Nicholas didn't know why he'd said that to his son. He loved Steve and didn't really blame him, but he did feel confused. He didn't miss Clara at all. The only person he missed was Rose, and he'd tried to recreate with Clara what he'd shared with his wife. Clara had even seemed good for Steve at first. In hindsight, Nicholas couldn't believe he'd let that woman near his son. He felt he should've seen what kind of person she would really turn out to be. They never talked about Clara. Nicholas had wanted to believe that if they didn't talk about it, it'd go away. After all, weren't there some things that people ought to forget, especially kids? Steve clearly hadn't forgotten. In spite of Nicholas' drunken state, he'd seen the look in Steve's eyes when he'd said Clara's name.
Nicholas looked down at the bottle of whiskey he still held and sighed. He took one more swig before pouring the last of it down the drain. He didn't want the alcohol talking for him later when Steve came home.
Soda was busy adding blue food coloring to the macaroni and cheese he was preparing. "How's it look?" he asked Steve.
"Depressed, man," Steve answered dryly.
Soda frowned and pulled out more food coloring. He added yellow to mix with the blue before turning back to Steve. "How about now?"
"It looks sick, dude!" Steve said, laughing.
Soda looked perplexed, as he went back to stirring.
"You know, I used to have a little boy, Steve," Clara said, taking a sip of her coffee.
"Oh, yeah? Where is he?" Steve asked, about to take another bite of his pizza.
"I lost him," Clara answered simply.
Steve was afraid to ask what she meant by that.
Clara reached over and touched Steve's cheek. "He looked so much like you," she said softly.
Steve pulled away, bothered by the sudden affection. "What was his name?" he asked.
"Christopher."
Steve nodded and finished his pizza. "I have to go," he said, standing up.
"Where are you going?" Clara asked.
Nicholas came in then, having just left work for the day.
"Dad, I'm going to go hang out with TwoBit, okay? You know, Keith Mathews?" Steve told his dad.
"Sure, son. Come home in a couple of hours," Nicholas said.
"But he should stay here with us!" Clara insisted.
"Huh? Why? He's a kid. He doesn't need to be inside all the time. Besides, don't you have a house to tend to too?" Nicholas questioned.
"I do, but I like being with you," Clara said, smiling widely.
Steve rolled his eyes. Clara's sweetness was beginning to get on his nerves. He would've liked for her to go home.
"That's nice of you to say. I like being with you too," Nicholas said.
Steve couldn't take it anymore and left to hang out with TwoBit. Much to his dismay, Clara moved into their house the next day.
"Aw, Sodapop, what'd you do to that poor macaroni?" Pony asked, laughing.
Steve looked up, pulling his thoughts back to the present. He really didn't want to remember anything about Clara, and he knew if his memories kept going in this direction, it would only get more unpleasant. It would get scary.
"Please tell me he didn't turn the meatloaf into a rainbow or something," Darry shouted from his spot in the living room.
"Don't worry, Dar. It's plain and boring, just the way you like it!" Soda yelled.
"Nothing is boring or plain with you around, Pepsi Cola!" Darry shot back, grinning.
Steve had to laugh at the banter, and Darry did indeed have a point. There was nothing plain about Sodapop, and he hardly knew the meaning of the word "boring." This was one of the things he enjoyed about hanging out at the Curtis house. The brothers could tease and joke, but their love for one another always shone through. Steve had to go home to his dad soon. Sure, they loved each other, but it didn't show much.
"Steve, want some green macaroni and cheese?" Soda asked.
"Sure, buddy."
He'd humor Soda and eat his creation, then he would go home to hear the apology he knew his dad would have for him.
"I'm sorry about this morning, Son," Nicholas said later that night, as Steve got out the clothes he planned to wear the next day.
"It's fine, Dad," Steve answered, shrugging his shoulders.
"No, it's really not. I should've have been talking about-"
"Don't say it, Dad. Don't say her name."
"All right." Nicholas held his hands up in surrender. "I'll just tell you I don't blame you, then. I was talking crazy this morning."
"I know. She was just crazy too. That's what you told me back then," Steve said.
"I wish I'd done better, Steve. None of it should've happened." Nicholas paused. "I miss your mother," he managed to admit.
"Me too," Steve told his dad softly.
That was probably the best connection this father and son shared.
Evie sat across from Steve in a booth at the Dingo. "Why do we always come here?" she asked.
"I don't know. Cause it's on our side of town? Cause it's cheap?" Steve replied.
"Cheap, huh? You think I'm a cheap date?"
"That's not what I meant. You know I love you," Steve defended.
"I'm just messing with you!" Evie laughed.
Steve honestly did love Evie too. She was pretty and fun to hang around. She was easy to please too. She was happy just to spend time with him, no matter what they did.
"I knew that," Steve said, even though he hadn't been sure.
"Are you coming back to my place tonight?" Evie asked.
"Aren't your parents home?"
"Not until later. We can have the house all to ourselves," Evie said, raising her eyebrows.
"Now, that's what I really like to hear, baby. Let's go. I'm done anyway."
Steve reached for Evie's hand and pulled her up out of the booth, as she giggled.