2020-05-16 - Third Chance - Pt 1 - Patrick, Sajani, Gurshan, Nico

Patrick woke feeling a thousand percent better than he had when he fell asleep.  The exception was his mouth, which felt like week old moldy bread looks.  Groaning, he got out of bed and headed straight for his bathroom.  He brushed his tongue and teeth twice, then used the toilet and took a shower.  Looking at himself in the mirror as he shaved, he tried to flatten his cowlick to no avail.  It was worth a try, anyway.  Finally he went back in his bedroom to dress for what he hoped would be another date and not just him humiliating himself while looking nice.  Black jeans and a blue polo shirt was nice enough.  Then, grabbing his phone and wallet, called out a hurried goodbye to Chris and jogged down the stairs.

The sun was setting, which meant the evening was fast turning into night and he felt a need to hurry lest all the restaurants close on him.  He decided to cut across the island, behind the community center and the Center Street buildings, including the fire house.  He cut through the Alvin’s back yard and then through the Community Gardens to 4th street where he had a straight shot to Sajani’s corner brownstone.  Completely ignoring the Rose brownstone, he walked with purpose down the street, climbed the few stairs and rang the doorbell, following it up with three or four knocks on the door itself.

Sajani was in a funk. She had been stood up by Patrick Peterson and she was loathe to admit that it really hurt her feelings. She didn’t even feel like unpacking all that with anyone and decided that instead she would just sleep in the next day and then dig into that big tub of mint chocolate chip iced cream in her freezer and binge watch some total trash TV show in her purple juicy sweats and an old Northern Lights yoga tank top. She wasn’t even wearing a bra. But she was home and who cared anyway? Not Patrick Peterson...that was for damn sure. Sajani knew about the fire and the deaths in the Rose house. Everyone did. And she was aware Patrick may have been on shift and on one of those fire trucks. But if he was too tired or upset to go out could he not have at least answered her texts? That was the rejection that hurt. Was it some messed up revenge for years ago when she ditched on him?  She was fully into season 2 of Fleabag and planned to finish it when suddenly some annoying person was at her door making noise. “Probably some kids playing knock knock ginger.” She muttered and tiptoed to peer through the peephole. Then she silently gasped. It was Patrick. She folded her eyes and frowned at the door “Nope…” and then tiptoed back into the living room. The curtains were closed at least. Sajani hid.

Gurshan Singh was up in his office watching his own TV. He was wearing a grey sweatsuit today as his home lounge wear with little felted brown slippers. His daughter had been in some kind of mood all day and she wouldn't open up about it. He knew better than to push her and so he just planned to give her space and let her talk when she was ready. He sipped his tea and watched a good mystery series he knew and loved, Shetland. He couldn’t stand the awful show Sajani had chosen downstairs.

Patrick waited a good thirty seconds before he knocked again.  It was getting dark and surely she was home … she wouldn’t be out this late.  Flexing his doorbell ringing finger he pressed, keeping the buzzing going for five seconds before, for the third time, knocking.

Sajani rolled her eyes at the persistence. She was miffed and hurt and as close to confrontation as she could get she decided to turn her TV up to maximum volume so Patrick could hear it outside.

Gurshan pauses his show and looks confused. Why wasn’t Sajani answering the door? Someone was very keen on being noticed out there. But he also had a protective moment about his young beautiful Sajani answering the door to some creep. They had had a very tragic thing happen on the street a few nights ago with the Rose house fire and murders and he was still reeling from the work he’d been doing in its aftermath. Maybe it was the police doing a door to door? He started down the hall when Sajani blasted her volume and he blinked several times in more confusion. What was wrong with her today?

Patrick hears the sound of the television, suddenly.  So she WAS home.  Normally, Patrick would avoid confrontation, but he was desperate.  He rang the bell for another 7 seconds this time, and then out and out pounded on the door.  “Sajani!”  he yelled. His plea came through loud and clear.  “Open the door.  Please!  I’m sorry!  I can explain EVERYTHING!  Open the door before someone calls the cops on me.”  he nearly begged.  Wouldn’t that be just his luck.  Arrested trying to get a date.  Another first, Patrick.  Smooth!

