The next day, Therese was eating lunch with her parents, still having dirt under her fingernails from working in the garden. The bunnies ate carrots against the glass door to be near her. “A date?” said her father. “Boyfriend? shouldn’t you go on a date before he’s your boyfriend?” asked her mother.
“I’m efficient.” Therese told them. Her seriousness ended that part of the discussion.
“I hope you are driving? I am not sure his car even has seat belts!” Her dad told her.
“It has one seat belt up front, he put it on my side of the car for me.” answered Therese.
“A gentleman, I guess.” said Therese’s father.
“How old is he?” asked Therese’s mother.
“Thirty, and he has tattoos.” Therese calmly replied. Rolling her eyes and sticking her tongue out to the side like Erin taught her.
“You’re kidding right?” asked her mom.
“Yes, he had the tattoos removed.” Therese answered, rubbing her forearms.
“Are you teasing?” begged her father.
“He’s eighteen. He has a baby daughter. He is nice and I like him.” Therese told her father.
“A kid, wait, what’s going on?” asked her mother in disbelief. “You can’t even walk down the street without stepping over every crack, and you hate peanut butter, how can you change a diaper?” Therese’s mother said, unsure what her daughter was thinking.
“Sometimes a story is just a story, but a princess is always a princess. I need a prince in my story.” Therese told her parents. They weren’t sure what that meant, but they took it as an ending to the discussion. Sometime when they weren’t looking, their little girl grew up. Her parents were half proud, and half scared.
Therese came out later, wearing her new shirt. She had done her hair, and deliberately and carefully applied her makeup as Erin had taught her. She stopped and looked in the mirror in the living room. “I look pretty.” Therese said, amazed at who she saw in the mirror. Her parents walked up behind her, and her mom told her, “you don’t have to be pretty to be beautiful.”
“I’d better meet this boy.” said her father.
The doorbell rang. Therese grew nervous. Her mother squeezed her in a hug to calm her, careful not to bother her daughter’s hair. Therese’s dad stopped, flexed his arm muscles in the mirror, and then answered the door.
Peter stood in the doorway in a nice shirt, which barely fit, and in his good jeans. He was holding some flowers Erin had brought him to give to Therese. “Hello, sir.” Peter said sticking out his hand to shake Therese’s father’s hand. “Rodge, hey they did a good job removing your tattoos.” Her father said shaking Peter’s hand.
“I’m Peter, sir.” said the boy, unsure what her father meant by tattoos, but unwilling to ask.
“We’re going.” Therese told her parents, hugging them goodbye and walking out the door with Peter. She stopped, smelled the flowers, took one out, put it in her hair, handed the rest to her mother. “Can you please put these in water?” Therese asked.
“I would love too.” her mother told her, and Therese quickly walked to Peter’s car and got in it before he could open the door. She grabbed her seat belt and latched it on. Peter climbed in, having studied the directions, was ready to drive.
“You look beautiful.” Peter told Therese. “Your shirt is pretty.” added Peter.
“Thank you.” said Therese, even though she was sitting up straight and facing forward, her heart pounded in different directions.
True to his word, Ben had sent the two somewhere nice. Ben had sent them to the nicest restaurant out in the city. Ben had been owed a great favor by the owner for a long time, but Ben did not care for fancy places, and he definitely did not want to go there. Ben kept the favor like an old gift certificate in his pocket. Peter pulled up, and a Valet, ran out to meet him.
“Just tell me where to park. And I’m supposed to give you this.” Peter said handing the attendant Ben’s scribbled paper, The attendant looked at the paper, and spoke into a little radio “Your VIPs are here.” then the attendant told Peter, “Even if you didn’t have that, I’d want to drive a Firebird, but go ahead, pull up here.” The attendant moved a VIP parking rope right in front of the restaurant, had Peter pull his car in, and used the red rope to close off the space. “Please, follow me.”
The attendant led the young couple up to a special side door of the restaurant. Therese froze. She refused to move forward. “What’s wrong?” Peter asked her in a kind voice. Therese stood still, her body shook slightly.
“Those girls, they are the ones who were mean to me yesterday.” said Therese as she looked at the three girls waiting in line with their dates in tow, to enter the restaurant.
“Do you want to leave?” Peter asked her.
“Yes.” Therese told him and started to turn. She was tired of running, she knew she was brave, but she was tired of the way she had been treated.
