by Ali Vali
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"There you go, Desi. I'm sure you'll find this much more comfortable and it'll allow you to move around better. If you wait a moment, I'll run and get you some crutches to go with the beautiful brace you got today," said Beth, one of Harry's private practice nurses.
It had been two months since the accident and the fracture had healed fairly well so Harry was cutting down the size of the removable cast Desi had to wear, giving the young woman her freedom for the first time in what seemed like forever. Harry had been a mother hen with Desi, making sure she didn't take any unnecessary chances that would extend her recovery time. Desi was grateful now, since the report she had gotten that afternoon was that the bone in her leg was almost completely healed. Just a few more weeks and her amorous doctor would let her put weight on it.
"Thanks, Beth, is Harry around?"
"Yes, ma'am, she is. She's filling out your paperwork in her office. I made her go do something else before she drove me and the rest of the staff to drink with all that hovering."
"She is good at that, but you have to love her for it, at least I do. If you get those crutches ready I can go in there and surprise her."
"That, my dear, sounds like a wonderful idea. The girls and I want to thank you." Beth enjoyed the talk as she adjusted the walking aids to Desi's height.
"Whatever for?"
"Well it's not that Dr. Harry wasn't nice before, but being in love has sure mellowed her out. Believe me, she needed some mellowing out." Desi felt her face heat up at the complement, and felt the warm glow that had settled in her chest because of it.
"I'll try my best to make it permanent."
Beth helped her off the exam table, holding her until Desi found her balance. "If I'm not too out of line, I have to say you both look adorable in love."
Life was so good, but Desi hated that she was always waiting for the bad news to come around the corner and blindside her. She hadn't heard from Byron since his release, nor had they seen him and his family in the neighborhood again.
Jerry Castle, the attorney Harry had gotten her, had called to tell them the divorce was going smoothly and Byron had not put in a counter claim. The only slow down was that Jerry was having trouble getting the other attorney to return his calls. It wasn't as if he had bad news for the man, as much as Jerry wanted to ask for spousal support, knowing Desi was entitled to it, she had with Harry's guidance refused to ask for any.
After a long talk together, one night while they were in bed, Harry had explained that she made more than enough to support all of them, even if she had to support Rachel as well. It had taken some doing, but she finally got Desi to agree with her and accept her help. What she wanted more than anything was for Desi to take time to decide what she wanted to do, without any ties to Byron or his family. Desi had to agree it would make the divorce go faster, and it would torpedo Byron's defense at trial that Desi was only a disgruntled woman wanting a lot of alimony out of him.
Her intention had never been to ask for or accept anything long term from him, only something to get to a point where she could take care of herself. With Harry, Desi could now take her time getting to that place, and with Harry her plans had changed. Desi didn't just want to be able to care for herself but for Harry as well. She wanted a full life and a partnership with the only person she'd ever loved, and Desi wanted to start as soon as possible.
The only thing missing was the intimacy she wanted to share with Harry. Because of her injury and her marital status, they had put the breaks on their love life, but after some of their late night make out sessions Desi was about to explode. With a clean bill of health, the lighter cast she had been given, and the fact she was now legally separated, Desi set out to seduce Harry that night.
"Hey there, doc, can I come in?"
Harry looked up from the files she was writing in and smiled at her visitor. She knew Desi would take immediate advantage of walking around, even if it was with the assistance of the crutches. She had a surprise waiting for her at home too; one Mona promised would be set up before they got home.
"Hey you, I see Beth set you up." The leather of the chair creaked as Harry leaned back in her chair and put her hands behind her head.
"She sure did. You have the nicest people working for you, honey. Give me a few weeks and I'll demand a night on the town. A little dinner, a little dancing and you would be my idea of heaven."
"You need a little more than two weeks before you get to go dancing, but I promise as soon as you can, I'll fill up your dance card. To make it up to you, how about I take you out to dinner tonight?" Harry wiggled her brows and gave Desi her best smile.
"As in you're taking me out on a date?" For a woman in her thirties, Desi had never experienced much of what most people considered normal courting rituals. Those few weeks with Harry, once upon a time, when they'd finally admitted their feelings for one another, was it.
Harry heard the excitement mixed with wistfulness in Desi's voice and swore she'd do her best to always try and sweep her off her feet. "As in I'm taking you out on a date. I don't date much and I might be a little out of practice, so if you can stand my company I'd be honored to escort you tonight, Miss Desiree."
"It would be my pleasure."
She rested her crutches on the side of Harry's desk and took a seat on her lap. Desi had been asleep when Harry left that morning so she missed out on her good morning kiss. The more time they spent together, the more she missed the Harry when she left for the day.
To fill up her own day, Desi had been helping Tony finish the few rooms left in the house and shopping to add to what Tony felt was missing from her wardrobe. Harry had left instructions with their moody decorator that if Desi wanted the rooms already finished redone, then to go with whatever she wanted. Leaning over to kiss Harry, Desi ran her fingers through the thick curly hair making Harry instantly relax. Maybe Beth was right, Harry was more content since they had gotten back together.
