Pirates

"So you did it?"

"Yeah Pete, isn't it great? I make four dollars an hour. I know it's not much, but I get tips, too," Her face was beaming. But Peter frowned. "What's the matter honey?" she asked. "Is something wrong?"

"No it's great. I guess there's nothing to worry about now, is there?" He forced a smile that was realistic enough to convince her. But inside he was worried.

"No, Pete, nothing to worry about!" Nicole responded happily. But her smile was fake as well, although Peter didn't notice it. The truth was that she hadn't gotten a job at the Blue Star Diner. Her job was at the Blue Night Moon, a local strip club that was sort of underground. She knew Peter would not want her working there. Or Mike, Micky, and Davy for that matter. But since she'd be working nights, there was little chance of any of them exposing her and finding out the truth.

About two weeks later, around midnight, Peter was still awake. He'd been trying to fall asleep for the past hour and a half, but it hadn't been working, and he was still awake.

"You'd think after two weeks I would get used to it," he commented to the stuffed bear in the middle of the bed. "But I'm not. I'm worried, lonely, and I can't sleep without her." He rolled over and looked at the ceiling. "I mean, look at me. I'm talking to a bear." He laughed at himself, and got out of bed.

He looked out the window towards the street, but the driveway was still empty. No sign of Nicole. He sighed. Then he happened to glance next door. The lights were still on at the Pad.

"Wonder what they're doing up?" he mused to himself. Getting dressed quickly, he checked on the kids and then headed next door.

Mike and Micky were arguing with Davy. Peter could hear it before he even entered the house. Actually, it seemed as though all three of them were yelling at the same time. He rolled his eyes and entered the Pad without knocking. Once inside, he discovered that all three of them were yelling at the same time. It was difficult to tell why they were arguing or what the argument was about.

"Um, guys?" Peter asked tentatively. None of them even noticed he was there. "Guys?" he asked again, a little louder. There was still no response. He frowned. Whatever they were arguing must be serious. He took a deep breath.

"GUYS!?!" he yelled. All three of them stopped yelling and looked at him.

"Peter?" Mike asked. "What are you doing here?"

"Saw the light, heard the yelling ," he answered. "What's the problem?"

"Well Davy-"

"Mike said-"

"He thinks I-"

"One at a time?" Peter asked, holding up a hand for silence.

"Davy went to the Blue Night Moon last night," Mike began.

"What's that?" Peter asked.

"A... strip club," Micky explained in an eerie voice, waving his hands around.

"So? That's Davy for you," Peter said, unimpressed.

Davy rolled his eyes. "And I saw a girl-."

"Well, I would hope so."

"Who looked exactly like-."

"Don't even say it," Mike warned.

"But it's true," Davy insisted.

"I told you, it couldn't be!"

"But it was."

"How? You said yourself the girl was wearing a mask. You couldn't be sure who it was," Mike said.

"I know what I saw. It was her," Davy insisted, eyes blazing.

"Hold on, hold on," Peter interrupted before the argument got out of hand again.. "Who did you see or think you saw, Davy?" he asked.

Davy looked at Mike. "Nicole."

Peter's eyes grew wide as saucers. "Watch out," Micky warned, as Peter began to go limp. Micky rushed forward and steadied him.

"You have to be wrong Davy," Peter said weakly. "You have to be."

Davy looked at him and then at the ground. He shook his head. "It was her. I'm POSITIVE. Go yourself and see."

"Alright," Peter said, steadying himself. "I will. Tomorrow. And you're coming."

Davy nodded.

Nicole arrived at home two hours later. She steered their blue '67 Lincoln into the driveway and got out. She shivered in the cool night air and fumbled in her purse for the keys. She entered the quiet house and hung up her sweater. She kicked off her shoes and put her purse on the kitchen table, yawning. Glancing over at the clock, she saw it was 2:38 in the morning. Exhausted, she dragged her tired feet up the stairs to bed.

A short while later she collapsed into bed. She glanced at Peter and saw he was asleep, his arms wrapped around the stuffed bear he'd gotten her a few Valentine's days ago. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and he smiled sweetly. She yawned and collapsed back on to her pillow. Nicole was out cold in a matter of minutes.

Though he tried to keep the illusion of innocence throughout the day, Peter was worried. He watched his wife carefully for most of the day, wondering if her body language would give her away or if an inadvertent slip of the tongue would reveal she was lying about her job. But if she was lying, he didn't catch it, and all questions about work were answered without any reason for him to suspect trickery. She wouldn't lie to him, would she? But as night and the time she'd leave came closer, he became more and more nervous.

