Tara Munroe was finally home after her 24 hour shift at the AFD. She had taken point on Genevieve Beaulieu after the young woman experienced a frightening attempted rape by Brett Lancaster at a house party. Gen was very supported by family and a great friend and Tara thought she was doing well at the end of the night considering. To top it all off, there was a suggestion of possible Covid exposure at the party so Tara and all others working that night, along with the party guests and the kids involved in the fallout from Brett’s attack, Dante Mendoza and Sasha Beaulieu, were under a 14 day quarantine. Tara showered for a long time and then changed into clean clothes, pajamas in fact because it was 7:30 am. Theo would be getting up to go to work anytime if he hadn’t already. Today was the day she thought she’d be inviting him to spend the night together, their first night together. She sighed and looked at his name in her contacts. Theodore Alvin, her boyfriend. Her sweet Theo who she was about to disappoint by making him wait another two weeks to see her in person. She started typing.
Morning. You’re not going to believe this. I was on a call last night and potentially exposed to Covid 19. I have to quarantine….again. I’m so sorry. I really wanted to invite you over tonight. I’ve been looking forward to it like you wouldn’t believe. Please don’t run away screaming?
Theo was walking in the back door of the animal clinic, humming some Aqoustic Spirit to himself. In twelve hours, or maybe even less, he would be winning, dining and making love to Tara Munroe. Their time had finally come. Life had tossed them its curve ball, but their relationship had survived it. They’d had an incredible dinner, and mother nature had delayed their night once more. But now Aunt Flo was gone and there were no more hurdles in their way. He paused to make coffee in the back when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He saw it was Tara and his heart soared. Then he read it. And then he read it again. Had she been hacked? Had he been hacked? She just came off of a 14 day Covid quarantine that turned out to be nothing but allergies. “Are you kidding me?” he asked the phone. But Tara wouldn’t lie to him. He inhaled and exhaled, then replied.
Not running, but . seriously? You sure it’s not Feival? I can try and shave him bald. Pick up a little Nair .. he’ll be cold, but he’ll live.
He sends it … he’s kidding … mostly … for the most part.
Tara laughs at the text but then almost wants to cry. She hugs her phone to her before typing back, wishing she could be hugging Theo.
No, I attended a young woman at a house party, attempted rape. Awful but I think she’ll be ok. But one of the kid’s there was partying in Kelowna and then they were joking about it being a Covid party. Stupid people. Have you read the news for Kelowna? They’ve been in a bad way since Canada Day parties and it’s still going. Theo, I hate this. I want to be with you. I’m so sorry. I would just shave that chinchilla if that’s all it was but this could be the real deal. I can’t put you at risk or your family. I care about you too much.
Theo has watered all of the animals and then looked at the texts again. Kelowna. “Fuck.” he growls. He blows out a calming breath and curbs the urge to ask her to break confidentiality and give him names. Then he reads the part about how much she wants to be with him and he bites his lip before he replies.
I read the news out of there. Idiot kids! I want to be with you too, which is why we wait another 14 days. I care about YOU too much. Our time will come and it will be incredible. In the meantime I just have to deal with Simon’s teasing.
Tara smiles sadly at his reply. She’s flopped on her bed now just feeling completely sad about the timing of all this and already missing Theo in advance. She giggles a bit about the teasing and replies.
I know it will be. Could we bridge the gap by having dinner over Skype or Zoom later? Maybe even try to watch a movie, hit play at the same time? Virtually cuddle and talk? I know it’s torture but it’s what we’ve got to work with. XOXO
Theo leaned against a cabinet and read the message with a huge smile. He considered options and found himself annoyed that their buildings weren’t directly across from each other. That could have made for even better movie watching.
Deal! Tonight and every night until we can be together. Hit Play at the same time. Have discussions and absolutely cuddle and talk. We’ll have to get creative, somehow. God, I can’t believe the FD is just not letting you work at all? Hank agreed to this?
Tara beams about his words every night until we can be together and his agreement with her suggestions. Then she frowns and types back.
Yeah Hank agreed. No chances with this shit. I miss you already but I’m glad we have a plan. You’re amazing by the way. Thank you for being so open to options.
Theo reads the note and rolls his eyes. Hank had to be careful with every damn life, didn’t he? He considers.
So how can I help make the next 14 days easier on you? I’ll reply as I can ... exams today.
