#rose mueller

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Rose hummed to herself as she pulled items from her closet. She hadn’t planned on organizing her closet today but she needed to make room for the new items she purchased the day before. Then the minister’s sermon about the good samaritan prompted her to see if there was anything she could donate to the shelter. Of course the boy she met at the church came to mind and she had to admit her sudden interest in charity and church was partly due to her hopes of seeing him again.

“Knock knock,” someone said behind her.

“Oh hi Dad,” she turned, smiling at him.

“Did you buy that much,” Kade asked, teasing his daughter a little.

“You know me,” she said “I like to shop.”

“I hope your father’s credit card can handle it,” Kade said. “Did Brooks get anything?”

“A few things,” she shrugged.

“I suppose mostly baggy pants and t-shirts,” Kade said.

“You know Brooks, he likes what he likes,” she said.

Kade got a faraway look in his eyes “I remember when you were both little how you’d dress alike.” 

“Daddy, Brooks isn’t doing this to hurt you,” she said, coming over to him.

“I know,” he acknowledged softly. “Brooks never liked it when we put her, I mean him, in a dress.” Swiping a hand across his eyes “I just don’t understand where we went wrong.”

“Daddy you didn’t do anything wrong,” Rose said, giving him a hug. 

“Maybe I need therapy,” he said, hugging her back.

“It couldn’t hurt,” she quipped.

“I suppose not,” Kade said “I’d like to understand what she’s, I mean he’s going through.”

“Then I think you should,” she encouraged.

“So what are you going to do with all this stuff,” he asked.

“I’m going to donate it to the shelter,” she said. 

Rubbing his chin “good idea. I think I’ll see if there’s anything your father and I could donate too.”

“Great,” she said moving back to her closet “there’s plenty of old guys who need clothes too.”

“Thanks a lot,” he chuckled.

“You know what I mean,” she called after him as he left her room.

Rose entered the shelter, her nose wrinkled at the scent of unwashed bodies assaulting her senses. Perhaps she should have brought along basic hygiene products too. It wasn’t something she’d ever thought about before, she’d always had everything she ever needed. 

“Excuse me,” she said, approaching one of the servers as they replaced one of the tubs of food.

“You’re late,” the worker said, handing her the empty tub. 

“What am I supposed to do with this,” she demanded but the worker wasn’t listening as they started serving the people in line.

Looking around, Rose wondered where she was supposed to put it. There were tables where people were sitting and eating. But she decided against that, she couldn’t put it on the counter as there wasn’t space. She walked through the swinging doors into the kitchen. 

“Where do I…” her voice ground to a halt when Fox came into the kitchen from the back. 

“Don’t just stand there,” someone yelled at her. 

Jumping she bumped into a shelf sending a container of mustard to the floor.

“What’s the matter with you,” the same grumpy voice demanded. “Get a mop and clean that up.”

Rose clutched the dirty pan to her chest, her mouth flopping unable to form a coherent thought to save her life. 

“Give her a break,” Fox said, coming to a stop beside her “I don’t think she belongs back here.” 

“I um,” she looked at the floor “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Fox said, “it’s just mustard.”

Nodding Rose looked up, her heart kerplunking in her chest. “I wanted to donate some clothes to the shelter and I…” She held up the pan “someone gave me this and I don’t know..” She shrugged wishing she could just disappear. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s a bit chaotic during lunch,” Fox explained, taking the pan from her and leading the way to the sink where similar pans waited cleaning. He grabbed an apron “but if you wanted to help we could do with a dishwasher.”

She took the apron from his hands “I … um …” looking at the mountain of dishes she swallowed. “I guess I could load the dishwasher.”

Fox’s laughter filled the room and several of the workers turned to look at them. “You are the dishwasher.” Grinning he asked “you do know how to wash dishes?”

“Yeah sure,” she sounded doubtful as she began to tie the apron around her waist.

Shaking his head, Fox said “it’s ok. I was only teasing. You don’t have to do the dishes.”

“No,” Rose said firmly, “I want to help.”

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Rose pulled her phone out checking the time. “Where are you?” she typed sending the same message she had sent a few minutes before as if it would produce a different result then the first unanswered message had garnered.

A few minutes later she pushed through the dorm doors tired of waiting. Pulling her jacket close, feeling the chill fall air penetrate her light jacket. “There you are,” she called as Brooks came hurrying up the sidewalk towards her.

