Walter McLeod slept hard. He always did but last night it might have been the blunt and tequila. The morning was not so kind and he kept hearing noises and trying to go back to sleep. “God the fuckin wind again…” He muttered. Maybe his storm door hadn’t caught properly again or maybe…he walked into the livingroom as the back door flew open behind him with someone running out of it, two someone’s. Walter ran to it and screamed out into the greenspace between the houses “Hey!!! Hey!!” One of them had a backpack on….dark hair, golden blonde hair, jeans...hoodies. He tried to cement it into his head as he went to find his phone. “My phone…..oh you little shits!” The phone was gone from the charger. As was the iPad, some of his home recording equipment including a very nice headset and mic set that belonged to Sally. They even took his brand new apple TV box for streaming services. Walter smacked his open hand into the wall and headed for his landline phone and called 911. He was still in his old blue briefs he had slept in with his black bathrobe open revealing the girth of him spilling over the briefs and his unfortunate chicken legs, thick on top and scrawny weird shins. “Yeah I’ve been robbed...just ran out the back door...it’s Walter McLeod...you know where I live. Catch those asshats. Two punks with a backpack full of my shit man……”
Dante Mendoza ran through the trees and hurdled over gardens. Brett was ahead of him with the backpack on “Fuck man that was too close….” They slowed to a walk because running was super obvious of course and Dante was freaking out. He wore mostly black all the time, all black trainers, trashed black jeans, black second hand Ramones t-shirt and worse for wear punk style leather jacket. He was a slimmer build than Brett but solid, perhaps a bit stocky even. He had deep brown eyes and jet black hair with an undercut and a fwosh of a brushed down mohawk. His skin was lightly brown and his facial features were highly defined, especially his eyes. Dante had a few poke tattoos of his own making. He was technically too young to get one without parental consent so he had made his own on his arms and hands. The spaces below the knuckles on his left hand spelled out FUCK pinky to index and on his rigtht was the word LIFE, index to pinky. There was a flock of simply poked birds flying up from his heart space across his left pec and on the inside of his right arm he had a heart around the name Selena, his mother’s name. Dante’s adrenalin was off the charts but he tried to play it casual as they came out from the gardens and turned. They needed to stash or unload this pack, pronto.
Brett was laughing as they exited the Community Gardens, slowed down and started walking. “Yea man, but … we did that shit in BROAD DAYLIGHT!” he blew out a breath and tried to look casual. His clothes were always nice and no he was in a nice new looking pair of blue jeans, an Izod polo shirt with a black hoodie over it, nice white sneakers and socks. With his platinum blond hair and smouldering dark blue eyes, he looked like he wanted to be seen. A good, legitimate white male. He knew about White Privilege and he took full advantage at every turn. His father did the same and his father was still his hero. Even his haircut was perfect. He held the backpack they had stuffed full of electronics. Dante knew here all the best scores in town were. And this was their first real big job.
Genevive Beaulieu was walking towards the community gardens. Her shoulder length dirty blond hair was in a loose ponytail behind her back and she was wearing light blue jeans and a tshirt with a short overall denim dress on over it. She was walking on clouds, thinking about the other day with Dante Mendoza. He wasn’t her first boyfriend but he was the first she had gone ‘all the way’ with. Maybe it was fast but it felt so right. Brett’s mother was out all day and he’d let them use his brother's bedroom, since his brother tended to make himself scarce. They’d used that bed many times and she was on Cloud 9. And … she smiled as two figures turned out of the Community Gardens and headed towards the pizza parlor. She smiles, knowing it was Brett and, more importantly, Dante. She jogged towards them “Dante!” and if he turns around, she will all but throw herself in his arms, as if he was just home from the war. He liked attention like that and she liked being received like she was special.
Dante catches Gen and tries still to look casual but in his eyes a major conflict is brewing. He didn’t want Gen caught on any part of this heist and they were still in it. At the same time the second she’s in his arms, there’s nothing else in the universe but Genevieve Beaulieu. She was too good for him and he knew it but he couldn’t get enough of her. He melts into her and kisses her tenderly, in some ways afraid it will be their last if he’s about to get busted and then he forces himself to pull her body away from his “Gen….Brett and I need to run an…..errand….can we text after? You’re fuckin beautiful by the way...don’t ever forget that.” He doesn’t care that Brett can hear them. Brett put him up to this break in. He’s been trying to go straight….
Officer Chris Peterson was driving the police cruiser with Lieutenant Frank Sharp beside him. They were both scanning every citizen for a backpack, particularly those walking in twos. Now they had just turned onto 3rd and there was a group of three but there was a backpack facing him “Sharp!” He slowed and the cruiser made the little whoop whoop before it stopped by the group. Chris jumped out ready to have what was likely an exploratory conversation leading to a false alarm. Crooks wouldn’t be so cocky as to just hand around.
