Peter was awakened by a text, that read “Worst fear. Store now.” Peter wondered if Ben was screwing with him. He thought about it for a minute and decided Ben wasn’t kidding, he wouldn’t waste the code. Peter climbed out of bed, urinated, and dressed himself.
“Babe. Therese.” I need you to wake up.” Therese stirred, she sat up, remembered she was topless and pulled the blanket up. “Are you up?” He asked Therese.
“I’m up.” She said, sitting to the side of the bed, and stretching.
“I need you to watch Ana, I have to go to the store, there was a break-in.” Peter lied, but it was the arranged lie. Therese stood, Peter hated lying to her. “I’m up.” she told him, “You can go, be careful.” She said, barely awake and walking to the bathroom.
“Where’s Ana?” Ben asked when Peter got there, with a panic tone in his voice.
“Therese is watching her at my place.” Peter told him, following Ben in the office. Vivo was already sitting there, tired bags under his eyes.
“Some one has been asking questions, Polish questions.” Ben told them. Vivo hung his head down, fearing this was the day he feared. “So far, it is casual, maybe they were passing through, but we don’t know.” Peter started shaking.
“It’s too bad, I like this town.” said Vivo, as he stood up, walked to the wall, and pulled the painting of Robot Gophers playing poker with Space-Girl Michelle off the wall. Vivo carefully set the painting on the floor, then typed in a code on the panel, and the two doors popped open. Vivo slid the doors open revealing a cache of weapons.
“You remember how to use this shit?” Ben asked Peter. Peter nodded his head. Ben grabbed a 9mm Beretta pistol, and handed it to Peter. “Mags loaded.” Ben said. Vivo tossed Peter a holster from his desk and a couple of extra magazines. Ben pulled out a Colt 1911 pistol, pulled the magazine out, racked the pistol to see it was still lubed. Lowered the hammer, then put the magazine pack in and stuck in his pants until he could grab a holster. “Vivo?” Ben asked.
“Beretta.” Vivo said, and Ben handed him another Beretta 9mm pistol. Vivo cleared it and checked it as Ben had done. He also stuck it in his waist until he could find a holster. “Better keep this behind the counter too.” Ben said, grabbing a shotgun and handing it to Vivo.
Erin walked in, she was the last to arrive. “Worst fear?” she asked Vivo, who nodded his head in sorrow. Erin walked over and took a .38 special revolver from the safe, felt the weight, and put it in her pants pocket.
“You still good with that or you want a nine millimeter?” asked Ben. Erin replied “I’m still good.” Ben told her about the Polish questions. Erin looked at Peter and said “It’s Ok if you run.”
“I don’t have anywhere else to go.” He told her. “Get home, Peter, and be careful.” Ben told him. Peter walked to the door and left. He hoped it was all a miss, several times before there had been false tips. “Let’s get breakfast.” was the last thing Peter heard Ben say as he left. Peter stepped out the door when a board hit him in the head, the last thing he heard was the wood cracking against his head. He slumped to the ground and bounced on the concrete.
Peter’s head cracked again as it hit the headboard of his bed. He had jumped a second time. Peter grabbed his head to keep him from hitting his head a third time. He sat up on the edge of the bed, and then grabbed his phone and checked it. No text. Peter looked over at Therese, she was still asleep on her side, laying there looking beautiful, with a real smile on her face. Peter then went and checked Ana, and saw she too was sleeping peacefully. Peter walked over to his closet, reached into a box, pulled out a pistol from one box, then grabbed a loaded magazine out of another box and went and sat on the couch, where he was idle for an hour in the dark before returning to bed, and placing the pistol and magazine back in his closet. Peter lay on his side looking at Therese’s smile, as he fell asleep.
“I love you.” said Therese as her eyes opened, and she saw Peter laying before her. Peter, still half asleep and under slept from his night, reluctantly cracked his eyes.
‘”Jessica” said Peter, thinking he was dreaming again. Therese was first angry, then she wondered who she would be angry at. She looked at Peter, and decided to let him sleep. Therese then heard Ana stirring in her crib, and decided to take care of her and let Peter sleep. Therese did her morning water and washed her hands. Therese stopped and looked in the mirror, she put one of Peter’s T-shirts on, and stared in the mirror. Then she heard Ana babbling, and she went and started changing her. Ana cooperated, and soon Therese held her to her shoulder, walking into the kitchen. Therese put Ana in her high chair and the little girl clapped her hands.
