Ricky's Visit

'Miss. Ford, Don't forget to check the news tomorrow. You might find it enlightening given how delusional you are.' Michelle grew apprehensive when she read Dwane's message. 

She asked Mark to check on everyone. 

"Everyone is fine." Mark assured her. 

Dwane had managed to get on her nerves by repeating Alec words and bringing up her miscarriage.

 She continued to think about it for the rest of the day. 

'Did Alec really say something like that? I hope it's a lie Dwane made up.' no matter what she said to herself, she couldn't manage to get over it. 

The next morning, the first thing Michelle did was to see the newspaper. 

'BROTHERS REUNITE' The words were written in huge bold finds followed by a picture with Dwane and Alec hugging. 

The news articles spoke about their long friendship and speculations of divorce between Michelle and Alec. 

She crumbled the newspaper between her hands with rage and threw it away as far as she could. 

The news had reached everyone including Alec and Ricky. 

Everything that happened in the past few days only intensified Alec's guilt towards Michelle, he still couldn't bring himself to face her. 

Fortunately, at least for Ricky that wasn't the case.

 It had been a long time since Ricky had a chat with Michelle. 

Given that Dwane was acting to create differences  between the couple, Ricky decided to act in the other direction. 

Later that evening,

At Ford's Villa, 

"Someone named Ricky is here to see you." Alma informed Michelle. 

"Have him wait at the guest seating room. I'll be there in a minute." 

"Yesterday Dwane, today you, should I be expecting Alec tomorrow." Michelle said as she entered and took her seat. 

The atmosphere between them was cordial unlike yesterday. 

"How are you doing Mish?" Ricky asked. 

"Fine." Ricky did sense her being distant.

He stood up, 

"Can you get up?" He asked awkwardly. 

Michelle scrunched her face in confusion, 

"why?" 

"Just get up, please." 

"Okay" she awkwardly smiled and got up. 

The very next moment, Ricky wrapped her arms around her and enveloped her into a warm embrace.

 "I'm sorry about What happened to you." He said in a muffled voice. 

His warmth melted the ice walls she had erected around her. Allowing her to express her vulnerabilities. 

"You managed to do what Dwane couldn't do no matter how hard he tried." She said as she undid the hug. 

"What?" 

"Make me cry." 

Ricky cupped her face and wiped her tears.

Michelle sat beside Ricky and  they angled their bodies to face each other. 

"About the news, it's fabricated." Ricky tried to clear the facts. 

"I figured. But it still…it affects me." Michelle straightened her lips. 

"How's Alec?" 

"Miserable. You two really need to get back together." Ricky exclaimed. 

Michelle's face fell, "He hasn't called me yet, he still despises me because I lied." 

"I wanted to tell him but.. I couldn't.." she was getting emotional. 

"I stopped you." Ricky tried to make her feel less guilty.

 "I asked you not to reveal your secret." 

"What?" Michelle was confused but it didn't take a long while for her to place things together. 

"You are.. you are 'brother R'?" 

Ricky nodded.

"You knew and you didn't tell anyone, not even Alec. Why?" 

"I didn't trust Alec." Ricky replied with a straight face.

"You might not remember but we knew each other. Although it was years ago and for a short while, but there was no way I could let your life be at jeopardy." 

A smile appeared on Ricky's face when he remembered the past. 

"You were so little when you used to visit the Wilson's with your grandmother. Alec would always tease you and you'd come to me every time saying "Brother Richie, bad Al is being mean again." 

Ricky pulled her cheek as if she was still a little girl. 

"Richie?"

"Yeah that's what you called me back then. You should call me that now." He smiled and pulled her cheek again. 

"Sure"

Her face expressed both joy and sadness towards Ricky's action. 

"It's a pity that I don't remember anything." She sighed. 

"But please do tell me more." Michelle was eager to know the time she spent with them.

Ricky and Michelle continued to have a heart filled chat. They talked and laughed reminiscing about the past. 

"You must get back with Alec. How long do you plan to stay away?" Ricky's words brought her back to the real world. 

"Can I ask you something?" Michelle hesitantly said, her eyes reflected her pain. 

The sight of her made Ricky uncomfortable, however he nodded for her to continue.

" ' I'll Drag her by her Hair and Throw Her on your Feet.' Did Alec really say this?" 

Both of them dreaded the next moment.

 Ricky lowered his face, agreeing to her words. 

Michelle felt like her heart being ripped out in half when Ricky didn't deny it. 

"He didn't mean it Mish" he said in an attempt to defend Alec. 

"Why would he not mean it, he didn't know me. Of Course he meant it." She tried to not let Alec's words hurt her, but deep in it did. 

"Mish please… bringing up the past won't do any good for the both of you." 

Michelle nodded.

 Letting out a huge sigh she said, "I could really use a drink. It's been a long time since I stepped out. Mind  accompanying me?" 

Ricky slightly chucked, 

"Sure, anything for my little Mish." 

They both walked out of the room and headed towards the main door. 

Michelle saw Lyla sitting leisurely in the living room, "Mom, this is my friend Ricky. I'm going out with him. Will be back in a few hours." She casually said. 

Lyla got up from her seat and greeted Ricky and he greeted her back. 

"It's nice to meet you too Mrs. Ford.." 

"Let's go," Michelle interrupted their conversation.  

Lyla and Ricky still had their eyes fixed on each other,

 "Look after her, son." Lyla told Ricky before Michelle dragged him out.