Brett half turned at the sound of Dante’s name. When Dante catches her and kisses her, he sees a flash of a car coming up from Central and makes an exasperated noise. Small towns. So much for pulling off a heist in broad daylight. He dropped the backpack where Gen’s feet. “Later, hombre.” he says and jogs casually across the street, moving quickly between the trees between the yellow house and the light brown one, then breaking into a run. He pulled a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap out of the pocket of his hoodie, then pulled off the hoodie and put the hat and glasses on. Five minutes later, he was casually walking into Perkatory for a coffee.
Genevive got lost in Dante’s kiss. Finally he puts her down and tells her he has to go, but also tells her those words that made her fall for him in the first place while he was walking a dog in the woods. “Sure. I just wanted to say hi.” she tells him. Then there is a woop woop and she blinks. Trying to take a step, she nearly stumbles over something. A backpack.
Frank Sharp sees one of the three leaving and gets on her radio. “Suspect on foot. Jeans, black hoodie, blond hair.” she tells her officers to be on the lookout and then steps out of the car, looking at the other two and immediately recognizes Dante Mendoa with one of the new girls in town. Daughter of the eye doctor or the dentist. “What's up, Dante?” she asks, casually.
It happened in a blink. The cop car and Brett just fucking bailing dropping the backpack in front of Gen. Dante couldn’t even call out to Brett before those cops were out of the car and Sharp was addressing him. They knew him of course. He’d been in the holding cell for assault, and pickpocketing when he was younger, before he got a little wiser, underage drinking on the beach one night and they were good enough to let him just sleep that one off in the cell. But now here...with Gen...he couldn’t do this to her. He dove for the backpack, trying to claim it at least before they tried to suspect her. “Nothin….just walking…..still legal right.” If he can get the pack he’ll just put it on and let the chips fall where there may.
Chris intercepted the backpack grab and picked it up instead “Dante…..what do you have here?” He looks up at the girl curiously. New in town, one of the specialist families. He hoped she wasn’t drawn to Dante over common hobbies “This yours?” He asked the girl. “And can we get your name?”
Genevive blinked as the cops pulled up, got out of the car and started talking to Dante. She knew he’d been in trouble but she also hoped he could get out of it. Both officers speak to him, knowing him by name, but then Dante tries to take the backpack, casually but the male cops gets to it first. He looks at her and asks if it’s hers or not. “I .. I’m Genevive Beaulieu and .. yes … yes, that’s mine. Leave Dante alone. He’s innocent.” even though she is getting the sinking suspicion that he isn’t. But she wanted to protect him.
Frank looks between the two and arches her brows. “Well, we got a call about two individuals stealing some things from a house over on 4th.” she tells them. “And you are two individuals with a backpack that could hold some things.” she looks at the girl again. “Walking is perfectly illegal, but possession of stolen property is not.” she looks at Chris and nods. “Let’s straighten this out at the station.” she doubts the girl fully understands the potential trouble she is in.
Genevive bites her lip and decides the best answer she can give is no answer. She just stares, blinking.
Dante deflates as Officer Peterson gets hold of the pack and then he looks like he’s been punched in the gut when Gen says it’s hers. What the fuck is she doing? No fucking way. “Let her go. She had nothing to do with this. It’s my backpack. Please….” He looks at Frank. He knows the cops so well now he even knows her rank “Please Lieutenant. Let Genevieve go. It’s me you want.”
Chris sighs and looks between Dante and Genevieve, the dentist’s daughter he now knows from the French name. Even if her parents were respectable, she could still be an accomplice. Dante was begging Frank which made Chris even more suspicious. “You heard the Lieutenant. Let’s take a ride kids. Whatever you have to say, it needs to be at the station.” He doesn’t move to cuff them as they weren’t fleeing or resisting but he does open the back door for them as an insistence that they get in.
Genevive bites her lip and takes a deep breath when she hears Dante defending her. She isn’t crying, but she is scared, especially when they’re told to get in the car. She complies, but the second Dante is in with her she will lean against him. All she knows is she is not telling them anything that might get Dante in trouble.
Frank nods to the car and moves towards the drivers side again. Once Chris closes the door on Dante, and gets in himself, she will start driving the speed limit. All the way 3rd to the school then on Academy to 4th and don 4th to Central to 2nd and the cop shop. She’s hoping they might talk, although she expects Dante will remain quiet and the girl might follow his lead.
When Gen leans on him in the cruiser Dante makes a choice that just about kills him inside. He turns his head just enough to give her a tiny whisper he’s hoping the cops won’t hear “I’m so sorry…” He just barely breathes out. And then the most painful part, He gives her a shove so she’s not leaning on him and moves away from her, looking out the window. The more distance he puts between them, the safer Gen will be from guilt by association. He’s pretty sure this will be it for them anyway. What girl in their right mind would stay after a guy gets her arrested? He clenches his jaw and feels a lump in his throat but swallows it back down.
Chris settles into the passenger seat now and radios the station that they’re bringing two in, hoping backup got the one that ran off. He glances in the rearview mirror trying to assess the connection between the two teens. He had thought they might be a couple but now he wasn’t so sure. When they get to the station he’ll open the door again and walk with fRank, making sure they’re safely in, processed and set up for questioning.