Gurshan is at the bottom of the stairs when he hears a male voice call his daughter’s name and plead with her to open the door. Gurshan was normally a calm man but he had been on this case that had been so disturbing and Sajani was ignoring a man who was screaming her name. He looked at his daughter in hiding with her loud TV “Saji, what is going on? Are you in trouble?”

Sajani turned down the volume “No Papa….I’m just mad at him…..he stood me up…” She didn’t say who it was.

Gursahn took in the empty ice cream container and the state of his daughter and sighed knowingly. Heartbreak.  “I’ll answer it…. Don’t worry I won’t make you talk to him….” He went to the door and opened it “Hello there…...…” He could see it was one of the Peterson twins but he got that look on his face like everyone did when trying to politely not ask which one.

Now Sajani just threw up her hands and walked up behind her father “Papa it’s Patrick.” She stated, like everyone should be able to tell. Then she self consciously folded her arms and looked hurt “Hi.” was all she was ready to say to him.

Patrick’s hand was raised for another good solid rap when it finally opened and he found himself looking at Sajani’s father.  He noticed the look and was ready to explain himself, but then Sajani appeared.  Both had said hello, but at this point he wasn’t remotely interested in talking to her father.  He leaned to his left, looking around the patriarch.  “Sajani, I fu … screwed up.”  he is still aware her father was standing right there.  “I came home and I got drunk.”  he confesses, not thinking if it was smooth.  It was honest and that would have to do.  “I don’t remember much after the fourth, but apparently I threw up in a couple sinks and passed out in Chris’s bathtub and he slapped me and turned on the shower.  Cold!”  He's speaking fast and probably rambling.  He stops himself and impulsively drops to his knees.  “Sajani.  I’ve wanted this date since we were in high school.”  he looked up at her.  “Please give me another chance.  Let's go to dinner. Right now, so I won’t be late.  Please?”  he looks up at her, eyes big and imploring.

Gurshan stepped back but looked wary at first. Especially about the drinking part.

Sajani’s facial expression went from irritated to unimpressed to compassionate. She quickly realized Patrick must have been on that fire shift, down the street, surrounded by the awful rumours about her old friend. She stifled a giggle about the cold shower and then her eyes go wide when he drops to his knees in front of her and literally begs. She’s speechless and just stares for awhile.

Meanwhile Gurshan begins to look completely delighted by the whole thing. This man was fantastic at expressing his emotions. He was a psychologist’s dream! Sajani needed this.

Finally she finds her words “Patrick…” She tries to pull him up, feeling a  little awkward about the kneeling and standing over him. “Of course I’ll give you another chance but I’m a mess….” She folds her arms again aware that she’s in a tank top and no bra. “I didn’t even shower today...no makeup…” And then she admits “At least let me go get a bra…” She has to giggle at that and flush. “I’m in sweats..” Then she has one last moment of irritation she just has to say “And for the record...I looked REALLY cute LAST night!” And with that statement she walks off upstairs leaving Patrick with her father. As she walks away the word Juicy is written in big letter on the back of her purple sweatpants.

Patrick looks up at her as she accepts his apology.  He stares at her as she goes on about how she’s dressed, and is about to open his mouth to tell her so but gets out no more than “You look fantas….”  before she is gone.  Off to do things that sound like they take a lot of time.  He’s forgotten that he is not short and should not be looking UP at either one of them.  He’s still on his knees.

Gurshan steps to Patrick and reaches to offer to help pull him to his feet. Gushan is a willowy built man and it’s likely he couldn’t pull Patrick up without some serious effort from Patrick. “Excellent expression of your feelings…..” he comments “And Sajani....” He looks like he’s having a proud parent moment “She’s been such a classic conflict avoider….she confronted you.” He just beams “That was fantastic!” If he’s on his feet now Gurshan will try to shake his hand “Please go out with my daughter.”

