You Belong To Me (26 page)

“You belong to me.” What the hell is this? Who the hell sent you these flowers? And what does he mean you belong to him? Are you seeing someone?” Mitch asked angry and frustrated.

She managed to calm herself down long enough to explain to him that those words were words that were spoken to her by Ethan. “Mitch, he said those exact same words to me the night he died! No one was there except him and I, what’s happening? Am I losing my mind?” She began to cry again.

“No Danielle, there’s gotta be a reasonable explanation for all of this. Surely you know someone and they sent you flowers.”

“Mitch in case you haven’t noticed, I have spent the last several weeks recovering, not unlike yourself. So believe me when I tell
you that meeting someone new and inviting them into my life is the last thing on my mind. Now I'm telling you that Ethan Tillitson, the sick son of a bitch that he was, said those words to me the night he died and now there’s someone out there who knows it Mitch and they are taunting me. Sending me flowers with that kind of message, what kind of sick person does that?”

“I don’t know Danielle but I'm going to get to the bottom of this. And I won’t stop until we figure this out,” he said holding her close an
d kissing her softly. She savored in his kiss, and returned hers with heated passion. She wanted him to make love to her, she needed him just then, and he sensed her longing for him and took hold of her as she guided him up the stairs.

There in her loft st
yle bedroom, he made love to her fulfilling both of their desires. 

“I thought we were supposed to talk?” Mitch joked as he gently stroked her hair.

“We did talk, we talked the language of love,” Danielle joked back.

“Danielle, I have to know,” Mitch said looking at her. “Why did you give my mother that letter to give to me? Why not give it to me yourself? I need to know.”

Danielle immediately sat upright in the bed. Her head was spinning and she didn’t know where to start. “Let me start at the beginnin
g Mitch,” she said curtly and began telling him word for word what his mother had said and done. “And if you don’t believe me Mitch, I have proof,” she said wrapping a sheet around herself and going over to her dresser drawers.

“This should be proof enoug
h,” Danielle shouted and threw the copy of the restraining order at him.

 
“Danielle, I had no idea. My god, I'm so sorry. You have to know I had no part in this. My mother she… she doesn’t think sometimes,” Mitch stammered. “But there’s still something that I'm confused about Danielle, if you didn’t give my mother the letter than why did she say that you did?”

“Gee Mitch I don’t know, you’d have to talk to your sister Katelyn about that because she swears she gave it to you Mitch.

But it’s obvious that she lied to me, and I thought out of all the people in your family, she was the one who was rooting for us. But it seems like she was rooting for us to fail,” Danielle scoffed.

“Danielle she was rooting for us and she still is. Look I'm going to solve this pr
oblem right now, I’m going to call Katelyn and get to the bottom of this. At least it’ll be one less thing we have to figure out, and I want us to figure it all out so that we can move on, do you still want that Danielle? Give it to me straight, no more secrets, no more lies, tell me what you want,” he asked with hope in his eyes.

She looked at him with genuineness. “Mitch let’s get one thing straight, I have never kept any secrets from you, nor have I ever lied to you. If anyone has been keeping anything f
rom you, it’s your mother. And before you object just let me say this, you asked me what I want Mitch, and what I want is you. I always have, that hasn’t changed. We just made love for goodness sake, of course I want you,” she said  as she stood there looking at him. The bed sheet was wrapped seductively around her and Mitch couldn’t help but feel the desire in him rise once again.

“I know that look Mitchell Conway and no, we’re not making love again until things are straightened out.” She giggled as he go
t up from the bed and tugged at the bed sheet wrapped around her.

“How is it that you manage to make me forget about all my troubles?” Danielle whispered in his ear. It was morning and the two had spent the night talking and making love. “Because that’s what I'm here for and I have a lot to make up for Danielle, I feel like I’ve deserted you and I won’t let that happen again. “Mitch, you didn’t desert me, we just got disconnected from each other that’s all. But I’ll admit, it couldn’t have come at a worse time, I mean right after everything that happened with Ethan… her voice faded. Let’s just say that last night was the first night that I have slept nightmare free.”

He pulled her closer. “Danielle, last night was also the first time that we have been a
ble to talk about that night and I want you to know, right here and now that I'm going to fix this, I'm going to fix us.”

“Mitch, we aren’t broken.”

