That afternoon they couldn't go anywhere else, by the time the couples said goodbye it was late, the next day the children had to go back to school and Daniel to work. Harry had been in charge of making them wander around so as not to lose sight of them. And his brother just let things happen, it gave him more perspective on the attitudes and intentions he really had.
At first Daniel found the relationship his brother had with his friend strange, they were too close, they shared a language that only they understood. But Deanna didn't seem to have any particular interest in Harry, on the contrary, she treated him like a younger brother, even though they were the same age. At some point he had heard one of the many rumors that went around that Deanna and Harry had once been more than friends.
But if Harry had feelings for her, why had he been so insistent that they get married? There were things that didn't add up, but Daniel was determined to try to turn the charade into something real. After many years he was once again feeling his insides stirring, that there was something more than just the job, that there was another kind of woman; one who didn't care about his money, or his status or his name.
Susan had stopped by his office that morning, Camila's birthday was coming up and she wanted to talk to Daniel about it. They were chatting when Harry walked in, totally flustered.
- What did you do to Deanna?! - Daniel stood up and Susan froze.
- I didn't do anything to her, what are you talking about? -
- You're a scoundrel, how could you? She's too young for you, you have no scruples -
- What's going on here? - Susan asked.
- Your brother seduced her! -
- Are you out of your mind? Nothing happened between us that she didn't want to -
- You slept with her?! -
- Harry! -
- It's none of your business! -
- Of course it's my business! You're a bastard, I'd heard rumors that you were running around with every woman that came your way, but NOT Deanna! -
- How dare you, you little brat! I've been respecting Emily's memory for years. Who do you think you are to point the finger at me? -
- Calm down, both of you! -
Harry was enraged and Daniel was beginning to find it hard to keep still in the face of such an outrage. Yes, he had dated women, but not all of them as they said; and always respectful of the ladies' wishes. He would never behave like a scoundrel in spite of the way he was.
- Why don't you say what really bothers you, confess it! But keep in mind that I won't take a single step backwards with Deanna. It was you who put her in my way! -
- What's going on?! - Susan was getting more and more nervous.
-What's going on, Susan, is that we want to try a real relationship with Deanna. I never forced her into anything! But here, your little brother, he's in love with her even though he got another woman pregnant -
The truth hit Harry square in the face, Daniel had realized. Now that he was in evidence in front of his siblings there was no point pretending it was just a friendship for him.
Harry was already dating Laura when he met her at the University and as soon as he saw her he fell in love with her in a second. When he got to know her better he was sure he could live for her, a feeling he had never felt for Laura. He had tried to get close to her so many times, but he was always treated like a younger brother, like a friend. He just needed the slightest sign that she saw him that way too, that she shared the same feeling.
At first Laura didn't like his closeness and the pretexts he always gave to meet her or go out with her. But when she was sure that for Deanna he was nothing more than a friend, she calmed down. The way she treated him was not as if he were a man, there was camaraderie, friendship and no other intention.
- What are you saying, Daniel? Harry is in love with his wife, he always has been -
- Why did you have to look at her, Daniel? There are so many women out there trying to be with you, why Deanna? -
- You put her in my face, you begged me to marry her. What do you suppose? Let me guess: Deanna, a younger woman, with a character totally opposite to mine, warm in every way. How could I notice her, right? Worse yet, how would she notice me at my age, a widower with three kids? It was a safe bet -
- Of course it was! Do you know what it's like to want to reach out and not be able to? When Laura told me she was pregnant I almost died, all the illusions I had with Deanna went down the drain. My son comes first-
- Harry, for God's sake, brother... -Susan was surprised and sad at the same time.
- But you were still single and there's that stupid "rule". We had to act fast. I had to think about my son, but I couldn't get her out of my head. It was the end of everything. If she married you, there was no chance of anything happening between the two of you and at least I could see her often for a while. You had 15 more years ahead of her! She had never looked at men like you -
- You're a coward - Daniel told him.
- But you couldn't stand still! You had to mess with her! What is it? Some kind of whim, some kind of crisis? What?! -
- Don't you dare question me if you couldn't stand up for how you feel about her. You got Laura pregnant and you come here to point fingers at me when you weren't able to behave like a real man! -
- She's going to leave you like she left me! With nothing...
-I won't let that happen. I'm not afraid of what I feel and I have plenty of courage to reclaim her to anyone, even to you -
- What did you do to her?! -
- Nothing! I told her we should start the divorce and she stood up and told me she didn't want to. She came to this very office looking for me insisting that she didn't want us to separate. You saw her that day too. We decided together to give it a try, do you think I would force her to do anything? do you think she would let me? -
- Harry, please, stop it. You're a married man now and you're expecting a child, how can you doubt Daniel like that? -
- I know, Susan, I know. Yesterday... yesterday I lost what little sanity I had left. I couldn't believe my eyes. I can't believe that Deanna has feelings for him -
- Why not? If she never had feelings for you, it must be because you weren't man enough for her -
- Daniel! -
- If you lay a finger on her I'll kill you! -
- I want to see you try! I want to hear what excuses you'll give your pregnant wife! You started this as a stupid game and I'll finish it with her by my side. You'd better forget her because she'll become my real wife. -
Harry left as he came in, in a fit of rage, but totally defeated. He knew all that Daniel had told him, he knew; he saw her flirting with him, he saw her smiling at him, he saw her holding his hand. He didn't want to believe it, he refused, it couldn't be. Deanna wasn't meant for his brother, she was meant for the stage, for singing, how could she feel anything else for someone like Daniel? They were going to be the perfect match for this charade because they would repel each other, they wouldn't be attracted to each other.
He couldn't undo what was done, he couldn't tell Laura. He couldn't tell Deanna. Maybe Daniel was right and he was a coward, he waited so long for a sign from her and all he got was a positive pregnancy test. There was no point in regretting it now, but that wouldn't quench the anger in his heart; that empty feeling that was overtaking him. He would have to suck it up and see them together forever, resign himself to a marriage that didn't consume him like the thought of Deanna did. His son was the only thing that kept him grounded: he had given the woman he loved to his brother so he could hold him in his arms.