Tara stretches and then replies again:
Theo I don’t expect all day texting. I know you’re working. I’m actually going to crash for quite awhile because that was a long night. Just knowing we will stay connected helps me a lot. I’ll try not to be too needy with so much time on my hands... lol
Theo smiles as he reads the message, but he really does have to get to work. His morning consists of three yearly exams and shots. It was actually a pretty easy morning. He even had a little downtime he used to consider things that would help keep he and Tara sane. One of the things that frustrated him was that he really wanted to tell her something important. Something that he just refused to say in a text message or skype call or even on the phone. Before lunch, he cleaned the kennels and sat back reading the news. Covid seriously seemed to be in British Columbia to stay. Which meant either of them could wind up facing a 14 day self quarantine. Before lunch, he considers sending Tara a message, but decides against it, not wanting to wake her after a rough shift. He eats a simple meal with SImon instead, as they discuss their afternoon load.
Simon Alvin stirred at his black beans and rice. He had made enough to share which was common. Theo had seemed preoccupied a few times today and before he detailed his surgery plans for removing a tumour from an 8 year old Siamese he looked at Theo “You ok today man?”
Tara slept for hours and finally woke mid afternoon. She made herself a peanut butter sandwich and some coffee and padded in her bare feet to her couch. She watched a bit of mindless crap and then turned it off and took her plate to the sink and refilled her coffee from the pot. She thought about texting Theo but felt like she had already done a lot of that and he was still at work. She didn’t want to annoy him. So she kept busy. She ordered some groceries. Then she looked through her books. Maybe she’ll have time to reread a novel or a series. Tara piled up some options but ended undecided.
Theo was brought out of his thoughts by his brother. Usually he was the organized one, but today it was Simon on the ball. He looked at his brother and sighed. “Tara’s got another 14 day self quarantine.” he’d told his brother about Tara. And of course he’d seen her at the Canada Day celebrations. He sends Tara a quick link. It was better than nothing.
Netflix Party is something we can use to watch movies together but separate. Maybe we can watch an episode of Firefly a night and talk about it?
He sends it and blows out a breath and tries to eat. “Tonight was supposed to be … you know … the night …” he confesses to his older brother.
Simon sighed “That sucks...” And then he heard what the plans were for their night that Theo had to postpone “Shit. I’m sorry. Tara’s really something special to you...I can see it. “
Tara beamed at seeing a text come in from Theo and immediately logged into Netflix after reading the link. Then she discovered Firefly had been taken off. “The nerve...” She muttered and then texted Theo back:
They took it off Netflix. Can you believe it? We’ll figure something out though. We’re clever.
Theo nods. “She is, man. I can’t even .. explain what’s happening to me with her.” he eats a bit more and then gets another text. He bites his lip, thinking of other options. Then it hits him.
I can’t @@ I own them so … lets try Zoom? I can share my screen, music .. anything with you. Small as my apartment is it’ll be like you’re right there with me.
He sends it and eats a bit more, reaching for the file for the surgery.
Simon smirks a bit at Theo’s words. He was just happy for him “Some things don’t need to be explained.” He sees him text again and chuckles “But you might want to do some hand stretches so you don’t get carpal tunnel. And people say I’m hooked on my phone. Eh whatever I am. You’re just hooked on the girl on the other side of hers.” Now he sees which file Theo has “ If we clamp lower in the intestine we might not need as much suction and we’ll get a better look at it...” he starts gesturing with his hand “From the topside..”
Tara was now scrolling social media absently. And Theo’s next text popped up. She clicked over and read and smiled. He wanted to share his shows and music with her like she was with him in his place. It was as close as they would get for awhile. She texted back a quick:
You’re on, sexy creature doc. I am going to stop bugging you at work now so your brother doesn’t have a reason to tease you. *hug emoji* *kiss emoji*
Theo nods as his brother says it all. Then he laughs at the teasing. “Exactly, man. Hooked through the gills.” he looks at the file and nods. “I agree. She’ll be happier when we’re done.” he imagines that time, smiles finishing his lunch. Then he looks at the incoming text and laughs.
Thanks for trying to keep me from being teased, but too late. It’s OK cause he knows how crazy I am about you. *hug emoji* Headed for surgery. I'll text asap. *kiss emoji*
Simon snorts as Theo keeps texting “Carpal tunnel...or tennis elbow from too much alone time thinking about texting…” He dares to tease. “Ok loverboy...time to focus on Mrs Noodle. Let’s scrub up.”
