Ronnie looked at her quizzically, then rose and went to the foot of the bed. Within seconds the oversized socks were removed to reveal Rose’s toes. “When was the last time someone gave you a pedicure?”


“That was it, if you could call that a pedicure. I just use clippers to keep them short now. Ow, easy.”


“Oh, sorry,” Ronnie apologized, letting go of the little toe she had moved to get a better look at the one next to it. Can you feel that in your ankle?”


“Yeah, that’s why I don’t wiggle them. My legs hurt enough as it is.”


“When was the last time you took anything?”


“No, it’s not that bad right now. I’d rather wait until I really need it.”


Ronnie looked up and remembered what she wanted to do that evening. “Are you ready to get your hair washed?”


“You figured out a way?” She sat up, prepared to get back into the wheelchair.


“No, you stay here. I’ve got it all worked out so you don’t have to get out of bed.” She looked at the adjustable bed, currently up in a comfortable angle. “You’re gonna have to lay the bed flat, though.”


A few minutes later Rose was lying on her back across the bed, her head hanging off the side. A towel braced behind her shoulders dangled down to protect the mattress from any soapy water. Ronnie was sitting on a stool taken from the kitchen, the white five-gallon bucket nestled between her knees. A large towel lay on the floor below to catch any spills. “You ready?” she asked.


“Yeah.”


Ronnie poured the water slowly over the blonde locks, using her other hand to help distribute the liquid over all the hair. She poured a generous amount of shampoo on her hand and worked it into a lather. Ronnie did her best to support Rose’s head, taking some of the strain off the young woman’s neck. “How’s that feel?”


“Niiiice,” she murmured, green eyes half-closed. “You have strong fingers.”


“I work out. Am I pressing too hard?”


“Oh no, it’s just right.”


“Good.” Ronnie continued to work her digits into the soft hair, thoroughly cleaning it. “Time to rinse. Keep your eyes closed.” Using her left hand to hold Rose’s head up, she gently rinsed the shampoo out. Once the majority was gone, she put another dollop of the strawberry scented liquid into her hand. “Round two.”


“You’re going to wash it again?” Rose asked with surprise.


“Of course. You know the directions. Lather, rinse, repeat.” She worked the shampoo into the golden hair before the young woman could tell her not to. “I take it you only wash it once?”


“Yeah, it uses less shampoo that way. My hair always looks clean. Lots of people only wash it once.” Rose leaned into the gentle but firm pressure of Ronnie’s fingers. She was treated not only to a second washing, but to having conditioner combed through her hair. Twice the executive had to get more water but the results were worth it. The soft overhead light bounced off the various shades of Rose’s hair, creating a golden aura around the young woman’s face.


“Looks great.” the dark-haired woman said, noting the smile that came to her companion’s face upon looking at herself in the hand held mirror. “Doesn’t she, Tabitha?” she asked the cat who decided the water was no longer a threat.


“Mrrow?” Two seconds later, the orange and white purring machine was perched across Rose’s belly.


“Ooof, you are definitely gaining weight.”


“I think Maria’s giving her scraps but I can’t prove it,” Ronnie said with a smile. “I just know that every time she’s cooking that furball comes out of the kitchen licking her lips.”


. The deep tones of the doorbell rang throughout the house. “Who could that be at this hour?” Ronnie asked, looking at the clock on the stand. “It’s almost ten.” The doorbell rang again, this time accompanied by furious pounding against the solid oak door.


“Ronnie? Ronnie, open the fucking door!” The shout followed by more pounding and tones from the bell.


“I’ll be right back.” She slipped her sneakers on and tucked the excess lace into the sides. Tabitha jumped off the bed, sensing something more interesting was about to happen in the other room.

“Oh no you don’t. You stay here with your mother.” Ronnie picked up the protesting feline and set her back on the bed, this time within reach of Rose’s hand.



* * *

“Ronnie! Open this fucking…” The words died in Tommy’s throat when he saw the outside light come on and heard the lock being turned. “Well it’s about time.”


“What are you doing here at this hour?” she scowled, having no doubt her younger brother was quite drunk.


