"Good morning, Maria." Rose wheeled her way into the kitchen, following the scent of fresh baked cinnamon rolls.
"And a good morning to you too, Rose. Would you like some coffee?"
"I'd love a cup, thank you."
"I'll bring it over to the table." The housekeeper reached into the cupboard and removed a mug without looking at it. By the time she realized which one she had grabbed, she'd already added the cream and sugar. "Well, I guess Ronnie will have to use another mug."
"You gave me her favorite again, didn't you?" Rose asked with a smile. It was another one of Ronnie's little quirks. Her morning coffee was always served in a black mug with the words "The Boss" across it.
"I'm afraid I did. I'll dump it out and give you another one."
"No, don't bother. Ronnie can live without her Boss mug for one day." It actually amused Rose that with the dozens of mugs that filled the cupboard, her friend was so attached to that particular one.
"Now you know she likes her coffee in that cup," Maria admonished.
"It's good for her to change her routine from time to time," came the playful reply as she took the mug from the older woman.
"And what are you two up to?" Ronnie asked as she entered the room. She picked the newspaper up and glanced at the headline before she noticed. "Stealing my favorite mug?" She crossed behind the young woman and sat down in the chair next to her.
"Don't worry, I know who really is the boss around here," Rose replied as she took a sip.
"Sometimes I wonder," Ronnie joked back. "Think you'll try to send me an email today?"
"Yeah, you wrote down what to do, didn't you?"
"It's next to the computer." She looked up to see Maria coming over with her coffee. She looked at the mug quizzically. "Where'd this one come from?" It was a Far Side cartoon mug with two deer on it. One had a bright red bullseye on its chest. The caption underneath said 'Hell of a birthmark, Hal.' Ronnie chuckled and drank from it.
"See, change is good," Rose said over the lip of her mug. Maria brought their breakfast over along with a carafe of coffee.
"If you ladies will excuse me, I'm going to get started on the laundry."
"Okay, thanks Maria."
"Yeah, thanks."
Now alone, both women began to eat their breakfast. Ronnie had the fork in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Although she scanned the business section, the paper also had the added benefit of allowing her to peek over and study Rose unnoticed. The broken legs were hidden under the round table. With the reddish-blonde hair tucked behind the ears, Ronnie had an unobstructed view of the soft curve of Rose's cheek, the slight upturn at the end of her nose, the rust colored eyebrows that rested above far too green eyes. Suddenly those eyes turned and caught her. She ruffled the pages and looked down at the paper, hoping that the blush she felt wasn't too visible. "Um...I'm thinking about easing some of the workload off of Laura. I have some letters that need to be updated. It's not that hard to do but it is time consuming. You said you learned how to use the mail merge, didn't you?" Her eyes never left the newsprint, although she had no idea what the words on the paper were.
"Um hmm." Rose swallowed and set the cup down. "It was difficult at first but once I got the hang of it it's really pretty easy." Inside she was excited. Ronnie was giving her real work to do, not just examples and tests in the computer programs. Real work that needed to be done and she was being trusted with it. "I'll make sure it's done right away and I promise there'll be no mistakes."
Behind the paper, the executive smiled at the enthusiastic tone. "I'll email the files to you as soon as I get to work. I'm sure you'll have no problems with it." She set the business section of the paper down and poured herself another cup of coffee. "Well, let's see who the police picked up last night," Ronnie said as she picked up the local section. She flipped through the pages until she found the police blotter report listing all the people who were arrested or appeared in court. She spotted the name of an old high school friend under arrests for prostitution. "What?" She pulled the paper closer, knocking her coffee cup over in the process. "Damn." She stood up, the creamy yellow blouse now covered down the front with the wet beige of coffee. She undid the first few buttons, confirming that it had seeped onto her half slip as well. "Maria!" She turned to see the housekeeper come out of the laundry room. "Coffee."
"On silk," the housekeeper tsked. "Veronica Louise, I go through more Woolite with you." She shook her head, causing Rose to smirk while sopping up the coffee on the table. "Well, get out of those wet things." Ronnie turned to head out of the room. "Now there's no need to be modest right now. You're not going to run upstairs with coffee dripping off your blouse. There's enough of a mess to clean right here."
"Fine." In one quick move the blouse came off followed by the half slip. "It got the skirt too." A tug of the zipper and that followed the other wet clothes into Maria's hands.
With Ronnie's back to her, Rose let her eyes travel up and down the tall body clad in only pantyhose and a lacy creme colored bra. She concentrated but didn't feel the arousal that she had experienced the prior evening. All she did feel was guilty for staring at her friend's body. This is silly. It's just Ronnie. She averted her eyes when the half-clothed body turned around, looking up only when she heard the dark haired woman address her. "I'm going upstairs to change."
"Oh, you know what would look really nice on you? Those grey wool slacks and that pale blue blouse." Rose thought about the last time she had seen Ronnie wear that outfit and how it highlighted her eyes. "It looks really nice on you."
"The grey slacks, hmm?" Ronnie remembered how much Rose liked that particular combination. Goosebumps raised on her thighs. "I'd better go get changed before I freeze here."
The executive returned a few minutes later. She had to admit the wool pants were a much better idea than the skirt on this cold morning. "Okay, what do you think?" She asked, twirling around with the blazer folded over her arm.
"Looks great," Rose said. The slacks hugged in all the right places and the top outlined her soft curves nicely. "You look...nice."
"Thank you." Ronnie looked down into sparkling green eyes and smiled. "I'll email you those files once I get there." She fought the urge to give the young woman a peck on the cheek and settled instead for a squeeze of the shoulder. "I'd better get going before the traffic gets too bad."
"Oh, okay. I'll make sure to have that program up so I can get started as soon as it arrives."
"You don't have to rush, Rose. Whenever you get to them is fine." Privately it pleased her to no end to hear the eagerness in her friend's voice. Ronnie had no doubts when it came to Rose's work ethic. "I'll try and be home early." The housekeeper exited the laundry room with the mop and bucket in hand. "I'd better get going before Maria finds a new use for that mop."
"Sometimes," Maria said as she shook her head. Rose wheeled herself out of the way as the housekeeper began to clean up the mess. The bright blue Jeep disappeared from the driveway, leaving the two of them alone. The young woman decided it was time to get some answers.
"Maria, was it easy for you to learn to use email?"
"Lords no, child. When Ronnie first gave me that computer I was afraid to turn it on. I didn't know what it would do."
"But now you like it?"
"I talk to my son in Arizona every night." She pushed the dry mop over the last drops of the spill. "You should have seen my phone bills before that."
"I bet when Ronnie was away at college the phone bills were something." Great segue, Einstein. Why not just come right out and say let's talk about Stanford, she mentally berated herself. "I mean, she's just so close to her family and all."
"When the children were in college it certainly was a trying time around here." The housekeeper picked up the breakfast dishes and headed for the dishwasher. "Every day one of them was calling for something or another." She picked up the carafe and poured some of the steaming liquid into a cup for herself. "I swear I was down at the Post Office almost every day mailing something to one of them."
"Let's sit and talk for a while," Rose said, pointing at the empty seat. "There's not much that has to be done today and I have to wait for her to send me those files."
"Just for a little while. I do have vacuuming to do. Tabitha sheds more hair than any cat I've ever seen," Maria said as she refilled the young woman's cup. She sat down in the offered chair and took a sip of her own coffee. "They certainly were quite a handful then."