Tara melts a bit at Theo’s next reply and has to laugh. She logs into Twitter which she hasn’t used in a very long time. Travis their cabbie had mentioned his so she’s tooling around. She looks up Travis and Theo via Travis, and the Avila Animal hospital. Then she looks at her own page and frowns. It was a sea of condolences about Clint. In a way it was a sweet memorial but she also didn’t feel like using it going forward. Plus if someone scrolled past that there was a lot of she and Clint. Tara logs out and stares at her screen thinking. Then she takes a deep breath and makes a new Twitter account. @TaraEMT94 was born and with that account now she followed @Avili AnimalCare, FatChipmunkTheo and Travis AKA @CabManTV. Fresh start for social media. She didn’t delete the old one. She just let it rest.
Theo shows his brother that his wingers and wrists are perfectly fine during surgery. Afterwards, Mrs. Noodle rests comfortably and waits for her owners to come for her in the morning. He spends the afternoon on a couple more exams and towards the end of the day, begins cleaning up. Since he opened, Simon closes and Theo heads home. His apartment is empty for the moment, as his fosters have found new homes. He toes out of his shoes and sits on his bed, which doubles as his couch. He pulls out his phone and texts Tara.
Hi, honey I’m home!
Tara is unpacking her grocery order now that was a contactless delivery. She hears her phone chime and picks it up and has to giggle. She responds in kind:
Hi dear, how was your day?
Theo chuckles as he lays on the double wide couch. He pulls up one leg and replies with a grin.
Pretty good. Surgery was a success Simon didn’t tease me too bad. Life is good.
Tara smiles at his words. Despite being quarantined, life was good. She replies:
Good to hear. Hey my email for the Zoom stuff is taramunroe94@gmail,com
She puts away a few more dry goods, figuring he’ll text her a few more times. She’s still in her pajamas and not planning to be on a screen immediately. Her pjs are a little light purple strappy tank top and a pair of short yellow flowered pajama shorts. She needs something a little more covering in her mind and at the very least a bra. As well her chest scar is very visible in the tank top. Theo has likely noticed the small ones on her inner arms but they’re really small like they could be kitchen burns from how much they’ve faded.
Theo strips between text messages into his boxer briefs. He puts his clothes in the laundry basket and sets up his laptop, then thinks about it and puts on sweat shorts. Looking at his phone, he gets set to send her an invite and calls her. He feels like a kid calling a girl he likes and by the time the call is answered, he is smiling.
Tara is caught off guard by the immediate call and she doesn’t want to ignore it so she answers, ducking down a bit at her desk “Uh hi...I was going to...change...give me…” Then he’s smiling and shirtless and she just sits up and grins “OK maybe I don’t need more clothes. Holy shit you’re cute.” She can’t help herself. He really is.
Theo laughs at her scrambling. “Um … OK …” but then she settles down and calls him cute. “You’re beautiful and you look fantastic. How are you feeling?” he asks her. He really understands that she could get quite sick.
Tara smiles, blushing a bit “Thank you.” She shrugs, and one of her tank top straps slides over and down her left shoulder. Seh casually pulls it back into place “I feel normal so far. I slept. I haven’t done much aside from unpack groceries and goof around on my computer….I was wearing gloves and a mask so I’m hoping for the best.”
Theo sees her bare shoulder and the scars, but he doesn’t say anything just yet. “SO far, a regular day off.” he grins. “I hope you’re alright too . without you guys the town is down two EMT’s.” he considers. “Maybe Susan will give you guys a clean bill of health in half the time?” he sounds hopeful for both of them.
Tara sighs “that’s the problem with a novel virus right? There seems to be varying incubation times so they err on the side of caution and give long quarantines. I mean I suppose if the town explodes with it I may have to go back but then I’d likely be in quarantine again after. I feel like we can’t fucking win Theo.” She makes a mock whimper sound and then laughs.
Theo nods. “I understand it. But I am biased because I really want to be with you. And you guys are as essential as the doctors. God .. kids.” he laughs with her. “Well we are together. First quarantine we mostly just sent texts. Now we’re on Zoom.” he arches his brow. “If it happens again, I’m telling SImon he’s on his own for two weeks and quarantining with you.” its equally a threat and a promise.
Tara nods and looks touched by his bias. She sighs “I know….bloody kids.” She smiles about their quarantine progression and then bites her lip at his offer to quarantine with her next time “I could very much live with that Theo...and you...shirtless in my house…” She shakes her head around and blushes a bit “And you in general...not just….” She gestures generally at all of him. She sighs at herself and laughs.