Sajani can be heard on the stairs part way through all of that and she gasps “Papa stop therapizing! Oh my god…..” She comes down now with the same off the shoulder top she’d been wearing in the bookstore so her tank top is still visible as well as now the addition of an obvious hot pink bra strap. She still had on the sweatpants and she hasn’t put on any makeup but she smells minty like she just brushed her teeth. Of course it could still be the ice cream. As she approaches, her father retreats but still looks over the moon.

Patrick blinks and realizes he is still on his knees.  He accepts the help up and smiles.  “Thank you?”  Then he moves on to Sajani and conflict avoidance.  Maybe if they didn’t BOTH have that problem she would have had a date long before now.  When her father then goes on to effectively ask him to take out his daughter he straightens.  “Yes, sir.”  he replies like a soldier taking orders he’s been waiting for since boot camp.  He looks at Sajani as she comes back downstairs.  The same shirt from the bookstore and he smiles.  Reaching for her hand, he says to her.  “Ready?”  he’s not late.  It’s impressive.

Sajani slips into some shoes and then grabs her big colorful purse, dropping her phone into it from the table on the back of the couch. Beside it is the empty pint container from her mint chocolate ship, the only thing she’s really eaten all day. She nods at Patrick, looking at him like she’s still not sure whether to laugh or cry at the whole  thing. He’s been wanting this date so badly since high school? She slips her hand in his and smiles awkwardly and then looks back at her father “Bye Papa…”

Her father has his hand on his heart and watches them wistfully “Bye Saji...bye Patrick. Have fun…” And then they’re out the door and he goes happily back to his mysteries.

Patrick waves absently as Dr Singh goes back inside.  Then he heads down the stairs and turns right, then stops suddenly and turns around, heading to the corner and around the block.  He doesn’t want to pass the Rose house.  He looks back at Sajani and catches a glimpse of her sweat pants before she turns and blinks.  “Juicy, eh?”  he feels a bit more relaxed, reaching for her hand as the streetlights start to come on.

Sajani walks with Patrick and is happy to take the long way around. She has a suspicion as to why but she’s not going to push. When he comments on her pants she flushes and giggles “I bought them as a joke...I honestly never wear them out. “ she sighs at him “You caught me off guard Patrick. Completely,,,,”She holds his hand and feels the warmth of it. It’s very nice.

Patrick smiles and swings her hand with his between them a bit.  “Ha. Ha.”  he says dryly and refrains from a smart assed comment.  He bites his lip.  “Well everything I said was true.  Even if you DO believe me, ask Chris.  I think he’d be more than happy to talk about how he tried to drown me in the bathtub then forced oatmeal down my throat.”  he turns the corner onto third and crosses diagonally past the Brate house to the sidewalk.

Sajani seems to find all this very funny “Chris? He’s such a mean brother...I had no idea…” She teases “I guess it’s another way to tell you guys apart though…..if he’s just shoving oatmeal at people….” As much as she jokes, Sajani had always been able to tell them apart. Since back in their school days with picking names for sports when you have to call people over or classroom group work. She had even corrected a few teachers over the years about it.

Patrick mock huffs as they walk.  “He came out first, ready to inflict cruelty and chaos upon the world.  I stayed inside where it was safe, then decided a couple minutes later that someone had to keep the world safe.”  he looks down at her.  “You know that you’re one of the few people who can tell us apart without prompting.  Our mother, of course, but our father has his moments.  Avery .. but they’re relatives.  You’re not and you’ve always been able to.  It always made me feel special when you didn’t mistake me for Chris.”

Sajani giggles and then stops to look at him about the not mixing him up with Chris topic and she points to his mole “Well there’s the mole thing. But I can tell from further away...I mean you’re you…” She says flatly “You don’t act the same. You’re not both one person. But also I remember when Chris had a broken nose in...I think it was grade 9? It was gross so I remember. He was all bandaged from iit and he got two black eyes from it…” She shudders. “Anyhow it was crooked after and yours is straight.” And..” She steps closer and reaches  to his cowlick in his hair “You’ve had this since like ...well probably since you were born..” All of a sudden she has the realization that she’s standing there with her fingers in his hair “Sorry...I could have just pointed..” She starts to pull her hand away self consciously.