“Sorry,” he murmured, coming to a stop a couple of feet from where Rose stood in front of the dorm door. 

“We were supposed to have left twenty minutes ago,” Rose said. 

“I told you I wasn’t going,” Brooks said.

“No you didn’t,”

“Yes I did,” Brooks turned towards Atlas who had walked with him to his dorm. “I have to study for a test.”

“I already told our dad’s that we were going home this weekend,” Rose said. “They’re expecting us.”

“Then go home,” Brooks said “I need to study.”

Rose eyed Atlas standing off to the side. “You just want to spend time with him.”

Brooks shoved his hands into his pockets, pressing his lips together into a thin line.

“That’s it isn’t it,” Rose said stepping closer “You’d rather spend time with him than go home.”

Atlas shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. “I’m going to go,” he said, turning to Brooks “if you want to talk later you have my number.”

Brooks looked like he wanted to ask him to stay but all he did was nod and watch him walk away.

“You better hurry,” Rose said. To her shock and utter dismay Brooks turned and ran after Atlas. “What the …” 

Atlas stopped, hearing rapid footsteps coming up behind him. Turning, he couldn’t help but smile when he saw it was Brooks running to catch up to him. “I don’t think she likes me,” he said, nodding in the direction of Brooks’ older sister.

Brooks shrugged, “she doesn’t listen.”

“Maybe…” Atlas shook his head, looking away. 

“What?”

Turning to face Brooks he said “it’s not my place to tell you what to do. I’m just your tutor.”

“Right,” Brooks said, “and here I thought we were friends.”

“We are,” Atlas said and just for a moment the idea popped into his head that maybe he wanted a little more. It was a strange and foreign idea and one he wasn’t ready to face. “When was the last time you were home?”

Blinking Brooks frowned “what difference does that make? We had plans.”

“To study,” Atlas reminded him “for a test you’re ready for.”

“So you think I should go home…”

Reaching out, Atlas touched Brooks hand lightly “I think you should do what you want.”

“I haven’t been home since I got here,” he said looking back at his sister. “I should probably go.”

“Alright,” Atlas said, taking a couple of steps back “then I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Yeah sure,” Brooks agreed. “Will you go home for the weekend?”

Checking the time Atlas shook his head “my sister has already left. So I guess I’ll be here.”

Looking over his shoulder Brooks suggested “maybe you could ride with us.”

“I don’t know,” Atlas said “you’re already late and I still have to pack.”

“You haven’t been home since school started,” Brooks pointed out “and you could be packed by the time we’re ready to go.”

“What about_”

“Don’t worry about her,” Brooks said “I’ll tell her. Now go. We’re in a hurry.”

“I’m going,” he said, running down the sidewalk towards his dormitory.

Brooks turned and jogged up to his sister. “We’re giving Atlas a ride,” he said as he entered the dorm.

“Oh no we’re not,” she said, following him inside. 

“Then I’m not going,” he said.

“Fine,” she said. “But he better be ready to go by the time we get there.”

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Chapter 7 – Reluctant Volunteer

Rose hummed to herself as she pulled items from her closet. She hadn’t planned on organizing her closet today but she needed to make room fo

Rose is motivated to donate to the local homeless shelter but are her motives for the right reasons? Or is she only doing it to see the boy she ran into at the church again? Find out in the next chapter of The Art of Being Yourself that's available on my WP Blog if you want to read it now. Otherwise it'll be added to the queue and posted later.

Grant Gray and Kade Mueller were made by @legendofsim

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Rose swept through the doors of the by now familiar homeless shelter. A few of the usual visitors waved at her but the workers setting up for the dinner rush ignored her or grunted when she said hi as she passed them. “What’s wrong with everyone?” she muttered as she stepped into the kitchen. 

“Where were you?” A cold but familiar voice demanded.

Turning towards the sink she giggled “I knew you wouldn’t like having to wash dishes anymore than me.”

“Where the hell were you? You knew we were short two people today and you promised you’d be here.”

“Excuse me for having a life,” she snapped, taking a step backwards.

He rinsed down the sink area before wiping his hands dry on the front of his jeans. “I should have known better than to rely on a spoiled little princess to keep her promise.”

“I wish people would stop calling me a spoiled little princess,” she whined “I have problems too.”

“Yeah right,” Fox rolled his eyes moving towards the counter to start on prep work for the dinner rush. 