The attendant stood in disbelief, no one walked away from Louanne’s. People lined up for hours to get in, but no one walked away from Louanne’s. “Wait, give me a chance, those girls were mean to you?” asked the attendant. Therese nodded.
“Get me Lou.” The valet spoke into his radio, and stood between Therese and the girls so they could not see her. An older woman, with a fierce and determined look, walked out escorted by a very muscular waiter. She walked up to the young couple, and asked “What’s wrong?”
The Valet handed her the note from Ben, which Lou read quickly, and told her “Those girls were mean to her. And she wants to leave.”
“I can kick the girls out, I can banish them, I can trespass all their friends, I can have Tony here break their arms.” Lou said. Tony flexed his muscles for effect. “No one walks away from here, are you crazy?” asked Lou.
“I am not crazy.” said Therese, biting her lip and standing up defiantly. Lou looked down and saw her foot twisted in, her knees shaking, and her hands forming fists. Lou saw the girl's sadness, turn to anger, then determination, even though her mouth barely twitched. Lou sunk, she knew she had said the wrong thing, and Lou respected the way the girl was ready to deck her over it.
“I am sorry I said that.” said Lou. Tony looked around uncomfortably, Lou had never apologized, to anyone.
“Please, No.” Therese said, in her calm voice, her eyes straight forward as she relaxed her fists.
“Well, I promised Ben my best, and if you leave, that leaves me owing him, and that is like writing a million-dollar check someone doesn’t want to cash it, how about you give me a chance to make this right, and Tony won’t break their arms?” said Lou. Tony sighed sadly, he liked throwing people out, especially over the wall.
“Ok.” said Therese. She didn’t want the lady to have to owe Ben.
“You don’t talk much do you?” said the lady, looking Therese over. Therese nodded. “You probably like things quiet too, don’t you?” Therese nodded. “And you, you’re just lucky to be with such a beautiful young lady, aren’t you?” Lou asked Peter.
“Yes, Ma’am.” said Peter squeezing Therese’s arm to help calm her.
Lou looked at the valet, and said: “Call for the boys, and have them bring the umbrellas.” The valet called on his radio, and the staff came out. They had escorted celebrities before. They walked out and surrounded the young couple. “We’re going to open the umbrellas, it will make a loud pop.” she said to Therese, who nodded consent. Therese braced herself, and the waiters very carefully opened the umbrellas, making a loud pop at the end. Therese still jumped. “Follow me, everyone.” Lou said as she led the group in the VIP entrance and to a private dining area surrounded with thick glass windows. Lou nodded and the waiters took out the extra tables. “Tony will be your private waiter, anytime you need anything press the gold button on your table, and Tony will be right in.” That wasn’t for what she owed Ben, that was for what she owed Therese. Tony grinned, he loved being a private waiter, that meant compensation.
Lou opened the door and waived the waiters out. “I hope this is a fairy tale evening for you, Sometimes a restaurant is just a restaurant, but a princess is always a princess.” Lou told Therese.
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“That sounds like what Vivo would say.” Therese told her.
“Well good, I guess he did learn something working for me. Tell him hi for me, and Ben that we’re even” said Lou.
“Thank you.” said Therese. Lou told her she was welcome, and walked out to the intense business of owning the best restaurant in town. Lou began barking orders as quickly as she stepped away, and people hurried.
“Ben and Vivo worked here?” Therese asked Peter.
“From what I overheard, when she had the best cookies in town.” said Peter.
The menus were heavy and thick. Therese was overwhelmed. She could not make her mind up. Tony sensed the delay, and entered, refilling the water on her table. “It’s a lot of choices, isn’t it?” He asked Therese.
“Yes.” Therese told him. She loved the dining room, everything was nice and perfect. She liked the big and strong arms on Tony, but she hoped Peter did not notice that. Therese kept looking over the menu.
Tony said, “If I may suggest, get a sampler platter of appetizers and the Alfredo. You can never go wrong with the Alfredo here. You need something plain to go with all the appetizers, that way, if they get a little overwhelming, you can tone it down with some Alfredo, I do it all the time.”
“Yes, please.” said Therese, excited, but relieved.
“And for you, sir.” Tony asked Peter.
“The same please.” said Peter.
“Oh no.” said Therese, someone had set the three girls in their dates at a table next to the private dining room. Therese quickly grew nervous and twisted her leg out to keep herself from getting up and running out of the restaurant.
“Those fools?” Tony asked. “I’ll throw them out of here, I’ll throw them over the wall, and I’ll break the legs of whoever sat them there.” Tony stood up and flexed his arms.
