A Fight For Love

“I guess Merseyside beats Uncle Sam any given day,” Cynthia said, with a satisfied smile.

“And that is just another feather in his cap. I don’t know about you, but this guy is looking better to me every single day,” Rochelle said.

“Yeah, I heard you saying that if you were not with Tony you would have been with Pete,” Cynthia said.

“Have you heard his accent? That man can make any woman’s panties drop just by asking for directions,” Rochelle said.

“Oh yeah. A few years ago, he would have asked me Hey chuck, can I take you back to my place and give you a spanking,” Desiree said in a fair approximation of Pete’s dreamy Liverpudlian tones. “Trust me, back then, that line out of Pete and voila, Bob’s your uncle,” she added smiling.

“So you guys really think I should give this a chance?” Cynthia asked.

“Well, honey, it is your life,” Rochelle said.

“Rochelle’s right. But you have been taken a really long time taking care of us, and now it is about time someone took care of you,” Desiree said.

“Maybe I am just scared to give in to my emotions and be drawn into the cycle of disappointment again,” Cynthia said.

“Yes, but you can’t keep your life on hold because you are scared. That is no way to live,” Rochelle said sternly.

“True ’dat. Look at me, if I had my past to go by I would most definitely have been alone because I would be scared of getting hurt again and Rochelle here has had the longest string of casual relationships I know,” Desiree said.

“Hey ,” Rochelle said trying to defend herself.

“And now she is finally settled down with Tony. And who knows, he might actually make an honest woman out of her,” Desiree went on, ignoring her sister’s attempts at protestation. Cynthia smiled and shrugged.

“You were a bit wild Rochelle. You have really turned over a leaf with Tony,” Cynthia said. “You were a serial dater at some point. And we all know that it was because of your experience with Mike,” she added. Rochelle rolled her eyes.

“Yes I know and please let bygones be bygones. Mike was an damn two-bit drunken a*shole who almost ruined me, but now I guess everything is different,” she said smiling.

“Mh hm, said the girl in love,” Desiree said. Rochelle giggled just as Cynthia’s phone began ringing. She looked at the phone and then looked up at her cousins. “It’s him, isn’t it?” Desiree asked. Cynthia nodded and walked out of the kitchen to go answer the phone in private. “So, what are your plans for tonight?” Desiree asked as she rubbed her neck.

“Well, nothing major. Just hooking up with Tony later go to his place to have pizza and a movie. You know, good old fashioned romance,” Rochelle said. “Why? Did you have something in mind?” she asked.

“No, I just really feel bad that I haven’t got to spend enough time with you guys this week,” she said. Rochelle smiled.

“How about Sunday dinner? For everyone,” she asked. Desiree smiled and nodded.

“I’d like that,” she said as she walked the dishes to the sink.

“By the way, Dee, I wanted to talk to you about something,” Rochelle said. Desiree turned around and leaned against the sink.

“Okay, what happened, and whose fault was it?” she asked.

“Hey, those days are gone. This is an actual serious, grown-up issue,” Rochelle said.

“Why do those words make me feel worse rather than calm me down?” Desiree asked frowning.

“Relax, it is actually about me working. Since I am through with college, I would like a part time gig as I wait for my internship to come through. I was wondering if you could hook me up with something at the store?” Rochelle asked. Desiree looked at her and smiled proudly.

“Of course. But why didn’t you ask Tony? I’m sure the pay would have been so much better than working in a retail store,” she said.

“Yeah, I don’t really want to be one of those women who just sponges off their boyfriend like a remora fish to a shark. I have already told Tony I don’t want to be an intern at his firm,” Rochelle said.

“Wow, who are you and what have you done to my sister?” Desiree asked smiling.

“I just want to be a self-made woman, Dee. That’s all,” Rochelle said shrugging.

“Well, I couldn’t be prouder of you. And yes, I will try and pull some strings and see what can happen. I hope you are fine with stacking shelves?” Desiree asked. “Because that’s the best I can do on short notice until I gets something else,” she said. Rochelle smiled gleefully.

“Perfect,” she said.

“Twelve fifty an hour,” Desiree said. Rochelle nodded.

“Perfect,” she said just as her phone rang.

“Looks like I will be the only one in the apartment today at this rate,” Desiree said under her breath as she walked out of the kitchen to her bedroom. All she could think of doing was staying home, preferably in bed, and watching endless TV. When she got to her room, she took off her work clothes and put on some comfortable slacks and a t-shirt. She held her hair up in a ponytail and placed her earnings neatly in the dresser drawer. When she was officially ready for bed, she got inside the covers and took her computer and switched it on. She had no idea what she had in mind. “Legal….Suits…Good Wife…Medical…Nurse Jackie…oh, Grey’s Anatomy,” she smiled as she clicked on the Grey’s Anatomy tab. “Have I missed out on three weeks already? Sh*t,” she thought as she loaded the three episodes onto the player, silently thanking God that no one had given her any spoilers. “And they are the most important shows, yet. The finale…Show me what you got Meredith Grey,” she thought as a smile played on her lips, her eyes fixated on the screen. She did not know how long she had been watching the show when she heard a soft knock on her door. She paused the player and looked up. “Come in,” she called. “Oh, hi guys. What’s up?” she asked when Cynthia and Rochelle walked into her room.

“Dee, there is something you need to know,” Rochelle said. Desiree shrugged.

“Out with it. Meredith has her hands deep in Owen Hunt’s chest and she just had a miscarriage, get this, while operating on Owen,” she said. “Come on, out with it. I need to get back to this,” she said as her eyes shifted from the computer screen and then to Rochelle and Cynthia.

“Well, this is…hard to say,” Cynthia said as she looked at Desiree.

“Okay you guys are officially freaking me out,” Desiree said as she put the computer on the bed. She pulled herself up and looked at them.

“I just talked to Tony, and he was taking one of his guys to the emergency room because he had an allergic reaction, and he bumped into Taylor,” Rochelle started.

“At the emergency room,” Desiree said. Rochelle nodded. “What? Did he take someone there or something?” Desiree asked again.