“I do,” she stomped her foot. “My parents told me I had to get a job. Can you imagine…”

Fox let out a loud guffaw causing several volunteers to turn and stare. “That’s your problem? You have to get a job!.”

“Well yeah,” she said, unsure why he was looking at her in such confusion. “I know that doesn’t sound like much to you since all  you do is volunteer but I’m in the middle of planning my parent’s anniversary party. Where they think I’m going to find the time to find a job and do that I have no idea.”

“You think all I do is volunteer,” Fox’s voice was low and gruff.

“Well,” she shrugged, “you’re always here. I just assumed…” The angry glint in his usually amused eyes had her regretting all the assumptions she had made about him. 

“I’ll have you know I work a full time job besides volunteering my time here,” he said “most of the volunteers here do. We’re not all made of money. We have to work in order to pay the bills.”

“But you’re parents…” she didn’t finish her sentence. 

“What about my parents,” he demanded. 

Taking a deep breath she said “well everyone knows they have money. Why do you have to work?”

“Because it’s their money not mine,” he said.

Her mouth dropped open “but you’re their son. What’s theirs is yours.”

“So according to you it’s alright to take advantage of them,” he turned back to chopping the carrots.

“You’re twisting my words,” she cried “I just don’t see why you would need to work when they have enough money that you don’t have to.”

“I like being independent,” he said. 

“I’m independent,” she said bristling at what felt like an insult.

“Sure, until you need your next hand out,” he said, moving past her to grab more carrots to chop. “Look, I’m a little busy to talk right now. So if you’re not here to help you should probably leave.”

This was so not what she expected. She had thought Fox would understand. Would offer to help her plan her parent’s party. What was she supposed to do now?

“What did you do?” Rose demanded as soon as Brooks entered the house.

Brooks raised a hand, running his fingers through the shorter locks on his head. “Atlas said it looked good.”

“He would,” Rose snorted, putting her hands on her hips. 

“What’s wrong with it?” Brooks said, moving towards the hall mirror. 

Rolling her eyes, Rose huffed “it makes you look like such a boy.”

Brooks froze, torn by his sister’s careless words. A part of him was happy that his appearance was starting to match how he felt on the inside. But another part of him withered inside “you never really accepted me.” he said as he turned from the mirror “you never really believed me when I told you how I felt locked inside the wrong body.”

“Of course I did,” Rose said “I’ve always supported you.”

“I wonder,” Brooks sighed more to himself than to his sister.

“You should take it as a compliment,” Rose said as if she could erase the hurt she caused by saying it was something it wasn’t.

“Why are you here?” Brooks asked, wanting desperately to change the subject.

“I need your help in planning our parents’ 25th anniversary,” Rose said as if she hadn’t just crushed her brother’s heart. 

“Since when do they want a party?” Brooks demanded.

“Twenty five years is a long time,” Rose persisted. “So I thought since they never had a formal wedding that it’d be fun if we all dressed up. You and I could wear matching dresses like we did when we were little….”

“No,” Brooks interrupted her before she could elaborate further.

“No what,” Rose asked, blinking at her in surprise.

“I’m not wearing a formal dress,” Brooks said.

“What’s the big deal,” Rose demanded, “it’s just for a few hours.”

Shaking his head Brooks turned away from her. “I’m not wearing a dress, formal or otherwise.”

“Why are you being so selfish?” Rose grabbed Brooks arm before he could slip from the room “it’s for our parent’s anniversary. We always dressed the same when we were little. It’s for them.”

Brooks glared at his sister “fine I’m the selfish one. Now get out of my room.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Rose demanded “you were never like this until you started seeing that guy, what’s his name, Atlas. I bet he’s been filling your head with a bunch of nonsense.”

“He has nothing to do with this,” Brooks jerked his arm free. “I am capable of making my own decisions.”

“Just think about it,” Rose pleaded. 

“I said no,” Brooks shouted as he stomped across his room to where his backpack lay next to his bed. 

“We’re not done discussing this yet,” Rose said, blocking his path.

“I have class,” Brooks glares at his sister and she moves out of his way.

“This isn’t over,” Rose called after him.

“It is as long as you think I’m going to wear a dress,” Brooks said as he swept past her. 

Rose stared after her brother wondering how things had gone so wrong.

