Towers

Michelle goes back into the Promenade room looking for Danny and Sandy. But Carmen interrupts her search. "I was not finished with you."

"Well, I was finished with you." Michelle attempts to walk away but Carmen grabs her arm. "Let me go. I know you don’t want your son to see his mother attacking his wife."

Carmen releases Michelle and sneers, "You’re no wife. Why couldn’t you just stay dead?"

"Well, mommy dearest, I knew that would make you happy. Besides, my husband needed me. And I was there for him; several times today actually; and I will always be there for him. Now, I am going to look for my husband and I want you to stay away from us if you can’t accept this marriage. Got it?"

Carmen fully understands the meaning of Michelle’s remarks. "You are in way over your head, Michelle. You don’t love my Danny and you killed my Mick. I will have my revenge."

"I thought I told you to stop threatening my daughter." Claire is standing behind Michelle who turns to look at her, not understanding this newfound concern. "You don’t think I’m serious Carmen Santos, but I assure you I am."

Before Carmen can say anything, Ed approaches them wondering what’s going on. "Hello Claire." They acknowledge one another then he turns to Carmen. "And you are?"

"Leaving." And Carmen turns to leave but walks right into Danny.

"Now that was rude mother. Especially since this is my father-in-law. Meet Ed Bauer."

Carmen just stares at Danny at first, then she turns around with a fake smile, "I am so sorry. How do you do? Carmen Santos."

"Just fine. Did I interrupt something here?"

Michelle answers, "no dad. Carmen isn’t feeling well. That’s all. And my mot…uh…Dr. Ramsey was trying to help her out. Right?" She looks at Carmen and Claire.

"That’s right Michelle. You know Dr. Bauer, you and your late wife have such a lovely daughter. I hear Maureen was an angel and I know Michelle takes after her. Well, I must get going. Since I am not feeling well." Carmen gives Claire a hard look and takes her leave. She hopes her comments about Michelle and Maureen upset Claire and smiles when she can see on Claire's face that it worked. She stops long enough for Danny to give her kiss on the cheek.

"I’ll talk to you later mother."

Sandy has approached them now as well. "Hi mom. Nice of you to show up. We need to talk. Now." She walks away and Claire looks at Michelle.

"We’ll talk later Michelle. Danny. Ed." Claire smiles briefly at them all and then follows Sandy.

Ed and Danny are confused as hell. Ed speaks first. "Michelle, honey, what just happened? I mean, it looked like your mother-in-law wanted to kill Claire and vice versa. Do they know each other? And Claire has another daughter? She looks older than you and has the edge of her mother."

"Sandy and I are apparently sisters. We’ve known each other for some time now, but never knew we were related. As far as Claire and Carmen; who knows what that’s about. Claire has never been in my life, and all of a sudden she is so protective."

"So that was your mother? There was a lot of tension between she and my mother. Did I miss something?" Danny asks.

"Can we talk about it later, babe? I just want to spend time with you, my family and friends. Dad have you and Danny had a chance to talk?"

"No, but I would like to…maybe tomorrow?" He asks Danny.

"Sure. Michelle and I will be by the Bauer house in the morning." They shake hands and Ed rejoins Ross and Rick.

Danny embraces Michelle and asks, "What is going on Michelle? The truth."

"Well, let’s see. Your mother threatened me and my mother stood up to her. And I told them both to go to hell."

He chuckles, "Oh yeah? I bet you looked cute, too. I love you most when you’re spunky."

"Thanks, I think. Anyway, Claire Ramsey hasn’t been my mother for 21 years and now all of sudden she is protecting her own. I don’t get it. It must be guilt. I guess my "death" woke her up."

"I will have a talk with my mother. And I suggest you do the same with yours."

Michelle smiles at him, "don’t worry. As soon as Sandy is done, I will have my turn. I hope you don’t get upset with me, but I told Carmen that if she can’t accept our marriage, I want her to stay away from us."

