Sitting at the island in the kitchen Karen watched as Danny meticulously chopped onions and peppers for the shish kebab skewers. He resembled an Iron Chef contestant furiously making sure each one was portioned equally. Then throwing them into a light garlic glaze to marinate he rushed over to the stove lifting the lid to a pot of red potatoes checking them to see if they were done as clouds of steam rose around his head.
"Danny it smells heavenly in here" Karen sighed as she walked around the island to inspect everything. Two oval Platters of vegetables,pita chips, nuts and seeds were artfully arranged in circles around artichoke, brie and hummus spreads. Another housed a rounded sliced cheese block surrounded by dried meat, grapes and olives. A carved watermelon fruit basket laid on the counter wrapped and thawing along with a Hand tossed Greek Salad as appetizers for the guests to eat as they arrived.
Danny, in a zone absentmindedly nodded acknowledgement before throwing himself back into the prep work. "So what do you want me to do" Karen said as the feeling of ineptness overwhelmed her. "Umm yeah" he said tasting the dip he made earlier " Everyone will be here in about 1 hour so You ..hmm..you can get ready and look pretty as always" he added to flatter her but mostly to get her out of his way. "Fine Danny, but I know you just want to get me out of your hair" she said laughing about his mildly surprised expression as she walked towards the stairs...
30 minutes later she was back downstairs in the kitchen dressed in a conservative knee length yellow dress and close toed white heels. From the kitchen window she could see Danny outside in front of the grill basting the steaks with their own juices. She was just about to join him when the doorbell rang . At the door Jo stood wearing an off the shoulder American flag jersey and white short shorts in front of Kyle dressed in his usual jeans, blazer and dockers. Tess standing Next to him dressed in a long white sundress holding a casserole dish of Macaroni Salad in her hands was the first to speak "Hey I know we're early but we wanted to help out if we could"
"That's fine, it's great in fact" Karen said leading them inside towards the yard "Danny's out back on the grill finishing up. Danny who was was walking into the house to get ready accidentally collided with Jo on his way in. "Hey" she said looking into his eyes." I need to talk to you Hey" he said simultaneously to Jo and her parents failing to hear her in his haste to get ready he added "Glad you all could come". I hate to be rude but I really have to get dressed""Mom can you take our guests outside" as he sprinted for the stairs
. "Alright Danny hurry" she said to his retreating form "We've only got about 20 minutes left till everyone starts showing up. Then throwing herself into hostess mode Karen began barking out orders. "Alright Tess would you mind helping me setup the table and chairs under the canopy" "Kyle would you mind putting up the citronella torches around the canopy, just try to sit them about 2 feet away from each post." Jo can you grab the flower arrangements, the runner and the candles off the kitchen counter...
About five minutes to Judy arrived with Samuel,Clara and one of her school mates. "I hope you don't mind"Judy said nodding her head towards Clara and Samuel when Karen opened the door They were in town to visit Lacey "Well Thank you all for coming" Karen said politely "but where is Lacey"
"Yeah where is she" Danny asked walking down the stairs disappointment etched all over his face. He was dressed to impress in a light blue short sleeved collared shirt a navy blue tie and a light grey vest with a white daisy and a folded piece of pink silk in the pocket. To emphasize his outfit his hair i was bound in a top knot under a black chefs hat and he wore a black waist apron that read "Kiss the Chef" over charcoal grey slacks and casual black shoes.
Briefly glancing at Samuel, Judy's face registered a very uncomfortable grin before she swallowed her distaste and said "She left earlier today". "She told us she'd meet us here later.
"Yeah she seemed very upset" Clara chimed in as Judy quickly nudged her. Samuel said nothing as he towered over Danny silently regarding him with an intense light in his eyes.
Suddenly feeling very nervous Danny became aware that besides Mrs. Porter he really hadn't had much recent interaction with Lacey's family since they had kept their relationship secret. He knew that they knew about the tape between him and Lacey and that they probably didn't think too well of him because of it.
He warily watched his future in laws he hoping that he could use the dinner to make a positive impression on them and in the process bring him and Lacey closer together.
