Part One: The Courting
Streets of Love
Chapter 1: The Invitation
"Oh. My. Gosh!" Kelly said as she grabbed her children, and ran out of the living room. "What the heck is going on?" The living room was now pouring water from the ceiling as if she and her children were outside in a rainstorm.
"Mommy, why is it raining indoors?" Helena asked.
"That's a good question!" Kelly said, taking her children to her kitchen so that she could call the landlord and find out what on earth was going on. She jumped when she saw water spewing out of her kitchen sink like a fountain.
"What happened, Mom?" Hermés asked.
Kelly sighed. This was the very last thing she needed today. It was bad enough that the nanny was running late, but now, with this water mess, she was going to without a doubt be late for work.
"Mommy, I have to go potty," Helena said.
Kelly sighed. "Hermés, please take your sister to the bathroom. I have to call the landlord."
"But, Mom, she's a girl!" Hermés said.
"So? Help her get her pants down, then sit her on the toilet. I'll take over after that." Kelly pointed to the kitchen entrance. "Now go!"
Hermés sighed. "Yes, Mom." He then begrudgingly took his sister to the bathroom.
Kelly picked up the phone, and was just about to dial the landlord, when Hermés called for her.
"Mo-om!" he said, dragging out the word mom.
Kelly let out a frustrated cry. "What?"
"The tub and sink are shooting out water!" Hermés cried.
"What?" Kelly quickly ran to the bathroom. Sure though, the tub and sink were indeed shooting out water like a fountain, just like the kitchen sink had.
"What the heck? Why me? Why today?" she asked, looking up Heavenward. She turned her attention back to the kids. "I'll be right back. Just stay put!" She then ran back to the kitchen, and finally called the landlord.
"I know. A pipe burst on your floor. We're going to have to ask that the whole floor be evacuated for a week while we fix it," the landlord told her.
"A whole week? Are you kidding me? I'm a single mother of two! Where do you expect us to go?" Kelly snapped.
"Don't you have family nearby, or some friends you can stay with?" the landlord asked.
Kelly sighed. "It's a lot to ask someone to impose on them for a week! Don't you have any available apartments in the building that aren't flooded?"
The landlord sighed. "I'm sorry, but, as you know, this complex is very hard to get into. We're already booked. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. The best I can do is give you a month's rent free."
Kelly sighed. The landlord had always been nice to her, and a month's rent free was generous indeed. "All right. I guess I'll find another place to stay for a week."
"I'm sorry again, Kelly, I really am. It's just that, sometimes, things can't be helped."
Kelly sighed again. "I understand. So, when do I have to be out by?"
"Well, anytime today will be fine. We're in the process of shutting the water off now. We get started right away tomorrow morning on the repairs. You should be able to come back next Monday morning," the landlord replied.
"All right. I'll be out by this evening," Kelly said.
"Thank you," her landlord said.
They said their goodbyes, then hung up.
Kelly sighed again. She didn't want her kids living out of a hotel, so, as much as she hated to do it, she called their father and explained to him the situation. He was more than willing to take them in for the week—Oliver too—just so long as her nanny could help out when needed. Kelly agreed to have the nanny bring Helena over in an hour, and he agreed to pick Hermés up from school when it was time.
The nanny arrived then, and Kelly explained to her the situation. "I hope you don't mind. I probably should have asked first, but I was desperate, and—"
Her nanny cut her off with a hand over her shoulder. "Kelly, relax! I understand. It's no problem at all. Daniel's gotten better at not being such a cad. He's nothing I can't handle, and he does love those kids. I noticed that he is kind to anyone who is kind to his children, which of course you know I am." She winked.
Kelly smiled, and placed a hand over her nanny's shoulder in return. "I know you are. Thank you for being so understanding."
"Mom, are you ready yet? Helena is done!" Hermés called out from the bathroom.
Kelly looked toward the bathroom. "Coming, Honey!"
Her nanny smiled. "Don't mention it! Now, go say goodbye to your kids, then get to work, Missy!"
Kelly laughed. "I'd think it was you who was the boss, and not the other way around!"
"Only when necessary!" her nanny joked back.
Kelly laughed. "Good one!" She then ran to help Hermés and Helena in the bathroom.
~I walk the streets of love~
"Hey, you!" Matthew said to her once she was finally at the studio, and had gone through hair and makeup. "Why were you so late today? The kids keeping you busy?" He placed a hand over her shoulder, and grinned.
