Sympathy From the Devil

What day is it? Wasn't there something important that happened? Oh yes, that inauguration thing. I don't even bother looking at the calendar these days. Grandma's condition is not improving and we have been advised by doctors to book the cruise that she always wanted to take. We have become minor celebrities here at Hope Lodge; "The Three Franceses" as they refer to us. Three generations of women who battled cancer to some degree at some point in our lives and watched as it destroyed other family members. Fran, my grandmother, started during the 1960's with a double mastectomy and hysterectomy. Frannie, my mother, beat breast cancer following radiation and a lumpectomy. After finding me crying on our bathroom floor early last year, Ruby consoled and convinced me that the precancer couldn't harm me if I addressed it straight away; thankfully, she was right. We each succeeded due to our innate hunger for survival.

Apparently, Romeo (or Lucifer, his middle name, by which he preferred to be called) was attracted to this lust for life and survival, which he saw in me. After approximately one week of dating, I was gathering my things, heading out after another amazing night off from the cancer hotel opting instead to stay at his studio in the resident housing building located near the hospital. He pulled the waistband of my jeans, as he sat on his bed and begged me to stay another evening. "I can't", I replied, "I have to leave and prepare Grandma for her treatment tomorrow". After another ten minutes of kissing him goodbye and almost submitting to his attempt at undressing me, I jumped up and attempted to leave. He stood, still holding my hand, looked into my eyes and said, "Frankie, I have never met anyone like you. You are an amazing young woman; accomplished, strong, affectionate and gorgeous. You exude this warmth that I have never felt from anyone. Please say that you will see only me. Be with me, please." I thought for a moment, smiled, and replied, "You are great, we share the same interests, you have both an MD and MBA...and oh, yes, you're unbelievably hot. Hmmmm...let me think about it, okay? [patting his cheek and tilting my head to one side]". He playfully threw me on the bed calling me a punk as he tickled me until I yelled "YES!", still laughing uncontrollably. "Man, I am in trouble", he said, brushing my face with his lips, though I felt like I was entering dangerous territory.

That was last week and he has been wonderful. Grandma was brought to the ER following an dangerously high blood pressure reading which was taken during her radiation appointment. After working a 12 hour shift at the hospital's uptown location, Romeo stopped in to check on her and then checked on me as I waited. He knew that I had not eaten anything all day, took me to Burrito Box for take away burritos- my favorite meal; though as a Cali native, he is a bit of a burrito snob (yes, fine, I admit it--El Indio is the best that I have ever eaten in The States). I ate my burrito in record time, easing his concerns about my eating habits, as I was losing a considerable amount of weight--damn nervous energy. "Sugarplum", he began, as he touched my face, "you are carrying so much right now and I know that protecting you from all of this pain is impossible, though I want to attempt to do what I can...please let me." I closed my eyes, nodded silently and he began to kiss me passionately. Swiftly picking me up from my chair at the table, he carried me over to the bed. He ran his strong hands up along my stomach, ribs, removing my shirt. His mouth traveled down my neck, arm, along my waist, as he unbuttoned my jeans. He felt amazing, everywhere, every way. I removed his white t-shirt and admired what I still couldn't believe that I was seeing. His perfectly chiseled chest displayed a ring adorning each nipple. I can't believe that Dr. Feelgood has nipple rings! Yes, he is a freak, though he is now my freak...my incredibly talented, beautiful freak.

He was still showing me how greatly he wanted to protect me when my telephone rang. "Shit, Darling, wait", I said while lifting his handsome face and reaching for the screaming phone. Breathlessly I answered,"Hello, Hi...uh, Mom. Yes, just at Romeo's, um finishing dinner. Sure, leaving now," and closed the phone. "I have to leave, thank you for everything, Darling," I said to Romeo, who finally seemed...to...return to Earth. "I'll walk you over, Sugarplum", he offered.

After kissing Romeo goodnight and wishing him sweet dreams, I relieved my mother so she could eat at the diner with a friend. Thankfully, the doctors allowed us to return to Hope Lodge with Grandma soon thereafter. After ensuring her comfort and sound sleep, I prepared to slip into my own slumber, hoping to have visions of Romeo's sugary lips dance around in my head.

As I slid between the sheets, Pamela sent an urgent text asking me to call her immediately. "Hola Mi Prima, Grandma is still fine," I greeted her," No need to worry so much this evening. Go to sleep." "Frankie it isn't that," said my partner in crime, "I know that you feel using Google to research men whom you date is a bit crazy, though I couldn't help it. I worry about you and I love you and I want you to be safe and happy...Frankie....I think there may be a Mrs. Romeo Jackson...I think that he is married." --Frankie