Then grins. “No shoes or shirt when you're around .. well in each other's place, at least.” he places a hand on his chest. “Not just my chest?” he asks and laughs. “Ell this is the me you’re stuck with for now.” he motions to her. “So what’s for dinner?”
Tara giggles at Theo “No shoes no shirt might get you all the service here…...ok I’m clearly way too flirty when I spend my days alone.” She smiles “Not just the chest….quite happy with that and the rest though.” She looks back at her kitchen which is visible behind her and stands up revealing her little shorts to the camera “You know I haven’t decided…” She walks around and opens the freezer “Frozen pizza…..and well stir fry is always an option….I dunno...what are you having?”
Theo smiles at the idea of all the service and shakes his head. “Not a bit .. but again .. I’m biased.” he watches her move and swallows hard. Licking his lips he looks at her. “How about this? How about we plan our dinners … you know what we’ll eat and have them together before whatever movie or whatever we wind up watching? So if you have frozen pepperoni pizza so so I? I can match your fridge, since my cupboard is bare. And tonight … maybe order out?”
Tara notices him watching her and rather enjoys it. Then he talks about food plans and she looks thoughtful “Ok...we can do that. I’d seriously send you half my pizza if it wasn’t potentially covid pizza…” she jokes. “What do you feel like ordering then?” She sits back down with him at her desk and picks up her phone. She leans a bit to one side and her tank strap slides back down the shoulder again and this time she ignores it as she taps open her food delivery app.
Theo snorts. “Don’t tempt me, woman.” he warns her. “It’ll be August before I can touch you. Covid pizza may yet be on the menu.” he scoffs again and sighs. “I’m kidding … mostly.” he admits. He blows out a breath. “Well do we order on island or off? We could order some of Caito’s relationship testing chili. AFter all we’ve been through already his chili can’t test us one bit.” he chuckles.
Tara looks amused and flattered “Relationship testing chili in what way? Is it a spice thing or a flatulence after issue? Because let me tell you Theo Alvin...I am not squeamish. I grew up shoveling horse shit and in my work I have been pissed on, puked on bled on, I’m sure there’s like 5 bodily fluids I’ve missed….and smells….I don’t know I’m immune. So stink it up baby.”
Theo laughs hard. “God … um … both, really. But the flatulence isn't as bad as it could be. And do you really want to trade worst day at work stories? The day we met doesn’t count because it was one of my best. Mostly it’s spice. Don’t tell me Caito hasn’t cooked for you yet .. or tried to.” he is smiling genuinely and leaning back.
Tara giggles and definitely gives an appreciative look at him. She sees pretty much his full upper body as he leans back. She liked it. More than that she liked Theo and was realizing quickly that like was not the word in her head. “Well we’re on different crews but he’s cooked enough for A crew that we’ve gotten leftovers before so indirectly, yes? It’s good chili. I could do chili. Does he do corn bread? Because there has to be cornbread….” She gets up and walks around and opens her cupboards and the fridge again “Actually that I have stuff for if he doesn’t.” She shuts the fridge again and talks as she walks back, getting a little tripped up by her chair for a moment as she starts to sit so this time her chest ends up on the camera longer than she means it to “The bean thing and farting…” She goes on casually “If you cook from dry and soak them it’s actually less gassy than if you eat canned beans. Also how much you rinse is a factor too. But I’m guessing Nico would know all that since chili is his gig.”
Theo grins. “Nope, he basically sells the chili by the bucket. But I could literally run out and grab a cornbread mix if I needed to.” he’s concerned when she trips and rights herself and gets more of a look at her cleavage than is normally polite. “That I know but not from Caito. My mother. The potential for a major farting incident was always high in a house with a fluctuating number of obnoxious boys around at all times … Simon, Gareth and me often being the ignition source.” he laughs thinking of his childhood.
Tara laughs “I can imagine. It seems like we always ended up with more girls than boys in our fosters so my brother was always outnumbered. But newsflash...girls fart too...until a certain age where suddenly people tell you it’s unladylike.” She chuckles. “Like our bodies are supposed to cooperate with that. OK let’s do chili and see if Caito will make cornbread?” She laughs “Maybe if we ask nicely?” She starts an order “Or he might have garlic toast...I’d settle….”
