Dani was quiet the whole ride back to the hotel. 'She knows' was all that kept repeating in her head over and over as she sat in the seat watching the buildings pass by.
"You okay there firefly" Jay asked using his old childhood name for her. He didn't know what was wrong with his sister, but they had started to grow apart in the last few months, Dani avoiding him as much as possible.
"Yeah, just thinking. I'll be fine though Jay" she smiled at her brother as they drove. She didn't want to lie to him any more than necessary and although she didn't understand why John was so important to her that she would risk her relationship with Jay for him, somehow he was.
"So have you decided if you're gonna go to Florida with Adam and I to look for a place? Denise and Alannah really want to see you and you can stay with me for now" he asked, trying still to convince her. Maybe if they lived closer to each other he would find out what was wrong with her and their relationship would return to normal.
"Well, I called Mom today and asked her opinion and she agreed that it might be easier to stay here with you and Adam, so yeah I think I will" she replied knowing Jay would be thrilled. "I mean, if I'm not happy here I can always go back to Canada."
"That's great sweetie, we can start right away" Jay beamed. He didn't want to tell Dani but he had already set up with a realtor to go and check out houses as soon as they got to Florida. Dani wasn't paying attention anymore though. Her mind had shifted back to John and what would happen if Nora told Jay before she did.
"We have to tell him Dani" John sighed as Dani told him of the scene with Nora in the hallway. He didn't know what Nora would do with the information, but everyone had told him of the fights she and Dani used to have and that worried him.
"I can't John, I just can't. I love my brother so much, I can't hurt him like that. Jason and I don't lie to each other. I don't know what he would do if he found out I've been lying to him for the past four months, and I can't see anything happen to you" Dani replied almost in tears. This was the worst situation she had gotten herself into in a long time, if not ever.
"Don't worry babe, nothing's gonna happen to me. I'm just worried about you" he soothed rubbing small circles in her back. "But if you don't want to tell him yet we won't. Just know we can't keep it from him forever.
"I know. I promise, I'll think of something soon John, I just can't right now" she spoke nuzzling into his chest and quickly falling asleep.
"I love this" Dani practically squealed as she walked around one of the many houses Adam and Jay had taken her to that day. "Can I have it" she asked almost like a little girl in a toy store as she ran her hand over the marble counters. Jay and Adam, against Dani's arguments, would be paying a major amount of the house payment, knowing she couldn't afford the houses that were in their area yet so Dani felt they should have an opinion on the house.
"You can have which ever one you want doll. That's what we've been telling you all day" Jay laughed as Dani jumped into his arms and then Adam's, thanking them both.
"We should go for now though. It's getting late and the girls are waiting for us at the restaurant" Adam spoke, obvious irritation in his voice, a sudden change from the happy guy she had just been talking to. Dani made a mental note to talk to him about it soon. Everyone, Dani included had noticed the tension now when Adam and Alannah were in the same room and it worried Dani.
The whole way through dinner Dani joked and played with the girls, Alannah especially, trying to ease the atmosphere of the small group but to no avail. Adam hadn't spoken to her since they had arrived, but to his defense, she hadn't even looked up when he sat next to her. Dani didn't know what to do. She loved Adam like a brother and it hurt her to see this happening before her eyes. The last time she'd seen Alannah, the two had done nothing but talk about how their relationship was and Dani had the impression everything was perfect.
She had given up on cheering Alannah up and had started a conversation with Denise about wanting nieces and nephews soon when she saw Adam stand up from his chair suddenly and throw his napkin down on the table.
"This is bullshit Alannah. Can't even go to dinner with family without you acting like this. Sorry guys I gotta go" he stated before walking out of the restaurant leaving the rest of the table staring wide eyed from him to Alannah.
"Could this night get any fuckin worse" Dani sighed as she plopped down on the bed in the guest room of Jay and Denise's house, where she would be staying until the sale of her house was complete. She was just about to get into bed when her cellphone rang. Immediately thinking it was John calling to say goodnight she answered the phone, not looking at the Caller ID, but mentally cursing herself when she realized who it was. "What do you want" she demanded hearing Nora's all too cheery voice on the other end of the phone.
"Now Daniela, tut tut. Is that any way to treat an old friend? I was just calling to catch up and have a little chat. I thought it was time we talked about a few things. Well, one thing really. One tall, muscular, good looking thing" Nora smiled to herself as she could almost picture the face that Daniela was making over the phone.
"What does John have to do with us Nora. You leave him out of this" Dani started but was cut off by Nora's laughter.
"Oh he's got everything to do with this Daniela. You see, you and I have a past, that's true, and now you and John have a current....and I know big brother wouldn't approve. So I'm calling to work something out here so that a certain blonde someone never finds out."
"What do you want Nora" Dani asked, knowing that it was important that she keep her temper down at that moment.
"Nothing much. Really a simple thing actually. One night with John. That's all it takes to keep your little secret, secret. Oh and you have to stay there in the suite too so I know you're not up to something" Nora nearly giggles with anticipation. It had really irked her at first that the man she'd wanted for months now had already been taken by the one woman she couldn't stand, but after careful contemplation she began to see the light.
"Are you nuts? Hell no. That will never ever happen you stupid"
"Ah, ah, ah" Nora cut her off again. "the way I see it this is your only out Daniela so I'd advise you to take it. Talk it over with Johnny and I'll be in touch" Nora smirked and hung up the phone, leaving Dani listening to the dial tone and kicking herself again for getting into this mess.