"I guess the independence that comes with being away from home must have been too much, huh?" She tucked a stray lock of honey hair behind her ear. "Ronnie sure had a rough time of it." She saw the flicker in the older woman's eyes and knew she had to tread carefully. "She told me about Chris." Instantly Maria's eyes went to the table.
"That was a very sad thing and not something I care to talk about." The housekeeper took several swallows of coffee. "Some people are just trash, Rose. Plain and simple."
"Maria, may I ask you a question?" At the reluctant nod, she took a deep breath and continued. "Do you think I'm using Ronnie?"
"It doesn't matter what I think, Rose. What matters is what she thinks." The older woman drained her mug and gave a serious look. "I would hate to see her get hurt like that again."
"I don't know how anyone can know Ronnie for any length of time and want to use her," Rose said. "It must have been devastating for her to trust someone and have that trust shattered." She had no idea that the housekeeper's thoughts immediately went to the fully repaired Porsche tucked away in the garage. "To be at that age, to have something so private exposed to her parents..." Rose shook her head. "I just can't imagine why anyone would be so cruel to her. Did you ever meet Chris?"
"No, the gold digger never showed up here," Maria said. "I only spoke with her on the phone."
Bingo. The big question was answered.
The rusted out station wagon chugged into the public parking garage and pulled into the first empty spot, not caring that it was reserved for the handicapped. If she got a ticket, so what, it would just go into the glove box with the rest of them. Tickets and insurance were not things that Delores Bickering wasted her money on. The empty cigarette pack hit the concrete ground as she lit the last one and walked away from her car. If things went well, by the time she returned she would have plenty of money for cigarettes.
The Cartwrights have always liked things big. When the Wellington Hotel was erected in the late 1920's, it towered over the smaller Cartwright building next door. Ronnie's great grandfather took it as a challenge and the result was the erection of one of Albany's largest buildings, more than thirty stories high. Delores stood in front of it and sneered at the large logo carved into the reddish-brown granite above the doors. She pushed her way through the revolving door and into the spacious lobby. On the wall was a brass plaque welcoming her to the Cartwright Corporate Offices. Below it was a directory of departments along with the floors on which they were located.
Ronnie was just finishing off a fruit cup when the buzzer sounded. "Yes, Laura?"
"Um...there's someone here to see you," the hesitant voice said.
"Who?" A quick glance at her Day-Timer showed no appointments scheduled for that afternoon. She heard the secretary ask the visitor's name and clenched her jaw as soon as she recognized the voice. "Keep her out there for a minute." She hung up the phone and tapped the mechanical pencil against the desk. Damn, what's that bitch doing here? The answer came to her instantly. Now she had two options; be openly hostile toward the leech and throw her out or play along and let Rose see the truth. She swiveled in her seat and reached for the mouse. She clicked on the security icon, then on the camera one. A password and a few commands later, a small red light lit up on the security camera tucked discretely in the upper corner of her office. It was time to expose Delores Bickering for what she really was. Ronnie pressed the button on the phone. "Send her in."
"Nice office," the large woman nodded approvingly as she looked around. "You hiring?"
"No." Ronnie couldn't believe she had the nerve to even ask such a question. "You're not here to ask me about a job."
"I came to talk to you about Rose." She unzipped her dirty yellow jacket and pulled her knit cap off, sending flakes of wet snow onto the thick burgundy rug. "You know I'm the closest thing to a mother she's ever had."
"So you say." Oops, watch it there, Ronnie. Wouldn't want Rose to see that. "So what is it that you wished to see me about? Please, have a seat."
Delores flopped down on the couch and tossed her coat on the far cushion. "I would have thought someone like you would have a coffee pot in here for your visitors." Ronnie's eyes narrowed but she kept her tongue. "Especially those who are relatives to your friends."
"You said you wanted to talk to me about Rose?"
"I've found a way to help her out."
"Help her out?"
"Yeah." The large woman sat up. "I've found her a job in Cobleskill. She can start on Monday. Pays six dollars and hour."
"Why would she want to work in Cobleskill? That's an hour away. Besides, didn't you notice that she has two broken legs? She's in no condition to work."
"It's in a telemarketing office. She won't have to stand up, just talk on the phone. Of course that means she'll have to move back with me."
"She already told you that she wants to live with me. Why would she change her mind now?" What stunt are you trying to pull? Make Rose choose between us? I'll be damned if I'll let you take her away from me.
"You don't understand. Rose and I have a deal. She owes me for taking care of her and promised to help out in any way she could."
"So you want her to move back with you and work at this telemarketing job so she can give you money?" Ronnie wanted to make sure there were no grey area, no question about the leech's intentions.
"I think that's only fair. She lived under my roof and ate my food for years without paying anything and now it's time for her to pay me back." Delores crossed her arms and leaned back.
"So everything you did for her when she lived with you she owes you for?" It sounded so ridiculous but no one was laughing. I can't believe you. Rose deserves so much better in her life than a piece of trash like you.
"You could look at it that way. I look at it this way. I could have rented her room to someone who would have paid me. She owes me the money I lost by not being able to rent it. When she left I had to start paying for a babysitter on bingo and bowling nights. My generosity can only go so far. I'm not rich, you know. I can't afford to be as charitable as you."
"So you've decided that Rose owes you all sorts of money because she lived with you when she was a teenager, is that right?" Ronnie felt the pieces falling into place.
"Exactly."
"And since she owes you all this money you feel she should move in with you and work at this job so she can pay off what she owes you, right?"
"Right." The executive's lips pulled back into a smile much like a cobra just before it strikes.
"But since I'm her friend you thought you'd come and see if there was something I could do, right?"
"Well, we're not talking about much to someone like you. If you're really her friend I'd think you'd want to help her out." Delores said indignantly.
"And I could help Rose out by paying off her debt to you, is that the idea?" Ronnie was tired of the game and the dirty looking woman who was trying to use Rose. "How much?"
"Well, you have to take into account how long she lived with me and then-"
"I said how much? Come on, I'm sure you had a figure in mind when you walked in here. How much do you think Rose owes you for taking care of her?" She pulled the checkbook out of the drawer and opened it up.
"Five...no, ten thousand."
"It will take ten thousand dollars for you to walk away and leave Rose alone?"
Dollar signs danced in front of Delores' eyes and greed sang in her heart. She almost agreed when she realized that the rich woman was giving in much too easily. "Wait." She stood up and walked over to the desk, leaning her chubby hands on the polished wood. "What if I said I wanted fifteen thousand or even twenty?"
"Is that what it would take?"
"You're really willing to give me twenty thousand dollars?" Suspicion set in. "Why?"
"I have my reasons." She picked up the pen to write the check and stopped herself. Even if it was fake she had no intention of using the pen that Rose got her. Reaching into the drawer she pulled out another one and began writing.
"It's B-i-c-k-"
"I know how to spell it."
"You know," Delores laughed nervously. "I always knew she'd find someone to take her in." Her eyes widened as the zeros were added to the amount box. Feeling victory within her grasp, she relaxed and leaned against the desk, much to Ronnie's annoyance. "Twenty thousand dollars. Humph. May not seem like much to you but I can get a new trailer for that."
Ronnie stood up and tore the check out of the book. "And for the cost of a trailer you're willing to walk away, to get out of Rose's life and leave her alone forever, right?" Delores reached for it but she held the check up in the air. "That's the deal. For twenty thousand dollars you stay away, never call, never stop by. You'll forget that she exists."
"Give me that check and I forget all about her." Her forefinger and thumb grasped the corner of the paper.