Kelly sighed. "Actually, a pipe burst on my floor, and my apartment is flooded."
Matthew winced. "Ouch! So, what are you going to do?"
"Well, the kids and Oliver are going to be staying at their father's for the week. It's terrible. It's going to take them a week to get the apartment fixed. So, after work, I have to pack up my things, and try to find a hotel to live at for the week. Thank God my nanny offered to gather the kids' things up for them. I was running late as it was today. I just didn't want them staying at a hotel for the week. I figured they'd feel better staying with their father, in their own beds. They probably wouldn't have minded a hotel, but I'd just feel better if they had a more stable environment, especially with me off at work four out of the seven days."
Matthew nodded. "I understand. Look, there's no use you paying for a hotel. I have an extra bedroom. You can just stay with me."
Kelly looked at him. The offer sounded delightful, but she didn't want to impose. "I couldn't impose on you for a week!"
"You wouldn't be imposing! Hey, we're both single now, so it's not like we'd have to worry about a boyfriend or girlfriend having a problem with it, or feeling like you're intruding. I definitely won't find you intruding. In fact, I'd welcome the company!" He grinned.
Kelly grinned too, and raised an eyebrow. "You really wouldn't mind?"
Matthew shook his head. "Not at all! Heck, I'll even help you bring your things over if you need me to."
"Oh my gosh, Matthew, that is so nice of you! Thank you!" Kelly found herself hugging him. It would feel so much better to her to stay with a close friend than it would in a lonely hotel room, missing her kids.
Matthew hugged her tightly, and gently rubbed her back. "Don't mention it. What are friends for? Besides, thank you for keeping me company for a week!"
Kelly pulled away from him, and grinned. "What are friends for?" she asked with a wink, having taken his line.
He chuckled, and they hugged again.
They broke apart.
"So, are you really sure about this?" Kelly asked, just to make sure. "I mean, you can be the closest of friends with someone, but then, once you live together... I just don't want us turning into enemies."
Matthew smirked. "It's only for a week, Kel. Besides, it goes both ways. Are you sure you want to live with me for a week? I know there is nothing you could do to make me think of you as an enemy, but..." He trailed off.
Kelly placed a hand over his shoulder. "Oh, please! I'd never think of you as an enemy in a million years. If you're up for living together for the week, then I certainly am!"
"Well, then, I guess we're roommates for a week!" Matthew grinned.
"Fantastic! I'm lookin forward to it. Thank you so much again. You're a Godsend," Kelly said, so relieved to not have to stay in a hotel.
"I'm looking forward to it too. It's my pleasure," he replied.
They smiled at each other, then put their arms around the other, and headed off to start taping their scenes.
~I walk the streets of love~
Kelly dragged her suitcase down the hall toward Matthew's apartment, regretting not having let Matthew help her with her things. Between carrying her toiletry bag (which was surprisingly heavy even though she only had shampoo, conditioner, body wash, toothpaste, her tooth brush, her deodorant, and her facial wash kit) and her pillow in one hand, and pulling her suitcase with her other hand, she was feeling overwhelmed.
She got to his apartment, and knocked on his door.
He opened the door, greeting her with a pleasant smile. "Welcome to my home!"
She grinned. "Thank you!"
"Let me get that for you." He took her toiletry bag and her pillow, and set them aside.
"Thanks!" she said, happy to be relieved from the weight. She rolled her bag into the house, and Matthew shut and locked the door behind her.
"So, only two bags and a pillow?" he asked, an eyebrow raised.
"I'm only going to be here a week," she reminded him.
He nodded. "I know, but women usually pack for a month when they're only going to be gone a week. At least, my wife and Leyla always did."
Kelly smirked. "Well, I happen to be a minimalist when going on trips. I don't like to pack anything more than necessary. That way, I don't have so much junk to lug around when it's time to leave."
"And you're less likely to forget something," Matthew added.
Kelly nodded. "Exactly!"
"Well, let me show you to your room. I changed the sheets so that they are all nice and clean for you. I even left you some towels out in case you wanted to shower," Matthew said, picking up her bag and pillow again, and leading her to the spare bedroom.
"Thankfully, I had already taken my shower today when the pipes burst. However, tomorrow I can use them," she said.
They arrived in the spare bedroom. Kelly noticed that it was right across from Matthew's bedroom. "I see we'll be right across the hall from each other."
