Revisiting the Past
Part 16
By Kellie
Danny dropped Michelle’s bag on the ground beside him as he crossed his arms. He silently stared as Claire paid the cab driver and turned towards the house. "I wouldn’t send him away so soon if I were you, Claire," he said as he nodded towards the cab pulling away from the curb.
Claire ignored Danny and headed towards the back door. As she reached out for the doorbell, she heard him speak again, "Don’t bother, you’re not welcome here, Claire."
"I don’t believe you decide who’s welcome and not welcome at the Bauer house, Danny. "
Danny gripped her shoulder and turned Claire to face him, "Ah, I think you’re mistaken about that."
"I highly doubt that, Danny," Claire seethed.
"I think the fact that I live here gives me a say in who’s welcome here."
"Oh, so the deserted husband is living in his wife’s childhood bedroom. How touching that you still pine away for her after all these years."
"The only one who will be pining away for Michelle in her life is you, Claire."
"That’s up to Michelle, Danny. You don’t have any control over her life anymore."
"From what I understand, neither do you," he coldly replied. "And I’m going to see to it that it remains that way."
Claire rolled her eyes at the remark as the door opened and Meta appeared "Danny, Michelle just called and asked that you bring the book she left in Rick’s car." She looked up as stared at Claire, "My, my, look what the cat dragged in."
Danny nodded as he tersely whispered; "Our conversation is far from over, Claire. Michelle and I both have a few things to explain to you." He looked over at Meta, "Can you take care of our visitor until Michelle and I get back, Aunt Meta?"
"Oh, I’m sure Claire would love to help Phillip and I with the finger paintings Zach, James, Lizzie, Kevin, Jason, and Clarissa have been begging to work on. " Meta stepped out onto the stoop and took Claire by the arm and started inside.
Danny grabbed Michelle’s bag and headed towards the driveway while Meta escorted Claire into the house, as she remarked, "Is this silk? You’ll just have to be careful because I don’t have anything that would fit you as a paint smock."
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Danny was leaning against the doorframe watching Michelle sleep. "I can’t believe how much I’ve missed just looking at you," he said softly to himself as he crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. He reached out and carefully pushed the blond hair that had fallen over her eyes to the side as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. Michelle stirred and shifted from her side to lay on her back.
"It’s about time you got here. I was worried that you’d kill Claire before you left the house."
"How did you know she was there?" he asked as he caressed her cheek.
Michelle picked up the cell phone he had left on the nightstand. "I called the house to see if you had left yet right after you walked out the door. Meta was standing by the window and saw Claire arrive. That book I had Meta ask you to get was just an excuse for her to get Claire in the house. I couldn’t let you have all the fun," she answered with a glint in her eye.
"I guess you deserve to be the one to put Claire in her place," he answered. "Of course, I’d like to throttle her for her lousy timing. Her arrival puts a crimp in our plans to make up for lost time tonight."
"I’m in no hurry to head over there," Michelle replied as she sat up and the sheet dropped exposing her bare breasts.
Danny felt her teeth tugging at his ear as he spoke, "I hope Meta and Rick will forgive us for sticking them with entertaining Claire."
"Eventually, they will," she said as she unbuttoned his shirt.
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Meta, Phillip, and Rick sat on the sofa across from Claire in silence. All the small talk avenues had been exhausted. You could only talk about the weather for so long. Phillip could tell Rick was having a hard time controlling his urge to rip into Claire. "Rick, will you come help me haul the kids things out to the car? I have to have Zach back to Harley by 7 and Lizzie and James back to Beth and Jim by 8."
"Sure, buddy," Rick replied thankful for the reprieve.
After the pair exited the room, arms full of bags and toys, Meta spoke. "Claire, if I were you, I’d catch the next flight back to Chicago and cut my losses. Michelle and Danny belong together and your manipulations are not going to work any longer."
"I wouldn’t be so sure about that, if I were you, Meta. When Michelle hears what I have to say, she’ll change her mind."
"I wouldn’t count on that," Michelle said as she and Danny entered the open front door hand in hand.