Holly screamed. Rick tossed more flour on her without caring she was already on her knees, holding up her hands in mock surrender. Seth laughed.

There was flour everywhere—scattered on the counter, on the smooth tile floor, the cutting board where he was carefully cutting tomatoes and even on the blue apron his father had forced him to wear—–but he didn't care. The atmosphere in his house is once again lively, cheerful, colourful and the wide, bright smile on his mother's face made spending hours afterwards cleaning the kitchen worth it. He didn't realize how much he missed his mother's laugh until now. Watching the way she held the rolling pin in hand, chasing his father around the kitchen with it, the mock attempt to take revenge on him for spoiling her clothes, the hilarious scenario brings back pleasant memories.

The golden, old days were just like this, fun and humorous and it had made him look forward to coming home everyday after school. Watching his parents squabble over petty, silly things made his day because he always end up getting something for himself when his bet prove true. It was these memories that he had kept inside his heart for so long, afraid to let go and forget them and it was these same fond memories that made his bitterness towards his mother grow over the course of the months. But now he has come to accept reality and although good wishes still exist—–meeting Becky being a prime example—–he was going to stop wishing for his parents to get back together. It was time to let the bitterness and anger slip away but he will still cherish the good memories in his heart forever.

"Get out of here, woman." Rick bellowed, "This kitchen belongs to the boys now. Women aren't allowed in here."

"Becky will be here at any moment," Seth reminded him, "Are you going to smear her with flour just like you did with mom?"

Rick wiped flour off his face and apron, "She is your girlfriend, your first ever girlfriend, my boy. If she has you grinning like a fool every time I ask about her, then she is certainly doing something right with you. That has earned her a point from me and it is enough to grant her access to the kitchen. Privileges are meant for those that deserve them and she has most certainly earned it with you." Rick pulled Seth's cheek, "Look at yourself! You're blushing like a teenage girl caught making love to her boyfriend by her mother."

"Oh dad," Seth groaned, smiling as he shook his head. Last night had been wonderful. Any time spent with Becky was a like a treasure, a revered span of time and unbelievable moment he wasn't supposed to have but he has and he always savored it to the fullest but she always leave him panting for more.

He didn't have the faintest idea of how she does it. How she sends fireworks through his body at just a single touch or the way she makes his heart soar and dance whenever she says the the three magical words—–I love you. Perhaps it is how every person in love feels around their lovers but he wasn't sure he will ever feel that way around anyone except Becky.

"You two need to mop the floors, clean the counter, the cutting board, wash the dishes and take out the trash when you're done," Holly ordered. She had already changed into a clean set of clothes, one that isn't damaged by flour and Rick stuck out his tongue mockingly to her as she added in a feigned stern tone, "Please Colby, don't cut your fingers while you're cutting the tomatoes."

Seth looked down at the cutting board and the two slices of tomatoes he has been able to cut throughout the past hour. He was even more afraid of cutting himself than his mother was of for him. No wonder Becky calls him a coward. He can't even slice tomatoes without fear of cutting himself. "I will be careful mom."

Rick scowled at his work on the cutting board, "You're sure as hell are being careful," he gently smacked him on the head, "What do you think we are doing here, boy? Some kind of cooking contest to impress girls? What will your girlfriend think of you if she sees you like this? She will probably think you're a coward."

Seth waved to his mother as she left. "Don't worry, she already thinks I am. She has already given me a nickname for it."

Rick laughed, "Oh really? I didn't know your relationship was going so bad. What is the nickname? Tell me."

Seth breathed a sigh of relief when he finally finished cutting the first tomato, "Her handsome coward," his face flushed as he told his dad but there was no helping the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. Becky had been tired and exhausted from the blissful experience they had shared and even though she had been sleepy and a little lightheaded then, Seth was pretty sure she still remembers and will probably blurt out and call him by the nickname if he doesn't buy condoms soon.

"At least, she still thinks you're handsome," Seth rolled his eyes at the mocking tone in his voice, "Where did the coward part come from anyway?" He stopped kneading the dough to place his hands on his hips, scowling hard at him. It only made Seth laugh. "Don't tell me you can't gather up the courage to. . . . you know what I'm talking about."

"That's not it," Seth replied, his face still flushed. He hadn't seen his father for over a year and just when they are finally together in person, he couldn't believe they were talking about this topic. "Just forget it. It is something silly." Having no plans to broaden the subject to the condom part, Seth immediately picked up the pace and made frantic work on the tomatoes. Soon, they were pouring oil in the saucepan, Rick muttering low instructions about how much quantity of everything he should use. When they finally had the sauce boiling and sizzling on the gas stove, Seth threw his apron away just at the same time the bell rang at the door. "Becky is here." He ran to the door, all excited to open it for her. He hadn't seen her since morning when she had told him she needed to run some errands for her mother and will be back in the late afternoon. It felt like forever since he has seen her beautiful face, that dazzling smile he has noticed over the course of their relationship that she only reserves for him. Her special smile. "My dad can't wait to see you," he said before kissing her quickly on the lips.