"Any requests on where you would like to go?" asked Harry as she pulled back to look at Desi.
"It doesn't matter, as long as I'm with you, that's all I care about. I know this isn't the best time to bring this up, but Jerry called today." She pulled softly on Harry's neck so she could kiss her again. "I'd rather kiss you or talk about fun places to go, so forgive me for ruining the mood by bringing up my divorce attorney."
"It's not a mood killer, baby. Just think of Jerry as the guy helping you to the finish line when it comes to the Simoneauxs." Harry went back to kissing Desi's neck, ready to hear what Desi had to say.
Desi's champion had bullied Jerry into looking into every divorce law in the state of Louisiana to see if there was any way to speed up the process. Harry figured if you married an abuse asshole there should be some sort of fast track to get out of the relationship, but there wasn't. The only good news they received on the subject was that the law had been changed from a year and a day of living separate and apart, to six months. Four months to go, then Desi would finally be rid of the bastard she had been saddled with.
"What did he want?"
"He said Byron's attorney still isn't calling him back about all this because Byron in turn won't return any of his calls. He keeps telling his attorney we're working all of this out and there won't be any divorce. I'm getting kinda worried, Harry. What if he decides to come after you and hurts you? I can't stand the thought of something happening to you." It was true that she hadn't heard from her soon to be ex-husband, but it didn't mean Byron had forgotten about her.
She knew Byron well enough to know he wouldn't walk away without a fight, literally. Byron understood only one thing. If he didn't like something he balled his fists and beat it until it either surrendered or died, and every threat he'd ever made was forefront in her mind.
"Trust me, sweetheart, you've seen the last of Byron and his clan. The next time you lay eyes on him will be either at his trail, or your divorce proceedings.
I'm getting pissed that this whole thing is taking so long, but Serena tells me his attorney has filed everything he can think of to keep this out of court. I promised her if he gets away with what he did to you, I'd teach him a lesson with a baseball bat he won't soon forget. I just want you to promise me you'll be careful until this is all resolved. Don't go anywhere without the security guy I hired, and stay vigilant of your surroundings." Harry's hands framed Desi's face as she issued her warning. It was an exercise in willpower to leave the house every morning now and not stay to take care of the woman she loved.
"I promise." She kissed Harry once more before moving to get up. "Are you ready to go, or do you have more patients?"
"As a matter of fact I have one more patient for today, then I'll treat my best girl to dinner. Want to come meet him? He's one of the players for the Saints. They had bad luck with broken ankles this past season that ruined their playoff hopes, but we'll always hold out hope for next year." Harry helped Desi onto her feet then stood up to join her.
"That sounds fun. Are you sure he won't be upset if I'm in there with you?"
"Unless he's modest about showing off his foot I don't think so." They entered the exam room nearest the waiting room where one of the largest men Desi had ever laid eyes on was sitting up on the table. It was exciting meeting one of the players she saw on television quite often, but it was a bigger thrill when Harry introduced Desi as her girlfriend.
Assuring Desi they didn't need to go home and change to go to dinner, Harry headed in the direction of one of her favorite restaurants. Before arriving she asked Desi a serious question. "You do like Chinese food don't you?"
"It's one of my favorites actually. Why?"
"I'm just checking. I'd hate to have to end this relationship before it got off the ground if you found it offensive. I love you but I'm not giving up Chinese food for you." The teasing explanation made Desi laugh as Harry pulled into the parking lot of the Five Happiness Restaurant.
The owner, an attractive oriental woman, came out from behind the podium and hugged Harry the minute she saw her. The woman's actions made Desi wonder if there were any women in the city who didn't find themselves comfortable within the circle of Harry's embrace. After seeing the arched eyebrow on Desi's face, Harry introduced her to the woman and her husband, who was still behind the desk. Before they were even seated at their table, Desi noticed an assortment of appetizers awaiting them. It was obvious this was one of Harry's favorite and frequent haunts.
After swallowing the piece of eggroll in her mouth, Desi decided to start the conversation she'd been putting off with Harry. She didn't want to assume anything about their future, but she was afraid of the answers she might get to the questions she had.
"Harry?"
"What, don't you like your food?"
"I love the food, honey, I just want to talk to you."
"I'm all ears, so shoot."
"Harry," Desi started again taking a deep breath before going on. "When do you want Rachel and me to move out? I don't want to overstay our welcome but I need some time to find a new place and a way to pay for it. Now that I have a little mobility back I can start looking for a job. It just might take a while since the only job I've ever had is working as a cashier in grocery store, but I had to quit when Byron decided no wife of his should be working," Desi fell silent as she thought about the door she had just opened. Harry had been quite candid up to now, and she expected she would be so on this topic as well.
"You aren't moving out and neither is Rachel. Well, Rachel is free to go whenever she finds someone special she wants to live with, but you're stuck with me." She put her hand up as if she'd thought of something else. "What I mean is, if you don't have any objections to staying with me, you aren't moving out. In the mean time if you want to find a job because you're bored sitting at home, and want something challenging to do, then go for it. I just ask that you wait until your leg is completely healed, especially if it's something that would require you to stand or move around at all."
