Post by rsafan on Nov 1, 2006 5:05:32 GMT -5
Chapter 19
“There she is right now.”
“Abby, maybe I shouldn’t do this.”
“What are you talking about? She stole Max from you; you have to call her on it.”
“I don’t even know her; she’s going to think I’m some psychotic person.”
“Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
“Victoria?”
Tory spun around, “Abby right?”
“Yeah, you remembered.”
“You’re Jack and Jennifer’s daughter.”
“I’d like you to meet someone. This is my best friend Chelsea, she also happens to be your half-sister.”
“Chelsea…” then she nodded, “I heard about you from your grandmother. Bo’s daughter with a Billie Reed right? You were also adopted.”
“Yeah.” Chelsea was still staring at her; she could definitely see why Max would want to go out with her. She was beautiful and she seemed real nice too, and she looked all sophisticated in her work clothes. Everything she, Chelsea, wasn’t.
“Well it’s really nice to meet you Chelsea. I hope we can be great friends, maybe get a cup of coffee together sometime, oh and Abby you’re invited too. I don’t really drink coffee, but everyone here seems to be addicted to the stuff.”
“Yeah, maybe.” She said dreamily.
“How about next week? I’m really busy right now but I should have time next week.”
It was Abby who responded, “I’ll have to check my schedule. We’ll let Max know. Come on Chelsea.” She pulled Chelsea along with her.
“Okay then it’s settled.” She smiled at them as they walked off.
As soon as they were out of earshot, she turned to her friend, “What’s wrong with you? You went all doe eyed, as though you’re in love with her.
“She seems nice.”
“She probably is, but she still stole your boyfriend so she can’t be all that nice. Remember that.”
*****
Two weeks later Victoria was sitting with Chelsea and Abby at Dotcom. Abby had gotten her number the day before from Shawn and had given her a call, after ensuring that Chelsea wasn’t going to be intimidated again. She got up from the table, excusing herself and giving Chelsea a chance to confront her sister. Once Abby had left, Chelsea pushed her drink away, “Victoria, can I ask you a question?”
Victoria smiled at her, “Didn’t really give me a choice there did you?”
The comment infuriated Chelsea, “Where do you get off?”
Victoria was caught completely off guard, she had meant the comment as a joke, yet Chelsea obviously hadn’t taken it as such. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Stealing your sister’s boyfriend, that’s what.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, who’s your boyfriend?”
“I can’t believe you. You have everyone fooled, but guess what. I’m not buying into that, ‘I’m a Saint’ role you’re playing.”
“I really didn’t even know you had a boyfriend, if you’d just tell me who he is, we can sort this misunderstanding out.”
“He’s the guy you’ve been seeing. Max Brady is my boyfriend. Or at least he was till he met you, then it was adieus Chelsea and hello Victoria. ”
“No, there’s got to be some mistake. Max… Max Brady…I didn’t steal him from you, I didn’t even know about you.”
“You really didn’t know did you?” When Victoria shook her head, “Well here’s a tip, next time ask!”
“Chelsea wait…” Victoria called after her but she’d already stormed out.
*****
Just as Victoria had been caught off guard by Chelsea’s little tirade, so was Max when she stormed into the garage and shouted at him, “How could you?”He looked up from under the hood of the car and asked her, “How could I what?”
“You knew I was having coffee with Abby today and you don’t even tell me that you used to date Chelsea?”
“Chelsea was there?”
“Yeah, Chelsea was there. Chelsea was there and boy did I get an earful, something about stealing her boyfriend who just happens to be you.”
“You didn’t steal me.” He pointed out.
“I know that, but she seems to think that you dated the both of us at the same time.”
“About that…” the guilty expression on his face said it all.
She looked at him dismayed, “Oh Max you didn’t.”
“I fell for you the very first day I saw you. I fell hard.”
“I know, you’ve told me often enough.”
“If I happened to be seeing Chelsea at the time it’s not my fault.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, “It is if you dated me while you were still in a relationship with her.”
“I broke it off with her long before I ever kissed you.”
“Really, and that makes it alright?”
“I’m prepared to do some serious grovelling if it’ll help.” He reached for her but she stepped away from him, tossing him a clean cloth.
