by Ali Vali
"I'm going to have to leave you, Harry." The way Desi said it made it impossible for Harry not to hear the sadness in her voice, but if Desi had to give up her happiness to keep Harry safe, that's what she was willing to do. It was better to go back to the life she'd shared with Byron than to take the chance of losing Harry to the maniac she would never be rid of.
"Do you want to leave because you don't love me, or do you want to go because you're afraid?"
"You don't know him like I do, I couldn't live with the fear that I'd be responsible for getting you hurt. I love you too much for that. Don't you see it's the only way? How could I ever possibly find happiness again if something were to happen to you?"
Harry stared at Desi's back after she rolled over and faced the bathroom wall. All she could do was to be honest and speak from her heart. "You live one day at a time, Desi, and before you know it, you've built a life. I never thought you'd come back to me so that's what I did. I got up every morning and I went to class, I studied and before I knew what was going on I was standing on a podium in Baton Rouge and they were handing me a diploma. Afterward came medical school, and then a career, but in all that time I couldn't stop thinking about you. There was always the hope in the back of my mind that I'd run into you one day and you'd explain what happened, and maybe if enough time had gone by you'd be willing to give us another chance. That has always been my hope, and for the sake of my own sanity I refused to let it go."
"Oh, honey, I'm so sorry." The shoulders Harry was looking at slumped in apparent defeat.
"I don't want you to be sorry, I just want you to believe in that same hope. Do you know that after I passed my boards, I went to your house thinking that maybe you'd come and celebrate with me? That perhaps enough time had passed for you to have forgiven whatever I did."
"What happened?" Desi rolled back over and looked at the hurt expression on Harry's face. She was shocked to hear Harry had made the effort to contact her even after all the unanswered pleas that had come before it.
"Your father explained to me you were married and happy with your life. He told me I should just leave you alone and get on with my own. I sat there with him on our swing as he slapped me on the back and congratulated me on my accomplishments. He said your aspirations weren't so grand with that small laugh of his. You just wanted to be a good wife and mother."
She reached out and placed her hand on Harry's cheek. "Oh, honey, I really am so sorry."
"I asked him if you had kids, and he told me no but you did have one on the way. That statement, delivered with such a straight face, put a knife through my heart. I left there and just buried myself in work. I worked, I built up my body and I fucked around. That was my life, Desi, and that's what you are asking me to go back to." For the first time since they had found each other, Harry's head dropped in shame. "The truth of who we are, is we're better off together than apart. We're happy because the love we share is real. All I'm asking for is that you not throw it away. Not again." She reached out and ran her fingers along Desi's jaw. "Take a chance this time. We've paid our dues and it's time to collect for our suffering."
Harry finished and bent to kiss Desi, praying she wouldn't move away. The lips Harry touched opened immediately drinking in what she had to offer.
Desi pulled Harry on top of her, trying to remind herself of what she had to lose. She wanted this, and Harry was right, it was time to put fear aside and take the things she wanted out of life. Desi wanted to be happy, and Harry was the one who brought her happiness, but the most important thing was that Harry loved her. She welcomed the kiss and encouraged the hand that had found itself back between her legs awakening her desires. As long as they were together it would always be this way, Desi was certain of it.
"Yes, Harry, touch me, honey. I want you, only you," Desi said as her hips started to buck. Harry wasn't interested in finesse nor in going slow, she wanted Desi in the worst way and she was going to have her. If she'd said it wasn't what she wanted Harry would have stopped, but Desi was as turned on as she was. She could feel it in the way Desi was getting wetter and her movements were becoming more frantic. "God, make me yours," said Desi already losing control.
Harry shoved two fingers inside the wet canal and latched onto a hard nipple sucking in with gusto. As Desi crested, a new set of scratch marks graced Harry's back and Desi was left panting. When Harry pulled out she painted Desi's breasts with the proof of her desire sending Desi into overdrive.
Forgetting about her leg Desi pushed Harry onto her back and maneuvered around so she was facing in the opposite direction. Lowering her head between Harry's legs, Desi had to pause a minute to concentrate on what she was supposed to be doing because of what Harry was already doing to her. Once she grabbed hold of the slick nub with her mouth, Desi gave Harry the same pleasure she was receiving. Desi had to stop as the second orgasm raced through her. When the after tremors started she went back and brought Harry over with her.
Back in Harry's arms she laughed as the deep voice in her ear told her, "I think we should discuss your leaving at least once a week from now until I die. If these are the results I'm going to get, then I'm all for it."
"But, doctor, we have so much lost time to make up for, just once a week is all your willing to commit to?"
"Thank God I work out and I'm relatively healthy, or you could kill me if we did this every night. On the other hand, what a way to go." With a tired sigh, Harry kissed the top of the blond head before she flopped back down to her pillow.
"You really want me to stay?"
"I really want you to stay, Desi. I love you and your little sister too."
"Isn't that supposed to be your little dog too?"
