Accidental Love

by BL Miller

  It took every ounce of concentration to keep her smile when Tommy appeared in front of her.

  "Nice party, Sis."

  "Sorry you can't stay longer," she said without a hint of sincerity. "I suppose I'll see you in the office tomorrow?"

  "No can do, Ronnie. I'll be in the field all day, but hey, if I get a minute I'll swing by and say hello. Hi, Mother." Beatrice and Elaine appeared forcing Ronnie to swallow the comment she wanted to say.

  "Mother, leaving so soon?"

  "It's almost eleven, Veronica. We still have to drop Elaine off at the Hilton."

  "I could take Aunt Elaine there," Tommy offered pleasantly.

  "Oh, that is so nice of you, dear, but the driver can take her. I wouldn't want to burden you." She kissed her son on the cheek. "He is so much like his father, isn't he, Elaine?"

  "Very much," the matriarch's sister agreed, much to Ronnie's annoyance.

  "Well, at least let me escort you two lovely ladies to your car." He hooked his arm through his mother's. "Night Ronnie. I had a good time. We should do this again."

  "Good night, Mother," she said, ignoring her brother's comment. She kissed the proffered cheek and stepped back. "Aunt Elaine, it was nice seeing you."

  "You too, dear." Tommy and the two women stepped out into the cold air of the night. Ronnie took a deep breath and released it, feeling the heavy blanket of stress that had covered her all evening slip away.

  Ronnie checked all the doors and set the alarm system once everyone was gone. "I'm glad that's over." She shut the Christmas tree lights off and turned to face Rose. "So. That's my family. What do you think?"

  "There sure are a lot of them," Rose replied. "Tyler's nice."

  "He's too young to be a snob." Ronnie looked at her carpet. "Look at that. I knew someone would burn it." She scanned the rest of the room looking for damage, then realized that it was far too quiet. "Rose?" She didn't expect to see the sad face looking back at her. "Hey," Long legs crossed the room quickly. "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing. I guess I'm just tired, that's all," came the soft reply, although the young woman refused to look at her.

  "No, there's more to it than that." Ronnie sat down on the coffee table, her knee touching the right wheel of the chair. "What's going on, Rose? Did someone say or do anything to upset you?"

  There was silence for a moment before she received an answer. "Are you embarrassed by me?"

  "Why would you say that?"

  Rose shrugged. "I don't know, never mind."

  "No." She reached out and placed her hand on the smaller one. "Is this because I lied to Susan?" The quick look away gave her the answer. "Rose, I'm not embarrassed or ashamed of you."

  "Then why did you make up that story about me being a sorority sister?" Green eyes looked at her, revealing the confusion and hurt.

  "I don't know," Ronnie sighed. "I am not ashamed or embarrassed by you. If anything I'm embarrassed by my family." She pulled her hand back and ran her long fingers through her dark hair. "Susan didn't believe me anyway." Realizing she still owed Rose an explanation, she continued. "I guess I just figured it was easier."

  "Then telling them the truth? That I'm just a poor bum with nowhere else to stay?" Rose turned her head away, blinking rapidly to keep the tears in check.

  "No. That's not it at all." She reached out and captured the young woman's chin with her fingers.

  "You are here because I want you to be here, not because there was nowhere else for you to stay," she said emphatically. "My family wouldn't understand that. I'm sorry if my attempt to protect you made you feel that I was embarrassed by you." She released Rose's chin and looked down. Fucked up again, she thought to herself. "You know how everyone acted toward you because you were in a wheelchair?"

  "Yeah?"

  "If they knew that you didn't come from money, it would have been much worse. You would have been the topic of conversation instead of the hors d'oeuvres."

  "So instead of being the cripple, I would have been the poor cripple living off you," the young woman clarified.

  Ronnie chewed her lower lip, trying to think of a way to deny the truth in Rose's words. Finally she gave a defeated nod. "That is how they would have seen it, yes, but that's not how I see it and that's all that matters." She patted Rose's hand and stood up. "Right now, I think we'd better let Tabitha out before she decides to claw her way through the door."

  The clock on the stand next to the bed read 12:15 by the time Rose was changed out of the blue dress and back into the Dartmouth nightshirt. Pacing back and forth across the bed was Tabitha, still loudly protesting her time in confinement and demanding extra attention. Ronnie helped the young woman into bed and adjusted the pillows. "All set?"

  "Yeah, I guess so." Rose looked around. "Do you know where my Percocet is? I thought it was on the stand but I don't see it."

  "Sure do." Ronnie headed into the bathroom. "I put it here so Tyler wouldn't find it," she called out. Rose heard the medicine cabinet open and poured herself a cup of water in preparation. The sound of items being shoved back and forth on the shelves caused her to turn her head in the direction of the bathroom.

  "Is something wrong?" She was answered with the continued moving about of items followed by the slamming of the medicine cabinet. "Ronnie?"

