative would have been to tell her the truth, that she was hiding in a china closet from her husband.
Straightforward people like Mrs. Jensen did not understand such things.
Michelle read a magazine she had found on a rack near the bed, until Mrs. Jensen returned with a flowered teapot on a little tray. Michelle made small talk until her hostess left and then dutifully drank some of the tea. It wasn't long before there was a knock at the door. Thinking that one of the staff had arrived for the tray, Michelle said,"Come in."
Danny entered the room and surveyed her with folded arms.
"Faking?" he said, raising his brows.
"Not exactly," Michelle replied. "Mrs. Jensen found me and jumped to conclusions. I didn't dissuade her."
"Where did she find you?"
"In the pantry," Michelle mumbled.
"Where?"
"In the pantry," she said loudly.
He sat on the edge of the bed, like a parent reasoning with a child who refused to sleep.
"Why were you in the pantry?" he said patiently, as if it were a normal question.
"I wanted to get away."
"You wanted to get away from me."
"I didn't say that."
"Who, then?" he said sarcastically. "I was the one who kissed you."
Michelle stared at him, annoyed by his tone.
"Perhaps I wanted to get away from the hordes of your ex-girlfriends parading through the room downstairs."
"Are you on that kick again?" he demanded. "Remember the bimbo bin?"
"I am not imagining this one. Half of the women at this party are your ex-lovers, and I think you knew they would be here."
"Are you suggesting that I set you up?" he said, his eyes narrowing.
"What would you call it?"
"I would call it George Jensen inviting the entire community to come to his party."
"Did you know who was coming tonight?"
"I am not his social director. I can't help it if he invited some women I used to date."
"Date? Date? Come on Danny, you did a lot more than date them.
"So what if I did?" he demanded, standing. "I suppose you've been in a convent for the last ten years."
"We're not talking about me," Michelle said.
"We are now. I know why you didn't want me to come tonight."
"Of course you know why. I don't like putting on a show, pretending to have something that doesn't exist."
"That's not the real reason."
"Then what is?" she said, playing along.
"You know that people think you married me, to hang on to the family ranch."
"Danny, nobody thinks that," she said, surprised by how much this apparently bothered him.
"I think that, " he said flatly. "You wouldn't be in this if your father hadn't forced it on you, you certainly never would have married me. Have you even thought of me in all the time since you left?"
"I've thought of you," Michelle said quietly.
"I'll bet, you thought about a ridiculous teenage crush you were glad to leave behind the instant you entered college. I became an embarrassing memory."
"How dare you say that to me?" Michelle said, sitting up.
"You know that we agreed..."
"Can we stop talking about agreements and arrangements one minute? How do you feel? Did you want to come here? Are you happy being here now?"
"That's not a fair question," Michelle began, and he held her hand.
"I don't want to hear that," he said. "Fair, unfair, all of your talk boils down to one thing, you can't wait to dump both me and the ranch and run back to Springfield with your pockets full.
"Now wait a second. just because I talked to that man from Citrus Farms doesn't mean I've made up my mind."
"You can't wait to dump me, then. Lets give the ranch a separate issue."
"I can't wait to dump you? You're the one who avoids me."
"You've made it perfectly clear...You don't want me around you." Danny said.
They were staring at each other hostilely when Mrs. Jensen knocked on the door.
"Michelle, are you still in here?" She opened the door and saw Danny. "I thought I heard voices." she added, smiling. Her smile faded when she noticed their expressions.
"Is everything all right? she asked, looking at Danny.
"Everything is fine," Danny replied. "I was just saying that since Michelle isn't feeling well, I better go down and get the car. I would like to take her home,"
"I think that might be best," Mrs Jensen said. "you two will have to come back another time when Michelle can stay longer."
Danny left, and Mrs. Jensen said, "My dear, I hope you won't think I'm prying, but is it possible that you're pregnant?"
Michelle looked at her, nonplussed.
"Oh, I know you two haven't been married that long, but I'm aware that young people nowadays dent' wait. And I must say it could be just the thing. I was telling my husband..." her voice trailed off and faltered into silence when Michelle did not respond.