“Like it or not we are, and my own mother is the one who broke us. Now it’s up to me to make sure that she understands that you are a part of my life and nothing will ever change that. But right now my first order of business is to call Katelyn and find out exactly what’s going on, and to get you some breakfast. A little bird told me that you haven’t been eating and from the looks of it, I’d say that bird was right.”

Danielle stifled back a giggle; she missed him and the way that he cared so much about her. “I missed you,” she said and held him close.

It didn’t take long for Katelyn to confess to her brother that she had absentmindedly left the letter Danielle had given her, on the windowsill of the guest room and that by the time that she realized what she’d done, was already on her way back to Pennsylvania. “Mitch I'm so sorry, can you ever forgive me?” She asked anxiously. Right after Katelyn admitted her mistake and since she was the one who had actually written it, she recounted to Mitch exactly what the real letter said. Mitch held her on speaker phone as she apologized again.

Danielle gave him an, I told you I wasn’t lying look when he turned and looked at her ashamed of his mother’s actions. “Mom must have found it and rewrote it, that’s the only explanation that I have for you Mitch. You’re going to have to confront her about
it and make her tell you the truth.”

“Of course I forgive you sis, and confronting mom is exactly what I plan to do, he said before hanging up the phone,” his anger rising.

Not only did my mother take out a restraining order forbidding Danielle to see me, but she forged a letter, a letter that I believed to be true. How and why the hell would she do that? He asked himself.

Danielle could feel his irritation rising as he began getting hastily dressed, pacing the room as he did so. “Mitch, you’ve got to ca
lm down. It’s not going to do you any good if you go over there and confront her with an attitude, it’ll get you nowhere, especially when it comes to your mother.

I have a feeling that she’s used to getting what she wants Mitch and it’s going to take a lo
t of  reasoning to get her to see things your way.”

“You’re right Danielle, that’s why you’re coming with me.”

Danielle was taken by surprise, “Um may I remind you that your mother believes that I am the cause of all of this and might I also add that she has a restraining order against me? Even if it is quite obvious that I violated it inviting you into my home like I did. I don’t think it’s such a good idea that I go with you Mitch.”

“Danielle, I'm going to have to insist. Not only do I want you to go, bu
t I need for you to go.

Listen, I have to let my mother know that the gig is up. She got caught red handed and I want you by my side when I tell her so get dressed and let’s go,” he said firmly.

“Why Mitchell, what are you doing he
re son? Are you alright?” Gail asked her son. Shock over took her when she noticed that Danielle was making her way up behind him.

“You look surprised ma, what is it?” Mitch asked while reaching for Danielle’s hand.

Gail recovered quickly from her shock.  “Oh nothing son, nothing at all, won’t the two of you come in?” She was avoiding any and all eye contact with Danielle.

Gail tried hard to regain her composure. “So what brings the two of you here?”

“You can drop the act mom, I know everything,” Mitch fought hard not to raise his voice.

“What are you talking about son?” Gail began to tremble nervously. She could tell from the look in his eyes that Danielle had told him everything and she was sure that her daughter Katelyn had told him what she knew as well.

“Did you really think that you were going to get away with it mom? Keeping Danielle away from me? Why would you do such a sick thing? You even went so far as to take out a restraining order against her. Mom answer me, what were you thinking?” Mitch could
feel his temper intensifying.

“Son, I only had your best interests at heart, you have to believe me. After I found out that you were stabbed by that maniac all because you went to the cabin to save her, it was all I could think of to do. I needed to prote
ct you son, you remember what I went through when we lost Gabe. I wasn’t about to go through that again and it seemed like she was leading you right down the same path sweetheart, she was going to get you killed,” Gail cried.

“Mom, Danielle had nothing to
do with me getting stabbed, it was all Ethan’s fault, and you know the story because I already told you everything. I cannot believe that my own mother would do something so calculating,” Mitch looked at his mother as if she were a stranger.

Danielle plac
ed her hand on his shoulder and turned towards his mom.

“Mrs. Conway, the day that I asked you to come to my hospital room wasn’t because I wanted to argue with you, it was because I simply wanted to talk with you. I wanted to explain to you that for most
of the time that I’ve lived here I’ve been searching and searching to find myself and then one day I realized that I wasn’t giving anybody a chance to find me. Until I met Mitch that is, he is the one who found me and I'm not going to lose him over some idea that you have that I'm no good for him Gail. Or that I would bring any harm to him, because if you took the time to get to know me you would see that he means the world to me and that I love him.”

Danielle watched as Gail stood in awkward silence. It l
ooked as if she was actually listening to what they both had to say.