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“I don’t understand why this is happening all of a sudden,” Kade said, giving his daughter a perplexed look. 

“It’s not all of a sudden,“ Brooks cried, his face red from trying to make himself understood. 

Grant sighed “we know this transgender thing is popular right now but we thought you were smarter than that.”

“It has nothing to do with how smart I am or how popular it is. It’s about how I feel.” He took a deep breath “you don’t understand what it’s like to wake up every day and know you’re in the wrong body.”

“Does this have anything to do with you liking that girl?” Turning to his husband, Kade asked “what was her name?”

“It has nothing to do with her,” Brooks glared at his parents. 

“We understand if you’re uncomfortable coming out as a lesbian,” Grant assured her. “It hasn’t always been easy for your dad and I being a gay couple. But you don’t have to do something so drastic to appear normal.”

The shock of his dad’s words left Brooks speechless. His mouth dropped open but no words came out. How could his parents think he wanted to be transgender for appearances? Tears rolled down his cheeks “you don’t understand.”

“We understand that you want to erase the little girl we love and cherish out of existence,” Kade was just as tearful as Brooks was. 

“Do you think if it was a choice I’d choose this?” Brooks said. “I’d do anything not to feel like this. To feel normal. To wake up and look in the mirror and be happy with what I see. But I don’t. I hate what I see.”

“If you feel like that then why didn’t you tell us,” Grant asked. “We would have gotten you help.”

“It’s not a mental disease,” Brooks cried.

“I read something that therapy has proved useful in helping some people to accept who they are,” Kade said. 

“I know who I am,” Brooks said, looking between his parents.

“You’re our beautiful daughter,” Grant said before Brooks could continue “we’ll get in contact with a therapist and you’ll see we’re right.”

“But…” Brooks sighed “fine.” He pushed his chair away from the table wanting nothing more than to be alone and hope for the ground to open up and swallow him.

Rose walked into the kitchen just in time to hear her parents discussing Brooks. They looked up at her with expectant eyes “what?” she asked, wishing she hadn’t wanted a snack before going up to her room.

“What do you think of Brooks wanting to become a boy,” Grant asked, patting the chair next to him indicating he wanted her to join them.

“Um,” she looked around her like she hoped the house would spontaneously combust. 

“She must have confided in you,” Kade said. “Help us wrap our heads around this.”

She moved forward with small hesitant steps. Sitting down across from her parents she made a point of checking her phone, hoping for someone to call her. 

“Is she doing this to get back at us,” Grant forged ahead. “Is she mad at us because we insisted she get extra help when she starts university this fall?”

She gave her dad a ‘what are you talking about’ face. “She was hurt that you didn’t think she could do the work…”

“Of course she can do the work,” Kade protested. “We just thought she needed a little boost, you know with her dyslexia.”

“Does she think being a boy is going to help her studies,” Grant asked.

“What,” she couldn’t help but burst into giggles “no. She might be confused but she’s not delusional.”

“I’m not confused,” Brooks shouted from where he stood by the refrigerator. 

Rose jumped to her feet “I didn’t mean … .It’s not what it sounded like.”

Crossing his arms defensively around himself “so I didn’t just hear you say I was confused?”

“Well,” Rose’s face twisted, “I meant the situation was confusing.”

“Don’t be mad at your sister,” Grant said, “she was just trying to help.”

Brooks shrugged, glaring at his sister. “Yeah right. Helping.”

“I am,” Rose cried her cheeks burning “I was trying to explain and I,” she sighed “I didn’t do a very good job.”

Moving towards his daughter Kade put a comforting hand on her shoulder “I think you’re right. Brooks is confused. Once she goes to therapy she’ll feel better.”

Slamming his water bottle down on the counter, glaring at his family “I’m not confused. I know what I am, whether you want to believe it or not.”

“Brooks,” Rose called after him “I’m sorry.” But Brooks was already halfway up the stairs with no intention of stopping.

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Coming into the church had been a mistake. Rose didn’t understand the instinct that brought her to the front of the church much less the prone position she found herself in. It was like some bad Christmas romcom except she was damsel in distress. 

Swiping a hand across her face she heaved a sigh that seemed to echo off the walls of the empty church. It’d been months since she’d last been here with her family. They had come Easter Sunday. The entire family had come, sitting towards the back because Brooks had thrown one of her tantrums. His tantrums. 

