Later in March-

Therese had bought Peter a seat belt for his side of the car, and Buck offered to help them install it at his house. Buck was still good with tools. Therese was excited to be invited to Buck’s house. The weeds were tall, and his property mostly neglected outside, but she was excited to see her friend. Buck had worn himself out with his walk and watched the news the rest of the day, but he felt a burst of energy when the kids arrived.

Buck didn’t need a doorbell, he heard Peter’s car come around the block, and started walking out to meet them. He smiled broadly when Therese stepped out of the car. She smiled back at him, the faint corners of her mouth turned up, then her eyes opened wide. She saw his old truck in the weeds by the side of the house. Therese ran over to it, remembering one of the best days of her childhood when he rescued her kite, the pink kite with the unicorn on it. She hugged the truck, her fingers rolling over the oxidized paint of the red body, and the less rusted hood which was newer but blue. “Lucky hood.” she said.

“They took my license. I wouldn’t let them take my truck.” said Buck.

“Does it work?” asked Therese.

“I haven’t tried since they took my license. What’s the point?” asked Buck.

“I’d drive you.” said Therese.

“Too much work. Some things are just broke forever. The bus is easier. Let’s teach your boyfriend how to install a seat belt and tune up his car.” Buck said, walking to the car. Buck hobbled to the car with his cane. “My toolbox is on the porch, go grab it for me, your car needs some work.” Buck ordered Peter, who ran and got the toolbox as needed. Buck installed the seat belt first, then opened the hood, and continued to work in the engine compartment. He sent Therese inside to grab them some drinks out of the fridge, and kept trying to explain to Peter what was wrong with his car.

Therese nervously walked into the house, she was always uneasy going into strange places, and always refused to go by herself, but she was thirsty, and Buck was helping them, so she was determined. She carefully walked through the house. First, she saw a dusty shelf filled with plaques thanking “Buck’s Plumbing” for sponsoring numerous little league teams over a decade or more. She saw team photos and could see some of the same kids growing older in each picture. There was an award from the city for saving some event by fixing the plumbing through out the night. A dollar bill, which she recognized it as the dollar she had tipped him by the tear on it, laying on the shelf underneath an old hat that said “Buck’s Plumbing” on it. There were two chairs in front of the television set. One chair was well used, the other new but dusty.

Therese continued into the kitchen. There was a small table with four chairs, one was worn, the others were new. Therese grew sad at the loneliness in Buck’s house. She went to the refrigerator, opened it, and took out three sodas as she was asked to, shut the refrigerator, and started walking out. She stopped when she saw a picture of a young sailor hanging on the wall. She recognized Buck in his youth, Therese reached over, straightened the picture level, and walked out carefully with the sodas.

“Start it now.” Buck told Peter, who cranked the engine. The car turned over and ran smoother than Peter had ever heard. Buck grinned. “Hand me a soda, will you?” Buck asked Therese, who handed Buck a soda. Buck opened the soda, grinned at the car and said “I still have it, but I need a break, let’s go sit on the porch.” Peter turned off the car, thanked Buck several times, helped Buck put the tools in the toolbox and carried the toolbox to the porch for him.

There were several chairs on the porch, one was clean, the others were dusty, and Therese having arrived first politely went to sit on a dusty one. “No, no, sit in the good one, It wouldn’t be good for you to get tetanus on a Sunday.” Buck told her, to which Therese obliged and took the good seat. She was unsure why it would be good to get tetanus on any day of the week. Therese drank her soda, it tasted good. Peter and Buck clashed their bottles in a toast to their success, and drank their sodas, they were nice and refreshing.

“What are you kids up to the rest of the day?” asked Buck.

“We’re going to study for the math test tomorrow.” Peter said, having promised to take Therese to his home to study. Therese was excited about this, it was her first time going to Peter’s home, he had always avoided it.

“That’s one thing I can’t help you with.” said Buck. He could do enough math to do a good job with his trade, but that was mostly geometry, he never had to worry about what X was, or what time two trains left from somewhere and passed each other. “Those bastards changed math, they made it so it don’t make sense.”

“I am good at math, art… and history. I can help him with math.” Therese told Buck.

“He’s lucky to have you then, isn’t he?” said Buck to her.

“I guess so.” said Therese.

The three finished their sodas, and said goodbye, Therese and Peter thanking Buck for the help and the sodas. Buck shrugged off the praise and sent them on their way. It was a great day for Buck, even if all he had left was himself and his tools, they proved enough for the day. Therese climbed in the car first and quickly buckled her seat belt. Peter climbed in and started the car, he liked the way it sounded now. “Put your seat belt on.” Therese told him.

