After arguing with Deanna, Harry looked like he wanted to jump off the balcony. She came back alone, her eyes holding back tears, walked straight to Daniel and just by looking at him he understood.
-We'll come back tomorrow if we have to. Goodbye, Mom.
They left. Deanna was clearly upset and distressed and Daniel reconfirmed that her feelings for Harry were not the same as his brother felt.
- They'll both be fine, don't worry -
- I don't know what's in Harry's head... he seems like someone else -
- I don't know either - He lied to her.
- If this keeps up they'll be finished before the baby is born.
- There's not much we can do, Deanna, it's a problem they'll have to solve -
- I know... Foolish child! -
- You'd better hurry up and do your thing, Leonard. Things are getting out of control -
- I won't do "damage control" when you want me to, this has to be done right. I won't let her get away by rushing -
- They're more in love with each other every day, if you procrastinate you won't get anywhere -
- Stop worrying about it, in the end whether they are in love or not won't count for much. Anyway, I'm tired of seeing her hiding in the dark, I'll make my appearance soon.
Laura recovered, but did not return with Harry, her parents insisted that she stay with them so they could take better care of her. They had a rather unpleasant cross with Camilla and Charles over their son's behavior, they were willing to allow a divorce if necessary, to which Camilla reacted with a nervous breakdown. The only divorce she wanted to witness was Daniel's.
Leonard did show up, again creating a breach between them. He had the bouquet of tulips sent to Daniel's house, with a blatant note of congratulations and good wishes to Mrs. Crusher on her admission to the Amabassador Theater. So well did he calculate the timing that it arrived on a Sunday, the same Sunday that Daniel invited his parents and sister to lunch to attempt a rapprochement between Camilla and Deanna. They couldn't spend their lives as cat and dog.
Deanna's astonished face contrasted with Daniel's frozen gesture. The impassivity that hid anger, the calm before the storm.
- Again! - He shouted at the table, snatching the flowers out of her hand.
- "Again what? - she replied
- This again! Reed's confidence in you never ceases to amaze me! - And he threw the bouquet on the floor.
- I don't think it's a good idea to have this discussion again with your parents present! -
- Why is he sending you flowers?! -
- Go and ask him! -
- Shit Deanna! - He slapped the table with his open palm, making everyone jump a little out of their chairs.
- Calm down Daniel! - Charles snapped at him in a harsh tone.
He stopped, but didn't calm down. The mood changed from uncomfortable to unbearable in a matter of minutes. No one said anything, although Camila was biting her tongue to keep from saying her thoughts. She was becoming more and more sure of what she believed about Deanna.
They left quickly, without lingering over dessert. Daniel was being dragged away by the devil and he was impossible to stand. His dismissive attitudes and cutting words.
- I knew I was right - Camila told in the car.
- Don't start, Mom. That Reed has no scruples, he's a jerk - Susan was disgusted.
- He sends her flowers for a reason... -
- I don't want to hear anything about it, dear," Charles cut her off.
When the door closed Deanna went up the stairs.
- Where are you going? -
- Upstairs! I don't want to listen to you! - She said without looking at him.
Daniel hurried after her and intercepted her halfway up. He grabbed her arm tightly.
- Thank goodness my children aren't around to see another man send you flowers in my face! -
- Just as well they're not around to see you behave like an asshole! -
Daniel's eyes bugged out, only she dared speak to him that way. Deanna managed to break free and continued upstairs until she slammed the bedroom door on him. But for him, that argument was just beginning.
He opened the door with a bang, she was grabbing her purse.
- What are you doing?!
- I'm getting out! -
- Of course not! Do you think I'll let you leave so you can go and thank him for his gift?! -
Deanna exploded.
- I don't understand you Daniel! You set this whole thing up so we can get along better with Camilla! You say you don't want anyone to hurt me and you're the first one to do it! -
- I hurt you?! –
- How do you think I feel when you act like this?! You just confirm all the horrible things they say about me... It must be because you believe them too... -
- What am I supposed to think if the guy sends you stuff all the time?! -
- I don't know...
- Tell me! -
- I don't know! You can think whatever you want!... It's no point in loving you if I'm a slut to you! –
- I don't think that way about you... -
- Well, I think you do... We've already talked about it many times, Daniel. I can't control the actions of others!... You don't trust me, you never trust me... -
She picked up her bag again.
- Where are you going? -
- To my mother's... I can't stand it anymore, Daniel... You behave worse than a spoiled brat... -
- Don't go away...
- I don't want to be with you right now... -
That's what Susan meant when she told him it was 4 and not 3 children that Deanna was taking care of. He was having such a hard time controlling his outbursts of anger and jealousy that all he got was her leaving. She left him alone, again, in a house that was too big.
- And Deanna? - Naomi asked him when they returned from her maternal grandparents' house.
- It was her mother's... -
- When is she coming back? -
- I don't know...
The girl looked at her father, his face was not the same as when they had left that morning. She knew something had happened.
- Did Grandma treat Deanna badly again? -
- No. -
- Then you treated her badly - Ethan knew him, he knew that expression.
- Go upstairs and get your things ready for school... I'll be in my office -
The three of them stood in the middle of the room.
- Dad did something to her -
- Surely, Naomi -
- Do you think she'll come back? -
- Yes, Deanna will come back...
But she didn't come back that night. He waited for her until the wee hours of the morning, but she didn't come back. After each of his episodes came the regret, he let himself be carried away by emotions without thinking and then blamed himself. Deanna was right, it was he who hurt her more than anyone else.
The morning found him alone with his children having breakfast to start the week. The silence was heavy and spirits were low. Would she come back today? But in the afternoon she wasn't at home either. His children looked at him accusingly, especially little Jonathan who already missed her.
- When are you coming back?
He got no response to his message. How angry could she be to just ignore him?
-I'm sorry. Please come back.
No answer again. He called her and she didn't answer either. He was about to go get her himself.
-I don't know when I'll be back. I want to stay here for a while -
And that was it.
Days went by, but there was no sign of her. Daniel went from impatience to uneasiness and then to indignation. " May she not come back any more if she doesn't want to!" But deep down he was being won over by despair.