Just Rosalie

Meeting Beth

An annoying buzzing sound stung Rosalie's eardrums and she noticed that it was Henry's phone-an incoming call. He answered with his tongue stuck out of his mouth, then handed the phone to her. Rosalie sighed, assuming that it was Elizabeth. Placing the phone to her ear, she felt a chill run up her spine.
"Hello."
"Where's Lee? She's the one who had to pick him up, not you."
Rosalie ran her fingers through her hair and fiddled with the straw inside of her cup. There were a lot of things that she could have said as an excuse-Lee ran to get more soda, or she had to use the bathroom. But it didn't make sense. Henry would have probably told his mother the truth anyway.
"She's busy at the restaurant, so I volunteered. We're riding go-carts right now. I'll drop him home after."
"I don't care if you volunteered. I asked Lee, not you. When is she going to ever take some responsibility? And it's 7:00, you were supposed to drop him off an hour ago."
"I don't..."
"Look, I'm coming to pick him up."
"Beth, I'll drop him home. There's a reason you needed someone to babysit, right?"
"Oh, so spending some time with her son is babysitting now? Henry wanted to spend some time with his mother, not his mother's girlfriend."
Rosalie looked at the frown on Henry's face. Michelle nudged him in the shoulder and his frown immediately turned into a grimace as they began a battle of pushing.
"Beth, I know you don't like me, and I also know that Lee doesn't make enough of an effort..."
"Ha. She doesn't make any effort to spend time with him."
"Okay, well, do you want me to get her to spend time with him or not?"
"No. Don't bother with that. If she can't willingly spend time with her son, then there is no use forcing her. I'm heading out of the house now."
"I'll bring him home, Beth. You don't have to get him when I'm already here."
"Okay. Okay. He'll give you the directions."
The line went dead.
Rosalie looked around and noticed a few groups of teenagers looking at them. There was one particular group leaning against a wall with their arms crossed over their chests and eyes moving over Rosalie's body.
"Henry, I'm going to take you home to your mum. She's not in a good mood."
Michelle and Henry were finally done with their childish behavior and sat silently as they ate their pizza.
"Which one?"
He mumbled. He seemed a bit irritated as he sipped on his soda.
"Beth."
He nodded but was disappointed. Rosalie knew that she had to do something to resolve the issue. For what it was worth, Rosalie could relate to the situation. Her parents divorced when she was eighteen, and she never had a good relationship with her father-not when he'd never put in the effort.
Michelle studied Rosalie's face. It still wasn't the right time. But when would it be? Michelle couldn't just say-Rosalie, you know your girlfriend from high school? Well, she's my sister-in-law now. She'd have to the wait for a better time, and also a proper icebreaker.
They headed out of the Go-Cart Arena and Henry gave Rosalie the directions.
Elizabeth's house was nicer than Rosalie thought it would be. It was noticeably bigger on the inside, and everything was white and clean. The hallway into the living room had a lot of pictures of Henry as a baby, adolescent and teenager. There were multiple pictures with Elizabeth kissing his forehead. It was extremely sweet. The house gave a loving aura. It was commendable how much she loved her son. Everything Elizabeth did showed that.
"Your home is really nice."
Rosalie said as she thought of Lee living there. It made her wonder about all the things her and Elizabeth did together-did they have sex on every inch of the house?
She let out a heavy breath as she took a seat on one of the loveseats. Henry and Michelle headed to his room, so Rosalie and Elizabeth were left to their own devices.
"I'll get you something to drink. Water or lemonade?"
"Lemonade."
Rosalie said as she continued to look around. There were numerous potted plants and lots of beautiful sculptures. She knew that Elizabeth was an architect. So, of course, her home would be beautiful.
A huge slide, glass door stood at the far end of the room, where the backyard was. The pool sat nicely with a few poolside chairs, and a hot tub beside the backyard bar. Elizabeth's place was, indeed, nice.
"Here."
Elizabeth handed Rosalie the glass of lemonade and sat down on the leather recliner beside the loveseat.
Rosalie took a sip of her drink.
"So, I think we should talk about Lee. I do think that I can get her to be more involved in Henry's life. She loves him. I know that, for sure."
Elizabeth shook her head and leaned back in her seat. She'd been through enough with Lee to know that she never held through with her promises-only words without actions.
"Lee doesn't care about Henry. She thinks of him as a burden. He knows that he's adopted and Lee makes him feel like he is. She's not the type cut out to be a mother, and I could care less. But Henry does."