"Don't you even want to say goodbye to her?" The raven haired woman held the check tightly, refusing to give it up without an answer. She never expected the one she got.
"Why? Is it worth more money if I do?" Delores looked at her expectantly.
Ronnie forgot about the videotape in the shock of hearing the cold words. With an angry tug she jerked the check back and stood up, her six foot frame towering over the shorter woman. "You bitch." Blue eyes blazed with fury. "You never cared about her at all did you?" Her hands balled into fists, crumpling the check. "You took her in just for the check each month and to have a built-in babysitter!" Knuckles turned white under the pressure and the check suffered more damage.
"The check..." Delores pointed out. "We have a deal."
Ronnie lowered her head, the long black tresses hiding her face. "The money. That's all you worry about, isn't it?" Her voice was quiet, low...the calm before the storm. "You used Rose for money. You used her as a child to get money from the State and when she was struggling to survive you took money from her." Her head jerked up, locking eyes with the woman she hated. "Now she's lying there with two broken legs and instead of worrying about her you're trying to get money from me."
"You want to get rid of me? Give me the check and I'm gone." Delores held her hand out.
"You want the check?" Ronnie flattened the rumpled check out, then held it out in front of her. She tore it neatly in two, then put the pieces together and tore it again. "I'm sure the State of New York paid you far more than you ever spent on Rose." Another tear. "There were weeks when she spent next to nothing on food for herself yet sent you a check because you managed to convince her that she owes you somehow." She threw the pile of confetti on the desk. Delores could only stand there and watch as her plan fell apart. "You've used Rose for the last time. Get out of my office before I have Security throw you out."
"You can't-"
"I can't what? Throw some lazy bum out of my own building?" Ronnie pressed her knuckles against the desk to keep from reaching across and striking the loathsome woman. The muscles in her forearms bunched and clenched in readiness. "You hurt Rose and I won't allow you to do it again. You don't deserve to know someone as kind and gentle as her. Come within sight of my home and I'll have you arrested. One phone call, one letter, any attempt to contact her and I'll make your life a living hell."
With all prospects of money gone, Delores had nothing left to lose. "You think you're so smart with all your fucking money. You don't know NOTHING!" She stormed over to the couch and snatched her cap and jacket. "You think Rose was the only foster kid I had?" The door opened and two beefy security officers entered, no doubt summoned by Laura after hearing the loud voices.
"Is there a problem, Miss Cartwright?"
"Escort this..." Bitch came to mind but a sense of decorum had to be maintained at the office. "...trespasser outside and make sure she never comes in again."
"You keep your hands off me," Delores grabbed her bag and stormed out in front of the uniformed men. "You make sure Rose knows you're the one that made me stop talking to her. It's all your fault." The outer office door closed, leaving a confused Laura and a furious Ronnie standing there.
"Laura, take the rest of the day off. I'm going home early." She shut the door and walked over to her desk. The bits of check were tossed into the trash can and her prized pen was put back in her desk drawer. "Ronnie?" Susan opened the door and poked her head in. "What happened? I heard they called Security to your office."
"Nothing important, just some business that I had to take care of." She waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it."
"You know I'm going to find out anyway, you may as well tell me." The redhead entered and shut the door.
"I am entitled to something of a private life." She sank into her chair, a bone deep sigh escaping her lips. "Let this one go, Sis."
"Does it have to do with Rose?" The quick jerk of the head answered Susan's question. An awkward silence fell between them for several seconds before she spoke again. "Um..." The younger Cartwright looked down at her nails. "If um...well, I know you don't really have anyone close to you except Rose and well, I guess me. If...if you need someone to talk to...well, I'm here." She straightened up and took a step back. "The boys keep asking when they can come over again." Clearing her throat exaggeratedly, Susan continued, her gaze falling upon her older sister. "When I explained to John that Rose lives with you, he asked me if that made her his aunt too."
"I told you..." Ronnie began only to be stopped by the redhead's upraised hand.
"I know. I told him that she wasn't but if it was okay with her that he could call her that."
Blue eyes looked down at the desk. She understood the unspoken gesture behind the words. She stood up and although never very affectionate to her sister, Ronnie reached over and wrapped her arm around the younger woman's shoulders. "How about tomorrow night? I'm sure Rose can't wait to have her wrestling guy trampled again." She released the casual embrace and returned to her seat. "But how about right now I take us out to lunch? Somewhere nice, how about Maurice's or Giovanni's?"
"Oh, that sounds nice, but how about trying that new Chinese place up on Western Avenue? I heard they have excellent food."
A small icon on the screen caught the corner of Ronnie's eye. With a start she remembered the videotape. "Uh...yeah, that sounds good." She turned to the computer and shut off the camera. "Why don't you go get your coat and meet me down in the lobby? I have a couple of things here I need to finish up."
Ronnie took the video home and hid it in her bedroom, seeing no reason to show it to Rose right away. She knew the tape would hurt her precious friend and that was the last thing she wanted to do again. Instead that evening and the ones that followed were spent lying next to each other on the adjustable bed watching television or on the couch watching movies. Sometimes they would forgo the electronic entertainment and just spend the time braiding each others hair or doing their nails. It was a comfortable routine that she enjoyed tremendously. No mention was made about the continued sleeping arrangements and Ronnie was fine with that. If she had her way they'd always sleep together. She loved the way Rose's body fit against hers. They never talked about the increased hugs and affectionate touches but Ronnie noted that they were instigated by both equally.
With Karen no longer needed, Rose kept her days busy working on projects for Ronnie. In addition to improving her skills, it also gave her an intense education in the way her friend's business was run. It gave them something else to talk about in the evenings other than themselves or what was on television. The late January thaw continued into February, promising an early spring. Already more grass was showing in the back yard than snow and the sun coming through the windows was enough to heat up the room without turning up the thermostat. Of course at night there was the added body heat of Ronnie to keep her warm. It was during those late night hours that Rose thought about her relationship with her dark haired friend. With the exception of work, Ronnie was by her side constantly, not that Rose would ever complain. She relished the time they spent together. Often while watching television her head would rest against Ronnie's shoulder or even in the older woman's lap. She enjoyed those times the best. Ronnie would absently stroke her hair or let a warm hand rest upon her shoulder. They were much more relaxed around each other now. Initial embraces in bed were no longer stiff, hesitant affairs. Now when it came time for sleep Ronnie's arm would wrap around her waist and warm breath would tickle her neck as they molded their bodies together.
Rose thought often about the growing affection between them. Hugs were a common occurrence and she encouraged them as much as Ronnie did. It seemed that they could sense each other's needs, at least she was certain that Ronnie could sense hers. When the pain in her legs flared up, the strong arms would comfort and console her. When a tearjerker romance movie brought the need to be cuddled, there was no discussion or roundabout requests, they just snuggled up against each other. But while she enjoyed the attention and affection, Rose wasn't sure she was ready for anything more or if Ronnie was even interested. There had been no kiss since they were under the mistletoe on Christmas and their conversations stayed far away from matters of the heart or sex. Whether it was deliberate on Ronnie's part or not, Rose wasn't sure. She only knew that she was avoiding it, her feelings far too confusing to even think about giving them voice.
Like right now. They were lying in bed watching Dateline and Ronnie's head was resting against her shoulder. Rose looked down at silky black hair mixing with her own. Her companion seemed so relaxed, so peaceful. Having her arm trapped between their bodies was no longer an acceptable position. "Lift your head up for a sec."