"Well I happen to think Rach is cuter than a dog, but you're the one related to her." The banter had been the main thing Desi had missed over the years. No matter what they had done growing up, Harry had a talent for making her laugh.
"Harry, I sure have missed you."
"So have I, baby, now go to sleep, tomorrow's a school day for me, literally."
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Desi rolled over to find the other half of the bed empty, put out that Harry had gotten up without waking her after the night they had shared. She noticed it was still dark outside and was about to call out for her lover when she felt the bed move with Harry's return. "Where'd you go?"
"I had to pee, sorry I woke you up, go back to sleep."
Desi moved until she was lying on top of Harry, loving the feel of the skin under hers. After the phone call from Jude she had a hard time drifting off feeling terrified that Byron would go through all that trouble to get her back. Trying to take her mind off of what he'd done, Desi turned her thoughts to what she wanted to do with the rest of her life if she was going to stay with Harry. She really didn't want to just stay home and wait for her to get back from work, and she hoped her partner wouldn't laugh at what she had come up with.
It was a craft she had learned as a child, and after browsing through some of the shops on Magazine Street she knew there was a market for it. Sprinkled throughout what was known as New Orleans's miracle mile of antique shops, was designer pottery. The shop owners told her they were always on the lookout for new artists since they couldn't keep what was on the shelves very long, no matter what the cost. Taking a deep breath she decided to broach the subject with Harry.
"Baby, are you sleeping?" asked Desi in a soft voice.
"No, just enjoying holding you. Something on your mind?" Harry asked in a deep voice as she ran her hand up and down Desi's naked back.
"I've decided what I want to do." There that wasn't so hard, just remember, Desiree, this is not Byron, she thought.
"Well that's a good thing." Another kiss dropped onto Desi's head. "That's a good thing isn't it?" Harry asked when the silence became prolonged.
"I want to be a potter."
"A potter?"
"You know a potter, as in a person tha
t makes pottery. Why? Do you think that's a stupid idea?"
"Nothing you want to do with your life will ever seem like a stupid idea to me, sweetheart. We should clear that up right off. I happen to think that's a great idea and I'm guessing Tony will be your biggest customer once you get started." Harry had lifted her head a little so she could see Desi's face.
"Are you sure? I could always go back to school like you said."
"I'm happy for you, because I think it's something you'll be good at. Just don't forget about me once you become famous and your stuff is collectable. We'll put our heads together and think of the best way to get you started," Harry promised. She rolled Desi over onto her back and spent some time just slowly kissing her.
The slow affection never materialized into more than an affirmation of the love they shared with small caresses and kisses. They talked until it was time to get up, discussing how best to get Desi started on her new career and what they could do to make it successful. One thing they both agreed on was that it was something Desi could do from home.
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Across town the sun started to rise over a dumpster that contained two wet and tired brothers as the police continued their search. They had driven up the back street to their parent's home the night before thinking they could sneak in and shore up their alibi. What they found was a number of police cars parked along the block with the officers sitting and waiting. They had abandoned Mike's car and set off on foot, deciding on their current hiding place because it was full of just cardboard boxes, until they could figure out what they were going to do.
"Wake up, Mike, we gotta get a move on and find a way back into the house without the cops seeing us." Byron was trying to stretch out his back from the uncomfortable position he'd slept in.
"We are so fucked. I told you that was a stupid idea." It was about the fifth time that Mike had said that same sentence.
"You were the asshole who got the wrong fucking address, so just shut the hell up before I do it for you."
"Don't forget, brother, I'm not Desi. You try and hit me and they'll have to scrape you off the floor." With a hard shove, Mike slammed Byron's back into the other side of their hiding place before he got up and jumped over the side.
Walking back the way they had come, Mike was the first one to notice the group of uniformed police officers surrounding his car. This would effectively cut off any chance they had of getting back into the house where their alibi was waiting. "Fucking great, there goes my ride since there's no way we're getting past all those cops." The whisper still dripped with menace as Mike stepped behind a large group of bushes in a neighbor's yard.
"Don't panic, we'll just say we were out late last night with friends. It's not like I'm jumping bail or anything. I'm not due back in court until the end of the month according to my attorney, so we'll just lay low for a while and let things cool down. Come on let's call Pop and see if he'll spot us some money and lend us a car."
Byron was betting the people they had broken in on last night wouldn't have a clue as to who they were. The only reason the cops were looking at his brother's car was the old guy had gotten lucky with a couple of letters off the license plate. They had left behind no evidence of their identity, so the only mystery left was where Desi was really staying.
By ten that morning they were headed toward the Florida panhandle with a borrowed car and five hundred dollars their father had given them. They would stay in one of Pensacola's cheaper hotels for a couple of days and then return to answer any questions the police might still have for them. Byron was glad that he, unlike women, did not panic in any given situation leaving him open to find reasonable solutions to any problem.
They agreed to not call and tell their father where they would be staying, only saying they were taking a couple of days off, in case the police questioned him. The only thing Byron, Sr. would tell the police was that the boys had left two days prior, making it impossible for them to have been the two the police were looking for.
