A Snowy Night

Part 20

By Kellie

Danny was entering the main entrance to the county jail as his cell phone rang. "Yeah," he said as he answered.

"Bill, are you sure that you and Frank will be able to get through to Matt."

Bill replied, "Matt is worried about my Mom’s safety. Considering the lengths Carmen has gone to cover her tracks, attempting to murder my mother would be the next step."

"I know. I just want Michelle freed as soon as possible."

"Danny, I want that, too. You need to remember one thing, my mother still hasn’t come out of the coma and it may be a while before she does – if ever," Bill grimaced as he finished the statement. He couldn’t imagine the world without his mother and her take charge attitude.

"Bill, I know – I’m working on a back up plan. I let you know when I have the details ironed out. They’re getting ready to let me in to see Michelle. Call me after you talk to Matt."

Danny flipped the phone closed as the guard let him into the visitor’s room. He spotted Michelle already seated and waiting. Even in that awful orange prison uniform, she’s still beautiful he thought to himself as he reached for the phone. "Hey, how are you today?"

"I’m hanging in there," Michelle replied as she looked Danny in the eye. She knew she should tell him about Dietz’s visit, but she had promised to wait. Hopefully, she could steer clear of the topic of Carmen with him today. Michelle knew that if her mother-in-law came up in their conversation, she’d have to tell Danny about Dietz coming to see her.

"I think I’ve got some good news for you. Frank found where Matt took Vanessa. He and Bill are on the way there now."

A single tear came down Michelle’s face as she spoke, "I’m glad Frank found them for Bill’s sake, but until Vanessa comes out of her coma –"

"Vanessa will come out of that coma."

"Danny, we can’t count on that happening. Can we please talk about anything but this whole mess? I need something other than the disaster my life is to think about. Have you given any thought to contacting that record company in LA to see if they have any new positions open that you could apply for now that the trial is over?"

"Michelle, there’s no way I’m pursuing any jobs in LA – at least not until we get your conviction overturned."

"I don’t want you to put your life – your dreams on hold because of me."

"Baby, you are my life – you’re the person I dream of spending every waking moment with. That is the dream I’m working on – getting you home and in my arms. I love you."

"I love you, too!" Michelle responded as more tears fell down her face.

"Danny, Rick usually comes by in the morning before going to the hospital. Do you know why he didn’t get here this morning?"

"He’s been at the hospital all night. I’m not sure when he’ll get away. He needs to be there for - Never mind that. I’m sure he’ll be by later."

"Danny, who does Rick need to be at the hospital for? It’s more than a regular patient isn’t it?"

"Yeah." Danny looked down. "I don’t want you to worry about that. We have enough problems of our own to worry about."

"Who is it? Tell me, Danny."

Danny looked up at her imploring eyes. He knew that he had to tell her everything that had happened. "Michelle, I’m not sure you need all of this to worry about."

"Danny-"

"Well, I went to the hospital to see about Pilar last night. Rick was in the hall – He looked like hell. Before he came to court to hear the verdict, Rick had to tell Phillip that Lizzie’s sick - she has leukemia."

Michelle gasped from shock. "No – not that sweet little girl! It seems like yesterday that we were all combing Millennium looking for her and Marina."

"Hey, Rick’s going to make sure that she’s okay."

"I know – it’s just so horrible to think about her having to go through chemo."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Michelle spoke, "You said you were at Cedars to see Pilar. How is she?"

The tears fell from Danny’s eyes as he looked at his wife; "She’s not doing well. Pilar has completely shut down. She was just curled up on that bed – not speaking – staring at the wall."

"Danny, the doctors will reach her. She will get better. You’ve got to believe that."

"I know, it’s just hard to see her like that."

"Michelle, there’s more."

"Danny, there had better be some good news. Life outside this place sounds just about as depressing as being stuck here."

"It’s Jesse – he was admitted to Cedars for some test last night. There’s a problem with his heart – your mom’s heart."

Danny looked up at his wife’s look of utter devastation. "Michelle, are you okay?"

She spoke in a near whisper, "Do they know what’s wrong?"

"No, not yet."

The guard came up behind Michelle at that moment and spoke, "Visiting time is over. I have to take you back to you cell, Santos."

Michelle reached up and pressed her hand to the glass as Danny said, "I love you."





Chapter 21

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