Danny kisses her forehead. "I’ll never be angry with you as long as you tell me what’s going on always. No secrets."

"No secrets."

"Actually, I have been keeping something from you Michelle."

"What?"

"I have a sister. Her name is Pilar. She goes to school in Spain, but is home. She’s sharing a suite with my mother."

"Really? When can I meet her?" All Michelle can think of is will Pilar like her.

As if reading her mind, Danny responds, "you’ll meet her tomorrow. I think she’s going to like you and you her. Now lets go find Sandy and your mother."

______________________________

"So, mother, where you ever going to tell me I have a sister?"

"No. I wasn't. I was in a bad place during that part of my life and did some terrible things. There was an agreement that I made. It was to stay out of Michelle's life. So, I did."

Sandy and Claire went to the balcony outside of the Promenade Room. No one was out there, seeing that it was quite chilly.

"You know that is the lamest excuse I have ever heard. It sounds like you were a coward to me. Or you just didn't care. Well, I'll have you know that Michelle is the kindest, sweetest person. I don't know if you'll get the chance to find that out for yourself, though. You can't abandon your child and just show up 20 years later expecting her to welcome you with open arms."

"You did. " Claire looks out at the view, absorbing her daughter's words. She knows Sandy is right. But Claire still hopes there's a chance. And if not, she will still not let Carmen do anything to her daughter.

"Mom, I was like 3 when you came back into my life. Hardly the same thing. I was too young to realize what it meant for you to be gone. Look, I'm going to stay out of it where you and Michelle are concerned. I love you and I love Michelle."

She hugs her mom and Claire says, "I love the both of you, too."

"Do you? Is that why I've never seen you? Or why when my real mother died, you didn't come back or even try to see if I needed you or wanted you in my life? That doesn't sound like love to me."

Michelle and Danny found Sandy and Claire on the balcony. She let's go of Danny and walks to her mother. Sandy squeezes Michelle's shoulder and goes back inside with Danny.

"Well, mother? Explain why it took my death to bring you back?"

Claire looks at Michelle, then out to the view again. "I have no excuse. Your sister said I was a coward and she's right. It's just that the more time passed, the more I felt it was too late for me to come back." She turns to look at Michelle. "I do love you and your sister. And when Rick called me and told me you had died, I was devastated. You want to know why I was late?"

"I sure do."

"I was visiting Maureen's grave"

"Why? Why would you go there?"

"Because she was everything that I was not. And she took care of you like you were her own. I had to thank her. And I thanked God that you were actually alive. I knew I had to try to make amends. I don't expect forgiveness, not even a chance to be a mother. But I do want you to know I love you and always have. I'm glad you and Sandy found each other, too."

Michelle let's some of the tension leave her body. She can't be upset with this woman. Her mother, Maureen taught her better. "Well, I am not going to make any promises, Claire. But I will keep an open mind. Besides, I have bigger problems."

"Yes, I know. Carmen Santos. How did you wind up marrying her son?"

"He married me to save me from his mother. I killed her other son, Mick."

"What? This is all my fault."

"No. It isn't. Well, maybe it is. You know what? I don't know and I don't care. All I know is that I feel awful about taking his life. But it was out of self-defense and Danny was sent to me. I love Danny and he loves me."

"But Carmen is still after you."

"Well, she wants revenge for Mick's death."

"This is ridiculous. Did you go to the police? Never mind. She's a Santos. Probably has some hot shot lawyer to help her squirm out of anything."

"Something like that. Look. I'm glad we had this talk. I should get back to the party. Maybe you, Sandy and myself can get together for lunch. That is, if you're going to be around."

"I'd like that, Michelle. I took a leave of absence from the hospital and will be staying here at Towers. Thank you for talking to me."

"Well, like I said, I can't make any promises." Michelle walks back inside, leaving Claire standing there alone.

Claire says to herself, "You may never forgive me Michelle, but I'll make up everything to you. First by stopping Carmen Santos."