"But I just can't stay with you and live off you forever. It isn't right, and I can't ask you to do that for both me and my sister."
"God you're stubborn, Desiree, that hasn't changed one bit since we met. You didn't ask me, I offered and there aren't any strings attached. I want to live with you and I know your sister comes as part of the package. That's why I bought a big house. Don't you want to live with me?" She pushed her plate away a little and dropped her fork.
Desi noticed Harry running her fingers through her hair and knew Harry was worried about their leaving. "You know I do, but I want to contribute something to this. You took care of us growing up and it shouldn't always fall to you to do that, honey."
"What are you talking about? You and Rachel do plenty for me, then and now. In school you were both there all the time cheering me on when I was playing whatever, and you took care of me all the time."
Desi blushed and shook her head. "I didn't do all that much."
"Are you kidding? My mother always got a kick out of watching you serve me dinner. I'm not sure where you picked up that little Spanish custom, but it made her happy to know I was in good hands, but not just because of what some might consider a subservient act. In our culture it just means you love the person you're doing it for, and that's how you always make me feel. You made sure I took care of myself then, and you're doing it now. But most important of all is that you love me. That was always payment enough for me and it would be no different now."
Desi held out her hand and Harry took it without hesitation. "I do want to take care of you and I want to build a life with you. After all that's happened, and all the years that were stolen from us, I just ask that you're patient with me. If you are, I promise to do everything I can to make you proud of me and happy that I'm a part of your life."
"I love you, Desi. I'm already proud of you, sweetheart. Now all I want is for you to be happy and find the things in life that'll keep you that way. Just lean on me when you need, and that'll make you strong enough in the future for me to be able to do the same in return. Think of it as a loan, not a monetary loan, but an emotional one. And I plan to collect on it for the rest of my life, if you'll have me. Life has been cruel enough to us, don't make it any harder by trying to separate us again. Unless you find my company horrible, I want you to stay. Besides, Mona would never forgive me if you left. She'd find some way to blame it all on me, and I know you don't want that." Harry reached over and placed her other hand against Desi's cheek, trying to convey the truthfulness of what she was saying.
"You're right, I don't want to leave, but I don't want you to think I was taking advantage of you. Did you really mean that I could get a job?" She felt selfish, but she leaned into the warm hand and soaked up the affection Harry was offering.
Harry could tell it was going to take some time for Desi to come to think of herself as a useful person. To see herself as someone who had something to offer the world, instead of an animal that was beaten when it did something its master didn't like. Her self worth and esteem was something that son of bitch had obviously taken away from her, one beating at a time. No matter how long it took her, Harry would try to build both back in the young vibrant woman.
"Honey, that's up to you. Just because you live with me doesn't mean I own you. If you really want a job, then go out and get one. What do you want to do?"
"I don't know, I don't have any experience doing anything," said Desi in a dejected voice. Besides graduating from high school, she hadn't taken any other form of training or continuing education because Byron wouldn't allow it. He always told her it was a waste of time and money.
"Why don't you give some consideration to going back to school? It would take some brushing up on the basics, but you could do it if you really wanted to. That way I can brag I'm going out with a coed. It doesn't even have to be college if that's not what you are interested in. You could go to work with Rachel for instance. Just think about it, you don't have to decide this v
ery minute," said Harry.
The more they talked the bigger the smile on Desi's face got. That fact lightened Harry's spirits knowing the Desi she remembered was still buried under the abuse Byron had heaped upon her. As much as that thrilled her though, she was looking forward to getting to know the woman Desi had become, and would eventually grow into.
The drive back to the house reminded Desi of their days in Harry's old two-seater. With the new brace on her leg she was able to ride up front with Harry, and they took advantage of the fact by holding hands. They had made plans to fly to Florida the next weekend to visit Harry's parents and her brother, Raul, who was practicing medicine in Fort Lauderdale. Having Raul live so close made Harry's mother, Maria happy, since she got to see her three grandchildren all the time. Desi was apprehensive about the trip, but Harry had assured her that her family held no ill will toward her in any way.
Holding the door for Desi to enter the house, Harry led the way to the stairs and the newest piece of equipment she had Mona install that afternoon. It was a motorized chair that would carry Desi to the second floor so she wouldn't have to maneuver the steps with her crutches. "You do think of everything, don't you, honey? Are you tired of carrying me up the steps?"
"That would be one of my most favorite parts of the day, but when I'm not around you can use this. I promise one more month tops, and you'll be getting around just like before, it's my money back guarantee. I just didn't want you to feel trapped upstairs when I'm not home."
Leaning Desi's crutches against the banister, Harry lifted her up into her arms and started the trek up to their bedroom. It had become just that in the past month, with the changes Tony and Desi had made. Tony explained to the doctor that since Desi was living there now, and it would be technically Desi's bedroom and she was allowed to redecorate.