As they turn the corner onto Central, he replies to her comments.  “I’m me?  Not …”  and as they pass the firehouse, someone calls from the vehicle bay.  “Hey Peterson.  Um … whichever.”  He blindly flips the wide open garage door open and the voice the finger and goes on.  “Yea.  Pat.  I knew it was you.  Fucker.”  He crosses the street to the cop shop.  No one is outside, so no worries.  “I remember the broken nose.  While it was bandaged everyone knew which was of us was which, but after …”  he shrugs.  “You noticed it's crooked too?”  he grins.  “I AM the more handsome twin.”  and  then her hand is in his hair, and he takes it as she pulls it away.  “You can play in my hair anytime you want, Sajani.”  then he hears himself.  “But not the smooth one.”  he sighs as he stops in the cop shop parking lot.

Sajani had rolled  her eyes at the person at the fire station who fumbled on the name. Don’t they work with Patrick? She squeezes his hand after he takes it and smiles. She’s clever, but she’s not an innuendo minded person naturally so sometimes those fly over her head . She does like the idea of running her fingers through his hair and distractedly replies “Definitely more handsome…” She concurs and stops with him and  then points “I think we missed it…..it’s closed. I wonder if anything’s open still or we could brave the corn dogs at the gas station? It would match the rest of my eating today….”

Patrick is distracted by her calling him handsome, but then follows her gaze.  He can see from there that Zabats is closed.  “Fuck.”  he grumbles and looks around, unsure.  “No … no ….  No gas station hot dogs on our first date.”  He leads her to the back door of the 10 Alarm.  He groans.  “Damn it, Patrick.”  he grumbles to himself.  “It must be past ten….”  he blows out a breath.  “Everything’s closed…”  he bites his lip and, still holding her hand.  Then he nods to himself and leads her from the center back door to the coor on the corner of the building, besides the 10 Alarm greenhouse.  He rings the doorbell and then, like at Sajani’s house, starts pounding on the door.

Nicodemus Caito comes storming down the stairs, looking annoyed.  He pauses, sees Partick and pulls the door open.  “My fucking building better be on fire, Pat or you’re a dead man.”  He’s dressed in black slacks, no shoes and a tshirt from his own establishment.

Patrick looks at him and smiles.  “Nico, I need you to open up.”  he informs his co-worker.

Nico arches his brow.  “Did I accidentally wind up in group therapy?”  he asks.  “Open up?  For you?  Fuck you, Peterson…”  and then he catches sight of Sajani and his brows lift.  “Over here, Pat…”  and he drags him a short distance to the door of the greenhouse, where they murmur in low voices.  Sajani may hear words like ‘rose fire’, ‘drunk’ ‘date’, ‘make it up toher’.

Sajani ws totally willing to go the corn dog route but she is both amused and alarmed by Patrick’s determination to get them into the restaurant. She awkwardly waggles her finger at Nico who she knows not well but from around and then stands off to the side while they talk, catching enough words to understand the negotiation. She doesn’t want to look like she’s listening in though so she turns around and pulls out her phone and randomly scrolls through social media, waiting them out.

Nicodemus is already warming to the story.  At his heart, he believes himself to be a romantic, even if his reputation leans more to gigolo.  But then Sajani, who he has seen around but not yet had the pleasure of having help him with an injury, turns around.  His brows lift.  “Juicy!”  he exclaims and claps Patrick on the shoulders, already walking to the middle back door and unlocking it.  “What can I get you two?” he asks, turning on the kitchen lights and nodding to a table in the small kitchen with two chairs.  It’s not the main part of the small chili bar, but it’s also sort of cosy and private, if not strictly romantic.