“I don’t know what you eat for breakfast.” said Therese. Therese held up various bottles of baby food until Ana clapped again. Therese turned the label, read it, and said “Carrots, good choice.” She sat down next to Ana and fed her little spoonfuls. “I want to be your mom.” Therese told the little girl.
Ana ate her carrots, as quickly as Therese carefully and deliberately fed her. Therese began singing to Ana as she fed her, “Tarzan wasn’t a ladies man.” sung Therese as she sang her favorite song because she could not remember any songs from when she was a baby. And softly ended the song as Ana finished the last of the carrots.
“I don’t know if you understand me, but it’s ok, it’s hard.” said Therese, taking her pills and swallowing water from a glass. Therese tried remembering when she was little, running through her backyard chasing baby bunnies “I promise you, I love you.” She told Ana. Ana waived her arms, and Therese picked her up, hoping Peter would be up soon to make them breakfast again. “Mama” Therese thought she heard Ana say, Ana smiled back. “I only wish.” said Therese, rocking the baby back and forth until she fell asleep.
Peter awoke, wondering if Therese even being there was a dream. He felt her side of the bed, then he sat up, and saw Therese’s clothes from the graduation on the floor by the wall. He shook his head, not believing a blew another chance to be with her. Peter shook his head, stood up, walked to use the bathroom, washed his hands when he was finished, and walked into the living room. Both girls were asleep. Peter saw the empty baby food container. He smiled and threw it away. Peter turned and started making eggs and toast. Peter turned and looked at Therese. Other than her mental illness, he couldn't think of a bad thing about her. “Breakfast is ready.” Peter told Therese.
Therese sat up, carefully holding Ana, and smiled her biggest half-smile at Peter. “Will you let me be her mom?” asked Therese. Therese smelled Ana’s hair, she loved the way the baby shampoo made her hair smell.
“That’s between you two.” said Peter, thinking if she wanted the job it would be hers.
“I need to ask my mom, but I think I am going to move in with you.” Therese told him. “You are Catholic, aren’t you?”
“Polish kind, the best kind. Saint John Paul the Second kind.” Peter told her, crossing himself.
“Good, we can go to confession together.” said Therese. Ana looked up and grabbed her eat. Therese whispered, “If you give me the chance, I will do my best.” Ana smiled, then Therese picked her up and set her in the high chair, and sat herself down for breakfast.
“What about, you know, the chance you might.” said Peter as he struggled with the words.
“Get pregnant?” said Therese, with her flat look on her face.
“Umm, yah.” said Peter, he was not wanting another baby, at least not right now.
“hyperprolactinemia” said Therese, and casually took a bite of her toast.
“Ok? I’m not going to pretend I know.” Peter told her.
“You know the pills?” said Therese, pointing at head and frowning.
“Yah.” said Peter, shrugging to show he didn’t understand.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“My doctor called yesterday. He said they messed up my hormones, probably not going to get pregnant, but I started birth control anyways, just don’t tell anyone at my church.” said Therese, flatly but with one lip turned up, showing she was sad.
“But the condoms?” asked Peter.
“I wanted to mess with Ben. And, we both know you don’t use them.” said Therese as she smiled with her lip up and pointed at Ana. Peter blushed, and ate his toast.
“I thought you might, you know, if Ben was going to kill you anyways.” said Therese. Then he kept eating, unsure what to say, he figured he better eat. Ana clapped her hands.
“What are you going to do today?” Peter finally asked.
“I am going to go by work and see what my schedule is this summer. I am management now.” teased Therese.
“What’s management do?” asked Peter.
“Peter, go watch the store, I am playing video games.” said Therese impersonating Vivo and Ben.
“Yep, that’s what management does. When are you going in?” said Peter.
“After nap time.” said Therese. Peter’s heart skipped a beat.
At the Cowffee cup, Kara was starting her first day of training. Erin didn’t ask her to, but she showed early up asking to learn. Erin knew the only way her week on the coast would ever happen, was to train her, and she was glad Kara seemed motivated about the job. Kara’s enthusiasm to learn matched Therese’s, but Kara was slower to memorize the drinks. Still, if she would punch another girl in the face over her abuse of Therese, though she might look after her.
“I blame myself about Therese.” said Kara.
“That is not your fault.” Erin told her. Those words echoed back at Erin and she didn’t believe them either.