"I don't think I'm pregnant," Michelle said quietly.
"Maybe you dent' know. The symptoms are there. When I was carrying my first, I couldn't abide liquor in any form, it just turned my stomach on a dime." Michelle looked away. "Well, you should check it out, just in case. Now let me clear these tea things away, and you take your time coming downstairs. If you'd like to rest a little more, that would be fine."
"I'm feeling much better, thank you. And I appreciate your kindness."
Mrs. Jensen left and Michelle felt absurdly like crying. That sweet lady, dreaming of happy families and happy babies, when in reality nothing could be further from the truth. How long can I take this, Michelle wondered? It was turning out to be more difficult than even she had anticipated.
She glanced in the mirror above the dresser and straightened her sparkling straps, then marched out of the room and down the stairs. She was at the bottom by one of the old friends George had promised, and he took her to meet some more. She was distracted for a few moments while she talked to them, but the problems came back in a rush when she looked up and saw Danny standing to one side, watching her. She excused herself and went over to him.
"Waiting for me?" she asked. "That's my job, isn't it? he said
Michelle ignored that one and said, "I have to say goodnight to George and his wife."
"I did that already. Let's go."
He was still acting distant as they went out to the car, and Michelle said, 'What's wrong now?"
"Martha Jensen just told me that she thinks you're pregnant."
Michelle glanced at him and then looked again. He was perfectly serious.
"Danny she thought I wasn't feeling well and made an assumption," she said, amazed. "We're supposed to be married, how could I tell her that couldn't possibly be the case?"
"Are you?" he said. "Pregnant?"
"Of course not. what are you talking about?"
He turned and faced her. "You wouldn't be the first woman who found herself in that situation. Maybe you had a stronger motivation for marrying me than just your father's will."
Michelle slapped him as hard as she could, her eyes stinging with tears as if she were on the receiving end of the blow. "You are despicable. I'm not going anywhere with you. Drive home by yourself!" She turned and headed back for the house.
"Michelle," He called after her. "Michelle. wait."
She ignored him.
He stood uncertainly on the driveway, watching her walk back to the house, then jammed hands into his pockets and headed toward the car.
Michelle climbed the stone steps again and, once inside, told the maid that she needed to use the phone. The woman took her to a back room on the first floor, which turned out to be the library, and Michelle used the extension to call a cab.
The house was dark and silent when she got home. It was obvious that Danny had not returned, and Michelle assumed he was off comforting himself elsewhere.
She undressed and got into bed, but she couldn't sleep. The events of the evening kept replaying themselves in her mind. She saw Danny's face after he kissed her, and his expression when he accused her of being pregnant. She was falling into a doze when a loud thud from the kitchen snapped her awake.
She thought of burglars but realized it was much more likely to be Danny, drunk from his nocturnal escapade. She got up and went down the hall, thinking that her presence was forcing him to return to old, bad habits.
He was slumped on the floor in a sitting position, his back propped against the legs of a chair. His tux was ruined, the jacket ripped and stained, the shirt filthy and practically in ribbons. His mouth was bloody and his knuckles scraped raw. He was cradling his left side with his arm and wincing.
This scenario has a certain familiarity about it, Michelle thought as she knelt next to him. But as she took a closer look she realized that he wasn't drunk, just hurt.
"Danny?" she said, shaking his shoulder.
He blinked up at her, seemingly dazed.
"What happened to you?"
"I got...jumped" he mumbled, trying to sit up straight.
"Where?"
"In...Tow...ouch...Town..., he said closing his eyes as she pushed his arm aside. She unbuttoned his shirt and found a large purpling bruise over his ribs. She touched it gingerly with a forefinger and he gasped.
"This looks bad, Danny. We should have it X-rayed. Something could be broken.
He shook his head. "No, Hospital."
She realized that it was more important for him to rest at the moment, so she helped him to stand and, supporting him with his arm across her shoulders, walked him down to his room. She switched on the light and eased him onto the coverlet. She took off his shoes and worked the jacket off his shoulders and down his arms, then tossed it onto the floor.