Patrick is worried he isn’t going to convince Nico to open his restaurant.  Nico’s reputation was more horn dog than anything, but he was apparently a smooth talker.  At least he knew him from Chris, but that was possibly more because Chris would never ask for this favor for this reason.  But then Nico calls out Juicy and Patrick knows he's seen the words on the back of Sajani’s pants.  “Hey!  Nico.”  his tone mildly warning.  But Nico is opening the door and turning on the lights … and motioning them to a rather small and intimate little table in the back.  He smiles.  Success!

Sajani jumps as Nico says juicy and then inwardly chastises herself for not taking the time to change the pants. She hear’s Patrick’s tone after Nico says it.  She turns around with a grateful smile at him and sees the door being unlocked and opened. She follows them to the small table and sits “Thank you for opening…”

Nico grins at Patricks warning.  “Just looking, pal.  Just looking.”  he moves around the kitchen and folds his arms.  “You know, I am considering trying something new.”  he tells them.  “Lamb instead of beef …. “  he looks between them.  “Care to be my testers?”  he asks, beginning to move around the kitchen preparing a small pot.  “Just give me your preferred number ….”

Patrick snorts, but then listens to Nico’s idea.  He shrugs.  “What do you think, Sajani?”  he asks.  “Give me a five, Nico.”  he orders.

Sajani flushes at the just looking but then looks curious about the lamb “Yes I’ll try it.” She looks at Patrick with an approving nod “Five is the perfect number. Spicy enough but not so hot you lose the flavours under the spice…same for me please Nico.”

Nico looks over his shoulder.  “Five it is.”  he begins getting things together.  White chili beans that seemed to already be soaking.  “I’m using white beans in this one.  In a place like this variety is literally the spice of life.”  he pauses, bringing out a bit of ground meat, considers, then pulls out a bit more.  He starts to brown it in a pot.  “So first date.”  he tries to make conversation.  That’s sweet.  Academy is a strange school.  Mine was so much bigger you could go your highschool career and meet someone at graduation you never met in four years.”  he chuckles.  Nico is one of those who came to Alexandra to escape the big city.

Patrick is actually sort of interested.  “You still owe me seeds, Caito.”  he reminds the man.

“You’re not getting my recipe, Pat.”  seems to be the answer.  “I don’t care how pretty your date is.”  and she was.  But he suspected that she might be shy .. but she was good for fantasy fodder.

Patrick snorts.  “I don’t want the recipe, only the pepper seeds.”  he quips, but when Nico mentions how pretty Sajani is, he almost absently reaches for her hand.

Sajani smiles and then  listens to Nico talk about his school life. “I’d say I can’t imagine a  big school but then I went to UBC so..that was huge.” She looks curious about the seeds but doesn’t ask right now. She shrinks into herself a bit when Nico calls her pretty and laughs nervously “Uh thanks…” She holds Patrick’s hand again. Still loving the warmth of it. Now she asks about seeds “You grow peppers Patrick?”

Nicodemus chuckles.  “The high school I went to in Montreal had more students than this entire island.”  he turns back to his cooking.  “He wants to grow peppers.  Fancies himself an amature chef.”  he says without looking around.  “And I admit, I’m not looking for excuses to not be around the nights he cooks for the house.  Not like Dunham.”  he snorts in derision.  “But if I give him seeds, he might just try and put me out of business someday.”  he laughs.

Patrick shrugs.  “He’s right.  I want to play with fresh peppers and not have to rely on my coworkers for ingredients.”  he shrugs.  “What if it's only the datil?”  he wonders.  This meal AND datil seeds … and I’d call us even ....”

Nicodemus doesn’t move for a little bit, the sound of browning lamb permeating the air.  “Deal, Peterson.”  he says, almost grudgingly.

Now Sajani really tunes in “Datils? Those are Capsicums aren’t they? You can make a lot with those...even sub in for some of the pastes for curries…” she looks at Patrick “I’m no gardener but if you get some decent peppers I’d love to try one..”

Nico snorts and turns around.  “This IS the 10 alarm.”  he reminds her.  “Datil is one of the middle of the road peppers.”  he then looks at Patrick and all but smirks, then turns back to his cooking.

