Fight to the Top

by S. L. Gape

  Georgia’s phone started ringing, picking it up she looked at the caller ID seeing Emily’s name. She smiled and pressed the answer button.

  “Hey you? How goes it?” Georgia asked Emily.

  “Hey, how are you? We’re all good here, how’s Fort Worth treating y’all?” she asked.

  “Yeah, I like it. Reminds me of being on holiday. Thanks for calling me, I didn’t know who else to speak to. Can you talk?”

  “Sure, of course. What’s going on? Are you ok?”

  “Yes…no. You may need coffee and biscuits for this,” Georgia said.

  “You know what biscuits are over here right? We don’t dunk scones in our coffees,” she laughed.

  “Whatever. Just call me back when you have got yourself comfy and have a drink,” she said.

  “It’s okay, I’m good. I have got everything I need right here. So, what’s been going on? Has she been a bitch again?” Emily asked concerned.

  “No! So, I kissed her last night.”

  Georgia listened to Emily spit out whatever she was drinking. “You did what?”

  “I kissed her,” she said nonchalantly.

  “Umm, okay? Is this normal for a lesbian to do? So, did y’all do anything else? Do you like her? Do you think it’s a good idea to get involved with someone who…umm, how do I say this?” she said.

  “With everything wrong? Work together? Hated me? Straight? Married? Got a kid? To name a few.”

  “So, what happened, fill me in.”

  ***

  Georgia felt better after talking to Emily. She knew it wasn’t the best idea she’d ever had, but nobody else was there. And granted, Georgia had never had much self-control when it came to sexy women. In her defence, she never really put herself in that position either. But it was more than that last night. Erika seemed so sad and low, and although Georgia didn’t know her from Adam, she could tell that wasn’t her. It felt good to make her feel good about herself if only for a moment. And she wasn’t doing it to be saintly, but it did feel good. Truthfully, it felt good to kiss her. But that was under the influence and today…today she was sober, and needing to be sensible.

  Georgia got changed and did her hair. They were only staying in the hotel so she figured she would go casual. At least that way she would look like she had tried. She threw on some flip flops, a pair of jeans and a plain racer back vest. Grabbing her laptop bag and phone, she left the room and made her way down to the bar area.

  Erika was already sitting there, looking uncomfortable. She was fidgeting, a lot. Her hair, her pen, her purse, her hair again. Georgia was realising very fast that last night was going to cause them a lot of problems, problems she could do without right now.

  “Hey up? You ok?” Georgia said, sitting down and watching Erika’s reaction as she looked her up and down in surprise.

  “What’s up? Am I not allowed to wear casual clothing when we are just staying here?” she said to Erika, who immediately looked embarrassed.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  “Why?”

  “Huh?”

  “Why are you sorry?”

  “For being rude.”

  “And why were you rude?”

  “Huh?”

  “Why…were…you…rude?” she spelled out.

  “Because I made you feel uncomfortable.”

  “And how exactly did you do that?”

  “Why are you asking these questions?”

  “Because, it’s the only way I can see possible, that I can break down this uncomfortableness. This barrier. So, why do you think you made me feel uncomfortable?”

  “This is dumb. I am not uncomfortable nor do I have barriers around you.”

  “Uh uh uh… au contraire, I think you’re sorely mistaken. You looked me up and down, you looked confused, shocked, and then you couldn’t look me in the eye,” she said. “Now, the way I see it, we got over all this difficulty this morning. We steamed together, I bought you coffee, I had to look at you virtually naked. So, by my reckoning, if anyone was going to feel uncomfortable, that should be me. So, do you have some issues with me? Our kiss? Us working together? My attire? Just tell me. Let’s discuss it and move forward, okay?”

  Erika started to speak and stopped herself, before giving in and nodding slightly.

  “That? That right there, I can’t deal with. Talk to me. We cannot have a good working relationship if you do that all the time.”

  Erika felt self-conscious but strangely comforted. “I was just thinking that was actually quite nice that you cared so much, to try and make me feel better,” she said shyly.