"Bye Peter."

Nicole leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss, smiling.

He smiled back. "So long," he replied. "Don't work too hard, okay?"

She grinned. "Don't worry, I won't." She kissed him again and headed for the car. Peter waved good bye as she drove out of the driveway and headed down the street. The sun behind him was setting into the ocean.

"Dad?" Thomas asked. Peter nearly jumped out of his skin, and looked behind him.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked.

Thomas just grinned. "Waiting for Uncle Micky. He's coming tonight, isn't he?" Peter shuddered. Thomas was so... Well, so something. But it was weird, whatever it was.

"Yeah, he's coming," Peter replied. As if on cue, the door next door opened and Micky and Davy came out and walked over to the house.

Thomas ran up and greeted his 'uncles.' "We're gonna play tonight, right?" he asked Micky.

"Sure kiddo, anything," Micky grinned, ruffling Thomas' hair. He turned to Peter. "We'll be fine."

"Good. Bedtime's at nine."

"Aw, man," Thomas whined.

"So make sure he's there. If I'm not home then."

Micky nodded. "Nothin' to worry about, Pete. Good luck," he added. Peter nodded solemnly and turned to Davy.

"Ready?" Davy nodded. "Let's go."

Peter and Davy drove the car to the Blue Night Moon and entered the joint. They sat down at a table and ordered a few drinks. Davy started to watch the show, and became interested quickly.

"Davy?" Peter asked. Not response. He called Davy's name another few times before he answered.

"Huh, what?"

"Snap out of it."

"Snap out of what? I'm enjoying the show."

"I know. That's why I want you to snap out of it."

A few hours later they were still in the place and there was no sign of anyone who could have remotely resembled Nicole.

"I don't see her, Davy. Maybe you were wrong," Peter said.

"No. I know I saw her," Davy insisted.

Just then the lights dimmed and a spotlight shone toward a stage on the other side of the room. A slow disco music began to play. And then they noticed the girl on the stage. She wore a short red skirt, a see through shirt and heels. But the most eye catching thing about her was her face.

"That's her," Davy said unnecessarily.

"I know," Peter said. He stood up. Davy grabbed his arm.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Up there."

"What? Why?"

"Why do you think? I'm getting her out of here," Peter replied, breaking away from Davy and storming towards the stage. He grabbed the girl by the arm and dragged her off the stage.

"Peter?" she asked, surprised. "What are you doing?"

Peter didn't answer. He just dragged her out of the stage and into the alley on the side of the club.

"What do you think you're doing?" she demanded, breaking free of his grasp suddenly.

"What does it look like?" he snapped. "I'm getting you out of here."

"Why?"

"I'm taking you home," he said. "Come on." He reached for her again, but she took a step back.

"No," she said. "I'm not going home, Peter."

He stopped, visibly shocked. "What? Why?" he asked.

"This is my job, Peter. I'm working, and I won't leave in the middle of my shift."

"How could you?" he asked, bitterly. "You lied to me."

"Why not?" she snapped back. "Would you have accepted it if I told you I was working here? Would you have allowed it?"

"Why here?" he asked. "Why not...at the diner? Or the supermarket? Or..or anywhere else? Why here?"

"It pays good. We need the money, Peter. With two kids? We can't just live like we've been living. And this pays the best."

He turned and looked the other way, trying to calm his temper. He knew in his heart she was right, but he was still bitter over her lying to him.

"Peter, please don't be mad. I'm sorry. I really am," Nicole pleaded. "You know I only love you, honestly. Always have."

Just then the door from the club opened, and Davy stepped out, carrying her things. He cleared his throat loudly to attract their attention.

Nicole turned around. "These are yours," Davy began. "I'm sorry."

She nodded. "I know. It's not your fault." She put her coat on and headed for her car. Peter stood still, facing the street and still angry.

Davy walked over. "Petah?" he asked tentatively.

"I'm sorry I doubted you, Davy," Peter said. He walked toward the car, got in, and started it. Davy got in, too, and they rode home in silence.

When Nicole got home, Thomas was asleep, and Micky was still at the house. Without saying a word, she took of her coat and threw it on the floor. Then she headed upstairs to the bedroom.

Micky, who had been in the kitchen, came and saw her head up the stairs.

"Nicole?" he asked, quietly, but she ignored him and stalked upstairs. A few moments later, he heard the door slam, and the lock click on the bedroom.

Micky was standing there a few minutes, wondering what to do, when the door opened again. This time, Peter stormed in, followed by Davy. He was about to storm upstairs, but Micky spoke up.

