One More Night (Richonne Story)

Unfortunate Ones

The car trip was silent until I stopped at Sasha's to grab us some breakfast. Rick followed me into the cafe while I ordered some coffees, scones and breakfast sandwiches. He was smart enough to let me pay, although I saw his hand twitch when the order was rung up.

I sat down at a small table by the cottage style window looking out onto Main Street and he sat across from me, a quirk of amusement playing at his lips.

"The cranberry orange scones are the best," I said, in what I hoped was a peacemaking tone. I placed the moist scones beside the bacon and egg croissant and push the plate to him. "I know I'm stubborn, Rick. It's one of my many flaws. Probably the biggest. I do appreciate all the help you're willing to give."

I sighed, toying with the sugar packet I'd emptied into my coffee. I wasn't sure what I was trying to say. I just wanted him to understand I wasn't the person I wanted to be. He took my hand in his, turning it over and curling his fingers through mine.

"It's fine. You're a spitfire. I like it. Your accent gets really southern when you sass me. It's sexy as hell. I bet you're an even bigger minx in the bedroom." He raised his brows and gave me a look that made me want too... Well, never-mind... I shushed him, kicking him gently in the shin under the table. An older couple at the next table shot us a disapproving look. I felt my cheeks burn and I was sure I'd melt right through my seat and into a puddle of embarrassment onto the floor. "I'm stubborn too, Michonne. I'm not used to not getting my way. I think we're alike in many ways."

"I don't know about that," I said, taking a bite of my scone. "You're pretty darn skilled at pissing me off, and I'm beginning to suspect rather than getting pissed off when we fight, you just get a perverted kick out of it."

Rick laughed loudly, subjecting us to another glare from the couple, but I just smiled back at him, warmed. The tension was gone. It felt good.

After breakfast, we walked slowly back to my truck, our sleeves brushing close to each other. We stopped beside the truck as I fished the keys from my purse.

"We need to call a suspension on the fighting until we get through what's happening at your place," he said.

"I won't make any promises, but I can aim to be better."

"Ah, spoken like a true lawyer."

Our first stop was Sunny View retirement home. The nurse at reception directed me and Rick to the visitor register and told us Dolores's room number in case she wasn't relaxing in the day room. She was in the day room though.

She was seated at the card table in the corner. I wondered if it was set up specifically for her. She was playing a different variation of her solitaire game, I wasn't sure if it was a legitimate game or one of her own imaginings. Either way, she was absorbed and didn't notice our presence until I moved the chair back to sit opposite her.

She smiled broadly at me.

"Michonne with her light, still in this world for one more night! So good to see you again. Sit on down. I'm playing a good hand right now." Her thin fingers made busy work across the cards; she flipped and reordered them, their sequence made no sense.

"Hi, Dolores, nice to see you again. This is my friend, Rick. We were hoping you wouldn't mind having a chat with us today."

Dolores responded with a distracted nod still looking at her game and Rick pulled another chair over to our table.

"Is that spider solitaire?" he asked, his face friendly and inquisitive.

"Why, yes!" Dolores exclaimed and clapped her hands together once. She looked up with triumph at Rick. "It's a good, this game." We watched on for a quiet minute as she played.