Shaking her head at her mistake. She was never going to get used to the change. It should be easy except that it wasn’t. Changing pronouns after eighteen years is a lot to ask of someone and she was trying even though she was still making mistakes. Mistakes she knew hurt her sister rather her brother.

How was she supposed to help explain this to their parents when she didn’t understand it herself? Hating to admit it, even to herself, Rose knew it was because she didn’t want to accept it. Ever since Brook was a baby their parents dressed them in identical outfits for holidays and special occasions. Rose had spent the entire Easter holiday trying to convince Brooks she … he needed to play his part. Not to rock the boat. And Brooks had been miserable. 

Now here she was inside a church hoping to get an answer to her dilemma. You’d think it’d be an easy decision. Support her sis…her brother and risk disappointing their parents or supporting her parents and alienating her brother. Why couldn’t Brooks have just left well enough alone? Brooks just had to tell their parents she was a boy trapped inside a girl’s body.

Intellectually  Rose understood there was more to it than that. How many times had Brooks confided in her on how uncomfortable she was in her own body. Rose knew she was part of the reason why it had taken Brooks so long to tell their parents. But why couldn’t she have waited until right before they left for university?

That’s the real reason she was here. She couldn’t stand it at home anymore. Not the tears. Not the gloom and doom that seemed to fill the house. Her entire summer was ruined all because Brooks had to tell them how she felt. 

“Hey,” a deep concerned voice said “are you alright?”

“What? Who?” she jerked her head up to find a young man with a colorful mop of unruly hair staring down at her. “I’m fine.”

“You don’t sound fine to me,” he said “do you want to talk about it? I could get the minister, he’s in his office.”

“No,” she sniffled “but if you have any tissues that would be great.”

Grinning, he held out a box “I thought you might need them.”

“Thank you,” she said, pulling several tissues out. 

“Are you sure you’re alright,” he asked again.

“Positive,” she said, dabbing at her eyes hoping her face wasn’t a smeared mess.

“If you say so,” he said, setting the tissue box on an empty pew. “I’m Fox Cornell, I volunteer at the shelter.”

“Oh,” she smiled up at him, “so that’s why you’re here.”

“Yep,” he nodded “most weekends, except next weekend. My sister’s getting married.”

“Congratulations,” she murmured as a funny ache filled her heart. Would Brooks be her maid of honor or a best man? Would they even want to be in her wedding? Why did she have to ruin everything by coming out? 

Checking his phone he said “well if you’re sure you’re alright I should be going.” He started to turn away when she touched his hand.

“I … um …. Appreciate your concern,” she smiled up at him “I’m Rose Mueller.”

“It’s nice to meet you Rose,” he smiled, fiddling with his phone. “I have to go. My sister’s sending me impatient texts because I’m already late for my tux fitting.”

“Then you better go,” she said “I know where to find you if I ever need a tissue.” 

“Yeah right,” he chuckled as he hurried from the church.

“That was lame,” she muttered to herself once she was alone. 

The tux fittings took longer than Fox expected they would take. Maybe if Stella wasn’t so picky it would have taken half the time. Sometimes he wondered what Brad saw in her. He sure wouldn’t marry her if he had a choice. 

He’d like to get married someday if he ever found the right person. 

Maybe it was the girl from the church…what’s her name? She was pretty as a rose. 

Snapping his fingers he grinned rose, that’s her name, Rose. Would he ever see her again? Maybe he could ask one of the cooks in the soup kitchen if they knew her but as soon as he thought of it he nixed it. That was the surest way of starting up gossip and he hated gossip; especially about himself. 

Regretting that he hadn’t gotten Rose’s number when he had the chance he drove into the parking lot of a bar. He seldom drank but after spending hours with his sister appraising how he looked in his tux he felt the need for a drink. 

It wasn’t as busy as he thought it’d be for a Saturday night. There were couples dancing to whatever was playing on the jukebox. Fox started to make his way to the bar to place his order when he stopped and turned. One of the dancers seemed familiar and if he hadn’t just spent hours with him he’d never have recognized him without his cowboy hat.

“Brad,” he asked, walking up to the couple who were now lip locked.

Startled Brad pulled away from the woman in his arms. “Fox, what are you doing here?”

Frowning Fox crossed his arms “I could ask you the same thing.”

“It’s not what you think,” he stammered.

“Really,” he said waving a hand towards the woman “that doesn’t look like my sister. You remember her, your fiance.”

