Pieces of it All

by Tracy Krimmer

  "I didn't mean to embarrass you," Harvey finally said as they approached their street. "I just thought karaoke would be a lot of fun. You said you wanted to take some risks. I thought this was a start, without getting too crazy."

  "Don't worry. It was interesting, for sure." Beth shoved her hands between her thighs, squeezing them together. "Like you said, I won't forget tonight, and if I want to have some fun, I need to loosen up."

  "Within reason. You still have to be comfortable with what you're doing. I'm curious, though, how you expect to be a teacher if you don't like speaking in front of crowds? Are you planning on being one of those online teachers?" In rehab, he managed to take one online course toward his GED. He couldn't stand the Internet. All this social media shit irritated him. He liked being off the grid. Facebook and Twitter and all those other crappy sites were only ways to stalk people. He utilized the sites once while trying to search for his mom, with no luck. Fuck that.

  "If it's something I know well, I can do it without a problem."

  He wanted her to show him all the things she did well, and desperately wished to be the hands between her thighs.

  She rested her arm on the windowsill. "Besides, I think I'll teach middle school. I don't think I could handle high school."

  "Aren't middle school kids just adults in tiny bodies?"

  "I suppose these days. I never actually thought of it that way." It was cute that she covered her mouth when she laughed.

  Minutes later they arrived at Beth's house. The porch light illuminated the front door. Harvey slowed to a stop and put the car in park. "Someone's watching us." The curtain covering the door was slightly pulled back.

  "My dad. I'm sure he's snooping. I texted Lucy to call my mom and tell her you were taking me home."

  Parents were an obstacle. Even the four years between them seemed an eternity when parents got involved. Her mom seemed nice, but she probably didn't know about his past. Shit. If she found out, that would only ruin things. "Do you think they mind you hanging out with me?"

  She shrugged. "My parents are pretty cool. I'm sure they'll give me their opinion at some point."

  Cool parents - did those exist? His heart skipped a beat at the mention of 'some point.' He wanted to spend time with Beth again, and he thought she was interested, too. She looked so pretty against the dim lighting of the porch. He reached out and ran his index finger down her cheek. "I like you," he said as his finger left her face. "You're sweet." All the young girls he associated with in the past were ones he would drink with. They didn't have a plan, or any order in their lives for that matter. He needed to attach himself to a good girl, someone to show him the good in the world, someone to make him forget about his past and all the shit he went through.

  "I like you, too, Harvey." The redness had receded and her eyes were no longer puffy.

  "Next time we won't do something so outrageous, okay?"

  "Next time?"

  Harvey curled his lip up into a smile. "I'd love to see you again. How about tomorrow? I'm volunteering at a pet fair. Come help me out." He didn't know if he was allowed to bring anyone along, but they probably could use extra hands.

  "A pet fair? What are you doing there?"

  "I'm helping out at a booth about spaying and neutering pets. It's for Bullet's vet. Twice a year they offer a discount. I want to do what I can to help out." He neglected to add the event served as community service for a drinking and driving incident.

  "Wow. Cool. Sure, I'd love to come. I'd better get going. Tomorrow?"

  "Definitely." Harvey jumped out of the car to open her door for her. She stepped out and turned to him. He wanted to kiss her, but if her dad was watching from the window, he didn't want him to witness it, and it felt too soon. Slow and steady this time.

  Beth waved goodbye to Harvey. He watched her until she closed the front door.

  He really hoped he could take it slow.

  The door hadn't even closed yet when Harvey's father yelled out, "Where the hell you been? Don't you know your rent is due?" His dad stumbled into the living room, a mixed drink in tow. "I need my three hundred bucks." He extended his hand. "Fork the cash over, kid."

  Harvey wasn't in the mood to argue. He knew, though, living with his father guaranteed a fight every night. They couldn't just leave each other alone - too simple. A reason to quarrel always existed. "I don't have it all right now." He swung his legs onto the coffee table, and shoved his hands in his pockets, hoping if he kept them at bay, he'd be less inclined to use them.

