Bobby just got to Riverside. One more hour, and he would be in Los Angeles.

Hunter barked at a dog in a nearby car.

Bobby hadn't told Joyce where he was going, or that he was leaving the state. He just gave power of attorney to his cousin Tucker and following his advice took half of the money out of their joint bank accounts and opened up his own. He also cancelled all their joint credit cards. He was done with her.

Snoop Dogg played on the radio. He loved Gin and Juice, oh back when Snoop actually made music. Those were the days.

What was I doing 20 years ago?

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA"

"Does she ever shut up?" Joyce yelled.

"She's a baby. No." Bobby picked up his newborn daughter. Little Charlene stopped once her daddy picked her up. They sat together, and he watched the Hawks game. Charlene in one arm and a cold Bud in the other hand, perfect.

"Great parenting."

"Hey, she stopped crying."

Joyce went upstairs, ready to lie down.

Bobby and Charlene watched the Hawks lose, again. "Music time." He turned on the radio and heard Gin and Juice. Who is this dude? He's not bad.

Charlene fell asleep, and Bobby put her back in her crib. He went upstairs and went to bed. His wife was already out.

They had been a happy family, well at least Bobby thought so at the time. He wondered if she had ever been happy, or if it was all a lie. Charlie's gone. He's gone. Maybe it was all just a dream.

"Shit, I'm almost outta gas." That is real. He pulled in to the next rest stop and filled the tank. He let Hunter out to relieve herself on the grass.

"Hey Hey!" Some dude came to yell. He was the gardener, and he was sick of dogs peeing on the grass, ruining it.

"What?"

"What are you doing?"

"Getting gas."

"No the dog."

"She has to pee. Dogs do that you know."

"Not on the grass."

"Not in my car."

"She'll ruin my flowers."

"What flowers. All I see is dead grass."

"Yeah the dogs ruin it."

"Then why not plant them somewhere else."

"Public urination is an offense."

"You're not a cop, and even if you were, so what would you do, ticket the dog?"

He put Hunter in the backseat and drove off.

WTF. People in California are rather weird.

Bobby found his way to LA. He hadn't been to Brenda's place before, and he didn't quite remember the address. He pulled over and checked his phone. He turned on its direction-thing and followed it to Brenda's apartment.

He pulled up to see a parking lot and a bunch of stairs. He parked the truck and brought Hunter up the steps with him. He rang the doorbell.

Brenda stayed home today, eagerly awaiting her brother's arrival. She spent the morning reading, or pretending to read.

"Bobby!" Brenda yelled. She almost fell out her chair she got up so fast. She ran to the door and threw it open. She hugged him and immediately Joel started hissing. Hunter started barking, and wagging her tail ready to play. The German Shepard was excited for a new friend. Joel was not.

Oh I'll put him in the room. She scooped him up and tossed him in her bedroom. She threw in a ball of yarn and closed the door.

Hunter parked herself right on the floor in front of the tv.

"This place is small."

"Yeah, rent is pretty high."

"You both work."

"For the government, which means a lot of hours and not a lot of pay."

"How's the new salary?"

"Actually, it's pretty good, but since I started mid year, I haven't gotten a full salary yet."

"When you do, find a bigger place, dang?"

"It's usually just me and Fritz."

"You don't have any friends."

"They have bigger places. I usually go there."

"Oh Brenda."

"Also a bigger place means more cleaning."

"Since when do you clean?"

"Hey, I clean, sometimes, oh shut up and sit down."

"Got anything to eat." This was a desperation move, but he was hungry."

"I got a pie." She pulled out a key lime pie. It actually looked awesome. Little did he know Andrea made it. "Dig in."

You never have to tell Bobby anything twice. He grabbed a plate and a fork and dug in.

"You could have at least cut out a piece."

"My bad." A third of the pie was gone in a flash. It was really tasty. "Since when can you make pie."

"Since my friend made it for me," she admitted. "Don't tell Fritz."

"Why not?"

"I want to see the look on his face when he eats it, and thinks that I could have possibly made it."

"Deal. What's for dinner?"

"Takeout of your choice."

"Take out and key lime pie. Was this a Martha Stewart recipe?"

"No. Sandra Lee."

"Oh that bitch."

"Your language."

"Who are you Mom?"