At ten thirty, Jude's clerk informed Bradley Blum he was expected in court that afternoon. He was to appear with his client so the judge could rule on all the motions Bradley had filed with the court. The order came after the police informed Jude that the Simoneaux brothers were nowhere to be found.
After their stake out of the night before and throughout the morning, the only thing they had come up with was the car the two had been driving. More than a little miffed over the abduction of his wife and his now very black and swollen eye, Jude knew the two would not resurface anytime soon without motivation. He figured making Byron a fugitive from justice would be a good start.
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"Let me get this straight. Your godfather is Judge Jude Rose?" asked Serena.
Jude's clerk had made two phone calls that morning, one to Bradley and the other to Serena. He informed her that Jude was ready to rule on the motions the defense had filed and the trial would be set for the following morning. She had put her phone down and driven uptown before Harry left for work to find out if she knew what had happened that put this trial on a super fast track.
"It's not something I like advertising especially now with all that's going on, but Uncle Jude and my parents are old friends. This won't be a problem will it? It's not like he's going to hear the case is it?" Harry was free for the morning after a Herculean effort to clear her schedule so she could be there for Desi when Serena said she was coming over.
"No, he plans to pass it on to one of the other judges with directions on how it's going to go down no doubt. Only, you didn't hear that from me. Justice is blind after all." She pointed a finger at Harry before going on. "He doesn't want to comprise Desi's safety by allowing this guy to go free on some technicality, but nonetheless, he is taking a personal interest in this process. After hearing about the stunt Byron pulled last night, Jude Rose will be one of his problems, but not his biggest. I'd be a wee bit more concerned with Victoria Rose and what she has planned. She is after all a partner in one of the most ruthless firms in the city when it comes to civil litigation, so he'd better pray he doesn't own tons of property."
"Everything is in his father's name so she might be upset," added Desi.
"Trust me, honey, she'll find the deep pocket." Serena took a sip of her coffee and flipped open her appointment book.
"What happens now?" asked Harry.
"That's why I'm here. I just wanted to brief you both so you know what to expect. This afternoon after consulting my crystal ball, all of Bradley's motions will be shot down and not worth the paper they're written on. Tomorrow morning bright and early we'll go to trial on the charges Desi filed against this asshole, and when said asshole fails to appear, his problems will multiply.
"Unless his father is lying and really does know where he is and can get him there, Byron Simoneaux will have officially jumped bail. For his father who posted his bail with a property bond, this will translate into having one of the local bail bondsman crawling into his back pocket until Byron resurfaces."
"That sounds like justice all the way around to me." Harry squeezed Desi's hand and smiled for Serena. "Nothing like life giving them tons of shit for a change instead of the other way around."
"Truer words, Harry. What lesson should Byron and his family carry away from this you ask? Never, and I mean never piss off one of the most powerful people on the bench in this city. Unlike all the famous witches and voodoo priests New Orleans is famous for, Jude Rose can really make it rain misery in your life with a nod of his head and a rap of his gavel." Serena smiled at the couple sitting across from her and took another sip of her coffee.
Something had changed since the last time she'd been over and she wasn't leaving until she knew what it was. The clues were there in how they sat close together and that Desi couldn't keep her hands to herself any more than Harry could. Serena's smile only faltered a little w
hen the pain of knowing Harry would never look at her that way popped into her head, but for the most part she was happy for her friend. She only hoped Desi realized just how lucky she was. To Serena, from the day she had met her, Harry had epitomized everything she had wanted in a partner.
"So tomorrow it will all come to an end?" asked Desi.
"I wish that were true, but not really. Tomorrow we'll begin again in a way, but for Byron it'll be the beginning of the end. After the smart move our friend here pulled off in front of the judge's house," Serena pointed to Harry. "There's no way possible I see for Byron to get anything but a long jail sentence. That may not be fair, and as an officer of the court, if you repeat what I just said I'll deny it. That's the reality of the situation. Then again, you didn't ask to be brutally beaten with a baseball bat, but it did happen and he deserves to be punished for it."
"I just don't want anything to happen to Harry because of this."
Serena reached over and put her hand on Desi's knee. "This isn't just about you anymore, Desi. The fact that Byron decided to compound his stupidity by dragging a naked Victoria Rose out of the bed she shares with Judge Rose in the dead of night then punching said judge in the eye is just what's called lagniappe. You know, a little something extra. From what I hear, if Victoria asked Jude to stand on his head for a whole trial he'd do it because he's that crazy about her, but you didn't hear that from me either. I can only imagine having Jude's ear in the most intimate of ways does not bode well for Byron's future if Victoria has any say in this. Well, ladies, enjoy your breakfast and I'll call you this afternoon with the details." Serena kissed them both before following Mona to the door. Mona gave her a sympathetic pat on the back as she saw Serena out to her car.
"Not much longer now, honey, then you'll be rid of these people forever," said Harry as she leaned over and kissed Desi. With still a few hours of freedom, Harry decided to try and get Desi's mind off the upcoming events.