"Hmm? Sorry, am I hurting you?" The lazy drawl told Rose just how relaxed the executive was.
"Not at all. I just want to move my arm." She did so and quickly wrapped it around Ronnie's shoulder before the older woman could move away. "Now come back here." She tugged gently and was rewarded with her companion's head resting just above her right breast. "Comfy?"
"Mmm, very."
"Good." The commercial ended and Ronnie's attention went back to the television. Rose's did not. Her fingers began plucking at the long dark tresses. "You have very soft hair."
"So you tell me. I think yours is softer, though. Mine's just thicker."
Rose's fingers sank into Ronnie's hair and began massaging her scalp. "Hmm, you might be right about that," she conceded. But I like touching yours more. Slowly the small circles she was making with her fingers moved lower until they were stroking the smooth skin of Ronnie's neck. The television was completely forgotten by both women as the massage continued. How far will you let me go? A lone pinky ventured under the soft cotton shirt for a second then pulled back. Again. "Did Chris ever rub you like this?"
Ronnie jerked upright, her eyes looking very much like those of a deer blinded by headlights. "Um, n-no..." She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. "Why do you ask?"
"I just wondered." Rose now hesitated, the question not seeming like such a good idea anymore. "It's just...well, you like it so much. I would hope that someone did this for you before."
"Chris and I..." Ronnie searched for the right words. "We weren't..." It was a tossup between which was drier, her lips or throat. "We weren't physically close. There wasn't much cuddling." She sat up completely and shifted until she was facing Rose. "I thought it was true love then." A scornful laugh revealed the old pain. "Now I know better." She lowered her head and looked at her hands. Rose remained silent, sensing Ronnie struggling with some inner demon. Finally the tall woman chose the easy way out. "At least the sex was good."
Jokes aren't going to work with me. I know you too well, Veronica Cartwright. "You know I hate Chris for hurting you like that." She reached out and put her fingers under the strong chin, forcing blue eyes to meet hers. "And I don't hate many people in this world."
Ronnie pulled the hand away from her chin and held it within her own. "Funny." She looked down at their hands, her thumb idly brushing across the smaller woman's knuckles. "I feel the same way about people that hurt you." She paused for a moment, fear threatening to keep the words trapped inside. "You're very special to me, Rose." Her head raised and for several long seconds they stared at each other.
Ohmygod, are you going to kiss me? Rose wasn't sure if she was excited or afraid as her heart began beating double-time. Her lips moved but no words came out.
"I think that's enough serious talk for tonight," Ronnie said, releasing the hold on the young woman's hand. The magical spell was broken and both felt a keen sense of disappointment.
Rose was still thinking about that moment long after they settled down for the night. She turned her face to look at the sleeping woman beside her. I wanted you to kiss me. Did you want it too? Careful not to disturb her companion, she propped herself on her right elbow and tucked her hair behind her ear. Hesitantly she lowered her lips to Ronnie's cheek, planting the softest of kisses there. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, Rose saw as much as felt the small smile come to the sleeping face. "I love you," she whispered before laying back on her pillows. Intertwining her fingers with those resting on her belly, the young woman closed her eyes.
"Love you too," Ronnie mumbled sleepily, unconsciously snuggling closer. The voice startled Rose for a minute before she realized that her friend was still sleeping. She turned her cheek to rest against the dark head and soon fell asleep herself.
Ronnie opened the TV Guide and began to read off the options. "'A Walk in the Clouds' is on. We saw that one already. 'Sabrina', that's boring." She turned the page. "Let's see what's on pay per view." A gentle tug on her wrist forced her to shift the guide so Rose could look on with her.
"There's that new Jim Carey movie," the young woman offered.
"I hate Jim Carey. Look, Bruce Willis blows up another building."
"I hate action movies. Let's watch a romantic one."
"Why a romance and not a comedy?"
"Well, it is Valentine's Day, silly."
"If two people are really in love they don't need a day to celebrate it."
"You are such a cynic, Ronnie. Give me that." Rose took the TV Guide and began thumbing through the pages. "You know we could play a game or something if you wanted. I see you're two levels higher than me on 'Rescuer of the Maiden'." She laughed at the sheepish grin on the older woman's face. "What do you do, play when I'm asleep?"
"It's addictive. Come on, find something for us to watch."
Fifteen minutes later the television still offered up no suitable programs to watch. "There's what, a hundred, hundred and fifty channels on this and we can't find a thing to watch?"
"That's because you don't want to watch any love stories and I don't want to watch any of those shoot-em-up blow-em-up movies," Rose replied.
"So much for television." Ronnie pressed the off button and tossed the remote onto the coffee table. "This is a thrilling Valentine's Day."
"If you're bored then let's do something different."
"Like what?"
"We could play a game or do each others nails or something." Rose was also at a loss for what to do. Although she'd never believed it could happen, she was actually quite bored at the moment. In two months time they'd managed to watch every movie that Ronnie owned and played every game in the house several times. There really wasn't much else to do except... "Talk."
"Hmm?"
"Let's make some hot chocolate, sit back, and talk. You know, one of our infamous girl chats." Rose's eyes held a twinkle of mischief.
"And what exactly would be the topic of conversation tonight? I'm not doing 'relive your most embarrassing moments' again."
"Oh come on, you learned some pretty embarrassing things about me too," the young woman chided.
"Well, that's true," Ronnie conceded. "And you do turn the cutest shade of red. Okay, I'm game but let's go out in the kitchen and make dinner while we're talking."
Fifteen minutes later Rose was sitting at the kitchen table cutting onions while Ronnie was standing at the island slicing mushrooms. "Answer me something," the young woman said while wiping at the endless stream of tears, "Why am I the one who always ends up cutting up the onion?"
"Oh, I can't stand them, makes me cry," the older woman said cheekily.
"You're lucky you're not within my reach, Miss Cartwright," she playfully warned. Ronnie poured the steaming hot chocolate into two mugs, then added mini-marshmallows. She brought one over to the table and set it down within the young woman's reach.
"I'm within your reach now, what are you going to do about it?" The intelligent executive realized her mistake a second later when small fingers slipped around her waist and began to tickle unmercifully. "Oh, hey now, heh heh, come on now, Rose, I was only joking." She backed away out of reach of the playful hands. "You just wait..." she said between breaths. "When you're out of this chair...I'll get even with you."
"Yeah, you and what army?" Rose was beaming at her, obviously quite proud of herself. "It seems to me that I only need my two hands to defeat you, oh mighty warrior of the corporate world."
"That's because you know my weaknesses," Ronnie replied. And I'm helpless when it comes to resisting you. She walked behind the chair and put her hands on the smaller woman's shoulders. "And one weakness right now is that I'm starving. You want your steak broiled or sautéed?"
"Surprise me."
"Sautéed you said? Coming right up." She gave a gentle squeeze and went over to the refrigerator. "Oh, there's eclairs for dessert."
"Sounds great. Maria always picks out the best food," Rose said. "You were practically drooling over the chicken last night."
"Another one of my weaknesses," she said while retrieving the steaks and butter.
"I'll have to tell your prospective suitors that the way to your heart is through your stomach."
And I'd have to tell them that my heart is already taken, Ronnie thought to herself. "And what about you? What secret things should I know to tell your prospective suitors?" She watched as Rose's attention turned to anything but her. "What's that? I didn't understand you." No one can understand that mumble. Come on, Rose, let me in.
"Um..." Her fingers traced the delicate pattern of her doily. "I dunno," she finally answered with a shrug. "I never really thought about what I would want in a lover."