Brenda looked sad. They both did. "She would have taken back the pie if she heard your mouth."

"Mama, never."

"MEOW!"

"I'll get him."

Joel was stuck in the yarn. She untangled him, and he curled up into a ball. She set him down on the floor, and he ran into the kitchen, parking himself on to the table.

Hunter looked at him. She wanted a new friend. She walked up to the table and lied under it.

Bobby went to the fridge. "Where's the Bud?"

"Andrea said it's time for you to drink real beer?"

"Who?"

"The baker."

"What's wrong with Bud?"

"Don't ask me. There's Blue Moon in the fridge."

"Blue what?"

"Beer."

Bobby grabbed one anyway and popped open the can. He took a sip, citrus and wheat, not bad.

Brenda got a dish and filled it with water for Hunter.

Hunter was quite grateful. She wiggled her tail and drank away.

Bobby chugged away. Nothing better than a cold one on a hot day.

Brenda hopped he wouldn't have too many before Fritz got home. She didn't do so well with talking to Fritz about his drinking, and she didn't want Bobby's beer chugging ways to stress it out. She went into her stash and grabbed a Ding Dong.

Bobby grabbed another beer.

Brenda threw the first one in the recycling bin.

Ring Ring! The house phone rang.

"Hello," Brenda answered.

"Fritzi, When are you coming home?"

"Not till tomorrow, Boo. I have a stakeout for tonight."

"Tonight?"

"We were hoping to catch El Torro today, but the shipment is running late."

"Did you pack for a stakeout?"

"No, but I have some stuff in my office."

"Do you want me to bring you anything?"

"No thanks. I'll stop by the store. Has Bobby arrived?"

"Yes he's here."

"Send him my regards."

"I'll miss you. I don't like waking up without you."

"Yuck," Bobby yelled.

"Hopefully, I'll be home before you wake up. Given how late you wake up on Saturdays anyway."

Brenda said goodbye and looked at Bobby.

"Dinner?"

"Can we go to In and Out? I always wanted to try it."

"In and Out it is."

They went out to get burgers. Brenda ordered an animal-style 3x3 with fries to match. Bobby ordered 2 3x3s and fries.

"Two burgers! Did you eat this trip?"

"The second one's for Hunter?"

"You feed her people food?"

"Only when I run out of dog food."

They got home. Hunter loved her burger. Joel smelled and his eyes filled with jealousy. He hopped down and eyed Hunter.

Unlike most dogs, she ate slowly, savoring her new treat. She also ate on one side of the bowl instead of blocking it with her face. Joel leaned in for a bite. Hunter was ready to share. She had a new friend.

Bobby devoured his food and washed it down with another beer.

Brenda grabbed a glass of wine to go with her dinner, really classy. "How's Charlie?"

"She's great. She loves Georgetown."

"I miss her."

"She misses you. Maybe she could visit this summer."

"That would be nice."

"Did you tell her about you and Joyce?"

"Yes. She didn't seem surprised. She asked me if it was the electrician."

"Him too!"

"Ugh! I just can't believe it took me so long to see what everyone else already knew."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. You tried your best. That's all you can do."

"I guess your right." Bobby grabbed another beer.

This is going to be a long three months, Brenda thought.

Hunter curled up next to Bobby. Joel joined her on the floor.

She texted Andrea. "How's ur night?"

Andrea was bored. She had already cleaned her place, made enough food for next three days, and gotten all of her work done. She kept busy to stop thinking about the one guy on her mind, but it didn't work so well. Her phone lit up.

"Same old," she answered.

"So, you cleaned your apartment."

"Someone has to. I don't have a Fritz."

"Haha"

"How's Bobby doing with the beer."

"4 down."

"He must like it."

"Are you free on Sunday?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"Brunch."

"Sure."

Andrea looked at her cleaned apartment, wishing she wasn't in it alone.

Brenda looked at her apartment, wishing her brother's marriage hadn't been a sham, and her husband were by her side.

Bobby watched the baseball game, Dodgers vs Yankees. He had a long night and plenty of beer to see him through it.

Brenda retired ant went to bed. She put on one of Fritz's t-shirts, missing his scent, and curled into her sheets. She closed her eyes and imagined waking up with him magically there. She eventually drifted to sleep.