Genevieve hears the sorry and sits up when he shoves her. She is a little hurt, but she also thinks that Dante is trying to protect her. She sits up straight and looks out of her window. A slight sigh comes from her as the car passes her house. Her parents would get called, surely. Maybe just her father, she hopes. At the station she walks where they tell her to, and she watches as her little purse is searched, looking at her feet. She wanted to look up and around for Dante, but she already knew that he was distancing himself from her. Protecting her and she loved him for it. She’d do the same, if she could.
Frank moves into the station with the kids, sitting them down at her desk for processing. She can process Dante and Chris can process the girl. Then the parents or, in Dante’s case, legal guardians would be called while they were interrogated. She types in most of Dante’s information, as she’s known him all of his life, but she looks over at him now and again. They would be interrogated separately, of course. For now, she lets him stew.
Michael Reinhardt is manning the desk today. Nice quiet Sunday … more or less. Chris and Frank came in from the only call of the day and Sam and Darcy were driving around looking for the other guy. So far they hadn’t reported in.
Dante sits quietly mostly looking down. He knew this drill. There’d be hell to pay from Lydia eventually, but he could take it. What he couldn’t take was Gen getting dragged into this. “I confess.” He blurts out “Genevieve here was just walking by….wrong place and time. We just met. Let her go.”
Chris looks between Genevieve and Dante. He’s got a paper form for hers since her info was new “Genevive, can you give us a contact number for a parent or guardian please?”
Genevive can hear Dante confess, but she keeps her eyes down until the cop .. Peterson … speaks to her. “My father. Felix Beaulieu.” she gives him the number and tries not to look in Dante’s direction.
Frank glances up at Dante. She finishes and stands. “We have to talk to her, Dante. She isn’t being charged right now.” she touches his elbow. “Let’s go in the IR and talk, okey.” and she heads in the area of the holding cells where the interrogation room is.
Michael looks up as Josh Green comes out of his office. “Peterson. Take her into my office.” he orders, softly, looking at the girl and after Dante being led in the back.
Dante nods slightly and lets out a little sigh. It’s hard to tell whether it’s annoyance or relief but he follows Frank after the elbow touch and sits down in the interrogation room.
Chris writes down the name and number twice and then pauses as Frank speaks. Then the chief offers his office as an alternate space to question Genevieve “Thank you Chief Green.” Chris still has the form on the clipboard and a pen in his hand. He’s written out the father’s contact info for detective Reinhardt as well as the form he’s still working on and hands the senior staff the slip of paper with it on it before ushering Genevieve into the office. He gestures with the clipboard “This way please Genevieve.” And once they’re in the office he will try a strategy that’s sometimes less intimidating and instead of sitting behind the desk in the chief’s chair he’ll take the chair beside her, literally placing himself on her side to see if it helps her talk “Genevieve, your family’s new to this town. We want to give you all every chance to settle in here, make a life. You need to help me help you do that. What situation brought you to talking with Dante Mendoza?” He asks. His tone is firm but kind.
Genevive is looking around the Chief’s office with wide eyes. When Officer Peterson sits beside her she looks at him, trying to think that she could say that would help Dante. “I was heading for the pizza parlor and saw him on the street. I know him from walking around. He was there. We talked. You drove up and here I am.” and she is telling the absolute truth.
Frank opens the door to the IR and nods Dante inside. Once he sits, she will sit across from him. “Alright Dante. Just tell me what happened. Tell me who you were with, because I saw someone running off. And tell me how you know Genevive Beaulieu. And be honest. I saw how she leaned against you.” she actually thought it was sweet, but doesn’t say anything about that.
Dante takes a moment to think after Lieutenant Sharp’s questions. He was hoping to god neither cop saw the lean but she had. And she had seen Brett but he wasn’t going to rat on him either. “I know her from around. Small town…” He tries to sound almost dismissive. “And there was a jogger going by...tourist I think. It was my backpack. I just dropped it...I accept responsibility for all of it.”
Chris taps his pen on the clipboard “There was a third person who ran off. Who was that? How well do you know Dante from walking around?” And his key question “You said the backpack is yours. Is it?”
Genevieve considers her answer. “I don’t know. Some white kid in a black hoodie. I wasn’t really paying attention.” she blows out a breath. “He walks his dog in the woods in the morning and the evening, so when I see him, we talk cause we’re going in the same direction.” and then she blows out a breath. She had said that, hadn’t she. After a few seconds thought she shrugged, then inhaled and looked at him in a way that said he should know that answer already. “He’s Guatemalan, Officer Peterson. He’s in trouble no matter what, right? So I guess I was … trying to assuage my white guilt a little bit.” She shrugs and looks at the chair legs.
Frank is about to answer when the door opens and Mihael Reinhardt walks in, handing her a piece of paper. Frank nods her thanks, even as Michael leaves the room, closing the door behind him. “Alright. You know her from around, but you all but get on your knees begging me to just let her go on the spot when you know that’s not how this works.” She looks at the sheet of paper and then looks up at him. “Your backpack that you dropped is full of electronics reported stolen less than an hour ago.” she sighs. “So .. who was the other person, Dante?”