“You have got to stop treating me like I'm a little kid or your husband mom, I am neither. I am your son and I am a man. If you don’t release your hold on me, you’re going to lose me fore
ver and I know you don’t want that to happen, and neither do I. But you mom, you have got to stop smothering me. I'm going to be alright, I really am. Come on Danielle, let’s go.” Not wanting to wait for a response from his mother, Mitch grabbed hold of Danielle’s arm and led her out the door. Neither one spoke until they were in the car. “Mitch are you sure you want to leave things that way?” Danielle asked. She knew that he was upset, they both were and she wanted to help make things right.

“Yes I'm sure.
My mother needs to let this all sink in and stew in it for a while, she’ll come around. She’s not used to being spoken to like that but you know what? Sometimes people need to be put in their place, and my mother is one of those people, and this is one of those times. Now come on, I promised you breakfast,” he said giving her a hearty kiss on the lips.

By the time fall had arrived, Danielle and Mitch had rekindled their relationship. The only difference was that Danielle had made the decision to continue t
o rent Joe and Vic’s cottage, she didn’t want Mitch to feel pressured or cause any more problems between him and his family.

“The holidays will be here soon Mitch and I’d hate to see you miss out on spending time with your family because of me. You need t
o make up with your mother babe, it’s eating you up inside I can tell.”

Mitch wrapped his arms around her and playfully pulled her onto his lap. “Danielle, don’t worry about me, I'm
alright. And as far as my mother is concerned, she’s still pouting. But I’ll tell you what I'm gonna do, I’ll give it a couple more weeks and we’ll see where we are with things and if she hasn’t come around then I’ll make contact with her and talk things out deal?” He said while giving her a kiss.

“It’s a deal.” Danielle returned his kiss.

While the couple tried to get on with their lives, they still kept in contact with Mike. After Danielle had received the roses with the strange card attached, she immediately reported it to Mike. It took only days for him to find out from the florist that whoever had paid for the roses had done so using a store bought, prepaid credit card.

“I'm sorry Danielle, there’s no way we can find out who sent them. People can purch
ase those prepaid cards pretty much anywhere. You simply buy the card, add cash to it right there at the register and presto, you got yourself a prepaid credit card.

No name or other kind of personal information is needed, and as long as the money is on t
here, merchants will gladly accept it,” Mike explained apologetically.

“From what we can tell, it seems to be some sick joke someone is playing on you, someone who saw your name in the paper perhaps, and looked you up? Maybe someone from Maine? You did say
that a reporter contacted you for an interview right? Maybe he got hold of the file and let it slip in the article or something. But listen, I’ll try and contact the newspaper and see if I can get a hold of the guy. In the meantime, you receive anything else, you let me know. Don’t worry Danielle; we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“See that you do Mike, because I don’t want her to have to go through this all over again,” Mitch told him.
   At that moment, Danielle had never been more thankful to have Mitch back by her side.

Shortly after Ethan was killed, a local Maine newspaper published an article describing the horrific ordeal and named all of the parties involved. Danielle did not care to read the article, when a reporter contacted Danielle and asked fo
r any comments, Danielle spoke for the both of them. “We have no comment,” she told the pushy reporter over the phone. She also told the reporter that if he had any further questions that she would be more than happy to supply him with the name and number of her attorney. She hoped he wouldn’t call her bluff and when he didn’t, Danielle promptly hung up the phone.

Although several months had passed since their ordeal, and the nightmares had all but faded away, Danielle still couldn’t shake the feeling that
something was very wrong. Ever since the roses had been delivered to her, she found herself looking over her shoulder more often than she should. Mitch tried to ease her worries by leaving Samson with her, and although the guard dog provided her with protection, it was when she was away from home that she worried something would happen.

“Shayla maybe you can convince Danielle to move back in with me,” Mitch pleaded one night while they were all out to dinner.

Danielle gave him an exasperated look. “Mitch we’ve been over this a million times, you know I don’t want to stir up any more trouble between you and your mother. You haven’t had contact with her and it just wouldn’t be right.”

“What wouldn’t be right Danielle?” Shayla asked. “I mean, you guys lived to
gether before and everything was fine, so why the change of heart now?”

“I’ll tell you why Shay, it’s quite simple really. I would like it better if I had the approval of his family, and I don’t that’s why,” she said very straightforwardly.

“Danielle, you're acting as if you’ve done something wrong and you haven’t. My family still adores you,” Mitch tried to convince her.