“It might be. When we were like eight, I came up with the idea to build a tree fort. We weren’t carpenters, and Therese fell off the ladder and hit her head hard. I was coming out of her house with a blanket to put under the tree for us to sit on, and I watched her fall. It was my idea.” Kara told her.
“Honey, that is not your fault.” said Erin as she again corrected her. Erin knew she was telling herself that, that it was not her fault. It was not her fault her sister killed herself to escape the pain of living.
“Everyone told me that, Therese did, her parents, my parents, they said the doctors said it had nothing to do with it. It doesn’t matter, it was still my stupid idea.” said Kara.
“If you can’t change your mind, you can only try to be better.” replied Erin. Kara nodded. She was glad her graduation photos showed her with a black eye, she never even tried to cover it up, and she put the black eye forward. She never wanted to forget.
Buck came walking in. “Where the hell’s my Therese?” he asked when he saw Kara.
“Therese is off today, Kara is training.” Erin told him.
“I don’t want a Kara, I want my Therese, sell me some coffee lady.” Buck said. He was impatient and gruff. Therese was now his closest friend and she should have been there instead of this Kara. He missed Erin’s sister Isabella who had started the shop and Therese had helped fill that loss for him too. Buck had remained loyal to Isabella and was the first customer of the day, every day. Kara was no Therese.
“She’ll be back, Buck, don’t worry.” replied Erin.
“Well, I certainly hope so,” said Buck, leaving his three dollars on the counter and walking himself home. Therese would have walked with him home.
“He was at the party last night?” asked Kara.
“Yep, he’s Therese’s favorite customer.” Erin told her.
“I think I will find my own.” said Kara, going back to unstacking the chairs at odd angles around the tables. Kara spent all day shadowing Erin and learning from her. The girl was strong and seemed reliable, but a more vocal than Therese. Erin thought it would be a good match.
Later that day Therese called Ben and told him to meet her outside the Kookie-Mart before she drove around to the other side. She whispered one sentence to him before she drove around and parked.
Ben and Erin bumped into each other at the coffee shop’s back door. Ben was heading into the Cowffee cup, just as Erin was leaving the back of the store. “I wanted to let you know you don’t have to worry about having that other young lady being around. She isn’t going to steal Vivo or Peter.”
Erin stepped back, and crossed her arms, and looked at Ben, “Why’s that?” she asked, ready for another of Ben’s random explanations in life. She prepared herself for anything ranging from the absurd to the ridiculous.
“She likes me.” Ben told her.
“Oh no, that will never happen.” Erin told Ben, still crossing her arms in disbelief.
“Oh yah? Watch this.” said Ben, raising his hand. “Yo, Kara!” Ben shouted. Kara turned and threw him a muffin. Ben caught it and turned back to Erin. “See.”
“That doesn’t mean she likes you, everyone knows you like muffins.” Erin said.
“If she doesn’t like me, how did she know I wanted Cranberry?” said Ben, grinning, and taking a bite out of his muffin. Kara smiled and waved at Ben, then went back to her phone and texted Therese. Erin shook her head and walked to the Kookie Mart, Ben followed her. “Does it bother you?” asked Ben.
“If you ever found a woman who could tolerate you, it would only make me happy.” said Erin as she shrugged her shoulders. Ben followed Erin into the office. Vivo was relaxing, playing video games.
“Hey, where’s my muffin?” Vivo asked Ben.
“Couldn’t, didn’t want Erin to get jealous.” Ben explained.
“Jealous?” asked Vivo.
“You know, Kara.” said Ben.
“Oh yah, Kara.” Vivo said, faking seriousness. “Things are getting real serious if she is giving you muffins.”
“Hey, she hired one for you and one for me.” said Ben, and ate more of his muffin.
“What do you mean she hired one for me?” asked Vivo.
“Other than Ana, there is no one else to watch that Space-Girl crap with.” said Ben.
“Therese and I just happen to think it’s a great show.” Vivo countered.
“See.” said Ben, pointing at Erin, “They watch Space-Girl together. I think I’m on to something.”
“You can always cheat on me by watching Space-Girl with Therese instead of me.” Erin said, kissing Vivo on the head. “You know Kara likes Space-Girl Michelle too.” Erin teased Ben.
“I didn’t say she was perfect.” Ben said, “Hey, where’s that employee guy we have, what’s his name? Peter?”
“He’s off today.” said Vivo.
“Who’s watching the store, I think I hear customers.” said Ben.
“You are, I’m on break.” said Vivo.