Dante watches Detective Reinhardt come in, hand the Lieutenant a paper and then leave. When Frank calls him out on his begging for Gen to be left out of it he slumps forward and rubs his two fingers across the bridge of his nose. She had hit the nerve and he didn’t know a clever way around it. Then she tells him the backpack is full of stolen electronics and he shrugs “Yeah...I know...I stole them.” He says it like this is clearly obvious. When she comes back around to the other person he plays dumb “Just a jogger. I guess I was on his route.”
Chris half snorts “White kid black hoodie? You want me to write that down? Because that’s about half the town’s teenagers. Heck...I’ve got a black hoodie, maybe it was me.” He cues in about the dog and the fact that she knows Dante is Guatemalan. “If it eases your white guilt and mine you’ll be happy to know this station does a lot of diversity awareness work and strives not to profile as much as humanly possible. But I think you’re going the same way walks must be pretty lengthy if you’ve been here such a short time and you already know Dante’s Guatemalan. That’s more than a hey can i pet your dog chat. And who’s he walking? Willow or Bean?” The dog question indicates that Chris is a long time local and knows the Alvin house well enough to know the dogs names.
Frank nods slowly as he confesses .. again and obviously to the crime and swears that the third person was just a jogger. She also notices that he didn't answer about Genevive. "So how long have you been seeing her, Dante? Genevieve?"
Genevieve sighs. "I wasn't paying attention." she insists. Then she rolls her eyes. "I'm glad to know this town isn't in the dark ages." she admits. Then she bites her lip. She's said too much about Dante ... like knowing specifically that he was Guatemalan. "We .. talk." and she blows out a breath. "Both. Bean is the boy and Willow the girl." she shrugs. "So we're more than just dog walking friends. There's no crime in that, is there? I didn't do anything."
Dante lets his hand drop from his forehead to the table. Ironically it was his left so the word FUCK across his fingers now faced Frank as he tiredly just admitted it “A few weeks. But I swear she’s not mixed up in this shit….she’s not like….she’s not like me. Genevieve is better than that.”
Chris tilts his head and looks at Genevieve “It’s no crime to have feelings for each other. But Genevieve if you cover for him and he’s doing something you know is a crime that makes you an accessory. You understand that right?”
Felix opens the door to the police station for his wife. Looking around he doesn't see Genevieve, so he walks to the counter and speaks to a mountain of a redhead. "My name is Felix Beaulieu. I'm here to collect my daughter."
Frank again nods slowly. "That's good to know, Dante. She could be good for you." she suggests, her voice softening. “Maybe get you out of this life of crime, eh?” she’d supervise every one of their dates personally if it would help him.
Genevieve looks at Officer Peterson and sighs, then nods. “But all he was doing was walking with the backpack. I don’t know what’s in the backpack. He’s never committed a crime in front of me and I know he’s talked about not doing crime anymore.” and again, it's all true.
Dante looks up at Frank with absolute earnesty “I’m really trying Lieutenant.” He was. He didn’t want in on this robbery at all but got pushed into it and now Gen was in trouble. “I wish I could take it all back.” He admits.
Amelie walks in and stands right beside Felix but lets him do the talking. She’s afraid she’ll just start to cry. Genevieve, arrested? How could this have come to be? The door gets shoved open after they’ve made their request and a furious Black woman in a colourful headband barges through. Amelie is pretty sure she’s seen this woman as a cashier in Thrifty Foods, and connected to one of the houses on their street with many children who looked maybe adopted.
Lydia Alvin is wearing an old CKAR 98 Alexandra Radio t - shirt that she won years ago in a contest. She had on a pair of green track pants and purple crocs. From the dirt on her hands and her knees she looks like she’s come right from gardening. She’s so mad she doesn’t wait for the people ahead of her and just demands “Detective Reinhardt…..they still got my boy in there? Because he’s gonna wish he had a night in the cell!”
Amelie marvels at the other mother’s approach bit a little intimidated by her and rather envious of her strength.
Chris sighs “A robbery was reported in the area, and the victim mentioned two people fleeing the scene with a backpack….be careful who you’re willing to say something is yours for Geneveive. It can be a process for a person to leave a life of crime. Even if they have ...motivation.” He looks at her hoping truly that she does motivate Dante to find the right path.
Frank looks at Dante and smiles very slightly. He sounds earnest enough. "Then prove it." she tells him straight out. "Not just to me, but to her." she cocks her thumb at the one way glass. "And to her parents, because this might not go over so well with them."
Michael looks up and sees the new dentist. "Yes, sir. I'll let the officer know you're here. No charges are being filed and she's free to go." As he's saying this Lydia barges in. He hands Felix a sheet of paper. “This is a list of the possessions she had on her when she was brought in.he nods to the chairs by the door. On it reads ‘Lip balm, compact mirror, Perkatory card, Bank card, BCFerry pass, The Lighthouse Cafe card, 2 condoms’,he hands over the purse. “Sign here.” then he tells him. "Just have a seat, Dr. Beaulieu." he turns to Lydia and avoids wincing. "No charges are being filed ... Mrs Alvin. I'll tell Lieutenant Sharp and she'll bring him out." he promises her. He takes another sheet. On it is ‘3 condoms, a wallet....the type with a little chain with a bank card in it, swiss army knife, phone, keys, ferry ticket stubs, peppermint gum’ he taps it and tells her. “This is what was on him when he was brought in. Sign here.”