"She's already up there, Pete. And she locked the door," he informed Peter.

Peter heaved an exasperated sigh and headed into the living room. Too upset to sit down, he began to pace back and forth around the room.

"I guess you were right?" Micky asked Davy. Davy nodded.

"I think I'll go talk to 'er," he volunteered, heading up the stairs, with his fingers crossed that she wouldn't scream at him.

Davy tapped lightly on the door.

"GO away," Nicole yelled from inside. Davy sighed.

"I just want to talk to you," he said, pleading.

"I don't want to talk," she insisted stubbornly.

"Are you going to stay in there forever?" he asked. She didn't respond. "C'mon, love, you know you can't."

"Who said I would?" she yelled. The door flung open and she stormed out. She headed into the bathroom and grabbed a few bottles and things and then headed back to the bedroom. Davy looked bewildered.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"What does it look like?" she replied, sarcastically. "I'm leaving."

"You're WHAT?" he asked, loudly. He watched as Nicole pulled a suitcase out of the closet and opened it on the bed.

"Leaving," she replied shortly.

"But-but..why? You can't do that!" Davy insisted.

"Why not?" she asked. "Because everyone will be upset? Hah! I need my freedom, Davy. I can't get it here."

"But you can't leave. You 'ave your 'usband, your children..your..your..'ouse..us! You can't just leave. What would Mike say?"

"I don't care. The only way anyone will keep me here is to lock me up and no one's going to do that. I'm leaving." Nicole slammed the suitcase shut and lifted it off of the bed.

She was about to storm out of the room and down the stairs quite dignified when something stopped her in her tracks.

Peter stood at the top of the stairs.

There was an awkward silence for a few minutes as both of them stared at each other, unsure of what to say.

"What do you want Peter?" Nicole asked in an annoyed voice that she used when she was disgusted with him.

Peter cringed at the sound. He looked at the ground, putting on his best sheepish look. Then he looked back at her with pleading puppy-dog eyes.

"I-I just wanted to say that I'm sorry," he said, and looked back at the floor. Nicole didn't say anything.

"I know that I did something really dumb tonight. I shouldn't have grabbed you out of there. It was just my pride. I didn't want you to...to..well, to do that. I just wanted you for myself. I'm sorry."

Nicole seemed to be considering his explanation for a few minutes. She didn't say anything, and her expression didn't change. Peter sighed, assuming he must have lost the battle. He turned and headed back down the stairs, hanging his head.

Nicole put down the suitcase. "Peter!" she called, in a commanding tone. Peter winced, but turned back. He came back up the stairs.

He stood in front of her for a minute. "Yes?" he asked, tentatively.

Nicole threw herself into his arms and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed him, hard and passionately, on the lips.

Davy took that as his cue to get out of there, and went back downstairs.

Peter looked back at her, surprised and shocked. "W-what?" he asked.

"Oh, Peter, you know I love only you," she said, giggling slightly at his shocked expression.

"Th-then-?"he began.

"I wouldn't leave you over such a small thing," she assured him. "I just wanted to show you that I have a mind of my own." v "I know that," he began again, but she interrupted.

"And I wanted to see how you'd react," she added, grinning evilly.

"OH?"

"I mean, I do want to get a job, but not there. Heck, they tip horrible, and Peter...I'm yours. You're mine. I couldn't do that to you."

"Then this was all just to see how I'd react?" he asked. She shook her head, no.

"No. I did like it at first. And the money is nice. But I think I'll look for another job now. In a different business." She grinned.

"No," Peter said, firmly.

"No?" she asked.

"No," he repeated. "You're not getting a job working in some two-bit junk house for minimum wage."

"Why not?" she asked. "Are you going to..?"

He shook his head. "No. I think you should go back to school."

"Back to school?" she echoed.

"Yes. So you can get a job..no..a career, doing something you want to do instead of working the rest of your life in a restaurant or something. "

"But Peter...that costs money, and.."

"You can go to the community college. It's cheap, and if necessary you can get a loan or something. But I want you to be happy, and I don't think you will be happy working in a mind-numbing job like that." He said it with a stern voice, but his eyes gave him away, revealing how much he cared about her.

She melted. "Aww, Peter," she moaned. "How sweet." Peter put on an 'aw shucks' expression and turned red.

She reached up and kissed him on the lips. "C'mon cutie, let's go, and I'll show ya what I learned," she coaxed. She grabbed his arm and led him into the bedroom seductively, the full suitcase on the ground, forgotten.

And the bedroom door closed after them.

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