  “Good, well believe it or not, I can be quite a caring and considerate person occasionally. Now, do I need to change or are you happy to associate with me looking like a scruff?” she asked, amusing herself following their conversation a few nights earlier.

  “You may be kind and considerate, but you’re also a jerk,” Erika said, pulling all the paperwork out between them.

  “Yup, but a cute one,” she smirked.

  “Okay, new rule. No flirting,” Erika said.

  “What? Moi? I’m insulted you think I would do such a thing,” she smirked again.

  “Are you always like this?” Erika questioned.

  Georgia started and stopped. “See, I was going to be evil then and wind you up. Tell you I had something wrong with me that made me like it, but… I will be kind. I am pretty much like that all the time, yes. As I keep telling you, life’s too short to waste time, Erika. I like having fun with you, without sounding like a bully now. Oh, wait that’s you.” She winked. “Without sounding like a bully, it’s too easy, and too much fun. But most likely only going to result in problems for me,” she said. “Right, anyways, stop flirting, Georgia, back to business. What we starting on?”

  Erika tried to hide the smile from listening to the reference that someone was flirting with her. “What do you mean by that? What problems? And I wasn’t the one who bullied you, and nor will I. I just didn’t help matters when you felt that way, and didn’t control my staff,” she said.

  “Don’t worry, it doesn’t matter. Come on let’s get started.”

  Chapter Fifty-Five

  Georgia was singing along to the music in the car, and tapping her knee. “So, for the record, I normally get a lot further than just a kiss before I meet the parents.”

  Erika rolled her eyes, tapping along on the steering wheel. “I knew I should have stopped you from drinking.”

  “Whoa, easy tiger. Don’t you start controlling me already,” she laughed to herself. “I’m just messing with you. I figured it would make more sense to get it all out before I meet your family.” She smiled.

  “Georgia, for the last time, you are not meeting my family. We are literally going to collect Dulcie, and my mom wants to make us a good, hearty Italian dinner. For the record, it will be for my benefit not yours, just so she can throw it back in my face that I wasn’t brought up to mistreat folk,” she said, sighing.

  “Amazing! Oh, I’m gonna have so much fun with this. I’m going to tell her all about how you bullied my little arse and made me nearly leave.”

  “You do, I’ll bully you for real.”

  “Oh…” Georgia stopped herself. “Never mind,” she said, smirking.

  “Do you ever get your head out of the gutter?”

  “Yes, twenty-three point five hours of a day, normally. But I guess the sunshine and cute gals reverses it,” she laughed. “Okay, okay, I will stop. I told you it’s only because I know it makes you uncomfortable. I will behave though, seriously. And I’ll apologise, I only do it as a form of sarcasm. It’s a bit like an escape route. I use it like a comfort blanket, a way to protect myself.”

  “What do you need to protect yourself for?” Erika asked inquisitively.

  “Nothing to worry yourself about. So, how long will it take us to get there?” she said.

  Erika eyed her suspiciously. �
��Two minutes,” she said, not forcing the position any further.

  ***

  “Were here, kiddo,” Erika said, pulling onto her mom’s drive.

  “Kiddo? Kiddo? You know that I’m older than you?”

  “Yup, but you been acting like my five-year-old. Are we there yet, are we there yet?” she laughed.

  “Piss off. On a serious note, do I need to know or do anything? Other than the Italians in Italy I have never met any Italians before,” she said eagerly.

  Erika was smiling at her. “Seriously, you are comical. No, my ma is awesome! She is an older version of Dulcie, and she will literally love you. Unfortunately, that will not go in my favour. In actuality, massively against me,” she said concerned.

  “Erika, don’t panic, I won’t get you in shit, okay?”

  Before she had a chance to answer she could hear her daughter screaming down the drive. “Mommy, mommy,” Erika jumped out of the car and picked up her daughter.

  “Hey, baby! How are you? Did you have a great time with Nonna?”

