Chapter 9, Michelle's doubts
Michelle felt the desperation in his kiss but she took as much as she gave. She needed to know that he was o.k. That he still loved her.
After a minute, they parted but still held on tight to each other.
"Antonio!" The two did part as his mother came running in and held onto him. Next thing Tony knew, he was surrounded by his family.
Michelle watched them all and felt the tears come to her eyes. She looked at his family and remembered how they had treated her, what she had lost because they didn't like her. Because she wasn't Latino.
And she didn't know if she could go through it again. As much as Michelle loved Tony—she couldn't take it anymore. She couldn't.
Jack noticed Michelle leave and followed her. "Michelle?" When she stopped, he asked, "Where do you think you're going?"
"I can't do it Jack. I can't."
"Can't do what?"
"Tony's family. They hate me. They've always hated me. It got worse after he was sent to jail. And when he came back, I can't tell you how they made me feel, what they did to me. I love Tony, Jack. You know I do. But I won't ask him to choose between his family and me. And they're never going to welcome me. I can't do it. I can't."
"Come on Michelle. It's because of you that Tony's alive. That his name has been cleared. They have to see that."
"You don't understand Jack." Michelle's eyes filled with tears. "I can't have children anymore and it's because of them. It's because of them."
"What are you talking about?"
"I was pregnant Jack. There were complications and I wound up in the hospital. I called and left messages on the machine for Tony. The doctors did too," Michelle couldn't stop herself. "We tried getting a hold of his family and they never returned phone calls or messages. At 1:33, the doctors got a hold of Tony's mom. She told them that I wasn't family. That I never was. At 2:17, I lost the baby. At 7:21, I was told that I could never have children again."
"Michelle," Jack held onto her and let her cry.
"I can't do it again Jack, I can't."
"Sssh..," he tried to soothe her.
It was then that Tony came out. "What's going on?"
Michelle was too upset to hear him so Jack motioned for Tony to take his place. Michelle didn't even notice that Jack had handed her over to Tony until she felt Tony's hands in her hair. Michelle took a step back and looked into her eyes. "When-?"
"About five minutes ago. What's going on Michelle? Why'd you leave?"
Michelle could see the pain in his eyes and not being able to take it, she grabbed him and pulled him in for a kiss. Tony let her grab him and use him just as she had let him use her before.
"I love you," he whispered. It was then that Michelle stopped and stared at him. "I love you Michelle," he said again. "I never stopped loving you."
More tears started falling down Michelle's face. "Tony-,"
"What is it Michelle? Why were you sobbing in Jack's arms?" Michelle started crying all over again. "Hey, 'Chelle, it's alright. I'm here. I'm alive. We still love each other. We can be together again," Tony tried to soothe her.