Revisiting the Past
Part 14
By Kellie
"Claire was visiting your
grandmother," Michelle said in a near whisper. "What in the world did
they have to talk about, especially since I’d already left town?"
"I wondered the same thing. I was about to storm into the room and demand
answers, but Ray held me back and we listened to their discussion. It seems that
Abuela knew I’d never take over the business as long as we were together. She
knew that Claire wasn’t happy with our marriage and they were working together
to break us up with Carlos’ help."
"I’m not surprised about Claire, but I had no idea your grandmother
wanted us apart."
Michelle turned and looked over at the falls as Danny came up behind and put his
hand on her shoulder. "That’s just the tip of the iceberg, baby."
"What does that mean?"
"Ray and I had arrived as Claire and Carlos were preparing to leave. They
never knew I had been there. I started checking into the things that had
happened with Carlos after my mother’s death. I found out he didn’t off Xeno,
he paid Xeno to take the fall and moved him out of the country. "
Michelle reached up and put her hand on top of his on her shoulder before
speaking, "Danny, there’s more, isn’t there?"
"Yeah, I ended up bugging Abuela’s phone and I finally found out the
truth."
"Which was?"
"Abuela arranged for the hit on my mother through Carlos and then arranged
for Claire to make sure that Carmen died that day. I don’t know what Claire
did, but I’m sure it has to do with that injection she gave my mother. I
don’t have any proof, it’s just a feeling."
"Danny, why didn’t you find me and tell me this?"
"Michelle, remember the Bauer Bar-be-que, when we argued over this."
She nodded in response, "Yeah, I thought you’d lost it."
"I figured you’d never believe me without proof, especially since you
went to Chicago with Claire."
"At the time, that probably would have been true. I was in Chicago almost a
year before I came to the realization Claire wasn’t looking out for my best
interest. She really had me snowed for quite a while. What happened then?"
"Well, I used a tape of Abuela discussing the deal over Xeno with Carlos to
blackmail her and Carlos into letting me out of the business. I let them know
that if anything happened to me or you, Frank Cooper would be getting an
envelope from my lawyer with the evidence I had collected plus a sworn statement
from Xeno describing their role in my mother’s death. Ross still has that
envelope with instructions to give it to Frank if anything happens to either one
of us."
"I’m surprised you didn’t kill Carlos yourself."
"Michelle, doing that would have taken me deeper into the world I wanted
out of – the world that took you away from me. Besides, Carlos was acting on
Abuela’s orders. She’s the one who was ultimately responsible. I haven’t
spoken to her since the day I told her I was out. Ray still goes to see her and
still tries to get me to forgive her."
"And you can’t because she was responsible for you losing your mother,
your baby, and your wife," Michelle said softly as she turned and wrapped
her arms around him. "Danny, I’m so proud of the way you handled all of
this. I just hate that we lost so much time together because of other people’s
interference."
Danny put his finger over her lips, "No more regrets. We’re here together
now. That’s all that matters," he commented before sweeping her up off
her feet.
"Danny, what are you doing?"
As he got to the French doors between the house and the deck, he spoke,
"I’m carrying my wife over the threshold."