“No,” said Therese, “I want them to see me with Peter.”
Therese was tired of running, she was tired of being hurt, and she was proud to be seen with Peter, who she thought was the nicest guy she ever met. She wanted the girls to see her in the nicest room in the nicest restaurant with the nicest boy in her class. Therese looked at the girls and waved at one of them. The girls turned away, jealous and embarrassed.
“You sure you don’t want me to throw them over the wall? We can get new customers.” Tony asked as he was leaving to fill their order.
“They can’t see me through the wall.” said Therese. Therese grinned at her own remark, but she felt strong and wanted them to know her success, even if it was a rare lack of humility on her part.
“Bro, forgive me for saying this, but she’s right, you got the prettiest lady in here.” Tony said to Peter.
“I’m very lucky to be with her.” said Peter. Therese thought Peter was wrong, and she was the lucky one.
“I’d mess with their food, you know, but Lou hates that. She loves reviews about people complaining about being tossed out, but she hates anything bad about the food.” Tony said, shutting the door, and stepping out.
Therese and Peter were amazed at the food. The quality was excellent, and Tony wasn’t kidding about the sampler tray, it was a little of everything, and when the flavors were over-stimulating, Therese backed off to the Alfredo, which was good too. Tony never let the water empty and was always standing outside the door, flexing his muscles for any lady that walked by.
“Peter, thank you for taking me here.” said Therese.
“It’s all Ben, honest, I heard of this place but never dreamed I would be eating here.” Peter told her. Peter was honest about that, he didn’t even want to think about what the bill would be. Peter was amazed at how much Therese had changed in the little time they had become friends. He had never imagined what she was like once he got to know her. Sometimes her words were slow, but he knew her intelligent. Sometimes her actions were overly cautious and too careful, but now he knew how brave she was. He sat there amazed by the person he met.
Therese was upset the voices were back. She just wanted a nice evening with the boy she loved. She dreaded it could mean another visit to her doctor, and she feared it might mean a hospitalization. Thoughts stormed through her brain, they gave her a headache. Therese squeezed her knee, took some deep breathes through her belly to relax, and her symptoms faded. Let the medicine work, she thought, I just need to do my part and relax.
Therese and Peter looked outside the window and saw Wenda Hamilton, a famous movie star, turned local news celebrity outside the VIP dining area. Tony refused to budge and another waiter escorted the movie star and her date out to the main area to sit down at a regular table.
Another waiter came, and handed Tony a platter, then walked away. After he opened the door, Tony came in carrying two slices of cake. “Forgive me for not asking what you wanted for dessert, but I promise you this is the best. I know the cook, and he told me, this is THE DESSERT to have tonight.”
“Thank you, it will be perfect.” said Therese. Her tone was flat, but her soft eyes told she was pleased. Tony did his best to keep from laughing, not at Therese but from the effect of her calm nature and genuine sincerity. She was a sharp contrast from the usual VIP room clients. Tony could work every day of the next year and not have anyone as happy to be there as Therese was at that moment.
“Thank you.” Peter added, thinking perfect wasn’t the cake, perfect was across the table. Peter was captivated by Therese.
“Was that Wenda Hamilton?” asked Therese.
“Yep, she’s pretty pissed off the VIP dining area is closed to a single couple this evening. You all are a nice couple. So I’ll tell you something” Tony said, walking out, “This could be love.” Tony smiled at them as he left, then fixed his jacket, walked back outside the door and flexed his muscles for females walking by.
Tony was right, the cake was perfect. Therese very carefully and deliberately took small bites and savored them. Each bite was a unique experience. Therese wondered if that was how life was, each was a bite of a piece of cake, maybe on the good days, she thought. She took a bite with the handmade frosting, it was exceptionally good on an already amazing piece of cake. Therese thought that was the Peter better part of her cake of life.
Peter nibbled his cake, this is really good cake he thought. He ate slowly, normally he would devour cake, but he didn’t want the night to ever end.
“They’re leaving.” said Therese, looking at the girls leaving, Therese sat silently eating her cake, she didn’t like the girls in her life cake, thinking about them put them in her cake, life was hard enough. Yet Therese would trade everything she owned to be friends again with Kara. The shunning hurt Therese and she quickly decided to stop thinking about it.