Theo laughs a little louder. “Yea … we tried that with Ziggy. And turns out she can burp to beat the school bells.” he grins. “Well, you’d have to ask him. He doesn’t have any pets, so that knocks him off of my radar a bit. However he’s never made eyes at Ziggy to my knowledge so I have no reason to pay too much attention to him.” he shrugs. “He’s got a bit of a reputation, but my guess is you know that…”
Tara looks curiously at Theo “Are you very protective of Ziggy? Has she had to deal with a lot of assholes? I mean she’s beautiful but that should never be a price to pay for harassment.” She shrugs “I’ve heard a few things about Caito….and Gareth to be honest….but they’ve both been pretty in check with me. And I’m not saying I wanted their attention any other way….but I’m not everyone’s type.” She admits. “I don’t fit the stereotype...not fishing for compliments, just aware, maybe even thankful sometimes. My tall leggy model thin sister got hit on constantly, I didn’t. We noticed. It’s just how we’re socialized.”
Theo looks a bit awkward and shrugs. “She’s our baby sister.” he admits. “But not so much ass holes. She has only been in love a couple of times .. both times it was hard and fast.” he realizes what he just said and the way it sounded regarding his sister and facepalms. “Never mind. Um …. Gareth …. Yea … he’s been pretty wild.” he looks up and shakes his head. “Actually I’m pretty sure he was one of the first people Ziggy ever saw naked .. when she was a kid and hadn’t learned how to knock.” he groans again and again his forehead and palm have a conference. He finally looks up again. “I can understand that. Honestly I hadn’t really even seen you until we met … you not having pets and all, but when I came out of the pain fog and saw you.” he whistles low. Then he laughs. “I have tall, leggy model thin under me.” he again groans. “Jesus Theodore … foot in mouth much?”
Tara just laughs and laughs at his flubs “Wow...that’s three for three. I’m not mocking you but it’s a little impressive. I’ll pretend I heard none of it as long as you promise not to mind short and let’s call it voluptuous under you when I’m not a potential biohazard?” She only half teases. “And poor Ziggy….that’s an awkward sister walk in. With a house full of foster? Geez Gareth….” She laughs “He didn’t learn the privacy thing too early.”
Theo shakes his head in his palm a second. “Thanks?” he replies to the .. compliment? “And for the record … I just meant that my downstairs neighbor is Kitty Carmichael. She’s the lab tech at the clinic. And she’s in an open relationship with Sam Wright .. he’s a cop but you probably know that already.” The two are an infamous and, some would argue, awkward pair. He bites the corner of his lip. “I guarantee you I am looking forward to nothing more than having short and voluptuous under me, Tara.” he looks at her completely unashamed before he goes on. “Gareth isn’t terribly modest. Neither are me or Simon of Ziggy for that matter. We didn’t run around buck naked, mind .. but we didn’t have a problem being in as few clothes as we could get away with.” he pats his own chest.
Tara nods “i don’t actually think I’ve met Kitty but I might know her to see her...I have met Sam through work.” Then she just licks her lips and grins at him when he tells her he’s looking forward to her under him. “Good.” She listens to the modesty comments and nods and then smiles as he pats his chest. “I’m not complaining. We were fairly modest in my family so I guess that’s why I felt like I should put on more than these pjs when you called.” She looks down at herself and half shrugs and then self consciously pulls up her tank top a bit realizing how much of her chest scar it shows “Oh and there’s ...that...with me too….but you know the story behind it all….”
Theo shrugs. “She’s about six feet in bare feet, larger chest, long black hair that’s just … all over .. even in the fog she was like an advertisement for shampoo. She favors micro minis .. or did. And high heels … even though Sam is .. around five five .. five six maybe.” he describes Kitty. He grins when she says good and realizes this is still day 1 of 14. He nods. “I don’t think you need to be modest with me unless you want to be.” he tells her and then bites his lip. “I know the story, yea. Tragic, but it’s .. part of your story and that’s what matters to me … does that make sense?” he blows out a breath. “I’m not usually this bad with the English language, Tara, honest.”
Tara listens to him describe Kitty and has to smile. She’s not the jealous type and he’s being complimentary about her hair especially. Now she was curious to see this Kitty. “Tall and heels…..I’ll try not to be too jealous after the way you described that hair.” She jokes. “But Sam seems nice, good at his work.” She looks thankful that he just accepts her, even the scary parts. Now she sighs “OK so I stop stressing about you noticing accidentally…” She holds up her arms “You probably saw these but they’re small now. I fought back.” She swallows and pauses. Then she pulls her tank down a but at the front and shows the whole chest scar which goes to just between her breasts. Then she pulls the bottom of the tank up. The scar on her stomach is way worse larger and it was the deepest stab wound “He knew anatomy...being a paramedic…..he was going for organs…” She pulls the bottom back down “I’m not trying to give you a strip show...but last one.” She stands up and pulls down the front of her shorts on one side revealing a last scar on her abdomen about the same severity as the chest one “Heart, intestine, spleen…” she says and then pulls her shorts back to place and sits down “You would have seen them all tonight with our original plans….and honestly it was stressing me out so I’m getting that part over with.” she smiles a little.
