Chapter Eight: The Return of Pete
"Oh yeah, I win again. Beat that!" Alex held up his arms in victory. He had just won against Kimmy and Nicky three consecutive times in a row, at the board game 'Chinese Checkers'.
Kimmy and Nicky looked at each other. Kimmy scowled at Alex, "You know what, when you do that, you look exactly like your father!" Nicky nodded in agreement.
Taking it as a compliment, Alex simply grinned at her.
Nicky sighed loudly like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, "Kimmy, do you think we'll ever win a game?"
Kimmy laughed at Nicky's defeated tone, "It's not looking good Nicky."
Footsteps were heard on the stairs and Jesse entered the attic. Kimmy had been watching the boys while he and Joey did their radio show.
"Dad! Dad! I've won three games in a row," Alex informed him.
"Well done, Al!"
"Yeah we suck!" Nicky was frantically removing pegs, arranging them by color in their corresponding triangles, desperate to put the game away.
Jesse was about to call him out for using the word 'suck', but seeing the stressed look on his face decided against it, and besides he was doing such a good job of packing up the game.
"So Kimmy!" he couldn't resist saying. "Beat by a seven year-old huh!" He raised his eyebrows at her.
Kimmy snorted, "I would love to see you do better?" she challenged.
"Dad, I won against you last week," Alex reminded him. "Don't you remember?"
Unfortunately Jesse had forgotten that. Kimmy laughed in delight.
"Well, well, well! I'm surprised your rather large ego could handle it!" she said.
Jesse glared at her, "Kimmy! That was only one game!" He quickly looked over at Alex for confirmation. "It was only one game wasn't it?" Alex nodded, and turning back to Kimmy, Jesse said, "Ha!"
Kimmy simply smiled at him, making no further comment.
Jesse decided it was time to change the subject, "Hey boys, Grandma phoned on my cell phone earlier, wondering if you wanted to spend the night tonight. How does that sound?"
"Yay!" the boys chorused, jumping up and down excitedly.
"Cool! You had better go and get packed then. I said I would drop you off in an hour." Nicky and Alex raced off eagerly toward their room.
Alex spun around in the doorway, saying cheekily, "What do you think Grandpa is like at 'Chinese Checkers'?"
Nicky grabbed his arm, pulling him after him, "There is no way we are taking that game Alex! Quit showing off!"
"Okay, okay! Don't have a cow!" Alex used the familiar phrase, made famous by 'Bart Simpson'.
Jesse and Kimmy grinned at each other. Jesse pulled some folded notes from his pocket and handed them to Kimmy. He had stopped at the ATM on his way home. "Thanks again Kimmy. It looks like the boys had fun as usual." He smiled at her. "You're working tonight right?"
Kimmy frowned at him, "Yeah, why?"
"Oh, no reason. Just checking who's on staff tonight that's all," Jesse said hastily. Jesse was dismayed to realize that being away from Kimmy was becoming harder and harder, and every day he was desperate to see more of her. Tonight was the night he had invited Carmen to the Smash Club, still hoping that at some point his feelings for Kimmy would somehow transfer over to Carmen, which even to his own brain sounded ridiculous.
Kimmy wore an odd unreadable expression on her face. She was probably starting to notice that he was often staring off into space when she was around.
"Okay!" she said. "I guess I'll see you tonight then. Bye Jesse." Picking up her handbag from the sofa, she called out to the boys, "Nicky, Alex, have fun at your grandparents?"
"Thanks Kimmy!" Jesse was unsure whether that came from Nicky or Alex.
"Bye Kimmy!" his other son called out.
Shooting one last look in Jesse's direction, Kimmy crossed the room, heading for the stairs. Jesse stood there for a few minutes following her departure, until the sound of raised voices became evident from the next room. With a sigh Jesse headed toward the twin's room to see what was going on.