Therese hated how she felt bad things would happen when she stepped on cracks. Therese hated how loud noises scared her, she could drive a car, why would loud noises scare her? Therese wondered why sometimes it hurt so much to live. Therese liked the rabbits, they never looked at her funny. They never made fun of her. Therese could always tell what the rabbits were feeling.
Peter wondered if things worked out with Therese if she would want to be a mother to his daughter. So far she loved the kid, but from a distance. He barely knew her, he knew it was a brave step forward for anyone. He knew she could make a good cup of coffee, and he knew she liked to garden. He was scared of babies too. He finished his cake, losing track of thought, folded his napkin, wiped his face. Therese finished her cake too, she was thinking she had better have Erin teach her about taking care of Ana if she wanted this to work. She wanted to learn for all three of them.
“Crap, I forgot the mints.” said Peter absentmindedly, realizing the night was ending.
Therese immediately leaned over and pressed the gold button in the center of the table for the first time that evening. Tony immediately walked in and said “May I help you?”
“Do you have any mints?” Therese asked.
“We have mint ice cream” Tony offered, he had suggested to Lou before they have mints like other restaurants, but she told Tony she didn’t want to be other restaurants.
“I need mints for my boyfriend so I can kiss him.” Therese told Tony. Peter blushed.
“I have some mint gum.” Tony offered, a pack out of his pocket, and opened his mouth to show he was chewing it. “the ladies like it, I swear it’s true.”
“Can I smell your breath please?” asked Therese. Tony smiled at the young lady’s moxie. He leaned over and breathed in her direction. Peter was embarrassed and sunk in his chair. “How much for the pack?” Therese asked.
“Take it, it’s on the house.” Tony gave her the pack. Therese handed Peter a piece to start chewing, which he did. “Is there anything else, I can help you with?” Tony asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No. this is good.” said Therese. Peter was still chewing, and just shook his head no.
“Well, don’t leave a tip or anything, Lou will be offended, and she has already comped me quite well.” Tony pulled out a little radio and said into it, “Get the car ready, the VIPS is, are, leaving.” Tony looked at the young couple, “Thank you, I have helped a lot of people here, even right here in this room, but this girl, she’s the nicest yet.” Tony offered his hand to help Therese out of her chair, she blushed. “Or you sir, you help her up, and tell Ben I said hi. We can’t really talk you know, court order and the feds monitor everything, they even check your coupons at the grocery store.” Tony said, stepping back so Peter could help her up, Tony went over and held the door open for them.
The Valet had pulled the car up front and opened the door for Therese. “Thank you, wait.” said Therese, and looked at Peter. “I want you to kiss me here, now.” Therese told him, leaning halfway forward, and closing her eyes this time. Peter leaned forward and closed his eyes and kissed her. “Erin is right, it is better with my eyes closed.” Therese said, backing up. Tony grinned, the valet grinned and Peter grinned. The Valet shut the door for Therese.
“I ain’t religious, but you’ll go to hell if you mess this one up. You know who she reminds me of?” Tony asked.
“Ben’s sister?” Peter guessed.
“Yeah, she was just a kid, too young for me you know, but she’d be pretty too, just like her.” Tony said, waving goodbye and walking in. Yes, yes, she would be, thought Peter. Peter didn’t know if he should feel guilty for not missing her for a moment, because when he was with Therese, it was just like she was back with him, except Therese was a lot kinder and a lot more sober than her.
“I’m sorry I’m not like the other girls.” Therese told Peter when he sat down. For the longest time, Therese had never felt different, but she eventually noticed she was, and not everyone was like her.
“I’m grateful you are not like the other girls.” Peter told her, and he meant it. He drove Therese home, sad the night was ending, but glad she was in his first class in the morning. They drove to Therese’s house all too quickly. Peter hurried and opened her car door for her.
“Did tonight really happen?” Therese asked Peter in her simple tone as she climbed out of the car. Her skin glowed under the street light.
“It really did.” Peter reassured her.
“I’m worried I’ll wake up one day and this will all be a dream.” Therese told Peter, as she turned, put her feet together and then walked in her house. Peter stood on her porch for a moment. Then walked to his car. Peter had a difficult time driving because he kept looking over hoping to see Therese next to him.
Peter had to go pick up Ana, get her to bed, go to bed, get up, take Ana to Erin, and get to school. Ben, Vivo and Erin had offered to watch Ana as much as he needed, or even wanted, but he wanted them to watch her less than he needed them to. Therese knew he had a late night and said she would meet him at school to save him time. Peter fell asleep exhausted and thinking about Therese.