Felix reads the sheet and looks torn between shock and relief. he nods and turns, nodding to the chair and for Amelie to sit. Sitting with her, he hands over Genevieve’s purse and, just holds the sheet he’s just signed as well but doesn’t look at his wife. He listens to the cop speak to the angry black woman and feels a little sorry for whoever she's picking up. She clearly knew the Officer .. the Detective .. at the desk. And he thought he recognised her. She was a foster parent, he assumed.
Genevieve closes her eyes as Officer Peteron tells her what happened. But she isn't going to help dig any holes for Dante. "I'll remember that, Officer Peterson. Thank you." she replies, simply.
Michael gets on the phone and presses a couple of buttons. “Yea. Genevieve’s parents are here when you’re ready. No charges are being filed.” and he hangs up, leaves the desk and vanishes into the holding area, where he knocks before entering and tells Frank. “Lydia’s here … no charges are being filed.” he looks at Dante. “You’re free to go home with Lydia.” and then he pulls his head out of the room, closing the door behind him and returning to his post.
Dante gives Frank a half grin and then looks stressed “Oh shit…..this isn’t how I wanted to…..ah fuck me…” he murmurs, trying to collect himself. Then when Michael comes in and says he's free he stands up “Thanks Lieutenant.”. He’s slung his jacket over the chair at some point in the interview but he’s feeling a little warm, maybe from the stress, so he just carries it out with him and does the usual walk of shame towards Lydia with an extra layer because Gen’s parents are right there. He’s never met them but he can tell they’re her parents instantly from the resemblance.
Amelie had looked at the sheet Felix signed over his shoulder and had seen the word condoms on the list of her daughter’s belongings. Condoms? Felix had handed her Genevieive’s purse and now she can’t help it, she opens it and looks inside and there they are right on top. Amelie is just stunned. And here she was so worried about Sasha? Then a familiar dark haired boy comes out looking like he’s dreading facing whoever was meeting him and her gaze shifts slightly to the other mother who is now on her feet and briskly walking to him. He was one of her adopted kids, she’d seen them both, the boy often walking one of their two dogs or cutting the grass.
Lydia had looked over the list for Dante and just rolled her eyes. At least he was taking precautions, whoever she was. Condoms were the least of her concerns with this boy today. Then he walked out to her like a pathetic little puppy and she crossed the space between them and greeted him with a swift but not so hard the cops would step in smack upside the head followed by a long hug.
Chris had taken the call and given Genevieve a little apologetic smile. She seemed like a good kid, despite getting mixed up with what might be the wrong guy, until he got it together anyway “You’re free to go Genevieve. No charges are being laid and your parents are here to get you. Thank you for your cooperation. Take care out there.”
Frank stands and motions to the door. "Yea .. well .. at least you're not being charged." She nods at Michael's entry and exit, then she walks him out, clapping him on the back as they eit to the public area. "Take care, Dante." she tells him, and heads for her desk, but listens.
Felix looks up when the door opens and a short officer walks out with a Hispanic boy. He looks the boy up and down. So this was the boy Gen had told him about. She failed to mention that he was on familiar terms with the police. The short officer claps the boy on the back and just walks off. The black woman smacks the boy and then hugs him. No one did anything, which he found interesting.
Genevieve breathes a sigh of relief as she's told she can go and the're no charges. But she tenses when told her parents are there. "Thankyou, Officer Peterson." and gets up and goes to the door, opening it and stepping out. She saw her parents, but also saw Dante. She looks at him and tries to offer him a smile at least. To let him know she still adores him. Still loves him. Still has faith in him. And is still
Lydia lets go of Dante and shakes her head “Got some weeding for you to do….not the kind you try to sneak out the back door. And cleaning...and the doggy do….you’re just lucky this time.” She’s sort of half muttering and lecturing like she’s gotten on the train and it’s a long way from the station.
Dante holds his jacket to him, with his tattooed fingers facing forward in it’s grip. “I’m sorry Lydia…” He saw Gen’s smile and feels overcome that she can even look at him right now, He looks at her and swallows hard, his eyes actually shining with tears that he just manages to hold back. His expression to her is pure pain and longing and he inhales and quickly offers “I’m sorry Gen…” and then starts off after Lydia who’s now started muttering about window washing and cleaning out the garage with the door held open for him.