Theo shakes his head. “No it’s … I can only imagine what a pain it would be to have ot deal with that kind of hair. Sorry I’m a vet … she’s like an afgan or … something.” he can’t help but laugh a little. That laughter fades as she shows him her scars. “Tara … I will see those scars.” he tells her. “And I will kiss them, even though we both know that won’t help and the physical pain is all gone now. But you need to understand … it’s not …” he pauses and searches for the words. “That is not what snagged me. I can’t describe what happened to me. It was like … I looked up from my bleeding hand and was hit in the head with a bolt of lightning. And while I was in a decent amount of pain and kicking my ass for not knowing Henry would bite me, I seem to remember you were fully dressed and I didn’t see a single scar. And since then, I’ve been yours…” he’s avoiding the word … he wants her in his arms when he says it … but another two weeks … it would be an interesting word salad .. if he can manage it at all.
Tara smiles in relief and listens to him looking emotional “It’s been happening for me too. It’s just you Theo. and the lighting bolts seem to strike over and over. I just get these waves of emotion after. It’s everything about you, it’s this place and us….I dunno...it’s beautiful. Let’s just enjoy it and get some chili. What number do you do?” She’s already aware of them from work friends and leftovers. She is well aware of what exactly is it with Theo but he’s not saying the L word so she’s holding out too.
Theo smiles softly, because he knows its not just him feeling the way he feels. “I’m a five or six man, usually.” he laughs. “I just don’t have the balls to go higher and sure as hell not into ‘you need to sign a waiver to eat this’ territory.” he admits.
Tara concedes “I’m not a huge spice person so let’s go 5? No waivers...gah….I have no interest in that.” she looks at the menu on her app and beams “They have cornbread!” She clicks a bit as she fills in her order “Are you ready Theo?”
Theo smiles. “Really? Cool” he grins at her. “Let’s do this!” he winks and his phone rings. “OK, you do thins and I’ll answer this.” he leans forward and grabs his phone, looking at the caller ID. Apparently it’s a number he knows, so he answers casually. “Hey Ziggy. What’s up?” he listens for a while, his eyebrows rising, followed by them lowering into a frown. “Fuck. Yea … I heard about it, but didn’t know it was him …” he pauses again and arches his brows. “They are? Seriously? Cool … um .. tell mom we’ll pay them back … Simon and I can help. Did you call him? OK, you do that and I’ll call mom in the morning. Yea. I lov eyou too, kiddo.” and he taps the disconnect button, blows out a breath and shakes his head.
Tara goes ahead and orders hers and is aware Theo is now on the phone with Ziggy. It’s amusing because she can hear a bit of Ziggy on the other side of the wall between their apartments but can’t make out what she’s saying. Clearly at some point she’s walked closer and she can hear a muffled voice near the vent and then it fades as she presumes Ziggy walked in the other direction. After Theo and Ziggy say goodbye she looks curiously at Theo “Everything ok with your family?”
Theo blinks and looks at his monitor. “Yea … well .. not really. I think I know that call you were talking about this morning.” he sighs. “I get it … confidentiality and all that.” he sighs. “Dante’s been arrested. The tentative charge right now is attempted murder. Bail won’t be set until morning but … my mom can’t pay it.” he laughs a little. “But the Beaulieu’s said they’ll pay his bail. For Dante .. not just for Sasha.” he sighs deeply and then snorts again. “Well … on the bright side … this news really would have screwed up our plans for tonight anyway?” he tries a little humor.
Tara gestures with her hand in the air “Small towns, no secrets.” She knew the names and that Dante was one of Lydia’s fosters, one of the more recent ones that Theo said would be like Gareth, a sort of brother or a brother even not by blood. “I attended Genevieve Beaulieu. It’s not breaking confidentiality if you know. Honestly I was really only somewhat aware of what Valentine was doing but that kid was a mess. I get why Dante and Sasha reacted that way. Attempted murder...wow. I’m glad Gen’s parents like Dante enough to do this for him, and clearly they’re just kind….they really supported their daughter. She was in the best situation a young girl could be after all that. I have seen so much worse. And I’m glad for your mom that Dante can come home….but it could be still a mess depending on how it all goes right? I don’t think a phone call would have changed our night….it’s not now except for the conversation.” She smiles at him. “You have a strong family Theo, it’s part of what makes you a strong and kind person too I can tell.”