"It's fine. "I'm sure she'll be along shortly"."Karen said as a bad feeling settled in her stomach "Danny why don't you take everyone out back so they can sample some appetizers until she gets here".
Ushering them inside Danny led the entire group to the back as Clara could be heard saying "So you cook too maybe my sisters smarter than I thought".
No sooner had Karen breathed out a very large sigh of relief than the doorbell rang and there standing in the doorway smiling were Lacey and Rico hand in hand...
Karen Desai had lived her entire life navigating danger. First protecting her own mother Gretchen who lived retired in Arizona from her now deceased hapless and violent German father who spent more energy looking for ways to blame her mother and Their 2 daughters for his gambling habit then he did trying to stop it.
She had navigated it with Vikram and his constant involvement with shady deals and risky associates. With his often caustic wit and violent verbal outbursts
She had navigated it with Tara and her malevolent spirit constantly trying to find ways to divide her and Vik or reasons to "Punish Danny". Karen thought of how many arguments to make her leave were met with Vikram's firm assertion that if she left he would leave because she was Dannunt and wouldn't hurt him despite mounting evidence to the contrary culminating in Danny taking her life that fateful day.
Karen had navigated the dangers of the legal system using Vikram's old political and business associates to make sure Danny got as little time as possible for killing that wretched bitch who had caused her son so much pain and using her body and charm to make sure that he was as safe as he could be behind walls with people that she couldn't physically protect him from.
But standing at that door watching Lacey for once Karen was at a loss as to how she was going to navigate this Danger that could quite possibly be one of the most devastating events to happen to her son. Danny did not love or lose easily and here in the doorway was the one of the few people left who had the power to make him do both smiling as if she didn't know the perfect storm she was creating.
Karen loved Lacey like the daughter she never had but for a brief moment she contemplated murdering her right there on the doorstep.
"Lacey you look amazing" Karen said as she mentally tried to figure out what to do next.
Lace had decided to come there to dazzle in a white romper that stopped mid thigh with white wedges and a white jacket. She pulled her hair into a high chic bun and a swooped bang completed by long pendant earrings.
"This is Rico Aunt Karen". She said pointing to her boyishly handsome companion.
"Well Rico its nice to meet you but... would you please excuse us for a moment". She turned to Lacey "Lacey is it okay if I have a word with...
"Hey Lacey what's going on" Danny said as he walked into the room his eyes turning a dangerous shade of black as he approached them
"Its Lace Danny" she said staring back at him defiantly her eyes darkening along with his.
Placing himself in front of Rico, Danny said in a voice deeper than any he thought he possessed as he clenched and unclenched his hands at his side
"I don't give a damn what it is". "You tell Rico he'd better get his hands off my girl or I will break them until they never feel anything again...
Karen watched Danny approaching Rico with mounting dread as an inappropriate thought occurred to her that there was no way she was going to be able to clean up all the blood by the time the paramedics arrived. She was moving to intervene when to the surprise and shock of all standing there Rico began threatening Danny back.
"Or what man you're going to get me out of the way just like you did to Archie. You think it's that easy. That you just chase everyone away until she has no one and then, you get the girl". "Except which girl is it this time"?
You think you can have It all don't you" he continued incensed moving closer to Danny as Danny began to falter staring at Rico as if he had never seen him before. "Lace AND Jo fawning over you while you selfishly play both of them against each other just so you can have somebody to fall back on".
"You really think you're the only one who sees how amazing Lace is, that a girl like her can't find someone who would love and appreciate her" he paused briefly to gaze adoringly at Lace and added "or that she hasn't already". "Shes not a doormat or some trophy to win and If you can't see that then you don't deserve her".
Rico stopped for a moment and began looking at Danny as if he was finally seeing him for the first time. "You probably do think that". He said eyeing Danny contemptuously "Don't you"?
"And you know what man it's a free country and you can think whatever you want to". "But If you think that these asinine attempts at staking your claim on Lace will work on me your deluded". "So you can break my hands or my face or whatever and you can keep coming at me every day non stop, but I won't back down because I'll be here until SHE says she doesn't want me to be". "Got it".