Patrick nods at them both.  “I’m not interested in the chilies you have to wear gloves for just to prepare.  And won’t eat anything I have to sign a release for.”  he snorts in his turn and then looks across the table at Sajani.  “Just the pepper?  I mean … we could cook something together …  I’m not bad.”

At the stove, Nico just starts laughing.

Sajani listens and then squeezes Patrick’s hand and looks towards Nico “So I hear. And yes we could cook something. Could be a while...they need to grow right?” She’s half teasing but noting he’s making plans to cook things with her and enjoying the idea. She laughs with Nico because Patrick is being pretty adorable.

Nico finally puts all of the ingredients together.  It's really a simple recipe and most of his ingredients are at least part way ready to go.  Finally he turns and sets one bucket down between them.  “And two spoons.”  he sets them one in front of each of them.  “If you need me, I’ll be in my restaurant cooking my books.  Just kidding…”  and he's gone out the door to the main restaurant.

Patrick chuckles and nods.  “Yes.  All the best things need time to grow.”  and then he falls silent until Nico gives them one bucket and two spoons.  “Thanks again, man.”  he calls as Nico heads out the door and laughs again as Nico gives him the finger as the door closes.  “Well …  he loads his spoon and holds it over the bucket in a sort of a toast.  “Here’s to finally having our date.”

Sajani thanks Nico as well and then takes her spoon and loads it up to toast “Here’s to it.” She lightly taps her spoon to his and then eats “Mmmm.” She chews and swallows and then takes another bite and then really eats for a while from her side because she hasn’t really done so properly today. After a few minutes she looks up self consciously “Sorry I ate weirdly today..” She laughs “I’m not trying to hog it…”

Patrick also eats with gusto.  Once they come up for air, he smiles.  “It’s okay.  I haven’t eaten in …  since … We had dinner around six and then I finished reading the book and sent you that text.  So … yea…”  he blinks as if he is just realizing he hasn’t eaten much.  “I mean I had a bowl and a half of oatmeal this morning but …  I haven't eaten a real meal since then.”

Sajani is happy he’s eating lots too so she doesn’t feel bad. Then she admits what she ate today with some embarrassment “I ate an entire tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream...I guess that’s my version of your...what were you drinking? You said you were drunk?” She looks like she’s a little worried about the drinking thing.

Patrick blows out a breath.  “Yea.  I drank 12 bottles of Mariner's Golden IPA.”  he admits.  “That usually lasts me and Chris a month or more.”  he takes another bite and realizes the bucket is almost empty.  “That house ….”  his eyes cut to the door that Nico had gone out of and then back to her.  “Was creepy.  Weirdest fire of my career.”  he swallows and looks down at the table.

Sajani looks comforted that he doesn't normally drink like that but then pained at what he said about the Rose house. She reaches to take his hand again “I should have known it was about that when you didn't show up and not been so hurt. Do you want to talk about it?”

Patrick looks at her.  “Nothing but a beam on my back would have kept me from our date.”  he quips and then he gets serious and nods.  He straightens.  “Nico!”  he half yells.  “That was incredible man.  Thanks and I’ll see you in the morning.”  he nods towards the door, offering Sajani his hand as they head out.

Nico calls from the other room.  “You two have fun and be careful.”  he calls.  Then he cleans up after them and closes his shop … again.

Sajani takes the hand “Patrick...did you already pay him? Is he just…” She hesitates anc calls back “Thank Nico!” And then asks Patrick another question “Do I owe you something for that chili?” Sajani doesn’t want to walk away without knowing all these things. She shoulders her purse but is ready to pull out her wallet or e-transfer on her phone.

Patrick pauses.  “No …. He’s doing me a favor.  I was planning on coming in a couple of times.  He lost three chili’s to me in a poker game a couple of shifts back.  The talk was about opening up after he’d closed because I stood you up and everything was closed and …  but he opened for us so with the seeds we’re even.”  he grins.  “Until the next time we play poker.”