Ah, now we're getting to something interesting. "Okay, so think about it now. Let's start with the basics: tall, dark and handsome. Now what else?" She put the steaks on to cook, grabbed her mug, and headed for the table.
"Well, I guess I'd want someone who was intelligent, thoughtful, had a sense of humor but wasn't a practical joker, no problems with gambling or drugs or anything like that."
So far I'm batting a thousand. "Would be attentive to your needs and wants..."
"But not at the expense of their own," Rose interjected.
"Right," she agreed. Their own? Her eyebrow rose slightly. "Okay, what else?"
"Hmm." The young woman tapped her finger on the tip of her chin. "Oh, well there's honesty and trust. I'd have to know that they'd never lie to me. There has to be that trust."
Whoops, no good on that one. Hey, they'd never lie? What's with the gender neutrality, Rose? "Don't forget that he'd have to be able to fulfill your every desire."
Rose seemed to mull a thought over in her head for a moment before speaking. "I don't know how our parents did it. Waited until they were married to have sex."
Whoa, where'd that come from? "Um, I hate to clue you but I don't think they waited. I mean, would you buy a car without first taking it for a test drive?"
"Yeah, maybe that's why so many trade theirs in after a few years."
"I think they're just looking for a newer model."
"Maybe what they're really looking for isn't a car at all," Rose offered nervously.
"Perhaps." Ronnie took a deep breath and plunged ahead into dangerous territory. "Not everyone is interested in cars." Are you asking if I am?
"And that's fine," the young woman blurted quickly. "If someone would rather have a truck than a car, more power to them."
"Whatever makes them happy, I guess." You know I am and you're telling me it's okay, aren't you? Another thought occurred to the dark haired woman. Or are you trying to tell me that you are? "There are even those that like both." There, cover all the angles, just in case.
"Some people aren't sure what they like." Rose looked up for a split-second then back down at the table. "Maybe they thought they liked cars but now they think they want a truck."
Ronnie let out a deep breath. Oh boy, how am I supposed to respond to that? "Um, well...t-that's okay too. But I think they should take their time and not rush into anything because of what they think someone else might like." She noted the nervous fingers tapping the ceramic handle. "Especially if they're not sure." Let's see if I've got this right. "Maybe they've only driven cars and now they have a friend who likes trucks. They may think they want a truck too but they really don't."
"So you're saying they shouldn't rush into anything, even if they really feel that they want a truck," came the soft voice as green eyes raised up to meet Ronnie's.
"Have they ever wanted a truck before?" As much as the metaphors were driving her nuts, the older woman didn't want to do anything that might spook the obviously nervous Rose.
"No."
"I think the best thing is for the person to just spend time riding around with their friend and see if they really like trucks." That's it, just leave everything the way it is, nice and safe. The smell of sizzling meat gave her the perfect excuse. "Damn, I forgot about the steaks." Ronnie hopped up and went to the island. "Good, they're still fine. Now you see why Maria doesn't like me cooking."
"Oh, I thought it was because you used every pot and pan in the house."
"I see you two talk about me when I'm not around." Ronnie smiled inwardly at the thought. "I hope it's good things."
"Mostly good things," Rose teased. An uncomfortable silence followed broken only by the sizzling of the steaks as both women withdrew into their own thoughts. For Ronnie, the conversation revealed far more than she had hoped for. She looked over at Rose. So you do feel something. I'm not imagining the increased touches and hugs. But with that thought came fear. I don't believe that you would ever use me like Christine did but I can't put everything on the line again. I can't take that chance. At that moment Tabitha came bouncing out into the kitchen and Rose moved her chair to allow the cat to jump up on her lap. Then of course there's the minor detail of me being the one who hit you. I'm sure if that little piece of information got out you wouldn't want to be my friend much less anything else. Deep down Ronnie knew she was right to keep things the way they were, no matter what her heart said. Rose had been hurt enough by her.
At the table, Rose was going through her own mental turmoil. She hugged the purring feline and blinked back emotions flowing too close to the surface. So now you know I know. She watched as Ronnie reached into the cupboard for the plates. You know and you don't want me. Rose wasn't sure if she should be relieved or disappointed. Her heart insisted on the latter.
Ronnie put the two plates on the table. "You need anything more to drink before I sit down?"
"No, this is fine, thank you." The young woman never looked up from her plate, yet she knew those stunning blue eyes were staring at her. "It smells wonderful." She picked up her knife and fork and went through the motions of cutting up her meat. The dark haired woman headed for the opposite side of the small round table, then stopped herself and sat down next to Rose.
"There's more vegetables if you want them."
"No, this is good." The young woman continued to push her meat around her plate.
Ronnie could only sit by helplessly and watch as Rose withdrew into herself. She hated the tension hanging in the air but wasn't certain what to do or say to break it. "Um, if you have any questions about trucks, uh, maybe I can answer them for you." Oh, that's brilliant, she chastised herself. "I mean..." she stopped for a second when the blonde head lifted to meet her gaze. "I mean...I hate this awkwardness." They shared a small smile before Rose lowered her head again.
"I'm not especially thrilled with it myself."
"So talk." Easier said than done.
"I don't know what to say," the young woman said in a quiet voice. Ronnie's heart ached for the pain she heard. Without thought she reached over and laid her hand on top of Rose's. The gentle return squeeze let her know the touch was welcome.
"Just say what's on your mind."
Several bites of steak disappeared before Rose spoke. "Have you had a lot of trucks?"
"Um..." It wasn't the question that Ronnie was expecting. "No, Christine was the only one." There, I said her name. Let's get past this stupid car/truck thing.
"Oh." Rose withdrew her hand and began to cut up more meat.
"You can't look at me and talk about this, can you?"
"No." A slow blush crept up the young woman's neck. "I never was any good talking about that kind of stuff."
"More into action than words, eh?" Ronnie's joke did exactly what she hoped it would. Rose smiled at her and gave a playful swat.
"Actually when it comes to that I'm not really very good in either category." She relaxed slightly, maintaining the eye contact for several seconds before looking down again. "I don't have the experience."
"You mean...." You're twenty-six years old. You can't be. "B-but when you got caught in the driveway?" She watched the cute blush return to Rose's face.
"We weren't doing 'that'. We were working our way up to it when we got caught." The young woman pushed her plate away, giving up the pretense of eating. Ronnie did the same. "After that, well...it just never happened."
Ronnie fought to keep the smirk off her face. "So you've um...never..." The smirk refused to be hidden and she had to look away. "...um, been taken for a test drive?"
"Stop laughing." Rose feigned anger but the sparkle in her eyes gave her away. "No. No one's taken me for a test drive." She shot a devilish look at the dark haired woman. "That's not to say that no one's looked under the hood."
"We can't start this again." Ronnie drained her mug and stood up. "Since dinner obviously is over, let's go into the living room and relax on the couch." I have a feeling this conversation is going to continue and I'd rather talk under the soft lights instead of these fluorescents. "I'll bring the eclairs."
"Don't bother for me." Rose watched her friend reach into the refrigerator and remove a beer. "Can I have one of those?"
Ronnie looked at her quizzically. "What about your Percoset? I thought you weren't supposed to drink with that."
"I haven't had any today and I won't take any tonight." Rose was by no means a drinker but at that moment her mouth was so dry that she was certain she could drain a six pack with no problem.