Then nods and sits back a bit. “I get it … from both if them. If it had been Ziggy .. or you? Yea .. I can see trying to kill the guy out of pure blind anger before my intelligence could kick in.” he blows out a breath. “Gen’s a good kid too. Dante adores her. But … fuck .. all this and murder charges on top of it? As it is Dante’s gonna isolate in his room .. thank god it’s in the garage. Used to be Gareths when Mom realized she couldn’t stop him from having sex .. she jsut gave him a safe place to do it .. and now it’s Dante’s room.” he grins at her a bit. “True. I’ve been waiting on this night for longer than a couple of days … sorry if that makes me sound like a dog. I’ll make it 2 more weeks but … this is an interesting test of our relationship.”
Tara nods gravely “I hear you.” She’s a little touched that he’s saying her, even though they’re new. Then she laughs “Your mother has great parenting solutions. My mom tried to scare us all when she clued in that my sister was having sex but leaving STD and teen pregnancy pamphlets on our bedside tables. Not her best topic.” She smiles wistfully at Theo “I know...me too. You know it crossed my mind before our first date so I definitely don’t think you’re a dog. And fuck Covid, we’ll pas the test. Hey did you order your food?”
Theo laughs. “Oh by the time she had Gareths room done he’d been out all night or caught having sex in the woods or someplace so she just caved. Fortunately she isn’t shy about talking abut sex.” he grins because she is also confirming he’s not the only one thinking about sex. Then he blinks. “Fuck .. food …” he grabs his phone and starts tapping. “Number 5 with cornbread .. got it. Fuck woman you made me forget to eat.” he laughs.
Tara pretends to be all smug about it “And I’m not even there in person. I am that good.” She jokes. “I made a vow after watching my mom fumble any attempt at a sex talk that I would not do that to my own kids, ever. She’s a good mother in every other way, don’t get me wrong. But yours sounds like she got that piece. Or maybe a kid like Gareth gave her no choice.” She laughs.
Theo grins. “I think part of it was Gareth forcing her. For a while me and Simon hated Gareth. He was a really high maintenance kid and demanded a lot of my mom’s attention. And she was pregnant with Ziggy when he came to live with us and .. it was like he bonded with Ziggy before me or Simon did … and after .. Ziggy really helped him, but for a while we resented it. We outgrew it, but … kids yanno?” he bites his lip. “And how many kids do you want to have?” he asks, curious.
Tara looks understanding “I get that, totally. I resented a few fosters who took up time and space when I needed my parents. As an adult I understand it way better but when you’re young it’s hard. And that would be weird with Ziggy. I’m glad you’re all close now. We don’t have any long term extras like Gareth or Dante, although a few we keep in touch with.” Then Theo asks a zinger of a question and she had to laugh “You’re just putting that one right out there now eh?” She grins “More than one...because despite them driving me nuts I am glad I grew up with siblings. But maybe no more than 3 because of how much attention I’d want them to get. Maybe two is wiser...I mean if they outnumber the parents there’s always a chance someone will be left out. Same question to you then Theo.” She gives him a pointed look.
Theo shrugs. “Get the tough questions out of the way?” he smiles at her answer. “Well … I love having my sister, but she came as we were older. I’d like two but not so far apart that the older feels like one of the parents. Make sense?” he replies, simply.
Tara smiles at Theo’s answer “I agree on close together. It might be tough when they’re all little but for the long term of the relationship of the siblings I think it’s better. Plus then as adults if they choose to have kids it might be timed so those kids have cousins their age, and that can be fun. I have a few cousins on my Mom’s side I’m closer too but my Dad’s brother’s kids were all grown since he was the youngest and there was space. Mind you it looks like your sister might be….well I don’t want to speculate but you did say they mentioned kids already…” She shrugs “Not that we need to... you know...keep up…” She giggles. “And Simon doesn’t have a partner?”
Theo nods his agreement. “Yea … well … Ziggy … god .. they could get pregnant .. I .. I’m assuming they’re having sex. But … a baby .. who knows.” he laughs about them keeping up. “No its not a contest.” and then he shrugs. “SImon has his own pains … he lost his girlfriend … car crash.” he blows out a breath, remembering how shattered Simon was.
