Revisiting the Past
Part 17
By Kellie
Rick and Phillip stood on the front stoop glancing into the living room. The strained silence between Michelle, Danny, Meta, and Claire was overpowering. Phillip leaned into Rick and whispered, "I think I’ll take the kids home before the fireworks start. "
"Sure you want to miss this show, buddy? It should be rather entertaining," Rick answered.
"I know. I really hate missing the chance to see Claire get what she deserves; but I don’t think Harley or Beth would appreciate it if the kids were present in the house when Danny kills Claire," Phillip said with a smile.
"That’s true," Rick replied. "I guess it’s good that Blake and Ross have already picked up their kids, too. If all of Springfield’s children witnessed a murder in my house, I’d rank right up there with Holly on the list of people dangerous to the town’s children."
Phillip chuckled before they walked inside. Rick walked into the living room to join the group while Phillip headed towards the den to collect the kids from the Disney Sing Along video they were watching.
Rick broke the eerie silence, "So, Danny, Michelle, I take it that the two of you have resolved some of the unresolved issues that were keeping you both from moving on."
"Yeah, Rick. Thanks for making me come home and come to my senses. I never should have left Danny. We’ve decided to reconcile," Michelle announced.
"Over my dead body," Claire mumbled to herself.
Overhearing the comment, Danny responded, "That could be easily arranged, Dr. Ramsey."
Claire stared at Danny venomously as she responded, "Is that a threat?"
"Only if it needs to be," he answered coldly.
"Danny, unfortunately she’s my mother. Please let me handle this," Michelle said as she squeezed his hand. He nodded in response.
"Claire, what the hell are you doing here?" Michelle firmly asked.
"I have some important news for you. I called your apartment several times last night to tell you and this morning I went by there since you hadn’t returned my phone calls. The doorman told me you had flown home with Rick for the weekend."
"Claire, you have some nerve showing up here after you destroyed my marriage and nearly did in my career," Rick angrily interjected.
"Rick’s right. You should have known you wouldn’t be welcome here," Meta commented. "Of course, from what I’ve heard, common sense is not your forte."
"Rick, Meta could you please wait in the kitchen and let me handle this. I promise that I’ll give you both a round with Claire after Danny and I are finished – if there’s anything left to tear apart," Michelle remarked.
Rick and Meta walked towards the kitchen, stopping just inside the doorway. They both stood just far enough inside the kitchen that they could not be seen, but they could over hear everything that was being said. Rick jumped when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked back to see Phillip standing behind him. "What are you still doing here?" Rick whispered
Phillip softly answered, "I called Harley and told her what was happening. She’s going to come pick up Zach. She couldn’t resist the opportunity to see Claire getting her comeuppance."
Meta looked at the pair with a finger over her lips, "Shh!"
Michelle paced around Claire as she tried to decide where to start. Danny crossed his arms and sat on the back of the sofa as he watched the scene unfold before him.
"Michelle, I think you’re going to be so excited by the news I have for you," Claire announced.
"I don’t give a damn about your news, Claire. After the things I’ve learned over the past 24 hours, I don’t care if I ever lay eyes on you again," Michelle coldly remarked.
"Michelle, what are you talking about? What kind of lies has he been filling your head with?"
"The only person who has been filling my head with lies is you!" Michelle shouted.
"Michelle, I’m your mother. Why would I lie to you? I love you," Claire replied.
Michelle started off at a whisper and worked up to a shout as she spoke, "You’re not my mother – Maureen was my mother. My mother would never have tired to smother me with a pillow while I was a baby. My mother would never have tricked me into leaving my husband. My mother would never have helped murder my husband’s mother. My mother would never have impersonated me in a lawyer’s office to trick me into getting a divorce. YOU"RE NO MOTHER – YOU"RE A MONSTER!"
"Michelle honey – I love you…" Claire began.
Michelle shook with fury as interrupted Claire’s defense as she coldly whispered, "Don’t you dare honey me - You don’t love me, you just love having control over me and my life!"
Danny moved to stand behind Michelle, resting his hands on her shoulders. "Claire, we want you to leave, now. If you ever try to contact Michelle again, I won’t be responsible for what I do to you," he firmly said.
Michelle turned to bury her tear stained face in Danny’s chest as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. He glared at Claire when she had the nerve to speak, "Michelle, before I walk out that door, I think you should hear the news I have."
"Michelle doesn’t want to hear anything you have to say, Claire. Leave before I throw you out on your sorry ass," he coldly replied.
Michelle turned to look at Claire; "I don’t want to hear anything you have to say. Leave now," she quietly said.
"Even if it’s about that surgical program you applied for at John Hopkins," Claire said as she looked at Michelle.