"All right," the older woman replied hesitantly. Maybe I shouldn't drink. I need my wits about me when I'm with you, Rose. She plucked two glasses from the rack and followed her friend into the living room.
She set the beers and glasses on the coffee table just as Rose was getting ready to transfer herself from the wheelchair to the couch. "Here, let me help."
"I can do it."
"It's easier if I help." She stepped forward and lowered her head. It had been too long since Rose let her help and she missed the feeling of holding the young woman in her arms. One arm slipped behind the back and she felt smaller arms wrapping around her neck. Yesss, that's right, hold me. She put her other arm under Rose's legs and lifted, nudging the wheelchair out her way with her knee. But instead of putting her precious bundle down right away, Ronnie held Rose safely in her arms and gazed down at the face she loved. If only things were different, she thought as her eyes fell upon the soft pink lips so close to her own. In the back of her mind she knew that a kiss would not be protested. As fate sometimes found the need to be cruel, Rose had to shift, causing the hard plaster of her cast to rub against Ronnie's forearm. It was an instant reminder to the executive of all the reasons not to act on her feelings. She set her friend down quickly but gently, turning away before she changed her mind. She walked around to the other side of the couch and sat sideways on the far cushion. A quick twist of her wrist and the beer was open. Ronnie didn't bother with the glass, taking several deep swallows straight from the bottle. "Do you want some background music?" Oh, that's bright. It's Valentine's Day. All the stations will be playing love songs.
"Sure." To Rose, anything was better than the deafening silence. Ronnie fiddled with the different remotes until she found the right one. She adjusted the volume to a point where they could barely hear it, then set the remote on the table. She opened the other beer and poured it into a glass without comment, then passed it to the honey haired woman. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." Ronnie settled back against the arm of the couch and took another tug on her beer. They looked at each other, silently hoping the other would begin. A song started and ended without a sound from either woman. "Well, this is productive," the executive finally said.
"Maybe we should just drop it for tonight," Rose said.
"No. We need to get this out in the open." She gave a deep sigh and reached for her beer. To her surprise it was already empty. "Wow, haven't downed one like that in a long time." Why am I so nervous? I know what I have to do. "Rose, you mean a great deal to me, you know that." She forced herself to meet the young woman's gaze, hoping her words didn't sound as fake as they did to her own ears. "But I made a decision long ago that the business comes first." Even over my own heart. "I can't go back on that."
"Chris hurt you that badly?"
"Yes she did." Ronnie had been looking down at her lap and picked her head up in surprise at the gentle touch on her outstretched ankle. "It's more complicated than that, but..."
"Your truck is parked in the garage and isn't going anywhere," Rose offered. Her words earned her a heart-warming smile.
"Something like that. I need another beer. How about you?"
"I'm doing fine with this one." She took another sip and watched Ronnie leave the room.
Now alone, Rose felt the nervousness she was trying to hold in check burst forth. Her sips became swallows and her glass was half-empty by the time the dark haired woman returned. She watched the tall, lean body fold up onto the cushion and look expectantly at her. I guess it's my turn now, huh? She took another swallow, the alcohol bolstering her courage. She looked up at gentle blue eyes. "I don't know what I want," she whispered. "But I've never felt this way about anyone else, Ronnie." She looked away and finished her glass, her heart pounding painfully within her chest. Rose had no idea how they started on this conversation but she knew they couldn't turn back from it now.
"So where do we go from here?" Ronnie's voice wavered, betraying the strong emotions fighting inside her. "I don't want to lose what we have." I don't want to lose you.
"I don't know." She looked longingly at her friend's beer. Ronnie smiled and handed it over. "Thanks." Rose took several sips from the bottle before returning it. "I guess things can just stay the same. I mean, we're still friends, right?"
"Best friends," Ronnie corrected, passing the beer.
"Best friends." The honey haired woman smiled. "And best friends can sleep next to each other and it doesn't mean anything."
"Right, and best friends can still hug."
"Absolutely." Rose was encouraged by the direction of the conversation. "And sometimes..." The pink blush began to rise on her cheeks. "...if it's a special occasion...they might even kiss." Her ears burned bright red and she didn't dare look up. If she had she would have seen the arched eyebrow and smirk directed at her.
"Yes, if there's a special occasion I see no reason why best friends can't kiss." Ronnie's mind went back to the blissful kiss under the mistletoe. She cursed herself for taking it down after the holidays.
"I'll tell you a secret," Rose still couldn't look at her. "Earlier, when you picked me up? I um...I thought...I mean I hoped....you'd kiss me." She said the last words so low that Ronnie almost missed them. She upended the beer and handed the empty bottle back. "Sorry, I didn't realize I was that thirsty."
"Don't worry about it. There's plenty of beer. You want another one?"
"No...yes. Please."
Ronnie rose from the couch and knelt down next to Rose. With one hand she reached out and turned the young woman's face to her. "I'll be right back." Her thumb brushed against a far too soft lip. "And I wanted to kiss you too." She stood up and pressed her lips to the crown of golden hair. "You want that eclair now?"
With her fear dissipating, Rose found that her hunger had returned. She nodded and watched Ronnie leave the room. You wanted to kiss me too? She reached up and touched the spot where her friend's lips had touched her hair. When Ronnie returned, Rose rewarded her with a beaming smile and fingers trailing over each other as the bottle was exchanged. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she said while returning to her seat. She knew she was treading a dangerous line but she couldn't stop herself. "Happy Valentine's Day, Rose." She held her bottle out, noting that the young woman had poured hers into the glass.
"Happy Valentine's Day to you too, Ronnie." The glass clinked together and they both took a healthy drink. "You remember in grade school when we used to give out valentines to everyone in class?"
"Yeah?"
"Well, back then we'd ask our friends to be our valentines, right?"
"Right, I remember that." Ronnie smiled. "Rose Grayson, are you asking me to be your valentine?" She received a shy smile in reply. "I'll be your valentine on one condition." She set the beer down and moved closer. "You have to be mine, too." She was kneeling on the cushion next to Rose, their faces less than a foot apart.
"Ronnie?"
"Mmm?" Her focus was solely on the young woman's lips.
"Would Valentine's Day...be considered...a special occasion?" Caution deadened by the beer, Rose reached up and curled her left hand around the back of Ronnie's neck, the long dark strands sliding through her fingers. There was no answer, only a smile and the lowering of lips to hers.
Ronnie's memory of the Christmas kiss paled in comparison to reality. The soft, gentle brushing of lips together made her hungry for more and she returned, nipping Rose's lower lip with her own several times before slipping her tongue out to taste the softness. She pulled back and received a soft whimper of protest. Oh yes, I could easily lose myself in you, Rose Grayson. Very easily. "Happy Valentine's Day." Ronnie moved back to a 'friendly' distance and retrieved her beer. To her immense pleasure, it was another second before green eyes fluttered open and focused.
To Rose, all the stories about fireworks and bells going off were true. She felt absolutely dizzy and couldn't figure out if it was from Ronnie's kisses or the amount of alcohol she had consumed. The tingling sensation on her lips screamed its choice and her heart pounded in agreement. "H-happy Valentine's Day to you too." She looked over and saw the cheshire grin on Ronnie's face. "What?"
"I've never had my kisses leave someone breathless before." She reached out and took the younger woman's hand in her own. Look at the way you look at me. If you knew the truth... Ronnie glanced at the clock, noting that it was far too early to feign being tired. "You want to watch a movie?" Without waiting for an answer, she reached for the remotes. A second later the music stopped, replaced by Chevy Chase bumbling through a Vacation movie. "There we go."