“Fiance,” the woman said, her eyes round with shock.

“Wait,” Brad called after her, “I can explain.”

“I certainly hope so,” Fox said, stepping in front of him.

“This doesn’t concern you,” Brad said, trying to walk around him.

“The hell it doesn’t,” Fox said, grabbing his arm “you’re engaged to my sister.”

“Yeah and maybe if your sister was a little more warm I wouldn’t have to look elsewhere,” he said.

“Don’t give me that,” Fox said “you’ve known Stella ever since you were kids. You know what she’s like.”

“Yeah I know,” Brad mumbled as he watched the woman he was dancing with walk out the door. Shrugging off Fox’s hand “you can leave now that you’ve ruined my night.”

Fox shook his head as he watched the man his sister was going to marry in a week’s time walk away as if Fox was the problem. What did his sister see in him?

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“I told you she wasn’t gonna last,” the middle aged cook said when Rose once again failed to arrive for her shift at the shelter.

Fox shrugged nonchalantly as if it didn’t matter to him that Rose once again shirked her duties. 

“Sheltered little brats don’t know what work is or what it means to go without,” the cook continued, taking his silence as permission to voice her opinion. “What  you need is a nice, responsible girl.”

Fox grimaced “I suppose you know where such a girl can be found.”

“My youngest daughter is about your age,” the cook continued, “she’d be perfect for you. Not that I’m setting you up or anything.”

Inhaling deeply Fox said “no of course not.”

“She’s a good girl,” they continued “knows how to hold down a job. Been working since she was sixteen. Knows how to cook. I bet little Miss Priss wouldn’t know how to cook. Probably burn the house down or cry she ,ruined her manicure or something.”

“Birdie stop,” Fox snapped. “Rose wasn’t that bad. She washed hundreds of dirty dishes without crying over her manicure.” Well maybe a little but he’d been able to get her to laugh it off and she had returned. “You know she’s busy planning her parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.”

“She’ll be lucky to find a man who will put up with her for twenty-five minutes, much less years,” Birdie said, waving her ladle around, disbursing spaghetti sauce liberally over the stove and countertop. 

Fox couldn’t contain the snort of amusement that exploded from him. Birdie was probably right but he wouldn’t mind trying. Not for the first time he wondered if he should give her a call. Better yet, go over to her house, as his chances of her answering his calls were as dismal as her returning the texts he had sent. 

“You should come over for supper,” Birdie said “meet my youngest and you’ll forget all about the princess.”

Rolling his eyes, Fox sighed “if I agree to come over will you promise to give Rose a chance? She’s not so bad.”

“Sure why not,” Birdie chuckled. “It’s not like she’s ever coming back. Mark my words, she’s done with this place. A place like this loses its appeal real quick to the likes of her…”

Cutting her off, Fox asked “when?”

“What?”

“When do you want me to come over?” he asked in an air of long-suffering.

“Oh,” Birdie pursed her cracked lips as she thought “Saturday night around 6:00.”

“I’ll be there,” Fox said “but I’m making no promises.”

“Fine,” Birdie said, handing the bubbling pot of sauce to one of the servers “but you’ll see what I mean. My Gertie is a real catch. She’s ten times better than what’s her name.”

Scratching his head as he left the shelter, Fox wondered if he had done the right thing by agreeing to Birdie’s invitation. It’s not that he disliked Birdie’s daughter, he just didn’t like being set up and that’s exactly what this is, a set up. Was it Gertie’s idea? Or her mothers? He had no idea although from the few times he met Gertie he had the vague feeling she wasn’t all that interested in meeting anyone, boy or girl. She was just…her. And she seemed happy enough to him. But what did he know? 

Shrugging he decided it wasn’t worth worrying about. If it got Birdie from calling Rose names then it’d be worth it. 

Rose.

What was he going to do about her? He felt bad for upsetting her. Not that she didn’t deserve it. She was a spoiled brat but was that her fault? Her parents sheltering her from the realities of life hadn’t done her justice and now they’re pushing her out of the nest sort of and she wasn’t taking it too kindly. What she needed was someone to commiserate with her and not ridicule her. He should have encouraged her by telling her she could do it instead of being insulted that she thought he was living off his parents. 

