Chapter 80- Unexpected Party Guest
Sam and Diane sat in the interrogation room with Danny.
"Danny, you need to tell us, where were you today?" Diane asked.
"Nowhere."
Diane threw her hands up. "We can't help you if you don't tell us. At this point, you don't have an alibi and Kristina stated you were at your grandmother's house just before it caught fire."
Sam reached for his hand. "Danny, it's okay, this is a safe place. You can tell me anything. I know you didn't do this. But if you talk to us then not only will it help you, it'll help Grandma too."
Danny looked at his mom. "I was at Grandma's in the morning."
"Okay," Diane said. "And you skipped school to go see your grandmother?"
Danny shrugged.
"What happened during your visit with Grandma?" Sam asked.
"We just talked," Danny said. "She wasn't happy that I skipped school and said she'd be telling you, Mom."
"Anything else?" Diane asked.
"She got me hot chocolate and cookies from the kitchen. Then we just talked about school and Scout and Mom. Then she told me I should consider law school in the future and got in talking about torts."
Sam sniggered. "Of course she did."
"Did you see or hear anything while you were there?" Diane asked. "Was anyone else there?"
"No," Danny said. "I didn't notice anything."
"Were you there when the fire started?" Sam asked.
"No. I didn't know about the fire until I reached Grandma Monica's. Rocco texted me to go there."
"And what were you doing before you went to the Quartermaine's?" Diane asked.
Danny pursed his lips. "Nothing."
"Nothing?" Sam asked. "You were obviously doing something."
"Did you really skip school just to visit Alexis?" Diane asked. "Or is there another reason?"
"I just wanted to see Grandma."
Sam sighed. "I know you love Grandma, but you wouldn't skip school just for an everyday visit with her. What were you doing when you left Grandma's?"
"Fine… I—I was with Jake."
"Now we're getting somewhere," Diane said. "What were you doing with Jake?"
"Just… hanging out," Danny said.
Sam raised an eyebrow. "Hanging out?"
Danny nodded.
"Where were you hanging out?" Diane asked.
"Um… the park. Rice Park."
"All right, so Jake is your alibi," Diane said. "We'll need to speak with him. A few more questions, Danny. Were you in your grandmother's basement during your visit with her?"
"No. Just the living room. She got the hot chocolate and the cookies and brought it out to me."
"Did you pick up a candle while you were there?" Diane asked.
"A candle?" Danny asked. "No."
Diane pulled a picture of the candle from an envelope and showed it to him. "Did you see this candle while you were there?"
Danny's mouth dropped slightly. "That's the candle I gave Stephanie before Mom told me we're sort of related."
Sam swallowed hard. "I need to pay Shelly and Stephanie a visit."
GHGHGH
Willow went back to Wiley's room after she got off her 12-hour shift. She pulled a chair up to Wiley's side and reached for his hand.
"Hi sweet boy."
Wiley pulled his hand away and began crying. "I wann Dah-ee."
Willow frowned. "What's wrong, Wiley?"
"I wann Dah-ee. Dah-ee!"
"It's okay, I will call him." Willow touched his cheek and pulled out her phone.
"Willow?" Michael answered.
"Hi Michael. I'm here with Wiley and he's asking for you. He's really upset."
"What? Why?"
"I don't know," Willow said.
"Okay, I'll get there as soon as I can, but I'll have to pack up Amelia and take her to the main house."
"Maybe you can try talking to him?" Willow suggested.
"Oh, good idea."
"Wiley, do you want to talk to Daddy?" Willow tried handing him the phone.
Wiley reached out but his hand missed the phone.
"It's okay, baby, here I'll hold it up for you." She held the phone to his ear.
"Hey, buddy, what's wrong?" Michael asked.
"Muh-ee not muh real Muh-ee."
Willow's heart sank. "What?"
"What?" Michael asked. "Buddy, that's not true. Of course, Mommy's your mommy. Why do you say that?"
"Wady said she my real Muh-ee."
Willow's eyes welled with tears.
"Nelle…" Michael muttered under his breath. "Listen to me, bud. Your real mommy is who takes care of you, who reads to you, feeds you, and stays up with you when you have bad dreams. That's who your real mommy is. Your real mommy is with you right now and she loves you."
"Really?" Wiley asked.
"Yes, really," Michael said. "That lady was wrong."
Wiley held his arms out to Willow. "Muh-ee."
Willow wrapped her arms around him.
GHGHGH
After Cameron, Cody, Sasha, Maxie, Spinelli, and the kids arrived, Felicia and Mac set the Chinese food out on the table for a smorgasbord. Bailey Lou sat on the floor with Ace and built blocks with him.
"Thank you for testifying on my behalf," Esme said, sitting next to Cameron.
He smiled. "No problem. Though I think Trina and my grandmother's testimonies really helped the most, since no one expected them to go against Spencer. And of course that video footage."
Felicia walked over and placed her hand on Maxie's shoulder. "And Maxie's was excellent. I was so proud of you for what you said about your sister."
Esme bit her lip. "Yeah… thanks, Maxie."
"Well, I just told the truth," Maxie said.
"I wish I could've been there," Georgie Sr. said from where she sat beside Maxie. "I would've given you a good testimony too, Esme."
"And you're getting stronger every day," Felicia said. "You'll be able to do those things before you know it. Although, I hope one of those things isn't court. I think we've had enough of that."
"All right, dinner's served," Mac said. "Buffet-style tonight."
Everyone except Georgie Sr. rose to the table. But as they started filling their plates, there was a knock on the door.
"I wonder who that could be. I'll get it." Felicia headed to the door but clenched her jaw when she found Nelle standing there with a bottle of wine.
"Good evening, Felicia," Nelle said. "I'm here to celebrate Esme and Ace's win."
"Except you weren't invited." Felicia started to close the door. "As Lucy would say, tah!"
"Wait!" Esme went over. "I invited her."
"You did?" Felicia asked.
"Yeah," Esme said. "She called me earlier and you said I can invite my friends. And since she did so much to help me, I thought she should help us celebrate."
Nelle nodded. "Except we're not just friends. We're family." She wrapped her arm around Esme and walked with her over to the table. She smirked back at Felicia when Esme wasn't looking.