  The black-haired woman exited the bathroom, her face an unreadable mask. "Someone took it."

  "The Percocet is gone?" The throbbing in Rose's legs that had begun earlier seemed to intensify at the news. Ronnie began pacing back and forth between the bed and the desk, her anger rising with each step.

  "Tommy. I'll bet you anything it was him. I can't fucking believe he did that." Her hands balled up into fists and her jaw was visibly clenched. "Bastard comes into my home and does this to you. He had to know those were for you, your name was on the bottle. What kind of asshole takes medicine away from someone who so obviously needs it?"

  "You don't know for sure that it was him."

  "Oh yes I do. I can feel it." Her leather chair got in the way of her pacing and she gave it a hard shove. "Unbefuckinglievable."

  "Hey…" Rose said softly, reaching out and putting her hand on Ronnie's forearm, feeling the muscles bunched up beneath the skin. She let her thumb slip to the soft underside of the angry woman's arm and began gently rubbing. "There's nothing you can do about it now."

  Ronnie's fury was close to the breaking point when she felt the soft touch. For reasons she could not explain, the anger seemed to dissolve, the tensed muscles relaxing under the soothing motion of Rose's thumb. She nodded in agreement and tried to think of a solution to their immediate problem. "I'll call the doctor. Maybe she can give you a new prescription." She headed to her desk and grabbed the thick phone book. "I'm sure there's a twenty-four hour pharmacy somewhere." Ronnie flipped through the yellow pages, tearing several of them in the process with her desperation. "Doctors, see Physicians. Damn it, why can't they make it easy to find?"

  "Ronnie…"

  "Barnes…Barnes…there's no Barnes listed. I'll try the hospital." More pages flipped, more torn.

  "Ronnie…"

  "It'll be all right, Rose. We'll get a new prescription and you'll be all set in no time."

  "Ronnie!"

  "What?" She finally looked up from her frantic searching.

  "Stop."

  "But-"

  "It's too late to do anything now. I'll have to wait until morning."

  "Rose, you can't wait until morning." She looked back down at the yellow pages. "Look, there's an all-night pharmacy less than five miles from here."

  "You can't go out now."

  "Sure I can. I can be there and back within a half hour." She reached for the phone.

  "Ronnie, no." She shifted, well aware of the pain in her legs. "It's starting to snow out there."

  "So? I've driven in snow before." Her hand rested on the phone but did not pick it up. "Rose, you need the Percocet, you know that. How are you going to make it through the night without it?
"

  "I'll have to manage. Ronnie, I don't want you to drive tonight. It's snowing and you've been drinking."

  "I haven't had that much. I'm fine to drive." She rose to her feet, fully intending to change into more suitable clothes to go out.

  "I'm sure the person who hit me felt the same way." Rose said quietly, causing Ronnie to stop and look at her, the words hitting home harder than she realized. "I don't ever want you to have to go through that."

  Even though Ronnie knew she was unable to argue the point, she hesitated before lowering her head. "Are you sure that's what you want? I could take a cab," she offered.

  "No. It's too late. Please, I can make it through one night." Even as she said the words, Rose was not at all sure. The pain had been steadily increasing and she really wished she had a pill at that moment. "Maybe you have some Tylenol or Advil?"

  "You know they won't touch the pain."

  "It's better than nothing."

  Ronnie left and returned a minute later with several bottles of over-the-counter pain-killers from her medicine cabinet. While upstairs collecting them, she also grabbed her sweats and T-shirt to sleep in, knowing the couch would be her bed tonight. There was no way she was going to leave Rose all alone downstairs. She went into the bathroom and changed while Rose sifted through the various products promising to relieve pain and took three pills.

  "You need anything else?" Ronnie asked when she returned.

  "No, I think I'm all set." She reached for the covers, but her benefactor was faster.

  "I got it. Move, Tabitha." The feline protested but moved out of the way. Ronnie tucked the blanket around Rose's body. "There you go."

  "Thanks." The orange and white cat jumped back up and resumed her position on the bed.

  "If you need anything, I'll be out on the couch."

  "Oh Ronnie, you don't have to do that. I'm sure your bed is much more comfortable."

  "No, really, the couch is fine. I'll leave the door open in case fuzzball needs to get out." She reached over and petted the purring feline. "Do you need anything else?"

  "No, I think I'm all set."

  "Okay then, I guess it's time to say good night."

  "Good night, Ronnie."

  "Good night, Rose." She smoothed an imaginary wrinkle in the blanket before heading to the door. "Remember, if you need anything, just call out. I'm a light sleeper."

  "I will," the young woman promised as the light was shut off and Ronnie left the room.

  part 6

  Swirling memories of Christmases past danced in the wealthy woman's dreamscape; presents wished for and received, laughter and merriment, wrapping paper ripped apart in anticipation of the treasures hidden within. The sound of someone crying slowly broke through the fog, pulling Ronnie away from her childhood and back to the present. Her eyes opened to the darkness of night and it took her a moment to realize where she was and what she was hearing. "Rose," she whispered to herself, shaking off the weight of sleep and getting up.