Tara coughs and then scratches at the back of her head “Do you forget they’re my neighbours?” She leans forward and whispers “They’re like rabbits, not quiet rabbits either. Sorry I know she’s your sister. I play the radio a lot…” she laughs “Don’t ever tell her I told you. But if they want a baby I’d say they’re well on the way to making that a reality.” She smiles at his reaction to her keeping up joke and then frowns about Simon and her eyes water “Oh shit….I know his deal all too well. I’m so sorry to hear that about him. Before the fog or did he find out...or was she from here?”
Theo’s jaw drops a little and then he face palms. “OK … well … so … two weeks from now over here it is. Not that I’m particularly quiet in bed myself … I don’t object to making love at your place. Oh hell … like I would say no to you just because you live next to my sister. We’ll just have to see who complains to who first.” he laughs and gets serious as she tears up He actually reaches out before he realizes he can't. “I know he told me. I … don’t know if he told anyone else. It was powerful for him. And it was before the fog, thank goodness. It would have been a million times worse … if she’d died and his family thought he’d ghosted her, like I … did.”
Tara wipes at her face a bit. Tears still came unexpectedly but now it was a mix, happy tears about Theo more than any sad one about Clint. “Poor Simon. I’m glad he has you to turn to. And we both know you didn’t ghost Sarah, only Sarah and your crappy ex friend don’t know that.” Then she sniffs and smirks and leans on her hand looking at Theo “I swear this is torture. Now I have to spend two weeks wondering what you’ll sound like when I or we do something that does it for you.” She blushes “I would say I’m average in the auditory feedback area of things. I can be quiet. I’ve had roommates…” she chuckles. Then she points to the vent “It’s really the vent….like the chinchilla problem too….so I could stick a pillow over it for short times…..actually I have once or twice when it’s too late to put on the radio…”
Theo nods. “Yea and I’m just .. done with that part.” he blows out a breath. “I know. I know.” he sighs. “But I am NOT doing the cyber thing. Not with you. Feels .. cheap to me. I don’t know.” he looks where she points and, very slowly an almost evil smirk creeps across his face. “I see your dressing table … it’s cute … and it looks pretty sturdy… and that’s a nice chair…” he seems to have been distracted by the thing around the damn vent which was near the floor.
Tara blushes and laughs “Oh no I’m not sure the cyber thing is for me either. I mean maybe in a week or so we’ll be losing our minds and open to anything….but I feel like we can hold out.” She follows his gaze “Ok?” She looks back at him “What’s on your mind Theo?”
Theo grins at her blush. “If it gets us THAT insane I will show up and isolate with you. If you get Covid in the second week then we’ll ride it out together.” he isn't actually ruling out that possibility. Then he shrugs. “I just got this flash in my mind … you on that desk … me between your legs ….” he groans and adjusts, even though he is only visible from the waist up. “Damn .. yea … I’m not trying to seem lax on Covid precautions but I am not promising you the whole 14 days.” he warns her.
Tara looks very affected by his suggestion and bites her lip “Theo…” She whispers and then runs her hands through her hair watching him adjust. “OK I absolutely fucking want you…..but I have to say something. My feelings for you override my desire to have you put me up on the desk….even though that’s….a very compelling idea and image in my mind now.” She gets serious “No one knows if Covid is a mild cold or a death sentence. Theo if I was asymptomatic and you died...I would never forgive myself. I’ve already buried one man I love…” She realizes what she’s almost and really pretty much said without saying the words in order. “I can’t let you take the risk. We’ll find a way through the next two weeks.” She looks a little emotional.
Theo sighs deeply, releasing he’s let his libido override his common sense. “I know .. and I’m sorry Tara .. my … fuck this is hard ... I mean this is difficult.” he bites his lip. He knows how she feels and she keeps confirming it. But he thinks they are both avoiding saying the most powerful words over an internet connection. “We’re going to make it, babe.” he uses the term without thinking. “We’re going to have dinner every night, watch a movie or TV and hang out. Find safe topics to discuss or barring that say goodnight early and not even think if one or both of us winds up taking a cold shower afterwards.” he promises her. He knows how upset she is and he knows his role in it. “Let’s eat while we watch some Firefly. Have some fun and relaxation. See who farts first. And then head to bed.” and as if on cue, he hears a knock on his door and someone calling. “10 Alarm for Dr Alvin.” and then the sounds of someone jogging back down the stairs. He offers her a small smile. “Soups on…”
No comments:
Post a Comment