“Thank you, I forgot I have one now.” said Peter, putting his seat belt on, then backing out of the driveway and turning onto the street. Therese also enjoyed the way the car sounded better. She smiled. Peter drove them to his home. Vivo was going to drop off Ana later, agreeing to let him have the day off to fix his car and study. Ben had complained about that meaning he had to watch the store, and Erin was closed on Sundays so there would be no muffins.

Peter pulled into a lot in the less incorporated area of town. There was an older, but sound manufactured home, he pulled up to it. “Vivo lets me stay here, he moved in with Erin, and didn’t want it to go bad from neglect.”

Therese looked at the home, wondering if it was the one in Ben’s version of Vivo’s life. She saw a name placard that said “Vivonoski”, it was hanging from one nail and fallen, covered by dirt. Therese brushed the dirt off with her fingers and smiled.

“It’s wonderful.” said Therese, as she climbed out of the car and walked to Peter’s home. Peter invited her in. There were baby toys everywhere, baby food piled on the counters, and the sink was full of dishes.

“It was already furnished, Vivo just left everything here when he moved in with Erin, my bedroom is here (Peter pointed), Ana’s is there (he pointed again), and the bathroom is at the end. “Make yourself at home, if you need anything, help yourself.” Peter said. Therese took her shoes off, walked over, and put them by the door. Therese liked Peter’s home, it was nice, simple and small. She did not feel overwhelmed. She pulled her books out of her backpack and put her notebook open at the table.

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The two began studying. Therese was able to explain things Peter had forgotten or slept through. She was patient and did not become frustrated explaining things several times over. Still, Peter struggled, Math was not his strong point, especially since he slept through the better part of the year, and the final exams would be coming up soon, and he needed to pass. Peter had promised that much, that he would finish high school. Peter started improving quickly and was able to solve the practice problems. He smiled, he was grateful to understand the problems, it was like learning a foreign language to him.

“I want you to kiss me.” Therese told him in the middle of one of the last and most difficult problem. “If you get this problem right, you can kiss me on the couch.” Therese told him, trying to sound pretty when she said it. Peter’s heart began pounding, this was the most he ever wanted to be good at in math his entire life.

“When I kill you, you will go to hell.” Ben’s voice echoed in Peter’s mind. Ben’s voice echoed again. Peter’s heart raced, finally, Peter intentionally miscalculated the last of the problem. He was trying to do the right thing.

“Do you not like me?” asked Therese, saddened at seeing him miss the problem and Peter adding an extra zero to his answer.

“No, no, I like you.” Peter pleaded.

“You know how to do that problem.” Therese told him, crossing out the extra zero.

“I’m just trying to respect you.” Peter told her.

“I just wanted to kiss you, you don’t have to grope me.” Therese told him, shutting her book, and packing her stuff, feeling rejected. Therese grimaced with her flat smile. She hated rejection, but this wasn’t a pity party, she threw herself at him and bounced.

“Give me another problem.” Peter begged. Therese obliged, writing out her own problem, which was harder and more complex than any of the practice problems. Peter struggled and finally finished the problem. Therese looked it over, checked his work.

“You did it right.” she announced. Therese stood up and walked down and sat on the couch.

“Do I need to get a mint?” asked Peter.

“No, I want to see what you taste like.” Therese told him. Peter grinned.

Peter sat down next to Therese. She leaned forward and closed her eyes, and he leaned in and kissed her. This time Therese did not jump back, she reached around and grabbed him and kissed him back. They kissed for a while. Therese’s heart pounded, she let go, she had an almost full smile. “That was fucking awesome.” She announced. Peter sat there, in silent agreement, his heart pounding like it had never pounded before.

“Thank you.” said Peter.

“You are welcome.” said Therese. She wondered why she had waited so long to kiss a boy because she liked kissing a lot. “Does your TV work?” she asked Peter.

“Yes, I get all the local channels.” said Peter.

“Put it on Channel 12, Space-Girl Michelle is coming on, I like to watch it on Sundays.” Therese said, paused, and added “please.” Therese did love Space-Girl Michelle, it was her favorite show, but mostly she wanted to distract her own feelings, she was becoming overwhelmed. Therese was worried she might do something more, and she did not want to be that close to anyone. She checked the buttons on her shirt to make sure they were still closed. She reached over and held Peter’s hand. Peter smiled, holding Therese’s hand made watching Space-Girl Michelle almost bearable.

A little later, Erin and Vivo knocked on the door. “We’re here.” Erin announced.

“Come in.” Peter told them.

Vivo and Erin walked in, carried Ana in, set her carefully down and watched her take little steps, hanging onto the furniture. Falling a couple times. “She can walk?” Peter shouted excited, as he watched the little girl take her little steps, directly to Therese. Therese looked at the little girl, and picked her up and hugged her. Ana gave Therese a big squeezing hug, and Therese liked that.

“Why is she glowing?” Erin asked Peter.

“No, no, no, no, I swear.” said Peter. Vivo laughed and handed him the diaper bag.

