I'm There (Part 1)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bryxZQ9jRBY

Her hair is yellow now, and it's the weekend of Valentine's Day. Violet is wearing matching bracelets and earrings, on theme with her necklace.

Nick suggests that only the bracelets were his Valentine's Day gift, the earrings were for being so amazing at her job. Charlotte had called Violet "Employee of the month."

It still stung a bit from the mocking tone Violet heard in it. It was the only unkind thing Charlotte had ever said to her, so she let it slide, until Steve picked it up. Then it all began to hurt Violet's feelings, and on a day she thought she would be made to feel special. Nick did take her out to eat that night, at a special candle lit dinner for two, which left the office behind.

Soon after they get home, her mother calls.

"Violet, where are you?" her mom says in a panic. "I'm at my boyfriend's apartment, I'm safe. Why?"

"I've been calling you all night, it's been making me crazy, worrying about you. It's Valentine's Day and I missed hearing from you."

"I'm fine Mom, I just left my phone in the car for dinner." Says Violet, who feels interrupted from her night with her love.

"There is something really wrong at work, Vi. This covid thing has been kicking us while we are down at the hospital. People are seriously dying, and a few of my friends at work are sick too." Her mom went off, in some detail, for a while, saying things like they would be getting tents from the CDC and a morgue overflow trailer. Rose's voice was raspy and deep, she clearly had a sore throat. "To top it all off, I think I might have a fever myself. I'm almost glad you aren't home, but I also don't like that I haven't met your new beau."

Nick began kissing Violet's navel. "He has a cute dog, and his own business. If you need me to come home, just say the word and I'm there?" She tries to be honest, and change the subject, but not so honest that she told her mom what she was really doing.

"He sounds very mature, Vi. Is he much older is he than you?" her mom asked. There was a moment of silence.

"Honestly mom, yeah, he is." there was more silence from her mom's side of the conversation. "Guys my age just don't do it for me. They aren't good at anything but video games..."

Her mom knew what was going on, on some level. "Uh huh, how old is he, Vi? He's not over thirty is he? Trying to cheat on his wife with my teenage daughter?"

Violet rolls her eyes. "Actually, she was the one who cheated on him. He's divorced now."

"He's been married, and he's dating my 18 year old daughter?" Rose said, feeling frustrated.

"Mom, can you just trust me, he respects me and loves me the way dad loved you." Violet just said that out loud, and Nick was in the room still, listening. He nodded and she smiled. He was visibly moved by Violet sticking up for him like this. It was, weird, for Nick being two years older than her mom.

"Violet will you please stop? It's not unreasonable for me to ask this as your mother. Now, tell me, how old he is." Rose demanded the truth from her daughter.

Violet wasn't ashamed of Nick's age. She just didn't think her 46 year old mom could handle knowing her boyfriend was 48 and not freak out. "He's 93, OK Mom, are you satisfied?"

Rose could hear the snark. "OK, Vi, fine. I'm too sick to deal with your crap today. Use condoms, I want to be a grandmother, but not this soon."

"Yes, mother. He already bought 700 of them." Nick rolled his eyes, and felt his heart stop, during the awkward silence. "Jesus, Vi!" They, her mom and her man, said it in unison. Violet stuck her tongue out at them both, obviously her mom couldn't see it.

"I'm glad you aren't here still, I'd hate for you to get sick, but I want you to bring him by when I get better, promise me?" Rose begged.

"Fine mom, call me if you need me?" Violet added.

"I should be taking care of you Vi." Rose added.

"I love you mom, but I can take care of myself now."

Coughing, "Well look at you," coughing again. "aren't you just all grown up now?" Rose coughed again.

"I guess I am, now. Bye mom."

"I love you Vi, be good." Violet hung up.

"I love you too, Mom. I hope you feel better." Violet said sincerely.

"Oh, me too, Vi." and hung up.

"Uggh... she loves me but she can be annoying."

"So, she's a good parent?" Nick smiled.

"I guess. She's just overprotective and I'm spreading my wings." Nick is kissing up her torso from her belly to her breasts. Violet opens her arms and hugs Nick. They begin kissing and continue to make out for a while. Neither of them thought it would be the last time they would ever hear Rose's voice.

***

An address and time pop up as a text from Ratchet Rachel. Then a row of party hat emojis came through. A quick google search showed it to be a warehouse party.

"There's a party tonight! Wanna go out?" She said to Nick, as if she was talking to the dog, who comes running into the room and jumps up on the bed. "Seems like someone wants to go out with you." Nick jokes. Violet gives him an exasperated look. "It'll be fun." Violet said in a sing song like fashion.

"Yeah, where's it at?" He asks. She responds, "Looks like a north Philly warehouse." Nick was tired, but couldn't let her know that. Nick was also a turn of the century raver with party experience going back before she was even born. He couldn't let her outlast him. He decides to be coy, about how excited he is to go out again, "Maybe, when?"

"Starts at 10, so we should try to be there before Midnight." Violet gets up and puts on clothes to take out the dog for a walk.

"Techno, huh? Is that what you kids are listening to these days?" Nick jokes.

"OK boomer, it's not 'techno' it's Drum and Bass, and you don't just listen to it...."

"You feel it." Nick finishes the sentence for her. She smiles. "Yes. Good, you get it." Nick wants to pat her on the head, but refrains to not be a condescending prick. "Am I going to be the oldest person there?"

"Likely." She says, as Nick frowns. "Oh stop, I'm kidding, If you don't like it we can leave early, I promise, but I doubt that will be an issue."

"Fine, take out the dog and we'll go." Nick gave in, finally, but sounded, fatherly, about it. He was happy to have the escape button, but he wants to stay up and see the sun with her.

"Yes, Daddy." She said with a cute look and a hand on his chest. They kiss, and as she leaves he pops her in the butt. She jumps and giggles as he hit the sweet spot that reverberates through to her pink parts.

"OOH!" She squeals as she leaves, walking out with the dog.