Chapter 9: Intentions
(Author's Notes: I was watching Jersey Girl awhile back and I thought about this particular scene from the movie that inspired me for this chapter. For anyone who has seen Jersey Girl or not, it will be featured in this chapter.
"Mr. Davis, you have a visitor," his secretary Hannah paged him.
"Okay Hannah you can send them in," Roger called in from the other end. When the studio door opened, he saw Mimi walk in and he smiled.
"So I see that you're hard at work Mr. Producer," Mimi smiled as she walked up to Roger at the control panels, "Am I interrupting you being here early?"
"It's…not a problem besides you're on time," Roger said, "I finished a bit early than expected today. Courtney is not going to be home until a little after 3pm. The good thing is that at least the school has a school bus system that runs through our neighborhood. So what is going on?"
"Besides teaching and still working at the Cat Scratch Club…I signed up for some late night ballroom classes," Mimi added, "I heard that they're opening auditions again searching for new upcoming dance instructors. There's this elite dance company that is based in London, England and they're looking for some people to teach at one of their dance academies. The auditions are in three months Roger."
"That gives you plenty of time to prepare Mimi…it's only January and the auditions are in April right?" Roger asked, "What about those ballroom classes?"
"Yeah they gave me some guy to pair up with his name is Kyle, he's trying to learn how to dance to Latin," Mimi replied, "He's trying to learn how to dance for his fiancée Rosie."
"At least I wouldn't have to worry about someone hitting on my girl," Roger smiled, "Well I'm done for the day…what do you want to do now?"
"I guess…what we been normally doing the last month," Mimi replied.
When Roger and Mimi got back to the loft, the two of them opened the door and they began to make out. Since Christmas, Roger and Mimi have become extremely close to the point that they have now considered to pursue forgoing a relationship. Once in awhile, the two of them would sneak back to the loft to spend some quality time together without any interruptions. It was hard at first for Roger to hide from their friends his intentions for Mimi, but reluctantly they all wanted the two of them to be happy.
"Great no one is home right now," Roger smiled as he pulled Mimi inside and the two began to make out, "Mark is probably at work and Courtney won't be home for awhile.
"The others know about us right?" Mimi asked as the two of them were kissing each other, "I mean…you're technically still married and all and we been sneak around for about a month now back and forth between your office and your loft like two rebel teenagers."
"Where do you see this going right now?" Roger replied, "I mean…right now you and me are having casual sex in my loft and our friends know about our intentions for each other. I still love April…but I'm still debating the whole relationship thing."
"Probably because of the whole baggage thing…is it possible to work around that?"
"Maybe…I guess but there's one person I need to consider here," Roger sighed as he was pulling away, "It's…Courtney I'm worried about."
"Oh your daughter," Mimi said as they were about to undress, "You're worried about what will happen if she finds out about her us…or whatever the heck we're doing. She seems to like me what is the matter?"
"It's been five years…since I last had you know," Roger hesitated, "And not to mention the fact you and I are both infected with…"
"I know…but c'mon live it up," Mimi smiled.
The next minute they heard the loft door open and Courtney has just arrived home from school. Mimi and Roger stopped when they heard the door open and they were shocked when they heard Courtney. The two of them quickly sneaked into the bathroom and hid in the tub as Roger turned on the water.
"Uncle Mark I'm home!" Courtney yelled as she walked around the loft and ended up in the bathroom, "Uncle Mark?"
"No sweetie it's me," Roger replied from within the tub.
"Daddy why are you home early?" Courtney asked, "Why aren't you at work?"
"I came home…early to surprise you besides Uncle Mark is not here," Roger said nervous.
"Oh okay…can we rent a movie later?"
"Yeah sure anything you want Courtney," Roger quickly replied as Courtney left, "Let me finish up and we'll head out to the movie store." Roger then turned to Mimi, "Shit that was close."
"Roger I'm wet," Mimi whispered, "What do we do now?" The next minute Courtney came back into the bathroom.
"I almost forgot to flush the toilet," Courtney said as she flushed the toilet. The next minute the water in the tub got hot and both Roger and Mimi screamed. Courtney pulled the shower curtain back and she was surprised to find both her dad and her dance teacher in the tub together. She jaw dropped at the sight of her teacher in her bra and pants and her dad without his shirt on and only with his jeans on, "Daddy?"
"Huh…hi honey…huh…" Roger paused as he thought of what to say next, "Huh you remember Mimi right your dance teacher?"
A few minutes later, the three of them conveyed in the living room as Courtney sat on the couch while Roger and Mimi sat on the coffee table with towels over them. It was a few minutes of awkward silence as this was a predicament they winded up in.
"So…huh…are you and my daddy…" Courtney tried to ask a question but she couldn't.
