A Fight For Love

Chapter 7

The next few weeks after Taylor’s injury were pretty hard on Desiree. Even though he was awake and chatting cheerfully after two days, she was still not taking any chances. The doctors had put him on bed rest for the first week after he was discharged, and then told him to take it easy for a while.

“Most concussions cause physical and cognitive symptoms like headaches, moodiness, nausea and dizziness. So you might want to take it easy for a while,” Taylor’s doctor had advised. Feeling that he needed constant surveillance to stop him running off to get his hide tanned again, Desiree had temporarily moved into Taylor’s place to make sure she could keep her eye on him. She had hired a landscaper to make sure that Taylor’s help didn’t suffer.

Two weeks after they left the hospital, Taylor had almost totally recovered. But Desiree was still not convinced that he was the good old Taylor Ericson she knew and loved. Despite this, she was concerned that he was putting on a, stereotypically masculine, display of stoicism just to make her feel better. Ever since she started seeing him, she had never been so scared for him as she was when she learned that he was in hospital. It was on a Wednesday afternoon and Desiree had just made some chili con carne for lunch. She was setting the bowl on the table when Taylor walked into the kitchen.

“Something smells good,” he said as he sat down at the table.

“Chili con carne,” she said as she put a bowl of rice and her own chili on the table.

“At this rate, I am going to be as out of shape as you claimed Leon to be,” he said smiling.

“Come on, I always use lean meat and plenty of vegetables. There is no way I am losing that sexy six pack,” she said as she sat down.

“And the salsa. Don’t forget the salsa,” he said as he took a big bite.

“Perfect,” he said as he chewed.

“So, honey, how are you feeling?” she asked.

“Babe, I’m fine. I can go back to work now,” he said. Desiree frowned and looked at him.

“So soon?” she asked. Taylor laughed.

“Dee, it’s been two weeks,” he said.

“And I got you help,” she said as she took a bite of her own food.

“Oh come on, we can most definitely work something out ,and, contrary to what people think, staying home all day in front of the TV like a pothead drop-out can get quite boring with time,” Taylor said. Desiree reached for the rice and served a little into her bowl before putting it back down. “I am okay, you know. Totally,” he said as he looked at her.

“Really? Are the headaches gone?” she asked looking at her.

“Well, not really. They come and go but you get headaches too, right?” he said.

“Yes, but in my defense I did not get punched in the face one too many times,” she said, almost angrily. She hated having this talk with him over and over again. She placed her hand on his and sighed. “Do you know how scared I was? Do you have any idea how it is watching the love of your life literally fighting for theirs?” she asked as she looked into his eyes. Taylor lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her softly.

“I admit I have never been in the situation I put you in, but I have lost a number of friends in Iraq. And, if that comes anything close to what you had to go through, then there is no way I could ever apologize enough,” Taylor said in a soft voice.

“I just don’t ever want to lose you and I came really close to doing that and I can tell you babe, it sucked,” she said choking back a tear.

“You know, I am truly okay, and if you want I could prove it to you,” he said as he looked at her. Desiree smiled and shook her head.

“Oh you are not carrying me up the stairs mister. There is no way I am saying yes to that, ,” she said as she took another bite. Taylor laughed.

“Who said anything about carrying you?” he asked. She looked at him and shrugged.

“Remember you giving me this same speech last week just before you, literally, got me over your shoulder? It’s not going to happen this time, honey. No way José,” she said before taking another bite. He pushed his chair away from the table and then pulled her chair towards her. She gasped as he pulled her and looked into his eyes. “Ericson, what are you doing?” she asked in a low voice as he slipped a hand behind her neck and pulled her towards him.

“Hold that thought,” he said before kissing her nose. He rose from his seat but Desiree held his hand. He turned around and looked at her. “What?” he asked.

“You sit your pretty white a*s down. I’ll get the door,” she said as she stood up from her seat. Taylor opened his mouth to speak but Desiree put her finger to his lips. “You remember that I was actually feeling that kiss and that I want to pick up our last conversation where we left off,” she said as she walked to the door. “Hey guys,” she said when she opened the door. Her sister, cousin, Tony and Pete were all there.

“It’s been a while,” Rochelle said as she hugged Desiree.

“Yeah we thought we’d come and check on you two since you have been MIA for a while,” Tony said before kissing Desiree’s cheek. Cynthia and Pete said hello and then walked into the house.

“The scran smells delicious,” Pete said.

“That’s good old American chili con carne, my Scouse friend,” Taylor said as the group walked into the kitchen.

“And we have plenty to go around. Why don’t you guys take your seats and I’ll get you some?” Desiree said as she walked over to the stove.

“We didn’t want to inconvenience you, so we passed by the Thai place and got something for everyone,” Tony said.

“Well, we can have the chili and maybe finish it off with Thai?” Desiree asked.

“American and south East Asian, and a bevvy, all in one night, sorted man” Pete said, running his fingers through his curly blond hair

“You are one lucky man tonight,” Cynthia said. “And maybe a little luckier later,” she said, winking, although everyone at the table understood her. Desiree and Rochelle exchanged an all knowing look and smiled. Rochelle got up from the table and took some bowls from the cupboard and passed them to her sister as she dished up the chili.

 “So, my man, how have you been feeling?” Tony asked as he looked at Taylor.

“I’m good. I have actually been fine for days, but someone is still treating me like an invalid,” Taylor said as he looked at Desiree. “Not that I am pointing any fingers or anything.” He added.

“Then how come I can feel the finger being pointed at me,” Desiree asked as she put the

 “Well, is right, man, she was a little scared. I mean, I had only known her for a few days but I can tell an honest to God panic face when I see one, I’m tellin’ ye” Pete said.