  His father slammed his glass onto the table. "What the fuck do you mean you don't have it all right now?"

  He shrugged, refusing to make eye contact. He didn't even recognize the TV show he was watching, and blocked out the sound. The screen blurred through the glaze in his eyes. "Exactly what it sounds like." What else could he mean? A couple months was all he needed to save enough money to get out of here. His shit hole of a father could disappear and he'd be out of his life. Forever. A few thousand dollars and a steady job would put him on track to freedom.

  "Rent was due yesterday. You're late. When are you planning on paying me?"

  By this point, his father's sour breath assaulted Harvey's nose, diminishing the last scent he had of Beth's sweet perfume. "I have $275. I'll get the rest to you tomorrow." He pulled the bills from his pocket, licking his finger and carefully counting each one, never losing sight of the television. His muscles tightened as he shoved his hand toward his father. He didn't budge, so he stood up to hand him the money.

  His father's bloodshot eyes widened. A slap or punch often followed this familiar face. He couldn't flinch. Emotion drained from his face as well as the color. He had to fight this time with words and respect, something lost on his father. The nerves in his body slithered to the tips of his fingers, seething to wrap around his neck, to be done with this permanently. But fuck if Maggie always hovered in the back of his brain.

  And Beth. That damn girl. Once he was on a path worth following, hopefully she'd come with him. Beating the shit out of his dad, no matter how much he deserved every punch, every squeeze taking the breath out of his body, he couldn't do it. His father's eyes burned through his, a bead of sweat dribbling down the side of his father's face.

  "Fine." He backed off and Harvey's heart dropped to the floor. "If the rest of the money isn't on the table when I get home from work tomorrow, you're out on your ass. You got that kid? You'll be on the street!"

  Maybe that was a better option.

  Chapter Seven

  The pet fair started at nine, so Beth planned on being ready by eight-thirty. Harvey only needed a few minutes to discuss with the vet which brochures to hand out and issues to consider with the participants. The next spaying and neutering special didn't take place until October, he had told her, but the sooner they began educating people the better.

  What did someone wear to an event such as this? After shuffling through her closet for twenty minutes, she decided on a tank top and a pair of Bermuda shorts. Dressy wasn't the way to go if animals were going to peruse around the fair. She slipped on her flip flops and went outside to wait for Harvey.

  Anxiety coursed through her, her feet tapping on the wooden porch as the sun burst through the clouds onto her face. Was this considered a date? Did karaoke qualify as one? In high school a boy asked straight out "Wanna go out sometime?" Hopefully things worked out with Harvey, and dating wouldn't even be an issue in college. This was her first "maybe" date as an adult and confusion already set in.

  Her heart's pace increased as an engine roared in the distance, dropping drastically as the red car kept driving past. She pulled at her shorts, and yanked the tank top further down over the waistline. Her ponytail grazed her back. She didn't want to spend all day outside and start sweating, so hoped they'd be under a tent of some sort. She'd slathered on sunscreen after she got out of the shower. The fiery sun already warmed her shoulders, not a good sign for her skin.

  She jumped when the doo
r opened. "Beth? What are you doing out here?" Her mom asked, still in her pajamas, her hair a mess, and a cup of coffee nestled between her hands. She took a sip and smacked her lips.

  Beth realized she never told her about the date, or whatever it was. "I'm going to a pet fair."

  "What's a pet fair? You're not coming home with an animal, I hope. Your dad wouldn't be too happy." She still stood in the doorway, now pointing her finger in an accusatory way.

  "No, Mom. Do you remember Harvey? He stopped over at my graduation party." If she did remember him, she hoped good things, and she didn't demand her chili powder back.

  She crinkled her nose. "Harvey? I think I might. His dad lives down the road, right?" She slurped her coffee again. Beth wasn't going to let it annoy her. Not today. She couldn't be irritated when he picked her up.

  "That's him. I ran into him last night and he invited me to the fair. I think you can adopt pets, but it's educational too. He's volunteering at a booth for a vet."