Rosalie inhaled a breath and tightened her hold around the glass. She knew that Lee cared. What mother wouldn't? Especially her Lee-the sweet and nurturing woman who she'd grown to love.
"I'm sure that it's just a misunderstanding."
"How long have you and Lee been together?"
Rosalie looked over Elizabeth's face. Her brown eyes and full eyebrows moderately defined her small nose and puffy lips. Elizabeth was gorgeous. Her foxy, red hair and chiseled jawline emphasized her perfectly exposed collarbones, along with her slim neck. Lee definitely had good taste in women.
"Four years."
Elizabeth's eyes widened and she gulped. Rosalie speculated her reaction and wondered the reason-did it bother her?
"Okay. And how many times has Henry actually been around you two in those four years?"
Rosalie sighed knowing that the answer would incriminate her fiancée. There were a lot of plausible reasons, but none were good enough.
"She'll try harder. I'll get her to try harder."
"As I said, it shouldn't be forced."
Rosalie ran her fingers through her raven curls. Elizabeth noticed what Lee saw in Rosalie. Lee had always been attracted to women with brown eyes and long, curly hair. Elizabeth was, once, Lee's everything, but the role was soon passed along to someone more youthful and gorgeous.
There was no denying that Rosalie was stunning to an extent that Elizabeth couldn't be anymore. Even the right amount of makeup wouldn't do her justice to outdo the beauty in front of her. That made Elizabeth's heart tighten inside of her chest. She wasn't what she used to be.
"I know that I don't know Henry that much. But I want to be a part of his life. Lee and I are engaged now and her son is extremely important to me. I know that I never tried to make an effort before, but I'm willing to now. Henry's a great kid. And it would be a shame if I never get to know him better."
"Engaged?"
Elizabeth inhaled a deep breath and forced a smile. She didn't expect that.
"Yes."
It felt awkward. Maybe, she shouldn't have brought that up. The sadness melting into Elizabeth's brown eyes was obvious.
"Hopefully, it'll be her last marriage."
Their eyes locked for a moment, and for a second, Rosalie felt a tinge of the hurt that Elizabeth was feeling. It was awful having to sit back and look at someone, who you once loved, fall for someone else. And they were going to get married, so it was worse.
"It will."
Rosalie assured-to even herself. Everything seemed to trigger her hesitation for marriage, and she'd never forgive herself if she allowed her doubts to affect what her heart wanted.
Rosalie inhaled a breath and stood, her eyes moving over Elizabeth's body structure. For a woman in her late thirties, she definitely had a figure to die for-broad hips and a slim waist with proportionate breasts.
"I'll wash my glass. Where's the kitchen?"
"No. That's okay. Just give it to me."
"I insist, Beth."
Elizabeth gave Rosalie a look over and smiled. Rosalie seemed sweet enough, and that made her feel uneasy. The young woman didn't know what she was getting herself into. But she had to, given the circumstances.
"Follow me then, Rosalie."
They headed into the kitchen and Rosalie washed the glass, dried it and Elizabeth showed her where to store it inside of the cupboard.
"Thanks for hearing me out. I really wish there's something that I could do to help."
"I'll let you know if there is, but Henry is pretty bummed out right now. Next time she gets an opportunity to spend time with him, she better not mess it up."
"I'll make sure of that."
Elizabeth gave Rosalie a tight smile. She wouldn't get her hopes up, and hopefully, Henry wouldn't either.
"You don't have to make sure of anything. It's not your responsibility."
"Maybe it isn't. But I hate to see a kid neglected like this. Lee, of course, has to be more present in Henry's life. And I want to encourage her to do that."
"Do what you wish. I don't expect much honestly. Ten years with her gave me no hope for her to ever change."
They walked out of the kitchen and towards the backyard. Rosalie felt tense. Just because Lee's past relationship didn't work, didn't mean that her present one wouldn't.
"She's a good woman. She'll make the right choice."
"I admire your faith in her. Maybe you two really are good for each other."
Elizabeth knew that Rosalie offered more to the relationship than Lee, but she didn't want to diminish what the two shared. Though, it was difficult not to. Should she let another woman fall for Lee's charm, especially, when she'd been victim to the reality of a relationship with her?
"Thanks for letting me, at least, try. I can pick Henry up anytime you need assistance. My schedule is pretty flexible so don't hesitate."
"Don't you work?"
Rosalie nodded, as if her occupation wasn't a secret to everyone. She'd hidden behind an aspiring career in art, instead of revealing her successful one.