“Oh crap, you’re right.” said Ben, tossing his muffin wrapper in the garbage and running out to help.
Erin was back out front when Therese came in. Erin took one look, and shook her head. Kara looked up, and said “No way.” when she looked at Therese, who was really glowing brightly. “I really think I need a coffee.” Therese told Erin.
“I think I had better make three.” Erin said. The two girls sat on bar tools at the far end of the counter. Erin stood inside, so she was available to help any customers, of which there weren’t any. “Since I am bartender to the teenager, anything you want to talk about?” Erin teased Therese.
“It was better than you said.” Therese told Erin flatly, and raising her eyebrows for effect. Erin blushed, and face palmed to hide her blushing. Kara giggled. Therese smiled.
Ben walked in and all the girls giggled and hid their faces. Erin was amazed how fast she could act eighteen again. “They killed Socrates for that, you know.” Ben told her as he dug through the muffin case looking for the perfect muffin.
“Killed Socrates for what?” asked Erin.
“Corrupting the youth of Athens.” said Ben. Then Ben raised his hand and said “Yo, Kara.” and Kara tossed him a packaged of whipped butter. Ben grinned at Erin.
“You’re the philosopher.” Erin told Ben.
“Philosophy, is not a technical matter, and technically this is absolutely your department.” Ben told Erin, as he squeezed the whipped butter on his muffin, and taking a bite out of it. “Good muffin.” said Ben, walking out.
“Is Ben always over here?” asked Kara, rolling her eyes and smiling.
“Mostly when he wants something.” Erin cautioned her. The girls giggled and drank a sip of their coffee.
“I hear you giggling.” yelled Ben from the store room. “Yo, Kara, cyborg bad guys who assimilate everyone marathon. This weekend.” Ben yelled.
“Ok Ben, I’m in.” Kara yelled.
“You are not?” Therese asked. She liked Star Trek a lot, but it was dwarfed by her love for Space-Girl Michelle.
“Oh no, I am not going Trekkie on you, one Space-Girl could have took down the Empires and the United Federation of Optimists by herself. Ben is just trying to broaden my horizons, and he told me there is less Utopian side to it all” Kara said, smacking her lips. “Space-Girl Michelle is still THE BEST Sci-Fi ever.” Kara added.
“You wish.” Erin told the girls. Her disdain for anything Space-Girls related was ever present and strong.
“What can I say, I want to boldly explore new worlds, or however that goes.” Kara teased.
“Or explore Ben.” Therese teased.
“Ok, so how about changing the subject, Team meeting?” Erin asked. The girls nodded in agreement.
“First up, when I’m not here, Therese is in charge. I still expect everyone to make their own decisions, I don’t train people to need me.” Erin told them. The girls nodded in agreement. “Make the decisions that keep customers happy, but do your best to make money, because that’s how we get paid.” Erin told them, the girls again nodded in agreement.
“In one month, I am going on vacation. Ben will be in charge then.” said Erin. Kara licked her lips. The girls giggled. Erin couldn't believe Ben, the most obtuse man she knew, was aware Kara liked him before Erin, herself, was. “Until then, I will open, you girls will come in at five PM and close weeknights, then all day Saturday. Therese, you are coming in a few more mornings to learn muffins. I want to hang out by my pool tonight, so I expect you girls back in three hours.” said Erin.
“And one more thing, don’t forget to enroll. Vivo says we get a taxbreak.” Erin handed the girls three course catalogs with registration slips. “Now go, and quit glowing everywhere.” Erin said, shooing them out of the shop. “Pooltime.” she whispered to herself. Kara went home with Therese to help her in the garden.
“Why do I have to work tonight?” Ben asked Vivo.
“Because Erin wants one of us here to watch the stores.” Vivo explained.
“Just remember me when you are in Malibu. Actually don’t, unless it is to say my name. I know you guys have baby eyes.” Ben told him.
“Who knows, maybe you’ll be next.” said Vivo.
“I’ve had kids, they are out of the house.” Ben defended.
“When did you have kids.” asked Vivo.
“Ok, they were pet birds, but I was a kid, and they left the house.” said Ben.
“What about Kara? You gonna cross that line if it comes in front of you?” asked Vivo.
“I don’t need a lawyer for that to be legal.” said Ben, pointing two fingers at Vivo and walking back out to help customers. “It’s morally correct, enough-ish.” Ben told himself. He was much younger than Vivo and Erin and Kara was hot, so that was good enough for him.