  “Uh huh. Hey, Georgia. We baked cookies, I made you a special one.” She grinned widely. “How come you’re here, Georgia? Are we going swimming later? Are you eating dinner with us? My Nonna said she thought you sounded real nice,” she said all in one go to both Erika and Georgia.

  “Bambina tranquillo?” the elder woman said, following her down the path.

  “Hey, Ma, ciao. You know she won’t ever quiet. Come stai?”

  “No, just as you didn’t. I’m well, a little tired,” she said, stroking Erika’s face.

  “You are? How so? What’s up, Ma?”

  “Erika, relax. I am an old lady now, looking after a five-year-old for long time. Of course, I’m tired. Anyway, introduzione?” she scorned her daughter.

  “Scusate Momma. This is Georgia, the woman from work.”

  “Do they always speak in different languages?” Georgia whispered to Dulcie, who was giggling to her.

  “Si,” she giggled, running off into a different room.

  “Amazing, even the child is speaking a different language to me now,” she whispered to herself.

  “Hello, Georgia. I’m sorry we are being disrespectful in speaking when you are not understanding. As I know, this is not the only mistreatment you have suffered from this familigia, and for that, I apologise. I did not bring my children up this way,” she said seriously.

  Georgia looked at Erika, who suddenly looked like a small child, being told off by her mum, and she suddenly felt the need to step in.

  “Actually, Mrs. Conte, I think your daughter has most likely portrayed it as far worse than it is. Which as my parents always taught me, was a true reflection of a good, disciplined and well manned upbringing. Your daughter didn’t make me feel that way, it was the staff. Who were only behaving in that way because of their respect and loyalties to your daughter. I can’t honestly say my staff wouldn’t have behaved in exactly the same manner. So please, your daughter, as soon as she was made aware of this fact, came to apologise and offer us the chance to work together,” Georgia said sincerely.

  “Grazie, thank you, Georgia. This is kind. I work hard to bring my children up respectful and loving. This makes me happy. Now, come, we eat?” she said. “You like pasta?”

  “Do I ever?” she said, linking arms in the elderly woman’s. She turned around to Erika, who mouthed ‘thank you’ to her.

  Chapter Fifty-Six

  “Mrs…I’m sorry Antonia,” Georgia stopped herself, recalling the numerous warnings to call her by her first name. “Thank you, that was seriously the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. It was a true pleasure to meet you, and I feel very honoured. And I was not joking earlier, I will be in touch first thing. I would love for you to come down and spend our final night with us, well that’s truly presumptuous. If your daughter and granddaughter are happy to spend it with me. But I will get a room for you, we can go anywhere you guys want and then we can drop you off before we drive back to Houston? I know you have plied me with wine, but seriously, I’m not joking,” she said, kissing the woman, who then kissed her other cheek. She felt like she was back in Italy or Spain.

  The ride home was quiet, and Erika didn’t know how to broach the conversation with Georgia. She had saved her ass tonight, and then she had made her mom’s and her daughter’s nights. Probably her own, too. She couldn’t remember a time someone was so thoughtful and considerate to do something like this. She remembered something her brother Gianni said when he visited the UK years ago. That although London was awesome and stunning, the further north you went, that’s where the true hidden treasures were. The beautiful greenery and the beautiful people. He was a huge advocator of the northern hospitality. She wondered if that’s why someone as strong as Georgia felt so mistreated. Or maybe it was because she was she thought. Sooner or later though, Erika knew she needed to thank her. She looked in her rear-view and saw that Dulcie was sleeping.

  “So hey, that was pretty awesome back there. I don’t know how to thank you. But I guess I should probably start by the simplicity of a thank you,” she hesitated.

  “Can I tell you something?”

  “Sure, shoot?”

  “You may not like it, but just do me a favour and please just listen until I’ve finished?”

  “Um okay?” she said warily.