She brushed her fingers through her orange hair and adjusted the head net she had on. "Is your mother in?"

"Nah, she is out doing something or the other. She will be back in the evening, don't worry. Now come and meet my dad." He dragged her to the kitchen where Rick was crouched over the sauce, stirring it delicately.

"My boy, you left the sauce unchecked. It could have burnt you know, then we would have lost our lunch," his father scolded before he could get a word in. When Rick was satisfied with his work, he dropped the ladle in a bowl and looked up. A boyish smile was planted on his lips as he addressed Becky, "I'm guessing this is your girlfriend? The girl that has you smiling like a fool at just the mention of her name."

Seth turned red with embarrassment. It was different for his friends to tease him about the way he looks at Becky but it was an entirely different issue altogether to have your father tease you in front of the girl you're dating. "Yes, this is Becky. Becky meet my dad, the wise man."

Rick grimaced, "Wait, you told her I'm wise?"

"Actually, I said you seemed like a wise man," Becky said shyly. "He told me so many things about you—–good things, so many of them that it was hard to think of you as anything but wise and a very good person."

Rick gestured to his blond hair and the spectacles he wears, "This boyfriend of yours and the spectacles I wear may paint me as a wise man but my dearest, I'm far from that. But you are beautiful. I now understand why my son almost burned the sauce. A girlfriend as beautiful as you are, it's hard for a boy to think straight. My son is lucky."

Becky chuckled shyly at the compliment. Seth whispered in her ear, "I told you he was going to like you."

"I like him too already," she whispered back. Her eyes scrutinized everything in the kitchen, "Making pasta?"

Rick beckoned her to come closer, "Yes my dearest and I find it most embarrassing for all of us to say that your boyfriend spent an hour slicing just five tomatoes."

Becky bumped his arm with hers, laughing. "My handsome coward, afraid of knives?"

"About the nickname, tell me about it. How did he get it?" Becky didn't tell him the exact truth which Seth was grateful for. His father and his girlfriend ganged up on him throughout cooking, teasing him and mocking him for the tomatoes incident and the nickname but it was all heartwarming for him even as he complained and glared at them about how unfair they are being towards him. His father liked Becky, that's all he needed to know he was doing something right——not that he wasn't sure at first but his father's approval was certainly a confirmation and some sort of blessing.

As they ate their lunch, leaving some for Holly, Rick asked Becky about Ireland life and even had her speak in her native language. Seth laughed at his father's failed attempts to imitate the words and even Becky's accent. Rick gave up after five attempts, switching to topics of school life and the wrestling school instead. When Rick told them he will pay for Becky's fee, Seth almost jumped out of his chair in sheer joy.

"Really dad? You're awesome. That's why I love you."

But Becky was reluctant to accept the generosity. "Please you don't have to. I will save up until I'm ready to enroll even if I have to wait for a year."

"My dearest, when did I say I will be paying the full amount? You have half of the payment so I add the other half so both of you can enroll. You just have to do one thing for me?"

Becky glanced between Seth's glowing face and Rick's serious expression in uncertainty, "What is that?"

"Continue making him smile like a fool each and every single day. That's all I ask. If you do that, which I trust you will, then we don't have a problem."

Seth squeezed her hand under the table, telling her with his eyes to accept. Finally, she relented and smiled. "We have a deal. Thank you."

Rick held up his glass of wine in a toast. After they had eaten and the dishes had all been cleared from the dining table to the dishwasher, they headed out for the wrestling school. Rick went upstairs to retrieve something from his bag while Seth and Becky waited outside. His father will only be staying for the night and will leave tomorrow after he has signed the divorce papers. Seth was glad to see his father in his usual cheerful self. He was happy that the toil of everything that had happened over the past months hasn't dampened or changed the way he was. He still smiled and laughed with his mother even if she had cheated on him and he still considered him as his son despite everything.

"Isn't that Mercedes?"

Seth followed Becky's gaze to the house three blocks away from hers—–Mr. Anderson's house. The girl had her back to them but judging by the blue colour of her hair, Seth had no doubts it was Mercedes. "That might be her. She just dyed her hair blue this week. But what is she doing at Mr. Anderson's house?"

"Maybe she needed an electrician's help with something," Becky suggested. She tugged on his hand, "Come on. Let's be polite and greet her."

Mercedes wasn't alone, they realized as they got closer. There was only one girl Becky recognized from her class among them apart from Mercedes herself but apart from that, they were all boys. Mischievous boys known at school for their bad ways and their high number of days spent in detention. Seth has never seen Mercedes mingling herself with those boys before. She may be the popular girl in school but the girls hates her and the boys that run after her, she hardly pays them any attention. "Mercedes?"