"Yeah, I'm in between jobs at the moment. I'm an artist, and I help Lee out with the restaurant when I can."
"Oh... that's great." Typical.
Biting down on her bottom lip, Rosalie knew that Elizabeth wasn't impressed at all. Moments like those, Rosalie wished that her career wasn't a secret, and that she'd receive the respect that she deserved. Because looking at Lee's ex-wife, who had a successful career in architecture, she felt as though she didn't have a lot going for her. But she did-she really did.
"So, Lee told me that you're an architect, that must be amazing."
Elizabeth had spent a lot of her time building her career from the ground up. She'd worked for numerous architectural firms and recently established her own business with one of her colleagues. She was doing great, but she wasn't one to gloat.
"Yes. I'm sure she's told you a lot about me, but take to mind, I'd never be where I am without hard work. So, someday you'll probably be a great artist if you put in the effort." Maybe, just a little.
Rosalie smiled widely and nodded. She wanted to laugh, but decided against it. There was so much more that Rosalie had to accomplish, but she knew that at her age, she'd accomplished a great deal.
"So true, Beth. I can't wait for the day that I'll be just like you-rich and successful. You're like a role model." As if.
Elizabeth knew that sarcasm was laced in Rosalie's words, but felt dignified because of her success-not that she knew Rosalie was a millionaire.
"I'd love to have a look at your art someday. It'll be refreshing from all the blueprints I design all day."
Rosalie wanted to say a lot of things to Elizabeth-that she'd created some of the most influential art in the country, or that she was one of the most successful artists in the world. But she was humble, even when she didn't want to be.
"Maybe, you could design a house for me someday. You seem to possess quite a lot of talent."
Elizabeth looked at her amused. She'd never involve herself in anything that had to do with her ex-wife. Not after everything she'd been through in the past few years.
"Certainly not. Don't take our little chat for anything more than it is. I'd never design a house for my ex-wife and her mistress."
Rosalie's eyes widened. She wondered if she'd heard correctly, or if it was a mere insult. She wasn't a mistress, for sure. There were a lot of names that she'd been called in her life, but mistress was never one of them.
"Excuse me? Her mistress?"
Elizabeth looked at her with unapologetic eyes. She didn't make a mistake. She intended to be harsh. It made Rosalie wonder-what does she mean?
"You certainly can't be objectified by the word if you placed yourself in a position of its worth."
Rosalie knew, for certain, that she'd never done anything to be titled such a name. She'd prided herself on staying away from married women, even as tempting as they were sometimes.
"How am I a mistress? You two were broken up when I... oh my god!"
As the realization hit her mind, all the color drained from her face. Her heart stopped for a moment, and the thumping in her brain sent a rush of shock through her system. It couldn't be true-she'd just jumped to a conclusion. But Elizabeth wasn't denying it, and that made her panic.
"You had to know, I mean..."
Rosalie shook her head as she tried to digest the thought of the deceit. Lee lied to her-she basically cheated on her too.
"When did you guys break it off... completely?"
Elizabeth didn't know what to say. She was surprised-actually, she was perplexed. How didn't Rosalie know? She wished that she didn't say anything, because she'd be the one to have to answer questions.
"That's something you should talk about with your fiancée."
Rosalie felt her cheeks heating up. How could Lee lie to her for all that time? Had she been that foolish to think that their love was different?
"Beth. I don't trust that she'll be honest with me. You of all people shouldn't be the one to answer my questions, but I... I..."
Elizabeth knew that it was probably the right thing to do. For sure, Lee wasn't going to be completely honest, and Rosalie deserved to know the truth.
A tear escaped Rosalie's left eye and she immediately scooped it up with the arch of her index finger. She'd never anticipated for her heart to hurt so much that day. But worse days were ahead.
"There's a lot that you probably don't know. And I'm sure it'll change how you think of her."
Rosalie nodded and wiped another tear that was about to slide off of her chin.
"I don't see how it can get any worse."
Elizabeth had a bad feeling inside of her stomach. She didn't want to get in between their relationship. She'd spent years trying to suppress those feelings-feelings of betrayal.
"She's had flings. Lots of flings. But when I found out about you... she refused to let you go... but she didn't want to leave me either." She wouldn't have.
Rosalie swallowed. If what Elizabeth was telling her was true, then Lee was just like her father-she'd gotten herself into a situation that she'd aimed all her life to avoid. And that broke her.
"So, you left her then?"