With these thoughts swirling around inside his head Fox found himself outside Rose’s family home. He gazed out his window wondering why he had gone here. He had a million things he should be doing and this is where he came. Sighing he stepped out of his car, an old rust bucket that he bought when he’d gotten his driver’s license six years ago. It wasn’t much to look at but it got him from here to there and that’s all he cared about.

Walking up to the door he tried to come up with what he wanted to say. He didn’t feel as if he needed to apologize. Everything he said was true if anything she should be apologizing to him but he doubted that would ever happen.

Sighing he lifted his left hand and knocked. He waited a moment before knocking again. The continued silence had him backing away from the door sure no one was home. When he was almost off the porch the door opened and an older man stepped out.

“Can I help you?” he said.

“Hello sir,” Fox said politely “my name is Fox Cornel, I volunteer at the shelter.”

The man’s lips raised in a knowing grin “yes my daughter has mentioned you.”

“Is she home by chance,” Fox asked.

Holding the door open the man said “why don’t you come inside and I’ll get her. My name’s Kade by the way.”

“It’s nice to meet you sir,” Fox said as he stepped inside.

As Fox waited in the entryway he could hear muffled voices he assumed were Rose and her father. It went on for so long he was tempted to leave. 

“What do you want?” a loud angry voice demanded.

Fox dropped his hand from the door knob before turning to face Rose. “That’s an interesting way to greet a visitor.”

Rose’s eyes narrowed, pointing towards the door “leave.”

“Don’t you even want to know why I came?” he asked.

“I don’t care,” she huffed, “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.”

“Rose,” Kade admonished behind her “let him speak.”

“Why?” she demanded “so he can say he thinks I’m a spoiled brat? Or how I should have called to say I wasn’t coming in to volunteer.”

“You didn’t call,” Kade said, “they were depending upon you…”

“Oh don’t you start,” she cried glaring at him. “What’s the point of volunteering if you have to call in when you don’t want to do it? It’s not like I’m getting paid and punching a clock.”

“Don’t bother coming back,” Fox snapped from where he stood by the door “We don’t need your help. And to think I was going to apologize.” 

“You what,” she blinked, surprised but it was too late. Fox was already out the door. 

“Go after him,” Kade urged her.

“Why should I,” she demanded, “it’s not like I’ve done anything to apologize for.”

Her vehemence left even her steadfast father stunned into silence.

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[dandylion240]

Rose walked into the kitchen, yawning as she reached for the coffee pot. It took her a moment to realize the usual welcoming aroma, and warmth wasn’t there to greet her fuzzy morning brain. Grunting, she replaced the empty coffee pot as her parents came into the kitchen. “There’s no coffee,” she said in a tone that was almost an accusation.

“Sorry,” Kade said,his smile fading “I overslept.”

“Don’t apologize,” Grant said, “she’s an adult. She can make her own coffee.”

“I know,” Kade sighed, moving to get the coffee from the cabinet. 

Grant watched him with a disapproving gaze before turning that gaze upon his daughter. “You should do more around the house.”

Rose felt her mouth drop “I do plenty.”

Grant’s eyes stared stonily back at her, daring her to disagree with him. 

His silence and his steady gaze was worse than if he had listed everything she should be doing and wasn’t. She moved towards the toaster and took the toast from it and munched on it absently.

“That was for your father,” Kade said in a low voice even though he was replacing the bread in the toaster.

“Looks like he could learn to do more around the house too,” she snapped without thinking.

Kade handed her a cup of steaming coffee “I think you need this before you say anything else.”

Almost meekly she took her half eaten toast and coffee to the table and sat down. She tried to ignore the angry glare her father was giving her. The steam coming from his ears was a match to the steam from her coffee but less enjoyable.

Grant sat across from her, stirring cream into his coffee. “How old are you?”

“Why?” She demanded scowling at him.

“Just answer the question,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion.

Rolling her eyes “twenty-two.”

“So you’d consider yourself an adult,” he said in an even, firm tone.

“I hate it when you do this,” she mumbled, ripping off a piece of bread with the teeth.

“What am I doing?” he asked.

“Trying to trap me,” she said, catching her father’s eye. “I’m not a dumb teenager anymore.”

“No you’re not,” he agreed “which means I shouldn’t have to tell you this because you are an adult of twenty-two.”

Rose groaned knowing she had once again walked into a trap of her own making. 