“Oh right Mitch, and I guess your mom will come around and have a change of heart? I'm sorry but that’s doubtful, the woman hates me and
I didn’t realize how hard it would be to resume our relationship knowing that.

I just figured I’d get over it and move on, but I see what it’s doing to you and I don’t like. I can’t help but feel that I'm the cause of it all. I just want everything to go
back to the way it was. But I guess that would be too much to ask now wouldn’t it?” She said sarcastically, speaking to everyone at the table.

“Danielle you’re right, things can’t go back to the way they were because so much has happened. Sweetheart might
I remind you that you were kidnapped for god sake. Not only that but you were bound, beaten, had to fight for your life after watching the man that you love get stabbed. So again you’re right, things will never be the same.

All you can do now is move for
ward and stop worrying about what his family thinks of you because at the end of the day it’s Mitch who you love and want to be with, not his family Danielle. There I said it. No offense Mitch, but that’s how I feel,” Shayla said, unremorseful of her comment.

“None taken Shayla, and you’re absolutely right,” said Mitch.

“Look Danielle, I won’t pressure you but the offer still stands, and you know that.”

“Thank you, now can we please change the subject?” Danielle asked. “Poor Jason has been sitting here bei
ng very quiet and feeling left out,” Danielle joked. “So come on guys, catch us up on all your wedding planning.”

Danielle only had to mention the word wedding and before long both Shayla and Jason were telling them about the many theme ideas and all of th
e ins and outs of planning one’s own wedding. 

“I am sure whatever you decide it will be beautiful Shay, and forgive me for not tending to my bridesmaid duties like I should,” Danielle apologized.

Although she had spent her time recovering at Shay and Jason’s, Shay didn’t want to bombard Danielle with a list of maid of honor obligations, she wanted to wait until she was healed to do that.

“No worries, Danielle, I was waiting for you to bring it up though and since you did, I just happen to have a very nea
tly organized list for you,” she said while taking out her cell phone. “And it’s on its way to your email as we speak.” She giggled.

Danielle couldn’t help but laugh. “No problem Shay, it’s the least that I can do, especially after all you guys have done f
or me so whatever is on this list, consider it done.”

“Ah, there’s the Danielle I’ve been waiting for, she’s finally back!” Shayla said and hugged her friend.

The two sat in the driveway in front of Danielle’s cottage, they had just finished having a heavy make out session and Danielle was trying to decide whether or not she should spend the night at Mitch’s place, it was the weekend and although she liked her new cottage very much, she liked Mitch’s place a little bit better. 

“Is there anything I can do
to convince you to spend the weekend with me Danielle?” Mitch asked. “Or shall I stay here with you? I don’t care either way, just as long as we’re together,” he said as he kissed her and ran his hand seductively along her leg. That was all it took, Danielle instantly agreed to spend the weekend at his place.

“Just let me go in and pack a bag and get Samson,” she said and got out of the truck.

“I’ll help,” Mitch said as he joined her.

As the two made their way up the
walkway, Danielle noticed a manila envelope leaning against her front door. “What the hell is that?” Danielle questioned as she picked up the envelope. Seeing no return address on it she immediately got the feeling that something was wrong.

“Let me open i
t Danielle,” Mitch said, rather firmly.

“Mitch I don’t know if you should, I mean maybe we should call Mike first, have him open it,” she said fearful of what was inside.

“We’ll call Mike just as soon as I find out what’s inside Danielle, don’t worry it’s alright,” he said, confident in his decision.

“And let’s get inside; I don’t like us standing out here. It makes me feel like we’re sitting ducks Mitch.”

Once they got inside, both Danielle and Mitch noticed that Samson had been sitting directly by the front door. “He must have sensed someone by the door,” Mitch said. “So obviously at some point while we were out, someone came and put this at my door Mitch.”  A cold chill crept over her and she sat down on the couch. 

After Mitch unsealed the envelope and
withdrew its contents, Danielle got a horrible feeling in the pit of her stomach. There in front of her were several black and white photos of Ethan, Ethan sitting in his car, sitting in what looked to be a restaurant and one of him in a bar. There were also photos of him standing in front of a lake, and in the back drop was Mitch’s cabin. And the last item that was in the envelope was the entire news article about what had happened there on July fifteenth.

Danielle felt sick to her stomach, and while Mit
ch stood speechless staring at the photos, she made a call to Mike, went to the bar and poured them each a stiff drink.