This part is in Danny’s POV….. Two days have passed since the incident in Michelle’s bedroom.
For what seems to be the hundredth time today, my fingers dial the now familiar number. Glancing at my notes, I have the right time. She should be there. As the phone continued to ring, my frustration was growing.
Slamming the phone down, I run my hand through my curls, trying to decide a course of action. Obviously, nothing was doing to be accomplished by doing things this way.
I just had to do something. There had to be a way.
Tapping a pen on the desk, my mind starts to wander. This was so frustrating. I should be able to come up with something. I hated being a passive bystander. I had to do something or I was going to drive myself nuts.
I needed to do something for Michelle. The past didn’t matter anymore. It was the past. I had made peace with it, and I had moved on. Now, Michelle needed me more than ever. And I was ready to help her.
Hell, I wanted to help her. It was the time for us to make a future together. I wanted Michelle back. I was going to get her back. I would show her that I will always be there.
Sighing, I decide that sitting around here was not going to do any good. Grabbing my jacket, I head to the car, determined to get some answers.
I have to smile at the sight that greets me at the door. Two of the young boys, Steven and Mark, are arguing about where to put the new sign on the wall.
As I walk over to them, their angry voices slowly quiet down, and they pretend to work on something else. Chuckling, I make my way down the hall.
Being here at the community center was a refreshing change. These young kids always cheered me up. I liked coming here because I was just Danny. Nobody seemed to care that I was part of a mob family. Everyone here was so welcoming. It was nice to be part of something ‘normal’.
Mostly, this place became a refugee for me when Michelle was away. I had been so lost, so angry at the world that I was destroying myself. I would work all day and then drink myself to sleep some nights.
Finally, my dear Grandmother had given me a stern talking to. She had expressed concern for my behavior, and she had conned me into coming with her to the center one day.
Grandmother had always separated herself from the ugly side of our business. She had watched as both her husband and son were killed because of the family business, and yet, her strengthen got her through it.
After her health scare, Grandmother decided that she would go back to doing what she loved: helping others. She was just like Michelle.
Maybe that is part of the reason that I felt so drawn to Michelle. There was the same kindred spirit in Michelle that was in my Grandmother. My grandmother seemed more like a friend and a mother to me especially after Papa died.
She was the one who would comfort me when I had nightmares, she would be the one who told me stories about him. Mama never did that. She just closed herself off from the rest of the world.
My grandmother became my confidante after Michelle had signed the annulment papers. She had been there to comfort me as I wept after I had signed the papers. She had been the one person who saw right through me, and made me admit my feelings for Michelle.
In the past months, her presence had kept me alive. I was able to heal and forgive the past. And she was the person who introduced me to the joys of being happy again. She was thrilled when I kept coming back with her. So, it became a routine, I would go to the community center three days a week, and help out.
Somehow, I found myself being roped into organizing the basketball games, and help with the some of the activities. I have to admit that it was a lot of fun. I found myself looking forward to it. It was a nice change from helping Mama out. It was keeping me busy, and Mama had left me alone for now.
As I am searching the halls, I feel myself being propelled in the opposite direction. A small sigh comes into focus, and suddenly, I curse myself from my stupidity. Pushing the door open, I pray that I will finally get the answers I needed.
Clearing my throat, Dr. Howard is surprised to see me. Her eyes dart back and forth to me and towards the door. Slowly, she puts away the papers that she had working on, and gives me her undivided attention.
I sink into one of the chairs, and hope that I am not making a big mistake. "I am sorry to bother you, Dr. Howard, but I need to talk to you. You are the only person that can help me." I say desperately
"Danny, I am sure that you have a good reason for being here, so you have fifteen minutes. What is the matter?"
I give her a grateful smile. "It is about Michelle, I went to go visit her…"
*****
Collecting my books, I make my way back to the car. The cold air swirls around me, and I have to shift my books on my hip, while I try to zip up my jacket.
I had just spent the last two hours in the library, reading and get as much information as I could about Michelle's recent behavior. The pieces were slowly coming together. Things were making sense.
After talking to Dr. Howard, she had suggested that I read some books on the subject. So, as I soon as I left the center, I headed to the library.
There were mountains of information that I plowed through. Soon, my eyes were getting blurry, and I couldn't concentrate anymore. My mind was filled with too much information. Still, I finally had a clear picture of what Michelle was going through, and it killed me to know how much pain she was in.
But now, I was armed with information, and I would help her. I had to remember that Michelle was in a decialte condition, there would be no pushing. I just need to establish that I was there for her, and I would always be there.
Michelle was not going to fight this all alone. She had already done that. She had been along for too long.
Now, it was time for me to be where I belonged.
By her side.