When You Least Expect It (Chaelisa)

3

When she stops by The Bean Dream on Valentine's Day, she thinks about the irony of the statement she's about to deliver. It's hard not to, especially when she sees all of the hearts hanging from the ceiling – all of the reds and pinks, pastels and metallics. The specials board is rewritten with some drink orders that she knows are new, especially because she's worked her way through their usual specials in the last month and a half.

Roseanne's writing, she notices, with the swoops and the little decorative drawings. She kicks her boots off from the snow that covers the sidewalks before she enters slowly, noting all of the couples on the couches. It's after six – later than she normally ever comes here – and the lights are slightly dimmer, with an acoustic version of some Ed Sheeran song.

Of course. The counter is blessedly free, though, and she shakes the snowflakes out of her hair as she strides forward as soon as she glimpses Roseanne. She looks... well, Lisa isn't quite sure she's ever met someone that is more "her type" than Roseanne Park, which has only become more and more apparent in the last few weeks. It always gives her the most pleasant buzz that zips through her, and there is a slight chance that might also be a reason she looks forward to their meetings.

A little, innocent shot of serotonin never hurt anyone. When she approaches the counter, Roseanne looks at her in surprise. Before that surprise melts into a smile. "Lisa! I didn't expect you today." Her eyes catch on some confetti glitter hearts that she must have brushed up against at some point on the jacket of her shoulder, and she brushes them off with a grin.

"Well, you know what they say. Where there's cupid, there's a woman who rarely gets past the third date." Roseanne shakes her head in disapproval, but genuinely chuckles anyway. "Should I ask if you're the cupid?" she asks, gesturing to Roseanne's pink shirt and the assorted love-themed pins that adorn her apron.

Roseanne looks down at herself before her cheeks turn pink, the self-consciousness clear. "I... no, it's the company." She laughs. "You look cute." It slips out, but it's entirely true. "Oh." Her cheeks color even deeper, and Lisa kind of loves it, her smile widening.

Roseanne clears her throat, though, shifting back and forth on her feet. "Is there– did you come for any particular reason?" Perhaps she is too excited to deliver the news. It doesn't stop her from announcing, "After stalling for as long as possible, Michael has gotten back to me. So, we're moving forward. Starting with subpoenaing his finances. Happy Valentine's Day!"

Roseanne blinks at her slowly, before a smile – a truly cheerful smile – slides across her face. And the difference between that and the other, fleeting ones that usually make an appearance is so staggering, Lisa feels it tingle in her stomach. "This is the part that is going to take some time. I'm going to need to review all of his records."

And knowing Michael, he was going to find any way to be shady about it. "We'll need to get through the financial business and then start on assets and eventually, the custody agreements. But the ball is rolling." Roseanne shakes her head in disbelief before she leans against the counter, questioning eyes looking up at Lisa. "Not that I mind, but... you came all the way here to tell me in person?" Lisa freezes, though, because... yeah, she guesses she did. She wanted to see that look on Roseanne's face.

"Well, that and I realized I desperately need to try a–" She glances at the specials board again. "White chocolate... whatever that is." Roseanne laughs, rolling her eyes. "Right." She eyes Lisa, sobering, before her eyes flick behind her, into the crowded café. "I would ask you to stay for my break, but–"

"Lisa!" She hasn't heard the voice in over a year, but she's familiar with it. And she feels herself smile as she turns just in time to face the child throwing her arms around her waist. She rests a hand lightly on the back of the blonde head pressed against her stomach and gives her a squeeze around the shoulders for good measure.