“Your dad and I were married at your age…”

“I’ve heard this all before,” she said, cutting him off. Glancing at the clock on the wall, “I’m going to be late.” She started to get up when a stern voice stopped her.”

“Sit down,” Kade snapped as he joined them at the table. “The shelter can wait.”

“But they’re expecting me,” her voice faded as she looked into Kade’s eyes. She might have continued on her way if it had been Grant but she’d never been able to defy Kade who in most cases had been the more lenient of her two dads. “Fine,” she plopped back into her chair, crossing her arms. “What’s so important that it can’t wait until I’m done feeding the homeless.”

“That’s enough of that attitude,” Grant snapped. “While your dad and I are proud of you for volunteering at the shelter, that doesn’t mean you can just sit around the rest of the time and do nothing.”

“I don’t sit around and do nothing,” she objected.

“Shopping doesn’t count,” Grant said “you need to get a job.”

“A job,” she cried, looking as if someone had ripped the rug out from beneath her. 

“You need to learn to take care of yourself,” he continued. “You’re dad and I might not always be here and we feel it is time you learn some life skills.”

“This is so unfair,” she cried before pushing away from the table and stomping off muttering to herself.

“Well that could have gone better,” Kade sighed. 

“I’m sorry,” Grant sighed. “I let her get under my skin. Why can’t she be more like Brooks?” 

“She’s her own person like Brooks is his own person. It’s unfair for you to expect them to be alike,” Kade pointed out.

“I know,” Grant reached across the table for Kade’s hand. “I wish they were still little.”

“Me too,” Kade agreed, squeezing his husband’s hand “but they’re both old enough to make their own decisions. We just have to figure out how to support them.”

Grant grunted “why do I have the feeling it’s going to be easier to accept Brooks transition than it will be to motivate Rose into getting a job.”

“Because we know our kids,” Kade said simply.

Rose was scrolling through her phone when someone knocked on her bedroom door. She froze, half a mind to ignore whoever was on the other side of the door. “What?” she demanded, her voice, brittle as ice shards. 

Kade poked his head into her room almost as if he half expected to have to duck flying objects. “Can we talk?”

Shrugging she stared at her phone “whatever,” she mumbled.

“Is what we’re asking such an awful thing?” he asked, sitting on the edge of her bed.

She made a face at her phone “why now?”

Kade puffed out a breath of air before reaching over and taking her phone from her hands. “It’s not like we haven’t asked you before.”

She glanced out her window instead of looking at her dad. “But this time you mean it.”

“We meant it before too,” Kade pointed out; although he knew she had a point. 

“Why now?” She asked, turning to meet his gaze “Aren’t I doing enough helping out at the shelter?”

“It’s a good thing you want to help others but don’t you think it’s time you helped yourself too? Maybe that’s why this feels different to you,” Kade gently took her hands “honey this isn’t a punishment.”

“It feels like one,” she cried, pulling her hands away as she got to her feet. “Call it an early anniversary present to me and your father,” Kade said.

“Your what,” she gave him a puzzled look.

“Your father and I have been married for twenty-five years,” Kade said “it’d be nice to know we haven’t been failures as parents.”

“You’re not failures,” she protested.

“What would you call it when one daughter decides they’re a boy and the other is so spoiled she doesn’t see the reason she needs to learn to take care of herself?”

“Brooks wanting to be a boy has nothing to do with you,” she said.

“That’s what the therapist said but,” he sighed, shaking his head “it just feels like I failed in some fundamental way.”

“Well I think you’re both wonderful parents,” Rose said “and to prove it I’m going to throw you and dad the best anniversary party ever.”

“We don’t need a party,” it was Kade who was doing the protesting now.

“Of course you do,” she cried, “twenty-five years is something to celebrate.”

“Grant and I will just go out for dinner,” Kade said, “you need to save your money.”

“You go out to eat every year,” she said, dismissing his idea. “You need something special. Just leave it to me.” 

“Rose, your father wasn’t joking about you finding a job…”

Waving her hand, she said “he’ll understand. I can’t get a job now, not when I need to organize your anniversary party.” Standing she picked up her phone “there’s so much to do and only a few weeks to get it all done.” Looking up she gave her dad a brilliant smile “leave all to me. You’ll love it I promise.”

Kade left his daughter’s room wondering how he was going to explain this turn of events to his husband. He had gone in there to explain why she needed to grow up instead he was leaving with her planning their anniversary party.

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