S2/02. Bad Blood

2.9 Rosa De la Cruz

Spring 1998, De la Cruz residence, Oasis Springs

They threw a divorce party for Rosa.

Everyone was here in her yard; even Diana came from San Myshuno, dropped her daughter at Luca's nanny and got herself mindlessly hammered and high. The only one missing was Frank, he said he was busy with work. That was so like him. Or maybe he was busy shagging that weirdo, that'd be also so like him.

They said Rosa should celebrate, be glad she got finally rid of that cheating, lying, poor excuse of a husband. 
Ha!
What a bad joke. Should she celebrate her failure?
Rosa felt more like crying. Or alternatively, putting something on fire, or murdering someone – how about that red-headed, man-stealing tramp? The world would probably be a better place without her anyway.

Just yesterday Rosa'd received a letter – from Francesco’s lawyer.
A divorce application, together with an invitation to settle the details like housing and child custody out of court.
That wasn't how it was supposed to go!

Fine – their last argument was probably the worst so far, but all couples had disagreements, right?
Rosa and Francesco had always made up after. Even though he'd never told her what she needed to know, he'd always tried to soothe her and sweet talk his way out. That he loved her, and only her, and that he'd make up for all the time he spent in the studio and on the road. And though it'd never been more than empty promises, the effort he put into calming her down convinced her that he did love her, one way or another.
That, and that he'd still wanted her.
Sex reassured her of his love, but the more time passed, the less she believed it. How could she, when it was so obvious that he'd slept with other women too?

It didn't mean anything then!

If he could only tell her the truth instead of evading all her questions... she loved him so much, she'd forgive him anything. The long work hours, long separations – even the cheating she'd forgive, and then they could be together again.

Sure, Eva had warned her that if she'd refuse her husband for too long, he'd just leave her – but Rosa just couldn't, good god! She wasn't one to whore herself out!

Eventually it turned out Rosa's best friend had been right.

Their last fight – just after Eva's wedding – had been different.

Instead of trying to make up like usually, Francesco'd left.
He'd been gone the whole night, and when he'd returned the next morning, he'd smiled.
Of course, he must've been with Mae! They'd talked at the wedding, everyone saw them.
And that bitch also hadn't returned all night, send everyone into panic mode when she disappeared. Had they planned their hook up right under Rosa's nose?

The audacity!
Rosa'd shaken from rage.

But also, for the first time fear slung its ice-cold claws around her heart. She'd never felt that Francesco'd been truly hers, but now he'd literally slipped between her fingers.
If she didn't do something, she might lose him for good – worst of all, to that plain frump?!
Not even over her dead, cold body.

Quickly, she’d changed her attitude and pulled herself together, did what she had to do: be nice, be sweet, be understanding, be the perfect wife. He wouldn’t need any other woman in his life!

Ridiculous, how well it worked.
He’d been all hers again.
How easy it was to seduce a man! Her success tasted so sweet that it completely overshadowed the vapid flavor of sacrificing her dignity. If that'd be the price to pay for what she truly wanted, so be it.

But her victory was too short lived.

When she came back from the bathroom, Francesco was packing.

The panic in her crawled up again.
She'd done everything she could… had she lost already; was that bimbo so much better than her?

She'd fought so hard, begged for Francesco to stay.
All in vain.
He didn’t care about her anymore.

Rosa's mind had raced. How could she make him stay?
With Luca?
Francesco hadn't been too invested in Rosa's pregnancy, but once Luca was born, he'd become quickly infatuated with his son.

Worth a shot.

Except she'd shot way beyond her goal – and her pressure pushed him away instead.

Francesco got angry and left.

Not long after, Francesco had called her. She'd tried so hard to convince him to come back home, begged, pleaded, but he'd been ice cold.

She'd lost her head again. He had to know it'd have consequences if he wouldn't return!

Instead of replying, he hung up. And still he hadn't given her anything to hold on to...

Rosa had no chance to contact him again, no address, no phone number, except for his agent's. Needless to say, that harpy never answered her mobile phone.

Rosa had to find a way talk to him! But the only chance she could think of was asking Mae for his address or phone number, who kept persisting she didn't know!

Okay, so recently Diana confirmed that Mae really didn't live with Francesco in San Myshuno. And apparently he'd played Mae too once, so Rosa should have some sympathy instead of fighting Mae. 

Hilarious!

There was the confession that proved Rosa'd been right all along. Mae and Francesco had been involved at a time!