"Alright huh let try," Roger sighed, "Is there anything you want to ask daddy Courtney?"
"What are your intentions?" Courtney asked.
"I beg your pardon," Mimi replied.
"What…are your intentions with my daddy?" Courtney asked Mimi, "Do you like my daddy? Is Mimi going to be my new mommy?
"Huh…I don't…"
"Uncle Mark says that only married girls show their girl parts to married boys. Is Uncle Mark right daddy?"
"Huh yes he is," Roger answered slowly, "Huh…in some sort of way."
"Um huh…can you rent me A Walk to Remember?"
"Honey you know that's a bit too grown up for you," Roger replied, "You know that it's PG and I don't think you can watch that because you're only six years old."
"Oh what am I going to tell Uncle Mark about the two of you?" Courtney sighed with a grin on her face, "He would be mad if he found out what you two do during the day."
"Fine for God's sakes yes, yes, I'll rent it for you," Roger answered.
"You know what…you can borrow my copy of the movie," Mimi answered, "You can borrow anything you want and I'll even give you extra dance lessons on the house. If that means we're you know…not in trouble?"
"Okay then," Courtney smiled, "I'm happy now…so are you going to ask my daddy out on another date again? Uncle Mark and the others say that you two like each other and that you should go out again."
"How do you know about that?" Roger asked shocked, "Has your Uncle Mark been telling you late night bedtime stories I am not aware of Courtney Josephine Davis?"
"No I just hear what grown ups talk about," Courtney smiled, "Will you play tea party with me? I won't tell anyone about what I saw today."
"Whatever you want," Mimi smiled as Courtney brought her toy tea set out into the living room, "So how do we play?"
Mark arrived back home with the others awhile later and found Roger and Mimi covered in towels and the two of them playing tea party with Courtney. After Courtney left the room, the others then began their own interrogation on both Roger and Mimi to explain why they were wet and what was going on.
"Courtney came home a bit early than expected," Roger sighed, "Mimi and I were huh here in the loft making out and stuff. We hid in the bathroom in the tub…and then…"
"Let me guess Courtney busted in on your little bang parade?" Angel teased, "You two need a better romantic getaway than this old loft."
"C'mon Angel give us a break here," Mimi sighed, "We didn't do anything bad."
"I hope you two didn't do it on my bed?" Mark teased, "I don't want my bed tainted."
"Yeah don't worry we didn't burn a hole through your bed," Roger sarcastically joked, "And quit feeding my little girl late night bedtime stories I don't know about. You're going to corrupt my daughter's fragile mind."
"So what did you tell our dear little niece about your recent daytime activities that we're not obvious about?" Collins asked, "Which one of you two want to share all the dirt Roger or Mimi?"
"It's been…going on for a month," Mimi answered, "Roger and I…have been doing this either at the office or here in the loft. It's just casual sex that's it…nothing else."
"Meems sugar I know there's more to that," Angel smiled, "Unless you aren't telling us."
"So…what you two just call up each other for a banging session whenever you feel like it and that's it?" Maureen asked, "Either that is freaky and weird or the pair of you are pathetic enough to attempt to forgo a relationship here. C'mon Christmas all of us were fully aware you two have a thing for each other. Roger…you admitted you like Mimi and it is obvious that Mimi you're interest in Roger. The two of you are a match made in heaven."
"Maureen they're mature adults they have to figure out something," Joanne added, "Either they can forgo a normal relationship without sneaking around or they can continue their full blown banging session or whatever the heck they call it."
"Would you guys like give us a minute to discuss this in private?" Roger asked as he took Mimi into his bedroom, "C'mon we got to talk."
"You've been his roommate for five years Mark and you were not aware of this?" Angel teased.
"Hey I'm not home half the time," Mark sighed, "Besides…I don't know what Roger does during the days when I'm not at home…at least I kind of figured out one of his daytime activities involving banging Mimi for casual sex and make out sessions."
Roger's Bedroom…
"I guess the cat's out of the bag then?" Mimi asked, "They're aware of the fact that we have this little fling going on and Christmas Time…it was the holiday."
"I'm really bad at this…I'm a walking disaster keeping secrets," Roger replied as his beeper went off signaling his AZT break, "So much for keeping priorities straight huh? We sneaked around for over a month with this trying to keep it low but then it comes out in the open. I'm really sorry about this…I know that this is not how we wanted to make our intentions known right?"
"What intentions do you have right now?" Mimi asked, "Do we take their advice and…pursue forgoing a real relationship?"
"I haven't figured out what I wanted to do after April died except focus on Courtney…but I've never thought of what I wanted for myself," Roger said.
"Like we had our little fun sneaking around but…we have to be realistic Roger. I do…really like you and all and I don't want to pressure you to forgo a relationship you're hesitating to be in. It's okay but we had our fun while it lasted and I understand. God forbid that this relationship will be a walking disaster because of what we have inside of us and priorities that come first before everything else."