Amelie’s heart is in her throat as she sees Geneveive walking to them. But then Genevieve smiles at the boy. Was she flirting with random criminals now? Maybe she should take up head swatting and rattle off chores like the other mother. But then the boy does something that completely alarms her. First of all his hands, he holds his jacket and on his fingers it says FUCK LIFE. And then on the inside of the arm is a heart around the name Selena. None of this would matter if it wasn’t for the second part. This boy apologizes to Gen and looks at her like a long lost love. Amelie lets out an audible gasp and looks between them. Was HE the reason her daughter got arrested? And had condoms in her purse? Amelie pressed her back into the chair trying to find her grounding.
Felix sees his daughter come out and look at the boy and he learns a lot from just the way he looks at her. Then the boy apologizes and is out the door but not before Felix sees his knuckles. 'FUCK LIFE'. And a heart with a name in it ... Selena? He wondered who that was. Gen had failed to mention that as well. He closes his eyes and calms himself, telling himself never to judge a boy by his tattoos. At the end of the day Felix as a romantic and wanted his children to find love. he just hoped that love was not too painful for his oldest daughter. He hears Amelie gasp and looks at her, then steps to Genevieve and hugs her. "Let's go home, baby. It'll be alright." his wife did not know that he knew Genevieve had a boyfriend and considers herself in love, even if he didn't know the details.
Geneveve hears Dante's apology, but he is out the door before she can reply. Then she is in her father's arms and he is murmuring that it will be alright. Her Pere she could trust. He listened and didn't judge. After the hug, she looks and sees her mother in the chair looking .. like a million different things and she just sighs. "Can I have my purse, please Mere?" she asks softly.
Amelie envies Felix his greater ease with changes and big news. She wants to hug Genevive but can’t go there yet. She thrusts her purse at her daughter a bit abruptly but does manage “I’m glad you’re alright…” before heading out the door and holding it for Felix and Gen. She’s not going to start in on things in the street anyhow. Although the other mother ehad of them could still be heard lecturing her son, the possible love interest of her daughter.
Dante is trying to walk a little fast to stay well ahead. He knows who’s behind them. But Lydia isn’t making it easy with her rant and she’s in full swing. Sometimes Dante thinks she might even enjoy it.
“Walter McLeod? You robbed the Walrus? Dante you idiot...he’s the biggest loudmouth in town….you’ve done so good for so long….why NOW?” She goes on some more “You pulled your grades up…..no summer school this year….”
Felix heads out the door after the rather stiff greeting. He knew Amelie must be feeling a million things at that moment and doubted any of them were good. He walks, listening to the voice ahead of him. It sounded like that boy wouldn't have a free moment before he was 23 anyways and he felt admiration for the woman trying to parent what was very possibly a difficult child. He hears The Walrus and thinks of the promotional signs. And then he hears that the boy has been doing well. He considers what he is overhearing.
Geneieve sighs when her purse is thrust upon her, but leaves the cop shop as soon as she can. Opening her purse, she takes out her phone and sends Dante a text right then, right there.
I lov you. See you ASAP.
She adds 3 heart emojis nd to hug emojis and sends it. She listens to his foster mother who Dante had told her was not quiet about things and learns that he had robbed the Walrus, whose show she’d liked. But she also heard that Dante had been honest with her about the fact that he was doing better than he had been during a super weird time on the island she didn’t completely understand called the Fog. She keeps pace with her parents, saying nothing. No way would any of this be talked about in the street. As it was once they got home, all the windows would be closed before anything was said.
Dante slides his jacket back on because he gets sick of carrying it. Lydia was making valid points and he hated that he was disappointing her again. He felt his phone buzz in his pocket and tried to discreetly take it out and read on the opposite side from where she was walking. He mistepped when he saw Gen’s words and swallowed hard. How? How could she still feel this way? Suddenly his phone is snatched from his fingers in his distraction.
“Dante!” Lydia bellows “I’m talking to you here...who are you texting?” She glances down at the phone and laughs “This is about a girl? What girl?”
Now Dante grabs the phone back from her and his retort can be heard “Can we please do this at HOME?!”
Lydia had seen the name but Dante had named the contact to Gen so it wasn’t cuing her in but now his reaction was. He was embarrassed….he took a long time to get out the door. Lydia’s momdar went off and she suddenly spun on her heel and looked right back at the girl who she recognized as one of the new kids on the street. She recognized the parents too but she had been too mad in the staton to register it. “You mean THAT girl. Is this how you’re meeting her parents?” Now Lydia stopped walking altogether and looked like she was waiting for the neighbour family.
“Lydia please…” Dante hissed. But he stopped too. He would just look like a total asshole now if he walked off on his foster mother.
Genevieve realizes that her text was ill timed when Dante and his foster mom slow their walking. The woman snatches the phone and Dante snateches it back. Dante yells about wanting to talk about it at home and then the woman spun around and was looking straight at her. She can tell that Dante is embarrassed but she straightens and continues to walk. She won't stop unless and until she is near them. "Hello Mrs Alvin. I'm Genevieve Beaulieu." and she actually offers her hand, using her best manners. Dante had actually told her about his foster mother.