Rose glanced at the television, then back at the woman who had just kissed her senseless. Ronnie refused to look her way. You're not fooling me. That movie just isn't that interesting. What are you afraid of? I won't hurt you like Chris did, I swear. She understood that her friend needed some space and Rose was willing to give it. The evening had answered many questions. She now knew that her feelings were reciprocated, at least partially. The kiss had proven that. Her fear of going further had been assuaged by Ronnie's declaration that she didn't want to take their relationship to that stage. But right now Rose needed...something. "Ronnie? Can I lay down on your lap?"
"I'd like that." They settled into the familiar position, Rose's head on her lap and her hand lightly stroking the golden hair beneath it. But now the touch carried with it a new meaning in light of the recent revelations. The gentleness was still there, but wrapped in a layer of love that moved from one to the other. Ronnie's fingers strayed to trace the outline of the small ear hidden by Rose's hair. The hand resting on her knee began to move as well, tracing lazy circles through the thick cotton of her sweats. The dark haired woman wished she'd worn shorts so she could feel those fingers moving across her skin. Oh God, how am I going to do this? She looked down at Rose. If you only knew how much I want to make love to you right now. I don't know if I can do this, being so close to you and not being able to touch you the way I want to. Her index finger traveled down to trace the jawline down to the pointed chin. I love you so much, Rose.
Much later it was time for another test. The house was locked up, the lights were all turned off for the night save the small lamp next to the bed. Rose was getting ready to get into bed when she felt Ronnie's strong arms wrap around her and lift her up. "I figured I'd help again."
"Uh huh," she noted that the tall woman made no effort to release her, not that she was complaining. "I suppose I owe you some sort of reward for helping me?" A smile tugged at the corner of Ronnie's mouth.
"Well, you don't 'owe' me one but if you'd like to give me a reward I certainly won't mind." She lowered them to the bed, her mouth scant inches away from Rose's. Both women were fully aware of the way their upper bodies were pressing together.
"I don't mind." She smiled as their lips met, amazed at how perfect it felt. When Ronnie pulled back, she pushed forward, prolonging the contact for another second. Too soon for her comfort, the weight above her moved, replaced by the warm blanket.
"Good night, Rose." Ronnie settled in next to her, the long arm wrapping around her waist as usual. She smiled in the darkness. As nerve-wracking as it was, the day had turned out far better than Rose had thought it would be. In their own way they spoke of their fears and feelings and now they were lying together like they did every night. Although she knew that some things had changed between them, there was so much more that stayed the same. She brought her hand down to intertwine her fingers with the larger ones. "Night," Ronnie's sleepy voice murmured as she squeezed their fingers together.
"Night."
In the weeks that followed, both women adjusted to the new facet of their relationship and all that it entailed. The revelation and acknowledgement of feelings allowed them more freedom when it came to showing their affection for each other. There was far more touching and both were quite creative when it came to defining the term 'affectionate friends'. For Ronnie, there was nothing more enjoyable than an evening spent exchanging soft touches and gentle kisses with Rose curled up in her arms. She continued to tell herself that she wasn't breaking her promise to her father since she and her golden haired goddess weren't lovers. Yet with every look, every touch, Ronnie knew that she was lying to herself. She was bewitched by the young woman with the gentle smile and soft laugh. "Penny."
"Hmm?" She looked down to see smiling green eyes looking up at her. They were in her favorite position, sitting on the couch with Rose curled up in her lap. It had been almost a week and a half since the right cast was removed and the left one shortened down to just below the knee. The weight difference was a blessing on Ronnie's thighs and the softness of her companion's body was also quite welcome.
"I said penny for your thoughts. You seemed to go away there for a while."
Ronnie brought her hand up to cup the younger woman's cheek. "Nothing, just thinking."
"About? Or should I guess?"
"You," she said simply, drawing a beaming smile from Rose. "I care about you very much. You..." Her thumb traced over the razor-thin scar on her companion's cheek, a grim reminder of the hidden truth. "I'm glad you stayed with me. I'm very lucky."
Rose smiled and nuzzled her cheek against the large hand. "I'm the one that's lucky." Locking blue eyes with her own, she continued. "I'll never understand why you took me in, a complete stranger, and did everything you could to help me." She snuggled closer, resting her head on Ronnie's chest. "I'll always be grateful to you for that. And this." She waved her hand to indicate their intimate position. "You don't push me or make me feel uncomfortable."
"Never," the dark haired woman said vehemently. "I never want to do anything to make you feel that way."
"And you wouldn't. I know that." Rose's face turned serious and she sat back slightly. "I bet you wish I'd hurry up and make up my mind about whether I liked trucks or not." It was a thought that played itself constantly in the back of her mind, especially after some rather heated kissing exchanges.
"Hey," Ronnie whispered, "That's something that only you can decide." Screw the euphemisms. "I know we don't talk about it much but..." She hesitated, not at all certain she wanted to broach the subject with the object of her desires sitting on her lap. "It's more than just caring about another woman." She held up a finger to silence Rose's protest. "Put your feelings about me aside for a minute. Think about what it means to be a...lesbian." After so many years of being shamed for who she was, Ronnie found it hard to actually speak the word out loud.
"It is more accepted these days," Rose said softly.
"Not in my world." She said the words harsher than she intended, bitterness coloring her tone. In a lower voice she added "Not in my family." Her mind flashed back to that fateful day in her father's study when she was forced to accept the lifelong punishment. Looking down at her beloved, Ronnie decided that if that was the only thing holding her back, she'd walk away for a chance to be with her Rose. But the thin white line and the remaining plaster turned the deadbolt on that door.
"Nothing has to change," the gentle voice said quietly. "We're both happy and no one is being hurt." Ronnie felt soft arms wrap around her and squeeze gently. She happily returned the embrace. "Come on," Rose said. "Your sister is going to be here soon and I'm sure you don't want her to see us like this." She tried to move off but found herself held in place by Ronnie's strong hands.
"I don't want to let you go." The words held far more meaning than just that moment and Rose knew it. She leaned forward and kissed the dark haired woman.
"I'm not going anywhere." Their lips brushed together again and fear was lost in the face of love. As it always liked to do, the grandfather clock chimed the hour and broke the moment. With Ronnie's help Rose stood up on her right leg and slipped the crutches under her arms. "Where did you put the markers? You know the boys are going to want to decorate the new cast."
"I think they're in a drawer out in the kitchen. Speaking of which, we should probably make some cookies for the boys."
"And for the girls?" Rose leaned her armpit against the top of the crutch and used her free hand to pat Ronnie's belly.
"Well," the executive ducked her head and gave a sheepish grin. "I think there's another roll of chocolate chip ones in the fridge." They started toward the kitchen.
"Don't count on it unless Maria bought groceries yesterday," Rose said. They entered the kitchen just as Susan's minivan pulled into the driveway.
Ronnie opened the sliding glass door and waved them in. "Outta way, me first," twelve-year old Ricky said as he stormed past with the PlayStation in hand. Ten-year old Timmy and six-year old John quickly followed, both making the same amount of pre-teen boy noise. Rose quickly backed herself up against the island to avoid being run over by the trio. "No running in my house," Ronnie called out uselessly.
"I don't know about them, they never listen," Susan said as she stepped inside, followed by Jack. She spotted Rose and smiled. "Rose dear, Ronnie said you were up on crutches." She walked over and held her hand out. The young woman balanced herself on her right foot and returned the gesture. "So you're doing better?"