  "Is this like a date?"

  Good question. "I'm trying to figure that out myself, Mom. How do I know?"

  "Do you want it to be?"

  Beth leaned against the banister, rubbing her shoulders as they burned. "Yeah, I do. He seems nice."

  Her mom balanced her coffee cup on the railing. "Don't forget you're going off to college in a few months. I don't want you getting too attached to anyone."

  Those were her dad's words. Her mom was a romantic. Her dad, while he wanted her to marry and have kids one day, preferred she go to college and graduate first. And she was his little girl. His only girl and his only child. He didn't want her to get hurt. Between her dad and Lucy, it wasn't a wonder why she never had any exciting stories.

  "I know, Mom. No need to worry."

  She crossed her arms. "I don't worry. Your dad, well, that's another story." She stepped over and kissed Beth's forehead. She hated when she did that. "Have fun, and don't be home too late. I'd like you back in time for dinner."

  Harvey pulled into the driveway. Her mom waved, grabbed her coffee and went into the house. At least she didn't stick around to give Harvey the third degree. The second date wasn't the time for them to officially meet. She wished herself luck and hopped down the stairs and met him in the driveway. "Hi. Thanks for picking me up." She slid into the passenger seat, relaxed he wore athletic shirts and a plain blue Nike tee shirt. She chose her outfit wisely. Score a point for Beth.

  "No problem. I take it your mom is okay with you coming with me?"

  "Yeah, she's fine. My mom's pretty easy going." He looked as handsome as ever, every hair placed strategically around his face. She wished she could reach out and run her fingers through it.

  "Glad to hear. I only met her briefly at your party. Shall we get going?"

  The pet fair was held outdoors at a park Beth had never been to before. Tents were set up in multiple places and as they entered, a banner above them reading "Washington County Annual Pet Fair." Booths representing animal toy companies, food vendors, and grooming services lined the walkway. Harvey led her through the aisle to a tent set up near the bathrooms. A tall man with dark hair and dressed in a long sleeve dress shirt (in this weather!) and a tie stood behind the booth, underneath a poster with the words 'Dr. Victor Leavitt, D.V.M. – Be Responsible – Spay & Neuter Your Pets.'

  "Harvey! I'm so glad you came." He looked over at Beth. "And you brought someone to help. Wonderful!" He shook Beth's hand. "I'm Dr. Leavitt. You can call me Vic."

  "I'm Beth. Thank you for letting me come."

  "I've never seen you at the clinic. Are you a pet owner?"

  "No," she said, embarrassed. Maybe it was odd she was helping out at a pet fair and she never even had a hamster. She liked animals, but her dad didn't want any.

  "No big deal. It's not a requirement to be here. Any help is wonderful. And, if you're so inclined, the Humane Society booth is down to the right."

  "My parents would throw a fit if I came home with an animal."

  He snickered. "They haven't met Harvey then?"

  Beth laughed, uncomfortably, before Vic slapped Harvey on the back. "You're too easy, Harvey. Anyway, the clinic opens soon, so I'll be on my way. Here are pamphlets to hand out with information, and I left appointment cards and a book for you to record them in for October. The month is wide open." He opened the book to show them. "Simply write their name in here with their pet's name, type of animal, and if male or female. The animal, of course!" He snorted. At least he found his own jokes funny. "Put down their phone number and let them know we'll call them on Monday with more detailed appointment information. Got it?"

  Harvey shut the book. "Got it, Vic. Seems simple enough. I think we'll manage." Beth's body responded with a shiver when he placed his arm around her.

  "Great. Thanks for doing this. I wanted to avoid pulling the staff away for the day. Pack everything into your car and drop it by Saturday morning. I'll sign your form then." She didn't know what kind of form Vic had to sign. Maybe that was something volunteers did.

  "Sure thing. Now go! We've got this!"

  Vic left and Harvey motioned for Beth to sit behind the counter. "You take the chair. I didn't tell him I was bringing someone."

  "Are you sure? I can stand." She was too anxious to sit all day.