“How serious?”
“Well, we can start with dinner at Chez Rouge.”
“Hauling out the big guns are we?”
“Only the best for you. So is it working?”
“I don’t know. I’m caught up in a major moral dilemma here; I’m thinking I might have to stop seeing you.”
That stopped him in his tracks, “What? Why?”
“Because you’re just no good for me. Your kisses give me butterflies and the way you look at me makes my knees go weak. Not to mention the fact that when you’re around I’m in serious danger of forgetting my manners.”
He smiled and pulled her to him, “And we can’t have that now can we?”
“As a properly brought up English lady, such behaviour is sacrilege. So you understand why I just cannot continue seeing you?”
He brought his lips to within an inch of hers, “Sure, but it’s a d**n shame that you’re going to be spending so much time with your eyes closed. I love your eyes.”
She smiled, “You do?”
“Yeah, about as much as I love your lips, and your hair. You’ve got a great pair of legs and don’t even get me started on your behind.” and then he was kissing her and her only thought for a while was that he shouldn’t ever stop, but he did.
She slipped her arms around his neck, “I think I may have to break some rules for you, it’s a good thing my mom’s not around to witness my behaviour. What on earth would she think about me kissing you so brazenly in a public garage?”
“Wait till I get you somewhere private, I’ll show you brazen.”
“Promises, promises.”
*****
Shawn guided Mimi into their apartment, “Okay you can open your eyes now.”When she did, she was transported to another world, there was a table set for two and there were candles and flowers everywhere. It was so romantic and upon seeing it, she promptly burst into tears.
“Did I do something wrong?”
She shook her head, “No everything’s perfect.”
“Then why are you crying?”
“I don’t deserve you; you’re too good for me.”
“Because I made dinner?”
“Because you made dinner and there’s candles and music and…” the tears started flowing again.
“Mimi?”
“I’m sorry; I don’t know why I’m so emotional. Thank you, I love it, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“What’s this?” Mimi glanced at the pile of laundry sitting on the sofa.
“I did the laundry too.”
She smiled at him, “You did the…” picking up a t-shirt, she threw it at him, “You didn’t even do it right. I have a system Shawn.”
“I thought I was doing you a favour.”
She went through everything, checking what she’d need to do over. “Well next time don’t bother. Now I have to wash all these things over. Do you have any idea how long that’s going to take me?”
“Probably not as long as it took me to do it in the first place.”
Turning on him, “I’m sorry what did you just say? Are you seriously complaining? I didn’t ask you to do the laundry Shawn;” she threw what she had in her arms at him, “No you took it upon yourself. If you’d thought to ask me, I might’ve told you how to do it properly.”
“I didn’t ask you because I wanted it to be a surprise but don’t worry I won’t be making that mistake again.”
“What’s going on here?” Phillip picked up a shirt that was lying on the counter, “is everything okay?” he had to dodge a jeans that came flying in his direction, Belle wasn’t as lucky and got it full in the face.
“Just don’t try and do me any favours okay? Next time just leave everything the way it was.” And Mimi stormed into the room slamming the door behind her.
“Would someone care to explain to me what just happened?”
Phillip tossed him the t-shirt, and pointed out, “She’s pregnant man.”
“And that explains why she’s all happy one minute because I made dinner and the next she’s biting my head off for doing the laundry the wrong way. The wrong way? I didn’t even know there was a wrong way. I thought that as long as they were clean that was okay.”
“The road you are about to travel over the next few months is not a pleasant one, You’ve just had your first taste of a wild mood swing, the journey ahead will be littered with these little bumps in the road they will occur without warning and may last any amount of time. Soon you’ll be passing through the valley of cravings which will include 2am jaunts to the convenience store for any range of goodies, most of which no sane person would ever think of eating. The bigger she gets, the worst it’ll get until you’re praying for the day that baby finally arrives.”
Belle hit Phillip in the chest, “Phillip don’t tease him. It’s normal Shawn; just let her know that you’re there for her and that you love her.”
“You may also have to assure her from time to time that you’re not going to leave her for a younger, more slender model.”
“Just ignore him. The two of you are going to be fine and you’ll laugh over this in years to come. Just be patient and supportive.”