"Yes, everything is going well according to Doctor Barnes. Just waiting for my ankle to heal fully."
"Well good, I'm glad you doing better. You shouldn't stand up for so long though." She shot her older sister a look and pulled out a chair. "You just sit down right there. If you want anything, I'm sure Ronnie will get it for you." Rose started to protest but decided it was easier to give in. To her surprise, Susan sat down in the adjoining chair. "Jack, go see what the boys are up to. I don't want to replace any of Sis' things." Once he left the room, the redhead motioned at the empty chair. "Come sit down, I don't want the boys to overhear this." Rose and Ronnie exchanged confused looks as the dark haired woman sat down.
"What's going on? Everything all right with you and Jack?"
"Of course everything's fine with us. We've been happily married for thirteen years," Susan replied.
"So what's the problem?" Ronnie decided it was best not to mention the affairs that she knew about, including the current one.
"You know that diamond broach that Daddy gave Mother on their twenty-fifth anniversary?" The oldest Cartwright nodded. Her father had spent an extravagant amount, even for a family as rich as they were. It was one of Beatrice's most prized possessions. Susan looked down at the lace tablecloth. "It's gone."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Ronnie's eyes were wide with disbelief. "She keeps it in her safe when she's not wearing it, doesn't she?"
"She said she put it in there. Only four people know the combination. Mother, you, me..." The sisters looked at each other, then slowly nodded in agreement.
"Tommy." Ronnie's hands bunched into fists. Rose had never heard a name said with so much loathing, as if it were a curse. Without thinking, she reached over and placed her hand over the larger one. She realized her mistake when she felt the flinch and withdrew. They exchanged looks before Ronnie spoke again. "When did she discover this?"
"Yesterday. You won't like this," Susan began. "She said that she had gone to her friend's house for bridge Tuesday night and when she got back she noticed the picture frame wasn't flush against the wall but she didn't think anything of it."
"Is the safe behind the picture?" Rose asked.
"When was the last time Tommy was there?" Ronnie asked, nodding at the same time to reply to her beloved's question.
"Saturday night." The redhead sighed. "I think he took it and I told Mother that too."
"You told her?" The eldest Cartwright didn't bother hiding her surprise. "You told her that precious Tommy might have stolen from her? What did she say?"
"Just what you'd think she'd say," Susan replied. "She accused me of teaming up with you against him and that we didn't understand how difficult things were for him. But I think she believes me." She turned to Rose. "Our mother doesn't always see things as clearly as she should."
"That's one way to look at it," Ronnie said, secretly pleased that her sister had invited Rose in on what was obviously a family discussion. "More accurately is that she sees only what she wants to see and anything that disturbs that vision is wrong." She sighed and scratched her head in frustration. "Nothing we can do about what she thinks. What about the broach?"
"We'll pay on the claim, of course. That's not the problem."
"No, the problem is a boy who thinks that drugs make him a man. Why didn't you call me about this?"
"I only found out about it yesterday and I didn't want to disturb your weekend." She looked at Rose pointedly. "Besides, I knew I'd see you today."
Ronnie ignored her sister's blatant implication. "So what are we going to do about him? Now he's stealing from his own mother."
"I had the locksmith come by and change the combination on her safe. Cartwright Insurance will pay the claim. There really isn't anything else we can do."
"Is that all he took, just her broach?"
"Yes," Susan nodded. "All the other jewelry was still there. But only we'd know that Daddy's broach was the most expensive piece in there. She's got that necklace that looks like it's worth more than it is and that was left alone."
"Tommy knows what everything is worth. Mother only takes it out on special occasions. He probably figured she wouldn't notice right away." Ronnie looked over at Rose, silently wishing they were alone. A deep anger welled within her and only the young woman's embrace could ease it. The hell with it, you already think we're lovers. She took a deep breath, reached out, and wrapped her hand around Rose's smaller one. Susan gave what was clearly an uncomfortable smile. You started it. Ronnie squeezed her friend's hand once, then withdrew. She glanced sideways to see Rose's surprised and questioning look. She smiled and hoped that the honey haired woman would understand. Sometimes I just need to touch you.
"So...um...let's talk about other things. Did you get the recipe from Maria for the stuffed chicken?"
"I did but I'm not in the mood to fuss around with that tonight. You'll have to come over during the week and have her make it."
"Do you mean that one with the broccoli and that sauce?" Rose asked. "That's delicious. Maria said you always liked that."
"Well, Ronnie liked it too." The young woman's disarming smile caused Susan to return one in kind. "Maria makes the absolute best stuffing."
"Yes she does," the eldest Cartwright agreed. Rose smiled to herself remembering the red box that said 'Stove Top' sitting on the counter one evening. She decided to keep the housekeeper's secret. Besides, she'd tried making Stove Top before when she lived alone and it never turned out as well as Maria's.
With the subject off the physical gesture and on to a more familiar topic, Susan relaxed visibly. "That's why Ronnie got to keep Maria. She cooks so well that if she worked for me I'd be as big as a house."
"Sometimes I feel that way too," Rose said, patting her stomach. Just then John came scampering out into the kitchen.
"Mommy, I want some soda."
"You need to say please and you have to ask your Aunt Ronnie," his mother said. He looked over at his tall aunt and repeated his question properly.
"Of course."
"Aunt Rose, can I sit on your lap?" His innocent question was met by startled eyes. "Please?" he added, thinking that was the problem.
"Um well..."
"If Aunt Rose wants to let you sit on her lap, that's up to her," Susan said. She looked at Ronnie and nodded.
"Sure, if you want to, that's fine." Rose pushed her chair back a bit to give him some room. He quickly climbed up and pulled her arm around his middle to keep from sliding off. "Are your brothers letting you play with them?" she asked in his ear.
"No, they're no fun to play with," John pouted.
"Jack's no better," Susan said. "I swear the instant that controller gets in his hand his age drops thirty years." The sounds of boys arguing drew their attention. "I'd better go see what they're up to before one of them kills the other." She stood up and held her had out to her youngest son. "Come on, John."
"We'll be there in a minute," Ronnie said, standing close to Rose's chair. Once they were alone, she leaned down for a kiss. "I think Susan's warming up to you."
"I don't know. When you touched me she looked like she swallowed a bug."
"But even after that she let John sit on your lap and call you Aunt Rose."
"Mmm, that's true." She allowed Ronnie one more kiss before reaching for her crutches. "Did you call for the pizzas yet?"
"Damn, knew I forgot something. What did everyone want?"
"Two large mushroom, two supreme, and you wanted your pepperoni and mushroom." Susan's shrill voice came from the living room. Apparently there was a battle of wills going on between her and her twelve year old son, Ricky. "Can you call it in for me? It's three on the speed dial."
"Sure." Rose picked up the phone and pressed the button while Ronnie went to prevent World War Three. She got through on the first try and placed the order. She hung up and positioned her crutches under her arms when the phone rang. Thinking it was the pizza place calling back, Rose picked it up. "Hello?"
"R-Ronnie?" She didn't recognize the voice but she certainly understood the tone. The woman on the other end of the phone was crying.
"No, this is Rose."
"Would you please tell Ronnie that her mother is on the phone? I-it's very important," Beatrice sniffed.
"Hold on just a second." Realizing that she couldn't hold the phone in one hand and use her crutches, Rose set it down on the counter and worked her way into the living room.
Accidental Love Ó 1998 B L Miller. Do not distribute or copy without permission of the author except for personal use.