I don’t know what the hell just happened, but this woman is driving me crazy. She didn’t even give me a chance to respond. Five minutes pass and she hasn’t emerged from the bathroom. Then, I hear the shower running. Fine.

I head out of her room to find Rick. He’s in the kitchen.

"Rick, can I talk to you?"

"Sure man. What’s up?" he asks motioning for me to take a seat at the table.

"I always thought I knew women. And then I met your sister."

He laughs, saying, "met your match. Huh."

I can’t help but smile back. "Yes, I did. And I love her." I hadn’t even admitted that to myself. Rick looks like he’s happy about it, though.

"Does Michelle know this?"

"No. I didn’t even realize it until just now. She’s amazing. So unselfish and modest. You know…the kind of woman you want raising your babies. I know she’ll keep me in line. She’s smart. Obviously, getting accepted to Stanford."

"She finally told you?"

"Yes. And that’s what I want to talk to you about."

"Okay. Shoot."

"Well, I get the impression that she thinks I want to end things."

"Did she say that? Did you say that?"

"I didn’t get a chance to say anything. She’s locked in her bathroom. I think she was crying. Do you think I would be pushing if I told her I loved her? We have only know one another for two months."

"What I think is that my sister already had her mind made up that you didn’t and couldn't love her. Michelle confessed that she feels she doesn’t live up to the woman you should be with."

I’m not surprised by this revelation at all. It seems to be the heart of her insecurities. There’s probably some other stuff going on too.

"Rick, I have tried to get it through that thick skull of hers that she is what I need…what I want. Why won’t she believe me? We talk everyday. We spend every weekend together. I haven’t pushed intimacy. That’s how much I care about her. I don’t know what to do."

"Maybe you should back off a little."

"No way. Then her fears will be confirmed. I have to do something. Something to remove all doubt."

We both sit in silence.

Rick finally says, "maybe we could talk her out of transferring to Stanford. That way you would be better able to show her you really care. You know spend more time with her. I really don’t want her to go so far away for so long anyway. I also think you will be good for her."

"I would never want to impede her dreams. There has to be another way. I can’t move there, with SanCorp taking off so fast. We need to get this settled tonight, though. I won’t be able to…"

"You’re still here?"

It’s Michelle. My beautiful Michelle. Her curls are loose around her face. She has on no make up. Her pajamas are adorable.

I hastily get up and run to her, hugging her. Rick excuses himself from the kitchen. I don’t know where he went because I can’t look away from Michelle.

"Danny, why are you still here? I thought…"

Cutting her off, I kiss her aggressively. My hands entwine her hair. She responds to my kiss hugging my waist tightly. Finally, I end the kiss.

"Michelle, don’t planes go to California?"

"Yes. Why?" she asks totally confused.

I throw my head back, laughing. "You are too much."

"What’s so funny?"

"You are. For someone so smart, you can be so thick headed. Did it ever occur to you that I might not want to give up on us just because of 1500 miles? And why do you insist on putting yourself down? I’m never letting you go. Never."

"Danny, be reasonable. When we would see each other? And how do you know you won’t find someone else more appealing?"

This woman is unbelievable. "Listen to me carefully. I only want you. You are the most beautiful woman to me. I mean it. I mean everything I say Michelle. Please understand that about me. No one can take your place. Okay?"

"And exactly how are we supposed to date if I’m in California and you’re in Springfield?"

"By plane, silly. I’ll fly out there when I can and you can come home during your breaks."

"Right. You expect me to believe that I’m worth frequent flyer miles and a lot of jet lag."

She moves around me and goes to the refrigerator, pulling out apple juice. I join her and get two glasses and watch her pour.

"Are you hungry? I can heat up some of Abby’s lasagna."

I nod yes as I watch her put the juice back in the refrigerator and she pulls out a casserole dish before closing it. She’s busy preparing the food and I just watch in companionable silence. I sense the need to postpone this conversation…for now.

This is something I could get used to. Hanging around the kitchen, watching Michelle get dinner ready.

