Rose 2.50: Roses are red

     I figure something out about myself: I can best heal from my problems by helping others, namely beautiful women, with theirs. So many times, all a woman wants is someone who will listen, someone who will tell them they are beautiful. I do these things, and then later, they melt in my arms.
     I get another tattoo, but the shirt I wear covers it up.

     "Giselle!" I call out to my baby sister as I walk by the park one day. She looks just like Mama, only with brown hair.
     "Hey, Donovan. What's with...the shirt?" she asks and stands back to study me.

     I chuckle at her quizzical expression. "You don't like it?"
     "Ummmm.... You do realize it has more than one button, don't you?"
     "But it is summer!" I playfully argue.
     "So wear something with short sleeves!" she cries out in an aggravated way at my teasing. "You look like a throwback to the seventies!"
     I truly laugh now. "The ladies don't mind."
     "Well, this lady does."
     "You're a sister; you don't count," I say with a smirk. Then, my smirk drops as I look over her shoulder. "How have you been?" I ask, meaning how has Clifton been treating her.

     "Fine," she replies and studies her feet.
     How can Clifton be doing nothing but sitting and reading a book when he has my beautiful sister to entertain? I ponder angrily.
     "Fine," I repeat in a questioning way.
     "Yeah. The Mancinis have a nice house. I have my own room." Her toe continues to dig in the dirt.
     "Do you sleep in it?" I ask, audaciously crossing the line.
     "Yes," she answers and snaps her head back to me.

     "Giselle, I worry about you," I admit. The Mancinis are ludicrously wealthy, and I worry that Clifton only sees my little sister as yet another possession, another ornament for his house.
     "I'm okay, Donovan. I'm treated very well." She looks down again.
     "Has he proposed?" I ask, again crossing the line into her personal life.
     She shakes her head no, and I take two steps in his direction. She quickly reaches out to stop me. "He will."
     "When?" I question. Seeing I won't get an answer, I tell her, "You can always come to me for help. The rules say you can't move in, but we can get you your own place."
      She promises me that she'll remember that, and I walk away, headed home. My legs feel extra heavy as I want to go over and ring that Mancini neck, demanding he marry my sister or else. Then again, perhaps it is better she not marry HIM.

     Helping the lovely ladies I come in contact with helps me, like I stated before. It makes it easier to watch my darling little flower look more and more like her mother every day. I suppose it is good that Willow was beautiful.
     I sing to her a song Papa taught me that he learned when he and Mama went to Egypt for their honeymoon. She makes little raspberry noises, learning the kinds of sounds she can make by experimenting. She causes a spot on my shirt to get wet, but I don't mind.
     Willow left the best part of her here.

     I stay home tonight because it is time for my little flower to age up! We have a small party at home. Papa does a good job making up for the lack of everyone else by being extra loud.

     She may look a lot like her mother, but she has my red hair!

     She has my hair color and my eyes. This makes me exceedingly happy, so happy I pick her up and hug her tightly. Don't misunderstand; I would still love her very much if she were a carbon copy of Willow, but I must admit this makes it better. Plus, the Maker wants to have all the heirs be redheads if possible. Having my hair makes Camilla a definite possible heir.

     I kiss her forehead and tell her quietly, "Papa's little rose."

     I get lucky enough to find a crib at the dump, and I take extra care in refurbishing it. Now, Camilla will no longer have to sleep in the swing if Zo-zo has the crib.

     I mention to Mama that we could move Zo-zo into my old room since I still live in the little house. Mama shakes her head no. She still hopes I'll move back into the main house. Unless we build another wing, eventually, Zo-zo and Camilla will have to have separate rooms, meaning one of them will take my old room. Mama does not wish to discuss it, and I know better than to make my mother upset.

     Early one morning, I come into the house to hear my mother muttering to herself. She has been working on her magic skill, and now I know why. She doesn't want another witch to come and bewitch me. She didn't have a problem with Tiffany; she means Willow, I'm sure.
     I shake my head. If only Mama understood that getting Willow pregnant was largely my fault. She wouldn't believe me if I told her.

     Papa teaches me the other song, Under the Desert Sun. As I learn, I realize how much the ladies would probably like this one. I studiously listen.

     Even though I strike out frequently, I still like to go to the park first to try and meet ladies. I believe the nicer ones are here, that there's a better chance to find them here than at one of the town's bars.
     Today, I'm in luck! I spot someone new and walk up to introduce myself. She has blue eyes. I find out her name is Savannah Angel. Yes, she is an angel.
     I learn she's a flight attendant and won't be staying in Monte Vista for long before she flies to Egypt. That reminds me...

     I serenade her, grateful for Papa teaching me the song. She loves it. Her eyes sparkle, and she claps her hands when she's not using them to hide her blush.
     "You are truly an angel, and I hope you return to Monte Vista. We would be blessed to have among us a beauty like you," I tell her when I finish, and she blushes even more prettily than before.

     "If all the men are as romantic as you, I will definitely have to be back as soon as possible," she tells me shyly. "I don't know if I'd want to leave my cats for that long, though."
     A cat person! I know just what to do. I pull out my phone. "I saw the funniest video the other day. Let me find it."

     I grin while she laughs, having to lean in closer to me to see my phone. She has a pretty smile.

     We continue our conversation. I want to get to know her, hope I can convince her to stay a while.
     Giselle walks past me with a quizzical expression. She wants to tease me. I can see it in her eyes.

     I convince Miss Angel to dance with me. "What time do you have to leave?"
     "Tomorrow morning at seven," she answers. Then she closes her mouth tightly and looks away, down at the ground.
     "It would be a shame for you to have to sleep alone tonight," I say quietly.

     She suddenly ends the dance. "It was nice meeting you, Donovan. Thank you for the song, but I have to go."
     "Go?" I ask sadly. "Why?"
     "I have this...thing...that I have to go do," she replies evasively.
     My shoulders slump, and I let her go. "Perhaps I'll see you again someday, Miss Angel."
     "Sure," she replies.

     "Nice job," Giselle tells me when I go sit next to her.
     I grin. "I decided I'd rather challenge my baby sister to some football."
     She smiles back. "Bring it, Mr. I Hate the Outdoors."

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