Mercedes turned at the sound of Becky voice. Her face turned pale as if she has seen a ghost. They noticed her hiding something behind her back but neither of them asked her what it was. "Becky, Seth. Oh hi, didn't know you two were home."

"My dad visited us so I took the opportunity to introduce Becky to him," Seth replied, "I thought you will be at the gym since it is a Saturday. What are you doing here?"

The boys were leaving, touching Mercedes's arm to say goodbye. She visibly flinched at each touch before stepping away from them and a bit closer to Seth and Becky. "Didn't hit the gym today. Felt a little lazy and my mom is home today so we decided to have a little girls time."

Becky's eyes were glued to the thing Mercedes was hiding behind her back. She smiled, "That's nice. Must have been annoying to be sent all the way from home to here."

"Oh yeah, needed a little bit of help with our wires. My mom is afraid one of them might torch and start a fire we don't really need so I came here to call Mr. Anderson to our house." She waved the matter off, "You know how mothers can be. Get feisty over the smallest of things."

Seth grinned knowingly, "Don't bother. I know that firsthand." Just then Mr. Anderson appeared, dragging boxes out of his house. Seth left Becky and Mercedes to help him. "Mr. Anderson, let me help you with that."

"Oh, Colby my boy, I haven't seen you in a while. How have you been?" The middle-aged man was tall and muscular, of an impressive built that Seth envied. His smile, always warm and friendly was the only thing comforting about him. Closer, he was intimidating.

"I'm good, thank you. Let me help you with those."

Mr. Anderson stopped him, "Oh don't bother today Colby. I'm done here. The boys you saw leaving helped me earlier. This is the last one." He hauled the box into his truck before slamming the door close, making the three of them jump. He turned back to them with a smile and waved behind them, "Mr. Lopez, how nice it is to see you."

"It's good to see you too Frederick," Rick addressed politely, wrapping an arm around Seth's shoulders, pulling him back. "Going to your shop?"

"Oh yes, it's Saturday but man still need to make a living. Just going to deliver cables and some wires to some of my customers. Will be back soon. Maybe you and I can catch up and play cards later."

"I will love to but my two beautiful children here and I need to see to some very important matters that will likely take up all evening," he subtly declined.

Mr. Anderson hopped into the seat of his truck, "Okay then. Have a good day."

"Oh wait, Mercedes aren't you going with Mr. Anderson? Thought you said you needed his help at home."

Mr. Anderson frowned at Becky in puzzlement. Mercedes laughed nervously, "Oh yes. He is busy now so he will likely come the following week. I will go home by myself. See you on Monday. Bye Mr. Lopez."

Mr. Anderson sparked his truck to life and sped away while Mercedes crossed the street and disappeared. "Your little friend was very anxious. I'm too old to cast a love spell on her, ain't I?" Rick remarked.

Seth took Becky's hand and walked, "Mercedes is a quiet person. She is usually fidgety around strangers."

"She used to come around our house, I still remember. Brought those beautiful dog sketches with her and I quite remember your mother wanted you to date her," Rick winked at Becky, "That stupid, old woman just wants everyone to do everything she wishes. Don't mind her too much my dearest. She deserves to be in a mental asylum but the one nearest is full this year. Next year I'm definitely enrolling her in so she can stay there permanently."

Becky smiled at the joke. Seth slowed them so they could walk behind Rick. "Why are you so quiet?"

"Nothing. It's just. . . . didn't you notice Mr. Anderson smelled kind of funny?"

Seth shook his head, "Didn't. Everyone smelled okay to me. Besides I'm still thinking of how to sneak off to buy condoms without my father noticing and teasing me for it later so I guess I hardly had time to think about others."

"You usually help Mr. Anderson with his boxes, right?" When he nodded, she asked, "What are there in the boxes?"

Seth thought for a moment, "Never thought much about it but he is an electrician. He sells lights, cables, wires and a whole lot. I'm sure it is these things that he loads in his truck."

"It is weird that he stocks them up in his house rather than in his shop," Becky mused, "Could it be that he is dealing in illegal stuffs?"

Seth chuckled and drew her close, "Now you are exaggerating. I have helped him a lot of times. I can assure you they are not drugs or anything illegal. Mr. Anderson is a nice guy although my father doesn't like him much but my mother adores him. He is just hardworking. He sells at his shop and at home too. The man just want to make a living baby. Nothing more."

She lightly rubbed his back and sighed, "Guess I'm being a little paranoid."

He kissed her gently, "You are. Instead of thinking of such things, why don't you give me ideas on how I can get away from dad long enough to buy those condoms?"

Her eyes glinted, "Don't worry. I will distract him for you." She sniffed the air before scowling up at him, "I still think Mr. Anderson smelled funny and a little weird."