Felix almost stopped when the walking slowed. He did when the loud voices stopped. His was a quieter existence. When the woman he knew was Lydia Alvin turned to face them, he froze, but Genevieve kept going and Felix followed because he was standing with his daughter. He follows her lead, thinking his daughter was braver than he thought. “Mrs Alvin. I am Felix Beaulieu. Geneveve’s father. A pleasure.” his accent could always be heard. He would also offer his hand to the women and then to Dante himself.
Amelie had been walking along in stunned silence, about the police station, about the boy and the condoms. But she overheard the conversation in front of them and then her eyes widened. She had seen Gen texting and she was texting this Dante…..goodness they must be hot and heavy. Her worst nightmare. And then Lydia, who she’s heard the woman called turned and stopped and looked at Gen, after embarrassing Dante. All of a sudden Gen was offering her hand and introducing herself and then Felix to both mother and son. Amelie sighed a little but she was a polite person and whatever the situation between the teenagers, Lydia was now a neighbour of theirs too, and this Dante. She waited her turn to offer greetings and felt her stomach sinking.
Dante inhaled as the Beaulieu family caught up and felt himself holding his breath. Genevieve fearlessly stuck out a hand to Lydia and offered introductions.
Lydia was fierce yes, but friendly and loving and she could see it in this young woman. She smiled at her warmly “Oh it’s Lydia. Please. Genevieve….what a lovely name.” She shakes the hand “Pardon my dirt...I was gardening.” She actually chuckles. Then her father steps forward and offers a hand and she shakes that too “Well you heard the warning Felix Beaulieu. Are you folks from Quebec?” She hears the accent on both of them. The mother has been quiet so far but seems to be waiting her turn.
Dante looks surprised but not unpleasantly so that Genevive’s father reaches a hand to shake to him next. He shakes firmly “Hi Dr. Beaulieu. I’m Dante. Dante Mendoza….I uh…” He looks towards Gen and then back at her parents “There isn’t enough sorry I can say for today.” He just owns it with no excuses.
Amelie now politely but more reservedly steps up to shake hands with Lydia and then she will offer to Dante but with more struggle and hesitation. “Hi Lydia, I’m Amelie. We’re from St. Pierre Jolys in Southwest Manitoba. It’s nice to meet a neighbor.” Lydia had been enthusiastic in her shake and greeting back. She gives a little smiles nd then reaches for Dante’s hand and is thankful she ended up with the one that says LIFE and not FUCK. Dante shakes her hand back a little more timidly than he does her husband’s and she doesn’t comment on his apology.
Genevive smiles. "Thank you. Please call me Gen if you'd like." and she lets go, waiting until her father shakes Lydia's hand and Dante's. Even as Dante speaks to her father, she takes his left arm and stands close to him, sending the message that she was by Dante's side. She was stubborn and few could deny it. her mother moves forward to shake hands and she keeps her face even, even though she is glad they are on a public street. She believed her mother to be rigid and religious. Keeping up appearances lest the neighbors talk and she hated it. She waits until her father has spoken and her mother declines to, which did not surprise her. Looking at Dante and smiling with pride at his owning what he'd done, she blows out a breath. "He tried to tell them I had nothing to do with it, but they insisted on bringing me in anyway. I told then the truth, that I didn't see anything or know anything." she looks at Dante and she can't keep the adoration out of her gaze. "I don't know why he backslid, but if I can help him stay on the straight and narrow, I will." She is speaking to all of the adults as well as Dante.
Felix shakes the hands of both Lydia and Dante. The handshake is a little anxious, but Felix could understand that completely. He watches Genevieve take the boy's arm and knew it was in solidarity. When Dante apologizes for the day, he nods. "That is very good of you to own your mistakes, young man." he tells him, and he is truly impressed. Then he hears Lydia talking, but then Gen speaks and he looks between them, seeing his daughter's feelings are genuine and it would appear this boy cares about her as well. "Oui. I will be supportive as well. it is not easy to make a new life, Dante. My daughter seems to care about you a great deal and I trust her judgment. She has always been quite responsible. Now is not much different." he is speaking about the condoms, even if that isn't understood by everyone. He knows he may be going against Amelie’s feelings and opinion, but he is true to himself and he suspects that one they talk to Gen at home, he needs to talk to his wife alone … about many things she may not know, if they don’t come out here on the street, that is.
Dante had shaken hands with both parents now. He could tell the mother was a harder sell and she may never like him as far as he could guess. He immediately liked Felix and dentists usually scared the crap out of him. When Gen takes his arm and is so loving and encouraging he has to grit his teeth again. How was this girl so devoted to him? She could have easily bailed on him and no one would question it, especially not him. He hugs her arm through his with both of his own and briefly leans his chin into her head looking a little emotional and truly grateful. He gives a nod to Felix and Lydia and cautiously looks at Amelie “I’m sure as hell gonna try….I'll uh…” He looks at Lydia “I’ll apologize to Walter McLeod. And I’ll do the chores, maybe even some for him if he wants. I know I didn’t get punished by the cops….but I need to do something to make this up.”