  "Rose?" she called from the doorway.

  "Did I wake you? I'm sorry," the young woman choked, grateful the darkness kept her tears hidden from her friend's gaze.

  "I knew the stuff I had wouldn't do any good," Ronnie said as she entered the room and sat down on the bed. "You want me to run out now? I'm completely sober."

  Rose shook her head. "No, please don't leave." The pain was practically unbearable but the thought of suffering through it without Ronnie was even worse. "Please." She reached out and gripped the larger hand with her own. "Can you…can you stay here with me?" There was a shift in weight as the taller woman slipped under the covers.

  "I'm right here." Ronnie moved as close as she dared, telling herself it was for Rose's comfort and not her own. She was surprised when she felt the soft cheek press up against her shoulder.

  "Is this all right?" the young woman whispered. Ronnie felt the tears soak through her cotton tee and realized Rose must have been crying for quite a while before she had been awakened.

  "It's fine," Ronnie answered, moving a bit closer.

  "It hurts," Rose admitted, lifting her head to allow Ronnie's arm to slip underneath. They shifted their bodies into more comfortable positions, at least as comfortable as they could considering the injured woman could not roll onto her side because of her broken legs. Ronnie managed to bury her face into the soft golden hair, breathing in the gentle scent. Rose found herself snuggled into the crook of the older woman's shoulder, a place far more comfortable to her than the softest pillow could ever be. In Ronnie's arms she felt safe, protected, cared for. The throbbing pain was still there, yet somehow it seemed bearable now. Within moments both women were fast asleep.

  ***************

  Rose awoke to throbbing pain in her legs and the sound of Ronnie clacking away on the computer. "Good morning," she yawned, snuggling back into the warmth of her pillow.

  "Morning. Your pills are there on the stand." The executive stopped typing and turned around to face her. It was then that Rose noticed Ronnie was dressed for work, a tailored gray skirt and blazer combination accented by a cream colored blouse.

  "You went out already?" The young woman sat up slowly, clearly surprised.

  "I called the hospital as soon as I woke up and explained the situation to them." She moved her chair closer and poured a glass of water from the pitcher. "Doctor Barnes was there and had another prescription in for you right away," she said while handing the cup to Rose. "Then it was just a matter of running out and picking it up." She watched the young woman take her pills before she turned and pressed a few more keys. "I've got to get going. Do you need anything before I leave?"

  "No, I'm sure Karen will be here soon. Is Maria here?"

  "Yeah, she got here about a half hour ago. I'll let her know you're awake." Ronnie stood up and shut the computer off. "Are you sure I can't get you anything?"

  "No, really, I'm all set. You have a good day at work. Do you think Tommy will be there?"

  "I doubt it. He said something last night about not being in the office today." A flash of anger over last night's events clouded her features. "He'd better not show up either." She reached over and gave Tabitha a quick pet. "My office number is two on the speed dial if you want to give me a call."

  "Oh, I wouldn't want to bother you or anything." Rose silently wished Ronnie would give her a hug goodbye but could not bring herself to ask for one.

  "If you feel like calling, you just do it. Don't worry about bothering me because you won't." She hesitated for a moment. "It's kinda nice to hear a friendly voice in the middle of the day."

  "Okay then. I'll call you later." She set the glass down and looked at her friend. "Ronnie?"

  "Mmm?"

  "Thank you for running out this morning. I really appreciate it."

  Ronnie smiled. "You're welcome." She reached out and gave Rose's hand a squeeze. "Now I really do have to get to work. Call me later, okay?"

  "Okay."

  ********************

  It was late afternoon when the door to Ronnie's office opened and Susan entered, carrying a manila folder. "I was right," the redhead said triumphantly as she tossed the folder onto the desk.

  "You were right about what?" Ronnie asked disinterestedly, not bothering to turn away from her computer.

  "Your guest." She picked up the folder and opened it, reviewing the information she had acquired. "Rose Grayson graduated from Albany High School. There is no record of her ever having attending college anywhere or owning a credit card. She doesn't even have a driver's license."

  Ronnie stood up quickly, sending her chair rolling back as she grabbed the folder out of Susan's hands. "You investigated her?"

  "I had to," the younger sister protested. "You obviously believe everything she says."

  "And what does it matter to you?"

  "Ronnie, she obviously has nothing and saw a good meal ticket."

  "You have no idea what you're talking about." She slammed the folder down on her
desk. "Rose is not using me."

  "No? Do you know where she was employed before you gave her a job?"

  "Money Slasher, I know. She was a cashier there."

  "A part time cashier," Susan corrected, "making minimum wage. From what I can tell, before that she bussed tables at a diner."