My wife, my lover, my friend will be you Michelle Bauer. Why are you resisting me so much? You were all over me earlier. What are you afraid of? I know you have feelings for me. The way you responded to my touch told me as much.

We eat dinner and Michelle cleans our dishes and then loads the dishwasher. After starting it, she takes her place back across from me at the kitchen table.

"Well, are you ready to stop fighting this? I’m not going to give up on us. I’m not Jesse."

"I know you’re not Jesse, but you’re still a man."

"And what, because I’m a man, I will eventually wander off, seeking solace in some other woman’s arms. Is that it? Come on Michelle. Exactly why are you being so stubborn? I want you. I want to wait for you. I’ll visit you whenever you want me to. I want to get to know you. I want you to be a successful doctor. Why can’t you just trust me?"

"Because my mother trusted my father. And she’s dead because of his betrayal. I will not let that happen to me. The situation with Jesse opened my eyes to the fact that men will be men. There it is. You yourself admitted that you conquered women. Now all of sudden you want to settle down with little old me. Uh uh. I don’t think so. Call me thickheaded, call me paranoid, call me whatever. I refuse to get my heart broken again. That is the kind of distraction I don’t need. My studies are important to me. I can’t be worried about what you’re doing here while I’m in California. It just won’t work Danny. It won’t."

"Earlier in your bedroom, the way you were talking to me, had you done that before?"

Surprised by my question, her cheeks become flushed and she can’t look at me. "No." It’s barely a whisper.

"I have never felt so alive than when you were saying those things to me. No woman has been more desirable than you have. You turn me on. And it’s obvious that I have the same effect on you. Michelle, we need to get this settled tonight. That telephone call was urgent business. But I can’t leave without your word that you won’t give up on us."

She’s fidgeting with her hands again. I grab them to steady them. "Michelle, what do you say?"

"Lust is not a good enough reason to attempt a long distance relationship."

I drop my head, shaking it side to side. When I lift up to meet her gaze, I realize I have no choice. I get up, walk around the table and get on one knee.

"Michelle Bauer, I have loved you since the day I first saw you. Will you marry me?"



___________________________

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes. Yes. Yes!"

He sweeps me out of the chair and hugs me, swinging me around. Rick and Abby run into the kitchen to see what’s all the commotion.

"I see you got through to her," Rick smiles walking over to Danny. "Congratulations. I know you’re perfect for each other."

He shakes Danny’s hand and kisses me on the cheek. "Abby, I do believe we are going to have a wedding. How about that?"

"Well, I must say congratulations as well. What a whirlwind courtship. One question though. What about school, Michelle?"

We all take a seat at the kitchen table. I look at Danny for the answer to that question. We hadn’t discussed it.

"Michelle will continue as planned. I will visit her as often as possible and she will come home on her breaks. Is that okay honey?"

"Yes, if it’s alright with you. And when I'm done, I'll move back to Springfield."

The more I think about this, the more I want know I'm doing the right thing. I'm going to marry Danny Santos.

"Now that that’s settled, I need to get going. Business calls. Michelle, our families will have to meet soon. Maybe we can have a Christmas/Engagement party. We'll pick a date for the wedding around your schedule, Michelle."

Abby is really excited. I can see the wheels in her head turning. "Great idea. I’ll make sure everyone knows on this end. Rick is so busy with work and Michelle with finals. Who can I contact in your family?"

Danny is putting on his jacket. "I’ll let you know. Michelle, I’ll call if it’s not to late and I will definitely email you. So check your email."

"Okay."

"Rick, Abby, have a wonderful evening and I’ll talk to you guys soon." They leave us alone.

"Danny, I just want to apologize."

"For what?"

"Not giving you a chance. And not realizing just how serious you were. You're so sure of us and I want to make you so happy. It’s just that…"

"Don’t worry about it. I love you. That’s all that matters. Everything will work out. Now, let me get out of here. I need to get to the office. I’ve got to make sure I can support us. And I need SanCorp for that."

We hug and kiss and then he’s gone.