Amelie was reserved and unreadable as she sometimes got. On the surface, always polite because it was instilled in her whether she liked it or not. Genevieve moved to take Dante’s arm and her heart sank. She was in love with him, or thought she was. Who knew at 15? But that meant whatever future crimes this boy might commit, Gen was in danger of getting pulled into as well. She was vowing to help him stay on the straight and narrow. Felix was supporting hum...them? Oh Felix. She loved his trusting soft heart but she wasn’t there yet. She couldn’t trust this young man not to break her baby. Dante seemed remorseful but she needed action, proof, penance. Then Dante, to her surprise, had the maturity to offer to take it on. The offer to apologize to the man he stole from, the home chores, the man’s chores. Penance was something that spoke to Amelie. She felt a small softening at the edge of her heart for Dante in his willingness. “Your penance is admirable Dante. I hope it helps you stay on the path after so it’s not a meaningless gesture.” It was an olive branch but a bit laced. Amelie was a believe it when you see it person.
From the open windows of the Alvin house came the wild screams and cavorting of children’s voices as well as one older male voice directing them to settle down as Lydia had texted Simon to come watch her brood while she picked up Dante. Lydia smirked “I like you Gen. Dante needs another ass kicker. My shoes wear out sometimes.” She looked down at her old falling apart crocs but it was true in all ways. She gave Dante a little warning looks but then smiled seeing the young couple looking so smitten and looks towards the girl’s parents. Dad was on board. Mom, bit twitchy about it as far as she could see but Lydia got it. She heard both their words and smiled broadly at Felix, all heart. And then took in Amelie’s double edged statement and agreed with it “Oh I know Amelie. I agree with you. That path is complicated for some though and we need to keep the lights on it. But then it’s his work.” She pulls out her phone and opens her contacts “Two things, Amelie and Felix, if our kids are gonna be lovebirds we should probably exchange numbers, that and being neighbours...good to have a network of eyes on all the kids. You got a few younger ones too I’ve seen. If they end up in my yard, I like to know who to call if someone takes a tumble as they’re all known to do.” She’s offering to exchange contact information with her phone out. After that’s done she’ll hand her phone to Dante and demand his offered actions start today “Find Walter McLeod in my contacts...yes I have him. I work for his brother after all. You’re going to use your phone and you’re going to give him a call before you lose your nerve. Don’t apologize on the phone. Meet him in person if he will. He can come here if you want.”
YesFelix was relieved that Amelie seemed to be forgiving of the boy, but he wished she had not used the word ‘penance’. He took it, however and watched as Lydia parented like a professional. He often felt like he floundered, at least with Rene and Catherine. “I would appreciate that, Lydia. An extra set of eyes would be appreciated.” she watches as Dante takes the phone and decides the boy had been through enough … and they still had to deal with things in their own home. “We need to get home. Have a good rest of the day, eh?”
Genevieve could not help it. She bristled and tensed a little when her mother spoke. It was the word ‘penance’ that got her. Would she be demanding he go to confession next. See that priest? Her father suggests they go home, and she agrees with that in many ways. “Oui, Pere.” she will kiss Dante full on the lips if allowed. Nothing passionate, but one to reassure him, because he lived on such unstable ground. “See you later. I love you and have faith in you.” and then she’ll head off with her parents to face … whatever they had planned for her.
Dante watches the parents exchange info and it then handed the phone and told to call Walter. He’s both grateful for and overwhelmed by the support and is terrified to blow it now. He listens to Felix saying his goodbyes and then Gen says yes to leaving too and kisses him right on the lips in front of her parents. He’s physically incapable of not kissing her back so he does and it warms him. He presses his forehead into hers before their faces part completely “I don’t know what I did to deserve you Gen...I love you too.” He leans in and can’t help but steal one more kiss like he’s afraid it will be their last after whatever talk she has to have at home. Then he breaks apart and uses Lydia’s phone to input Walter’s number into the keypad of his own. He awkwardly smiled at Gen and her parents as they left “Um...bye…” He said unsurely and then he walked away a bit after hitting the button to dial, committing to his task. The beginning of the conversation could be heard on his side “Mr. McLeod….it’s Dante Mendoza….please don’t hang up….”
Amelie is still conflicted but can’t help but feel impressed with Dante and really really impressed with Lydia. Could the woman offer parenting lessons? Talk about follow through. Gen still wasn’t talking to her, wasn’t even looking at her, but she saw her tense up and then she kissed Dante after Felix suggested they go and Amelie forced her gaze to the middle of the road, knowing if she watched them, she’d react and push Gen further away. They were saying the L word, both of them. God, her daughter was in it deep with this boy. She felt her panic rising and took intentional breaths.
Lydia says friendly farewells to all the Beaulieus and observes the affection and I love yous between Dante and Gen. She’s never seen him this into a girl before. She’s caught a few stolen kisses, even a quick clothing straighten up or two but never this depth of emotion. This was either going to be what kept him on the path or took him off it forever if it blew up in his face. She’d seen it both ways. Lydia hoped to god Gen’s parents were both as kind hearted as Felix seemed to be. Amelie was a hard read, but if these kids had a hope in hell of surviving their young love they were going to need more than just their own two hearts.
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