2113 North Wallace Street.
Veronica and Kevin's conversation didn't go great... but it wasn't a total disaster, either.
Veronica calmly stated her position.
Being a product of incest and having been abandoned as a child, Kevin's childhood was a train wreck. Because of that, when it came to kids, he and Veronica weren't on the same page—hell, they weren't even on the same planet.
Kevin couldn't grasp Veronica's attitude right now. He was operating on pure instinct: Ethel needed to be taken care of, or she'd be pathetic and lonely.
"You're twisting my words," Veronica tried hard to stay calm. "I'm not saying you can't take care of Ethel. I'm saying we come first. Always. You can't dump all your energy into her."
"Kev, I'm the one who's going to grow old with you. Not the kid. Not anyone else."
Kevin just couldn't wrap his head around it.
The atmosphere shifted.
Before long, the conversation ended on a sour note.
Kevin stomped upstairs, fuming.
Veronica sat on the living room sofa, watching his back until he disappeared. She sighed, nursing a headache. She reached for the red wine on the coffee table, poured a glass, and drank it with a look of deep melancholy.
How did things get like this so fast?
Veronica smiled bitterly.
---
The Club.
In a way, Fiona was remarkably like Frank.
Or, to put it nicely, Fiona had an incredibly resilient mindset.
Despite the disaster that had happened just a short while ago...
Right now, Fiona was acting like absolutely nothing had happened. She was all smiles, flirting effortlessly with the customers.
When it came to being flirty and seductive, Fiona was a pro.
Jasmine watched from the side, licking her lips. She thought Fiona looked delicious. She wanted...
Time flew.
The club closed for the night.
Thanks to her professional-grade flirting skills, Fiona had raked in quite a few tips.
After counting the cash and stuffing it into her bra, Fiona smiled at Adam, who had been waiting for her. "Let's go."
Adam smiled. "Sure. Want to come see my place?"
"Okay. But you have to drive me back in the morning," Fiona said, her tone seductive. It was second nature to her.
"No problem," Adam agreed instantly. How could he refuse?
About half an hour later.
Adam's Place.
Fiona was having a great time, her small but shapely assets moving rhythmically.
It was a beautiful sight.
Adam was thoroughly enjoying himself.
---
A New Day.
Early Morning.
The alarm went off.
Bianca heard it and opened her eyes with a bit of a struggle. She got up quietly, got dressed, washed up in the bathroom, and then headed downstairs to the kitchen to make breakfast.
Carl was young and had no interest in sleeping in. Hearing the noise outside his door, he got up and walked into the kitchen.
Bianca saw Carl and gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, did I wake you?"
Carl was surprised.
Why say sorry?
They really were from different worlds. Different wavelengths entirely.
Carl was genuinely confused, but he shook his head. "It's okay. I should be up anyway."
Bianca smiled. Suddenly realizing Carl hadn't brought a toothbrush or toothpaste, she stopped what she was doing. "I'll go get you a toothbrush and toothpaste."
There were some new toiletries in the cabinet in the living room.
A moment later, Carl stared blankly at the unopened toothbrush and toothpaste in his hand. His little head was filled with big questions.
But despite the confusion, it felt good.
Carl was experiencing something he had never felt in the Gallagher house.
When was the last time he had a brand-new toothbrush and his own tube of toothpaste?
He couldn't remember.
"Bianca, is this for me?" Carl blinked and looked up at her.
"Yeah," Bianca replied casually, missing the complexity in his question. To her, it was just a toothbrush. "What do you like for breakfast? Is eggs and bacon okay?"
"Awesome!" Carl loved bacon. He grinned brightly. "Thanks."
"You're welcome. Go wash up," Bianca urged him.
Carl didn't waste time. He ran to the first-floor bathroom.
About twenty minutes later.
Breakfast was ready.
Bianca went upstairs to wake Dexter.
Soon, the three of them sat at the dining table on the first floor, eating breakfast like a little family of three.
"I'm off tomorrow," Bianca said to Dexter with a giggle between bites.
Dexter processed that for a second and guessed what she meant. "Then tomorrow, I'll take Bianca to see Bianca."
Carl: "?????"
What does that mean?
Why don't I understand?
Bianca understood. She smiled happily. "Sounds good."
"???" Carl couldn't hold it in. "What are you guys talking about?"
"I bought a yacht. It's called the Bianca. Since you're not working tomorrow, how about you come hang out on the yacht with us?" Dexter asked with a smile.
A yacht?
In all his years, Carl hadn't even seen Lake Michigan up close, let alone been on a yacht.
"Cool!!!" Carl got excited instantly. Then it clicked. His eyes darted between Dexter and Bianca. He asked, puzzled, "Dexter, your yacht is named Bianca? That's the same as her name."
Bianca: "..."
This kid's brain...
Dexter was amused.
Comrade Carl was hilarious.
"Because I named it after her," Dexter smiled.
Carl tilted his head. "Why?"
"Because I love her," Dexter said.
Hearing this, Bianca instinctively lowered her head and ate her breakfast faster, blushing.
Carl looked thoughtful. He felt like he just learned something new.
To love a woman, you have to do stuff like that?
Carl stopped talking and pondered this silently.
Breakfast finished.
Carl habitually put his dishes in the sink and started to walk away.
Dexter saw this and stood up. "Carl, do you know how to wash dishes?"
Carl blinked. "Yeah."
"Then wash the dishes you used. If you want to be a real man, you have to start with the small stuff. Learn to clean up after yourself," Dexter said with a faint smile.
Carl didn't quite get the philosophy, but since Dexter said so...
"Is that how it works?" Carl replied. "Okay, I'll wash them. I'll wash yours too."
"Thanks. Do a good job. I'm taking Bianca to work."
"Okay," Carl nodded seriously. He quickly grabbed a stool, dragged it to the sink, climbed up, and started washing the dishes.
Bianca watched and whispered to Dexter with a smile, "Why do I feel like you're exploiting child labor?"
"Don't talk nonsense. Go to work, you're gonna be late," Dexter laughed.
They got ready quickly and headed out.
As soon as they opened the door.
Coincidence.
Peggy was standing there, hand raised, about to knock.
"Going out?" Peggy asked Dexter.
"Yeah, taking her to work. You here for Carl?" Dexter asked back.
Peggy nodded. "Yeah."
"Come on in. Make yourself at home. We gotta run," Dexter invited.
"Okay."
A moment later.
Dexter and Bianca drove off.
Peggy walked into the kitchen and watched Carl washing dishes with a smile on her face.
Change is something that bystanders always see most clearly.
Carl had changed a lot.
Looking at Carl—who looked much cleaner and actually smelled like soap—Peggy thought this change was good. Very good.