"I want…a relationship Mimi," Roger slowly answered, "A real one…something to pursue if it's not too much? You think…you can handle a walking disaster like me as a boyfriend? Do you want to contend with someone who is disgruntled about life, a former junkie, single father raising a six year old daughter who is HIV positive? You think you can handle someone who has forgotten how to be in a real relationship after five years? I do…like you a lot Mimi and I don't know…how to handle all of this alone."
"Are those your true intentions Roger?" Mimi asked, "You think…I can't handle pursuing a real relationship? How much baggage do you think you can handle coming from a girlfriend like me? I question if you can put up with a HIV positive dancer who carried a drug habit and is considered a home wrecker? I haven't been in apart of real relationship in a long time and it this is a relationship based on trust, loyalty and communication…I want to be in it."
"Intentionally…I want to rediscover living again," Roger smiled taking her hand, "I think…I am long overdue for that."
"Probably you are," Mimi smiled as the two began to kiss, "I guess…this means no more sneaking around and banging sessions. From now on…it's official we're a couple in a relationship with one another."
"I guess that means it's out in the open," Roger smiled, "So…what do we do to mark the beginning of this relationship of ours?"
"Well we had our first date which turned out to be a disaster," Mimi added, "But…there's always a second chance of a first date. This time…we'll stay in to be on the safe side. How about dinner and movie in tomorrow night to mark the start of our relationship?"
"I think that is a safeguard date then," Roger smiled as the two of them kissed each other, "I guess we broadcast the news to the others then…and Courtney."
Living Room…
"They been in there for a little while now," Angel replied, "I guess they're talking about something big."
"Or probably pondering if they're planning to bang on Mark's bed tomorrow?" Collins teased.
"Shut up Collins!" Mark replied, "You know how to rattle people." A minute later Roger and Mimi came out of the bedroom this time holding hands.
"I see you guys have come up with a decision," Maureen smiled, "Is this an official sanctioned relationship or another booty call?"
"Stop Maureen…this is serious," Roger smiled, "Mimi and I…are going to attempt to pursue a relationship, despite the common baggage we both carry we made our intentions noted and I hope you all can stop bothering me now to move on with my life."
"Finally thank God for that," Joanne replied, "It took Roger Davis five years to finally find a new girlfriend. C'est la vie…welcome back to the land of the living."
"Thank you Miss Jefferson," Mimi smiled as her and Roger took a seat on the couch, "We'll go slow then we'll see where things go from there." Courtney came into the living room and found her dad and her aunts and uncles sitting and chatting.
"Daddy what is going on?" Courtney asked.
"Listen Courtney…there's something I should tell you," Roger replied as he put his daughter on his lap, "Mimi and I…we've decided as of today that we're going to pursue a relationship or attempt one."
"Does that mean you two are going to start dating each other?" Courtney asked, "Is Mimi going to be your new girlfriend daddy?"
"You…can say that in a way," Roger smiled as he took Mimi's hand, "But there's one person who I need approval from…my little miracle girl. Are you fine that daddy starts dating your dance teacher?"
"Do you like her?" Courtney asked as she turned to Mimi, "Do you have intentions for my father? Do you like him?"
"Yes I do…if that is okay with you?" Mimi asked, "Do we have permission to date each other Courtney?"
"Whatever makes daddy happy…I'm happy," Courtney smiled, "I really like you Mimi and I know my daddy thinks you're sexy."
"Since when did my little miracle girl's mouth suddenly go from G rated to PG rated?" Roger teased, "Which one of you lots let my kid watch movies and shows I am not fully aware of? I know this has this written all over you Mark."
"Don't look at me…besides she's a little sly fox like her father when it comes to blackmailing and manipulation," Mark replied, "All I'm doing to showing Courtney the light."
"Whatever," Roger replied as he turned to Mimi, "So what do you want to watch tomorrow?"
"Let me think…A Walk to Remember," Mimi smiled, "I thought since I'll bring the movie, you can provide dinner."
"Our first agreement as a couple," Roger smiled kissing Mimi, "This time…I'll cook dinner."
"Gross daddy and Mimi are smooching," Courtney whined, "I think I'm going to play Barbie dolls now! This is nasty…but I am still happy you two are dating now."
"Roger Davis is going to cook dinner tomorrow?" Mimi asked, "I…like that although you said that Roger Davis doesn't specialize in cooking and that he specializes in songwriting."
"There are some things Mimi Marquez that can surprise you," Roger smiled, "Life is all a leap of faith right?"
"Oh brother…I'll like to see how that will turn out," the others thought, "Roger cooking…this is going to be another adventure for that poor boy."