"Yeah! Don't worry though—I don't snore, so you won't be kept up." He grinned. Then, he turned serious. "Do you snore?"
Kelly rolled her eyes. "Of course not! I am a lady."
He laughed. "Oh, so ladies don't snore?"
Kelly held her head high in defiance. "Not classy ones."
He laughed again. "You're full of it!"
"Well, I don't snore," she still insisted. She put her pillow on the bed, then set her suitcase off to the side, and turned to face him. "We could share a bed, and you'd still sleep like a baby, because I am a very peaceful sleeper!"
"If we shared a bed, we wouldn't be sleeping," he teased with a grin.
She raised an eyebrow. "You're quite sure of yourself!"
"Once you get a taste of me, there's no going back!" he said confidently, patting his chest.
"Apparently not because your wife and Leyla didn't think so." As soon as Kelly said it, she regretted it. "I'm sorry! I did not mean for that to come out as nasty as it did. I only meant to razz you in a friendly, playful way. I mean, I'm one to talk, right? I've been married twice, and have had my share of failed relationships besides my marriages."
Matthew walked over to her, and placed his hands overtop of her shoulders. "Hey, it's okay. I know you. I know you don't say things to be nasty—at least not to me. But that's because I never crossed you." He smirked.
Kelly laughed, grateful that he wasn't holding her words against her. "You know I love you. Even if you crossed me, I don't think I could get myself to say something nasty to you."
He shook his head, and walked away from her. "I don't know! You just told me in so many words that I'm not that irresistible!"
She laughed. She loved how Matthew could always make her laugh. "All right, all right!" She walked over to him, and placed her hands on his shoulders. "You are absolutely irresistible! In fact, I'm finding it so hard not to rip your clothes off right now!" She giggled.
"All right then, let's go!" he teased back, swooping her up into his arms.
She laughed even harder. "Matthew, stop it!"
"What? You said you wanted to rip my clothes off right now. So, let's go to my bedroom, and I'll let you do that. Or, we can do that right here. I'm not picky!" He raised his eyebrows up and down seductively, and grinned.
"You're something else," she said, taking his face between her hands. She then kissed his forehead with a loud, "Muah!"
He grinned, then kissed her forehead in return, only gentler. Then, he set her back down. "It's past dinnertime. Did you eat yet?"
She shook her head. "Nope! I was too busy trying to gather all my things up and get them over to your place."
"Want to go out and get something to eat? I don't know about you, but I'm starved," he said.
She nodded. "Sounds good to me! Now that you mention it, food sounds really good right now."
"Where should we go?" he asked as he headed out of the spare room.
She followed him out. "I don't know. Anywhere's good. Somewhere that serves Italian?"
"My favorite! Let's do it!" he agreed.
"You're gonna have to buy me dinner first," she joked.
He laughed. "Good deal!"
She grinned.
They headed into the living room on their way to the door.
Kelly smirked as she saw a pair of men's Hugo Boss underwear on the couch. She raised an eyebrow, and smirked.
Matthew looked over to see what she was looking at, and blushed. He quickly walked over to the underwear, and snatched them up. "I was folding laundry on the couch. I must have missed them somehow. I'll go put them away."
"And here I thought you had a girl here after all, maybe having a little fun on the couch with her?" Kelly teased as he headed to his room. "Or a guy."
"Shut up!" he said from his bedroom with a laugh.
Kelly giggled. It was going to be an interesting week, she knew. She giggled even more when he came back out, still blushing.
"They were clean! I really was folding laundry!" he insisted.
"I believe you," Kelly said sincerely. She latched onto his arm. "It's just so fun to tease you!"
"I can see you're going to be a real joy to have here for a week," Matthew said sarcastically, but in a teasing manner all the same.
She grinned at him. "You know it!"
He looked at her and shook his head, but then grinned nonetheless. "You know, you're the one I'd ever let tease me like this."
She kissed his cheek. "That's why I love you."
He smiled, and kissed her cheek in return, then they left to go find some dinner.
"Red, huh? I always did find the colored ones nicer than the plain white ones," Kelly quipped as they headed down the walkway.
"Shut up," Matthew said, blushing a bright shade of red.
Kelly giggled. "Now your face matches your underwear!"
Matthew broke free from her and walked on ahead.
Kelly laughed even harder. She loved razzing him! It was going to be a fun week.