“Sweet, Space-Girl Michelle, I love this show.” said Vivo, walking past Peter and sitting down next to Therese.

“Great, now he’ll never leave.” said Erin, going to the couch, and sitting down to watch the show, knowing Vivo would never leave while it was on. Ana squeezed Therese, who rocked her carefully from side to side. Erin smiled, Therese was glowing. She hoped the girl was careful, but then again, one thing she learned about Therese, was she was always careful. Peter had started doing laundry and getting ready for the week. Erin smiled, she liked Peter and thought he was a good kid.

“I freaking hate the talking cars. You know what’s going to kill us all? Talking cars. One line of code and boom, now self driving cars are trying to kill us all instead of avoiding us.” said Vivo, watching Space-Girl Michelle fire her blaster and jump over the robot cars as they tried to ram her. Therese grinned though at Vivo’s comment about the talking cars, Kara always hated those the most too.

“I think the Motons are worse.” said Therese. “They are trying to ban rock and roll in the galaxy. How can you fight robot cars without a soundtrack?” Therese asked Vivo.

“Your’re right, I don’t think Michelle could save the galaxy listening to Mozart.” agreed Vivo. Erin sat there in amazement, not at the show, but at how natural Therese’s conversation about Space-Girl Michelle had become with Vivo. They had both connected at a level, that they really only understood, but Therese’s answers were deep and fluid. Erin smiled at Vivo, proud of the man she loved. He didn’t notice, he was glad to finally have someone to discuss one of his favorite shows with. No one and Erin knew no one, else seemed to like that show. Erin could barely tolerate it, so she pulled out her phone and began reading the news. Peter scooted closer to Therese and let her lean back resting against him but not looking up from the show.

“His eyes uncovered!” whispered Erin to herself, but loud enough that Vivo paid attention, and he smiled. That made Erin happy.

A smell and sound came out of Ana’s diaper. “The beast at Tanagra.” Vivo whispered, pointing at the soiled diaper. Therese rose and took Ana to change her.

“Peter. I need you to show me how to change a diaper.” Therese called to the back. Peter came quickly and offered to take Ana from Therese. The young lady shook her head no. “I want you to teach me to do this.” Therese told him. Peter again offered to take the little girl and change her. “If you want to kiss me on the couch again, you need to teach me how to help you.” Therese told him. Erin and Vivo hid their grins. Peter consented, and led Therese to Ana’s bedroom.

“Juliet. On her balcony.” said Erin grinning.

Vivo pinched his nose at the smell jokingly. “Therese and Peter on the ocean.” he said as Therese and Peter walked away, turned and refocused his attention to the TV show. He could not wait to watch the show again, as much as Erin loved Star Trek, Vivo had found himself alone in his friends with Space-Girl Michelle. Vivo loved the show.

“Well, I just kind of do it, so I guess, just watch me.” said Peter as he demonstrated going through the motions of changing the diaper, wiping the baby, and placing the diaper in a plastic bag and into the diaper hamper. “I guess it’s not so bad, when it’s your kid.” said Peter.

“It’s not so bad when you care.” Therese corrected him. She did not want Peter to think she could never love Ana. Therese was constantly hurt by people treating her as if she lacked emotions simply because she did not easily display them. Therese turned and saw a picture of Ana’s mother on top of a dresser. She picked it up and stared silently. She had never seen a picture of her before, Peter did everything he could to avoid discussing her, as did everyone else in their circle of friends.

“She’s beautiful.” Therese told him. Therese was jealous, even though she was no longer there. Anyone who had shared peter’s attention would make her feel insecure. Therese carefully put the picture down. Peter stood silently, holding Ana, unsure of how to respond.

“I hope I am pretty too.” said Therese.

“You are beautiful.” said Peter.

“Was she kind? kind people are always beautiful.” said Therese. Peter was unsure how to answer that. He tried to take Ana’s mother for the best he could, and at best, she was a good memory he tried not to think about.

“Let’s go watch the show.” said Therese, adjusting the picture so it was perfectly centered and faced the crib. Therese walked out of the room and sat down next to Vivo. Peter sat on the other side of Erin.

“I think you will have to always share her with Vivo when this show is on.” Erin told Peter.

“I’m ok with that, this show is terrible.” said Peter.

“I am with you on that.” agreed Erin.

Another two weeks passed without event, although Peter dreaded midterms approaching. He was working, he appreciated how much everyone supported him, but he did not want to be a big burden or a free ride. Therese started walking Buck home on Saturday mornings, noticing he was having greater difficulty walking, and would hurry back to the shop. Erin allowed this.

Buck seemed to get along just fine during the week, but Therese insisted, that he was worse on Saturday. Maybe he was, Erin thought, all the walking during the week worsened him as it went on until he could rest on Sunday. Only Therese could make her worst customer her favorite.