Yes, in the beginning of the Manny storyline, Jesse was a factor in their relationship, but as time has passed, he has become an afterthought. It took an extreme situation and his actual presence to even remind Michelle that she loves the guy. When it has been just her and Danny, Jesse has not even crossed her mind -- definitely not an indication that Jesse Blue is the love of her life (as she once naively claimed.) In fact, I would say, her biggest connection to him is not Jesse himself or the love that they shared, but instead is her mother's heart which now beats inside of him. And her growing feelings for Danny are already beginning to overpower that pull.

As for Drew, although I haven't seen Danny and Drew's, oh, let's call it a plot twist, I do believe that it is safe to surmise (based on Tammy Blanchard's comments in the "Soap Opera Weekly" and the relationships of all involved) that this event will be nothing more than a one-night stand. While admittedly, Drew thinks that Danny is attractive (she's not blind after all), she is not attracted to him. If she were, we would have seen some sign of it before now.

Likewise, Danny hasn't exactly been hot-to-trot for Drew either. In fact, when he first came to town, he rebuffed her manipulated advances (she was trying to get him off their -- Drew, Jesse, Michelle and Bill's -- trail about Mick's murder.) and showed an interest only in Michelle. The simple truth of the matter is that Drew loves Jesse (why? I have no clue. To each their own.) and Danny loves Michelle. The "plot twist" between the two is just that . . . a plot twist.

The actual third figure in the triangle is mama Santos. She loves Danny. Danny loves her. Danny also loves Michelle who is starting to fall for him. Meanwhile, Michelle hates Carmen and vice versa. So here we have the basics of a true triangle -- two people (in this case, Michelle and Carmen) fighting over the affections of one person (Danny). Now honestly, does anybody really think that Danny considered Jesse a threat? Of course not. However, Carmen truly does see Michelle as one ... and she is.

Based on conversations between mother and son, it is perfectly clear that Danny was and is "mama's boy." He is her baby (I think this will continue, despite the soon-to-be-seen younger sister) and, again based on previous comments, we know that Carmen has never had a rival for her son's affections and devotion.

Danny was a ladies' man with probably a different woman on his arm every week -- no threat to the allegiance he showed Carmen. And then along comes Michelle and suddenly, Danny is putting another woman before mama. Now, he is cold and sharp to her, and he threatens to leave her if she doesn't accord "his wife" the proper respect.

On Monday, March 8th's episode, after Danny said, "you don't run me. You got that? When are you gonna get that through that head of yours?," Carmen cried out that he'd never spoke to her like that before she came into his life. And the hurt in her voice and on her face was evident, as was the obvious relief and contentment when he admitted that he had set a trap for Michelle as Carmen had suggested. It was during this scene that I realized that Carmen's animosity towards Michelle ran deeper than vengeance for Mick's death. She wants Michelle out of Danny's life simply because Danny loves her.

And now we've come to an interesting point, anyone who reads spoilers knows that it is Michelle's betrayal that drives Danny away, sets up the "plot twist" and leads to Danny's 'deadly decision.' While Michelle truly did betray him, the knowledge of that betrayal is in fact false and planted by Carmen herself. Like in any true triangle, one member always plays dirty and this is Carmen's role. Nothing Jesse did and I doubt that anything Drew does (even the "plot twist") will drive a wedge between Danny and Michelle the way Carmen's machinations will.

Now, once Danny and Michelle have found their way back to each other (and they will), it will be interesting to see what lengths Carmen will go to to separate them -- interesting provided that true love wins out in the end of course ... and if Carmen is still in the picture (and I believe she will be.) I doubt that Carmen will ever truly accept Michelle and once Michelle begins to admit and act upon her true feelings for Danny, she will fight back.

I can only hope that TPTB follow through on the promise of the rapier-sharp points of this triangle because it will be quite a ride. Of course, this all depends on whether I am even remotely correct in any of my assumptions and predictions.

Jennifer H.