Elizabeth nodded. She could feel her own emotions rising, and that wasn't a good sign. After the conversation, she'd need Rosalie to leave. And she'd go to her room with a bottle of wine, and allow herself to grieve, once more. Because out of all things in Elizabeth's life, she was certain that she loved Lee.
"I would have forgiven her for the affair, as I always did. But she wanted both of us, and I couldn't live with that... I couldn't live with knowing she'd have a relationship with someone else... someone younger, someone she wanted more than she wanted me..."
"Beth..."
Rosalie cringed and felt her resolve completely tumbling down. Hot tears slid down her cheeks as her heart pounded inside of her chest. She wasn't sure what to believe, but there was truth in everything that Elizabeth said-she could feel it.
"I told her to leave, and she did. Next thing I knew, she was moving in with you."
Elizabeth wiped her eyes with the pads of her index fingers. She didn't like to be emotional-especially in front of someone who she felt intimidated by.
"I'm so sorry, Beth. If I knew... I would have never, ever, ever..."
"I appreciate that."
Rosalie closed her eyes and inhaled a slow, deep breath. The knots inside of her chest began to tamper with her breathing, and she felt her muscles tensing.
"I remember when I met her. I saw these beautiful, red roses through the glass wall of a flower shop. So I went in, and there she was, at the counter, purchasing..."
"Pink, boat orchids." Rosalie swallowed. Somehow, their meet cute, suddenly, felt extremely insignificant. "They're my favorite."
"She said they were for the restaurant. You know how there's a single flower on every table?"
Elizabeth nodded. Of course she knew. It was her idea, in the first place.
"I visited as much as I could back then. After I saw you there one time... I never went back."
"You saw me?"
Rosalie looked into Elizabeth's eyes. The richness of her brown irises were glossed with an unfathomed shine-as though she felt lost. Rosalie felt lost too. She didn't know what was real anymore.
"The kiss... it was the most passion I'd ever seen when she kissed you."
Rosalie swallowed. She felt even guiltier. Nothing seemed real anymore. How could she decipher the lies from the truth? How could Rosalie trust Lee when she'd been lying for god knows how many things over the past four years?
"Beth, I don't know what to say... I... I'm so... there's nothing I can say to ever let you know how badly I feel... I regret..."
"Rosalie, don't regret it. Don't regret her."
Rosalie closed her eyes and placed the palms of her hands over her face. She didn't know how to react. How could she be the victim in all of it? For sure, Elizabeth was at a greater betrayal than her. But still, it hurt-it really hurt.
"No one ever told me. No one. Not Pedro, or Pennelope, or Henrietta, or anyone."
"They probably thought that you knew."
Rosalie couldn't digest the fact that she had hurt Elizabeth like that. Then, her mind drifted off to Henry. She was the reason that he had a broken home-an incomplete family. What kind of woman was she? Was she a monster? She didn't know about the affair, yet she felt guilty. She felt as though she should have known. They're signs-they're always signs, how did she miss them?
"It's all my fault."
Rosalie mumbled as she pulled on her hair, the betrayal turning her sadness into anger-unimaginable fury. As much as Elizabeth didn't want to say her next few words, she had to.
"Don't blame yourself. You didn't know, right?"
Rosalie shook her head. If she had known, she'd have never pursued a relationship with Lee. She'd be with her mother travelling the world, or in a random city, hooking up with a random woman-maybe not that, but she'd be anywhere but there-with Elizabeth, listening to her fiancée's betrayal.
"I... didn't. I'd never... I promise... I..."
Elizabeth placed her hand on Rosalie's arm in comfort. She could see that the young woman was having a difficult time processing the information. Even after all that time, she still had difficulty with it, as well.
"I have a question for you." Rosalie nodded. She'd resorted to voiceless answers, since her voice felt strained-maybe because she was on the verge of bursting into tears. "If she told you all of this herself, would you forgive her?"
Rosalie looked down at the palms of her hands. She already knew the answer. But she was afraid that it would make her forgive Lee still. Even after everything, Rosalie still loved her-she adored Lee. She didn't know what she'd do without her.
"The things I'm finding out hurts my heart, but it doesn't change how I feel."
"You love her. I get it. I mean, she gave all of this up for you, that's gotta mean something."
Rosalie found herself laughing as tears slid down her cheeks. She hated that she cried in front of Elizabeth, but she couldn't help herself.
"I'm going to go before I embarrass myself more."
Elizabeth nodded with the same pain in her eyes. She might have had a cold exterior, but she was just as broken on the inside.