Calming down Rico realized where he was and became thoroughly embarrassed. He turned to Karen apologizing. "I'm so sorry Mrs. Desai for disrespecting your lovely home and for being rude when you've allowed me to come to your party". "I think I'll just leave"... he said and turned around walking towards the door.
Lace looking at Danny her eyes filled with equal parts of rage and disgust grabbed Rico whispering something in his ear as she reached into her bag to grab her car keys turned to walk out with him.
Danny watched her walk away clearly becoming distressed as he sighed and visibly crumbled within himself humbled and defeated...
Karen was intently watching the trio paying special attention to Danny's reaction and comparing it to the many moods she had seen him display which usually ranged from anger and annoyance, to pensive reflection or depression and very rarely given the circumstances of his life Danny would allow himself to just be happy.
Assessing him now what he was feeling looked like fear. A mounting panic was present in his eyes as he stood staring at Lacey and Karen had never seen Danny fear anything however in his present state Karen had been able to glean two things about Danny since this morning. One Lacey was the only person Danny would allow to make him happy and two she was the only one who had the ability to make him scared. She continued to watch and waited to see how this would all pan out as she mentally tucked this new found knowledge away for future reference...
From Danny's viewpoint all he could see was his opportunity to impress upon Lacey how much he loved her slipping away. Rico was right about some things. He knew that anyone could see that Lacey was amazing. That was the reason he was so possessive of her in the first place. The reason that he knew when he came back to Green Grove that he had to be with her and make her his no matter who was in the way.
But Rico was completely wrong about other rest of it. Danny had never tried to play the girls against each other always secure in his heart that his love for Lacey and his love for Jo were entirely different. What was making him so scared at this particular moment was that ever since they were kids him and Lacey had always been like two sides to the same coin. Their shared tragedies and hardships in life had created a bond where they could talk always about things with each other that they couldn't share with Jo and he faulted himself because he should have known that something wasn't right the moment he saw her. Hell he should have known it the moment he saw her father there at his doorstep but he was so distraught seeing her with Rico that Danny in a new found state of insecurity charged in, oblivious to all the signs, as his jealousy blinded him.
He suspected now that she was trying to push him away and he needed to know why after the connection they had shared last night, but now was not the time or the place to sort it out. He would find a way to get her alone and get through to her and until then he would trust in her and his love for her and maybe just this once he would trust in the Universe. It had shown him these past few days that there wasn't time for doubt only for faith.
Falling back against the nearest wall Danny leaned heavily into it as he bowed his head and ran his hands through his hair making a judgment call. "You know what Rico you're right". Danny said to his back as he froze in place. He and Lacey turned around and Danny looked up at them to signal that he was backing down from the fight. "What I said to you was completely uncalled for. I just...I lost it please don't feel like you need to leave I want you to stay and enjoy yourself".
Then walking over to stand in front of Lace he held her free hand and looking into her eyes he willed them to see his unspoken intentions. "And Lace" he said in a mellow voice that softly emphasized the sound of her name as he uttered it ."I'm sorry okay I just really wanted to see you". "I know I can be an ass at times and I guess I forget myself around you"Then taking the flower out of his vest pocket with his free hand he placed it in her palm and tenderly closed her hand around it "Do you forgive me"?
She looked conflicted but a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth and she relented nodding.
"Truce" he said straightening out his arm and clasping her hand still in his grasp as a half smirk half smile formed on his face.
"Truce" she agreed extending her arm and shaking his hand. Then suddenly Danny, using their connected arms pulled her towards him gathering her tightly into a hug. When they separated their eyes instantly met and the tension from the heat of their gaze was palpable.
Lace pulled away first then placing the flower in her hair she nervously began smoothing out her clothing. Rico cleared his throat and quickly looped his arm through hers staring resolutely at Danny.
"Sooo".Danny said seemingly back to his old self as he also looped his arm through Laces "Let's join everyone outside". "We have ice cream and I got you Gummi bears to top it with" and with that he led Lace and Rico to the backyard.
Karen followed behind the teens silently giddy at her sons blatant use of the Desai charm. Danny wasn't going to give up and Poor Rico and Lacey were going to learn if they hadn't already that they didn't even stand a chance...