  “I came here, apprehensive as hell. Interestingly, my brother and sister, who I speak to probably three times a year talked me into it. Then I arrived, spending twelve hours on a flight convincing myself it would be okay. But then you…now, don’t react. You were awful, and suddenly I figured that basically, Americans were arseholes. I went for a run straight after you left me, hating you all. But I got home and heard this woman’s voice and there was this woman from across the road giving me food cause I’d just moved in. FYI, said woman, has become my closest friend here. So much so, that I called her this morning to talk. Anyways, apologies, I’m digressing. The point is, these last few days have made me question everything. But tonight? Wow, just wow. I feel truly touched, and your mother is an exceptional woman. I didn’t do that for you, well I did obviously. But I didn’t, I did that for her. For that belief that she never failed as a parent because, you know what? She didn’t. She raised a wonderful daughter, who equally, has raised her own wonderful daughter. Apologies, your mum has basically got me a little inebriated. But seriously, Erika, I genuinely have never felt more part of something than I have tonight…us Brits? We don’t do this shit. We’re too hard, we don’t do the softly shit. But this, wow. Just…wow,” she said seriously.

  “See, you’re a softie at heart. FYI, Italians are the same. We don’t either, but since my father passed, my mom has really tried. More so with us as we are the only ones who live outta town,” she said sadly.

  “Well, I am genuinely grateful for you allowing me to be part of that. Anyways, I think we’ve done way too much ‘soft’ rubbish now, so we will leave it there,” Georgia said, turning to look out of the window.

  Erika didn’t want to push Georgia. She was a tough cookie for sure, and hid her feelings particularly well behind sarcasm. But she could feel the fact that she was out of her comfort zone right now. So, leaving her to enjoy some peace and quiet was definitely the best bet.

  ***

  “You want me to stop anywhere? We’re nearly back.”

  “No, I’m good, thanks. Thank you for driving, a bit unfair that you weren’t able to drink when it was your family,” she said sadly.

  “George, I have a five-year-old remember? I drink after she’s crashed. It was nice. It was nice for my Ma to have someone else to speak to other than the same people. She liked you a lot. I could tell. Plus, she told me so.” She smiled.

  “She did? That’s amazing, I really liked her too. I hope she didn’t think I was a drunken bum and chatting shit about offering to get her a room to come and spend our last night with us?” Georgia asked concerned.

 
; “Hell no. She’s stoked. She couldn’t believe how incredibly kind and thoughtful you were. Especially considering the circumstances between you and I. Which FYI, gave her another opportunity to kick my butt,” she said, smirking as she pulled into the hotel car park.

  Erika grabbed her daughter from the car seat, desperately trying not to wake her.

  They walked the short walk from the car park to their rooms, as Erika manoeuvred her bag and child.

  “You need a hand?” Georgia whispered.

  Erika looked at her seriously and paused before she began speaking, “I’m fine, thank you for the offer though.”

  Georgia took Erika’s bag from her, “Here, let me help,” she said, getting the key card and opening the door for her. “You need owt else?”

  Erika smiled at her “No, I don’t need owt else,” smiling at the terminology, before entering her room. “Bye, Georgia.”

  “Goodnight, Erika,” Georgia said quietly.

  Chapter Fifty-Seven

  Georgia heard a faint knock at the door, switched the volume down and heard the tap again, before opening. “Hi, you okay?” Georgia asked Erika.

  Erika looked her up and down and shook her head smiling.

  “What?”

  “Nothing. Hey. So…would you mind doing me a humongous favour?” Erika asked.

  “Of course, if you tell me why you’re shaking your head, looking me up and down?” she said, leaning against the door with a lop-sided grin.

  Erika couldn’t help but notice how cute she looked when she was in her slacks. Seriously, she pulled off just about every outfit, but the ‘lounging’ look, was her personal favourite. “You just make me laugh how quick you change into your sweats. Would you mind watching Dulcie, for like five minutes please? That’s all. She’s sleeping and it’s incredibly doubtful that she will wake up. But certainly, not while I just run downstairs?” she asked.