  "No, it's fine, really. I work better when I can interact with everyone."

  Beth took a seat behind the table. She sat up straight and folded her hands.

  "You look stiff. This isn't school."

  She yanked her hands away. "Sorry. I'm unsure of what I'm supposed to be doing." Should she cross her legs, put her elbows on the table, lean back against the chair? What did she do when visitors approached the booth? Would they catch on she'd never owned a pet? This whole thing may have been a mistake.

  "Keeping me company. You can take the appointments. You're handwriting is probably better than mine."

  "That sounds good." She grabbed the pen. She could handle that. She had to make a conscious effort not to click it to the rhythm of her heart or she'd drive Harvey crazy. After about fifteen minutes, the park filled up with people and their animals. Animal watching kept her mind off of the pen. She'd never seen so many dogs in one place at a time. She recognized some of the breeds: black labs, poodles, beagles, and pugs, like Bullet. They were so adorable, their noses stuck to the ground, tails wagging.

  "Tell me," she broke the long silence between them. "How did you and your dad get Bullet?"

  He kept his back to her as he handed pamphlets to people walking by. "We got him six years ago. I left home right after. He was a rescue dog. Two years old when we got him."

  She quickly did the math in her head. Six years ago? He would have been sixteen. "You moved out young. Did you go live with your mom?"

  The muscles in his back tensed up. "No." He said. He didn't offer up any more information.

  "When I move in with Heather at the end of August, it'll be my first experience living on my own." She didn't want to pry. If she gave information about herself, possibly he'd share more about his life. He was twenty-two, left home young, had a dog named Bullet, attended alternative school, and volunteered for the vet. Those were the only facts she had.

  Her eyes met with the dirt ground when she noticed he was staring at her. Did he often steal glances at her? Did he want to kiss her as much as she wanted to kiss him? Ever since The Blue Rooster, the thought of kissing him never left her thoughts. Did guys think about that stuff, too?

  "So you two will be living it up in college, hey? What's your friend Lucy doing?"

  "I wouldn't say living it up. Like I said last night, I'm not too much of a party girl." Even with his back now turned to her, she liked the view. The athletic shorts didn't shape his butt, but it still was cute enough. "Heather is. So that'll be interesting. Lucy told me the other day she's going to Boston for school. I'll miss her, but that's great for her."

  "Oh?"

  "Her dad passed away about two years ago. Her mom's been a
little clingy ever since. She needs the distance." Harvey nodded.

  "I plan on finding a place of my own soon. I want to get out of this town. Possibly move to the city. I can't wait to be out on my own again."

  "Why? What's so bad about it?" Their town was small, but that was part of the appeal.

  He turned to face her. Looking her straight in the eye he said, "Some things you're better off not knowing."

  Six hours later, Harvey and Beth loaded the table and chair into the trunk of his car.

  "That went pretty fast," Beth said. "Nice turnout, I thought." She must've written over a dozen names down. People loved discounts, even to fix their animals, and Dr. Leavitt was a respected vet in the area. Many considered the reduced rate a steal.

  He shoved the folding chair into the car. "I guess. I wish more people signed up. I hope Vic is happy with the results."

  "I scheduled at least twelve or thirteen. That's not bad."

  He slammed the trunk. "We could've done better. Overpopulation is a huge problem because people don't get their animals neutered. These morons breed their pets and aren't educated enough to take care of them properly half the time. They're just out to make a buck."

  "You're pretty passionate about this, huh?" Beth admired Harvey's feelings on the topic. She couldn't think of anything she held so much passion for, unless reading counted. Once in college, she hoped to find something to support, a cause worth her time and energy.

  He shrugged. "Like people with kids." He turned the key and it stalled. He tried two more times before it caught. "Some people shouldn't have them."

  She didn't understand his remark. Did he mean himself? He was anything but an open book, and his mystery intrigued her. His need to protect himself from whatever hid beneath the tough exterior attracted her to him even more. Never before had she met someone so dark and edgy. Interesting people didn't exist in her community.