Stephanie was watching a cocker spaniel run in circles around the grass. The Pacific Heights Kennel, for dogs and cats, had a special enclosed outdoor area where the dogs could roam free. Twice daily the dogs were taken on supervised walks to the nearby Pacific Heights Park, which was an adventure in itself keeping all those dogs under control. Stephanie was enjoying working at the Kennel, the animals were so cute, and the other staff members were friendly and helpful. The cocker spaniel named Cougar suddenly gave a loud bark, bounding forward. Stephanie noticed a guy around her age making his way toward them. As he got closer Stephanie noticed he was very good looking, with light brown hair, and amazing green eyes. Cougar was still barking excitedly.
"Hey boy, I missed you." The guy crouched down to give Cougar a hug.
Cougar raced over to Stephanie, jumping up on her.
"He sure has taken a shine to you," said the guy with the gorgeous green eyes. "He has good taste."
Stephanie felt the heat on her cheeks, "Cougar's a lovely dog."
He held out his hand, "I'm Dean Barton, Cougar's owner. Although, Cougar likes to think of himself as my owner."
Stephanie grinned, shaking his hand, "I'm Stephanie Tanner."
"Nice to met you – Stephanie Tanner." Dean gave her a brilliant dimpled smile, which just added to his good looks.
"So you've been in Phoenix?" Stephanie recalled from Dean's fact sheet.
"Yeah! Vacationing with my aunt. So have you worked here long? I don't remember meeting you when I dropped Cougar off!"
"Only the past couple of weeks," Stephanie said. "I'm apprenticing for the summer."
"Will you be a senior, come fall?"
Stephanie shook her head, "Junior!"
Dean nodded, "Well we'd better be off. Come of Cougar, time to go home." Cougar gave another bark. Dean pulled out a lead, attaching it to Cougar's collar. "See you, Stephanie Tanner," Dean gave her a final farewell smile.
"Bye!" Stephanie waved. "Bye Cougar." Stephanie watched them depart with a slightly wistful look on her face – Cougar had been one of her favorite dogs, and she was sorry to see him go. That was one of the downsides of working at the Kennel, you just became attached to the animals and then the owners came and picked them up. Stephanie glanced at her watch, happy to note that it was nearly lunchtime.
"Pete!" Jesse was delightedly surprised to see his old friend at the front door. "Why didn't you let me know you were coming to town?"
"I wanted to surprise you," Pete said. "How are you Jess Man?"
"Not bad! Come on in – god it's been years. Last time I saw you was at my wedding!"
Pete sobered, "Jess, I was sorry to hear about your wife. I sent a card."
Jesse nodded, accepting his condolences, "Thank you Pete, it was a difficult time. My sons and family keep me going though," he finished quietly.
"I heard Buzz left you the Smash Club?"
"Yeah, that was several years ago now. Come along tonight!" Jesse invited. "I'll show you around."
Pete grinned, "Awesome, I will. Can't wait to see what you've done with the place."
"You'll find it's changed a lot."
DJ came into the room then. "Uncle Jesse, what time was I suppose to – oh hi Pete, remember me, DJ Tanner?"
Pete looked astonished, "You're DJ? I have been away a long time!"
DJ smiled, "Yes you have. How've you been? Still riding around on that motorcycle?"
"Of course, I'm basically just the same old Pete."
"I invited Pete to the Smash Club tonight," Jesse said.
"Great, I'll see you then. Uncle Jesse, was I suppose to pick Michelle and Aaron up from the Ice Rink at 2pm?"
Jesse nodded.
DJ grabbed her jacket off the coat rack. "I thought so. I'd better go then, it's after two. Bye!" She hurried out the door.
Pete looked after her, "Boy, your niece has really grown up Jess."
"Pete!" Jesse had a warning tone to his voice.
Pete simply grinned at him.
"So obviously you aren't seeing anyone then?" Jesse asked.
Pete shook his head, "You know me – fancy free. So many women – so little time. You?"
Jesse hesitated, "Well, there is one woman I've been on a couple of dates with recently, but no, I'm not really seeing anyone seriously."
"So we're basically just two single guys on the prowl?"
"Something like that," Jesse muttered.