And who said Mae didn't lie again when she'd convinced Diana she'd been done and over with Francesco? For all Rosa believed, that sly snake went after him to San Myshuno to get him back; maybe she thought it'd be easier now that he'd dumped his wife!

Not so fast!

Rosa wasn't done yet.

Sooner or later, Francesco'd have to call her again, or maybe he'd come over. He didn't want to take Luca away, but he'd said he wanted to see his son regularly, after all.

In that case, Rosa needed to be prepared.

How could she make him stay this time? She'd racked her brain for a while already, but she couldn't find any promising solutions.

Maybe if she were pregnant and could convince him it'd been from their last encounter – she'd almost gone to make sure she was pregnant –

No.

Francesco hadn't stayed for Luca, the chances he'd come back for a second baby were very slim, too slim that she'd take that risk.

But he'd have to come back to her.
He was hers, and she was ready to do everything to make sure it'd stay like that.
She'd rather see him dead than with someone else.
She was running out of ideas...

Anyway, first she'd have to prevent this stupid divorce. There were options, right? She’d probably have to get a lawyer herself, who could –

Wait.

Francesco had had his lawyer send her the divorce papers. What did he need a lawyer for? He could just apply for a divorce at the courthouse himself; according to his lawyer's letter, he didn't even want to go to court. His bandmate's wife didn't hire one when she kicked her boy toy out, and neither did Herbert and Mae.

Could it be... that he hid anything that Rosa could use to make him stay?

He'd never told her his secrets, but that didn’t mean there weren't ways for her to find out... and if he was so cautious to not have them revealed – surely, they must be severe, right? Something you could only trust your loving wife with, but not your heartbroken, devastated ex...

Could it be that Rosa'd hit a nail somewhere during their last arguments?

Let's see... it couldn't be about the domestic abuse... maybe the drugs? Obviously she didn't had any proof if he still used, and he would know that, but maybe she'd find something with a little digging. Rosa needed a lawyer, one that was very good at –

"Rosa! There you’re hiding! Here, I got you your favorite."

It was Marcus with two Mojitos in his hands.

Fine, she'd have time to look for a lawyer tomorrow. She couldn't avoid the party for too long. Keeping her friends' sympathy was at least of same importance. 

"Marcus... you always know what I need!" She flashed her most charming smile.

"It's not hard when you pay attention," he smirked. He'd always looked out for her, maybe sometimes more than was appropriate for her being married to someone else. Granted, Marcus was over the moon that Francesco was gone.

Asshole.

Maybe he thought he'd have a chance with her now, after Francesco left. Oh, that sweet, giant dumbass! As if anyone could compete with Francesco.

Rosa almost cracked up.

But Marcus'd been on her side since she could remember. He'd always been there for her when Francesco cancelled another meeting with her friends to work, and also been the last one on her side when everyone else got tired of her insisting to cut Mae off for backstabbing her. And she wouldn't fight him now. She couldn't afford to make enemies.

On the contrary, it was someone like Marcus who she needed most now, until she figured out how to get Francesco back.

"Maybe I'm cursed... I can’t seem to get hold of a guy that does," she teased.

"Maybe you shouldn't always look so far," Marcus winked, but a slight serious undertone he couldn't hide.

Her instincts always were right. He'd stay with her as long as she'd let him.

At least some people around her were still reliable.

"Come," Marcus tipped her shoulder, "it's time you finally forget that asshole who didn't even waste a breath to call after he vanished."

Ah, yes.

As far as her friends were concerned, Francesco was a deadbeat. Rosa hadn't told anyone they'd talked, there was no point in letting them know she failed to keep her man – it was embarrassing enough that he dumped her, at least let them think she didn't have a chance to convince him to reconsider... and less they needed to know that Francesco wanted to keep up with Luca. Some idiot (Frank, for example) might give him brownie points for that, maybe even hold it against Rosa! Nope, there was no need to complicate things for herself.

Once she’d get Francesco back, it wouldn't matter what her friends thought of them both anyway.

She'd learned her lesson.

She couldn't have Francesco and involve him into her life, he'd always find a way to slip away.

Instead she had to make his life hers. She'd go wherever Francesco went, on his tours, to release parties, to award shows.

He was worth it.

"You deserve so much better," Marcus put his arm around her shoulder to lead her back to the yard.

No – the best.

Rosa deserved the best, and the best was Francesco.