“What the hell are you trying to do to me?” Tommy pushed his way past her and through the foyer into the living room. “I don’t show up to work ONE day and you order a fucking audit?”


“This is not the time to talk about this, Tommy. Go home and sleep it off.” Ronnie moved between him and the office, trying to guide him back toward the door. She put her hand on his arm only to have it shoved off.


“Fuck you, Ronnie!” He paced to the other side of the room and punched the wooden front of the entertainment center cabinet. He turned to face her and she could clearly see several days growth on his face as well as the unkempt hair and clothes. Tommy had obviously been on a bender and had only now heard the news. “What do you think I’m doing? Stealing from my own company?”


“I don’t know what you’re doing, but I am not going to let it continue,” she shouted back, her own short temper showing. “What is it, Tom? Drugs? Gambling?”


“Go to hell, Miss High and Mighty God of everything!” His fist slammed into the cabinet with enough force to knock a tiny vase off the top. Only the thick plush carpet kept the antique from breaking.


“Get out of my house, Tommy.”


“Your house,” he scoffed. “I grew up in this fucking house. What gives you the right to tell me to get out?”


“I bought the house fair and square from Mother and you know it.” Her eyes narrowed at the wild, almost inhuman look in her brother’s eyes. Tommy was strong enough on his own, but if he was on drugs…


Ronnie’s suspicions were confirmed a few seconds later when he lifted the end of the heavy coffee table and upended it. “You act like you’re an angel but you’re not, Ronnie.” For the moment, he was standing still so she kept her distance. Her heart pounded as the adrenaline pumped through her. “You sit in that office day after day. You have NO idea what it’s like to work for a living,” he spat, “I can’t just snap my fingers and make your wallet bigger.”


“No, but you can forge my signature on a loan,” she retorted.


“What?”


“You defaulted on a loan and they had my name on it as a cosigner. Why would you need a cosigner, Tommy?”


The sandy haired man blinked a few times as the information sunk in. “Shit. That’s all you’re ever worried about, isn’t it? The fucking money?”


“Someone has to worry about it. You certainly don’t. Now get out of my house!”


“This is not over! I don’t care what your damn audit turns up, you can’t kick me out of the company.” A thought occurred to him. “You may own the most stock but you don’t have controlling interest. You think anyone is going to vote with you to get rid of me?” He gave a short laugh, his energy fading as the high he had been riding began to wear off. “Face it, Ronnie. You can’t do a thing about me. You think Mom is going to vote with you to toss me out? Frank?

Susan? You can’t win this battle.” He made his way toward the door. “Any fool can see that. Leave me alone, Sis, or you will regret it.” Tommy slammed the door behind him, the sound reverberating throughout the room. Ronnie’s heart was pounding and she could only guess how scared Rose was.


“You okay?” Ronnie asked when she entered the room. She noticed the pallor of fear on the blonde woman’s face. “Hey, it’s okay.”


“He was pretty angry. What went crashing?” Rose’s demeanor was calmer now that she knew Ronnie was safe. She patted the empty place on the bed next to her. “Here, have a seat.”


“Nah, thanks,” the tall woman continued to stand, although the soft pillow was beckoning her.

“He flipped the coffee table and knocked something off the top of the cabinet. Nothing broken.” She looked at the TV, still on but with the sound muted. “Hey, there’s one of those news magazine shows.”


“Yeah, they’re supposed to have a thing on those rental trucks and how unsafe they are.” She patted the bed again. “Come on, I’ve got the heat and the massager on. This has got to be more comfortable than that chair.” She turned on the small lamp on the table next to her just before Ronnie shut off the overhead light. The softer glow was preferred by both of them for television watching.


“You’d be surprised how comfortable that chair is,” Ronnie replied, kicking off her sneakers and reluctantly accepting the offer. She sank into the vibrating warmth and closed her eyes with hedonistic delight. “Oh! That is nice. I’ve got to get one of these for my room.” She adjusted the pillow behind her head, slipped her feet under the covers, and opened her eyes. Rose pressed the button and they began watching the show. With the tall woman right next to her, she felt a sense of safety and her rapidly beating heart returned to a more normal level.