He fell back against the pillows and propped himself on his elbows, watching her as she wiped his mouth with a towel from his bathroom.
"This doesn't look too bad," she said. "I'm more worried about those ribs. How did this happen?"
"Some old business associates..of my Mothers...used me as a punching bag."
"Who did?"
"Some Mobsters..hitmen"
"Why, Danny?"
"They know I don't want to sell the ranch," he said.
"They want...me to..se....sell so that I can become part of....they want..me to join, get the family united again , and I told them...no". The speech exhausted him, and he fell back, drained.
And I guess it didn't help that they heard your wife was undecided, Michelle thought. She had probably brought this on by entertaining Mr. Morse. She finished cleaning Danny's face. When she couldn't get his shirt off the conventional way, she got Rosa's sewing scissors from the den and cut it off him. It was a loss anyway.
She brushed his side as she was pulling the scraps of material from his body, and he flinched visibly.
"Danny, I still have some pain pills,," Michelle said. "Do you want some?"
He made a dismissive gesture. "No pills, I'm thirsty."
"I'll get you some water." She went to the kitchen, filled a glass and then on impulse got the bottle of pain pills from her room. Her dosage had been two, so she guessed Danny would need two and a half. She crushed them up with a mortar and pestle that Rosa kept in the utility drawer and dissolved the powder in the water.
She returned to Danny's bedroom, and he drained the glass when she held it to his lips.
"Can I get you anything else?" she said. He shook his head. But when she moved for the door, he grabbed her wrist. "Stay," he said.
She hesitated.
He drew her to him with surprising strength, and she finally relented, stretching out next to him on the bed.
"Sorry" he muttered as she settled her head on the pillow.
"For what"? There were so many things for both of them to be sorry about.
"What I said...about...you being..pregnant." his voice was growing fainter, slightly slurred.
"Forget it. Just take it easy."
"I was jealous" he sighed, his arm tightening around her.
"Jealous?"
"Of the father," he mumbled.
"Danny, there is no father, because there is no baby," Michelle said, turning her head to look at him.
He was asleep.
She let her head fall to his shoulder, being careful not to jostle his injured side, and soon she went to sleep also.
When Michelle woke she didn't realize where she was at first. It was the middle of the night, the room was not her own, and there was somebody in bed with her.
In seconds her memory returned and with it the awareness that Danny was also stirring, pulling her into the curve of his body.
"Baby," he said locking, his hands over her stomach. He was still obsessed with the idea and now doped he wasn't thinking clearly.
"Sh," Michelle said, aware that he didn't know what he was saying. He pushed her flat on the bed and bent, placing his cheek next to her belly. Michelle didn't move, afraid to struggle with him and injure his side. "Not my baby," he murmured. "She wouldn't want my baby."
His voice was so forlorn that Michelle was touched. Her heart was pounding as he wrapped his arms around her hips. He won't remember this in the morning, she told herself reassuringly. "Don't love me anymore," he said, shaking his head. "I missed my chance."
What was he talking about? Michelle wondered, trying to piece together his ramblings. "I should have done it then," he said and dropped his hands to her ankles, then ran up her legs, under the hem of her gown. Done what? She thought, panicked as he reached her thighs. She twisted away, closing her eyes. He doesn't know what's happening, you can't allow this, she told herself. But part of her did not want him to stop. Suddenly he pinned her and rolled on top of her, pressing her into the mattress. She could feel him hard against her thighs, he may have been medicated, but he was far from incapable.
Michelle bit her lip in frustration. Why was it her luck to be in bed with this man only when he was half asleep or drugged out of his mind? It wasn't fair.
"Love me now." he said. "Love me again." He kissed her, and she responded long enough for him to relax his hold. Then she pushed him off her and vaulted from the bed.
He stared at her hazily in the dark and rolled onto his side, breathing heavily. After a few moments his respiration slowed and became even.
Michelle shrank against the wall, her hand to her mouth. She waited until she was sure he was asleep again before she crept from the room. Please don't let him remember it, she thought as she went across the hall to her own bedroom.
And please let me forget it, too.