Chapter Forty-One
Ricky
THE END OF the semester flew by. In between setting up the bike shop and Aveline’s company, we finished and turned in our final papers for Psychology 201. Any other spare time we dedicated to our families, and the growing bond between the two—and to the growing bond between us. We never missed any opportunities to be alone, rest assured.
My phone buzzed with an incoming text from Aveline.
“I’m here”
Fingers flying over the keyboard, I wrote her back before grabbing my backpack and heading out of the building.
“On my way down”
Aveline picked me up every day on her way to class or work. She didn’t want me to take the bus and offered to lend me money for a car or bike all the time. I was waiting. I planned to save profits from the bike shop—I’d savor every second of buying my ride when the time was right.
What was harder was turning down her requests for me to move in to her apartment. At first, I balked, wanting her to have the freedom and independence that she had desired for so long. Leaving her at night was killing me. I didn’t like my sweet little butterfly sleeping alone, and her parents didn’t either. I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to hold off much longer.
Opening the passenger door, I folded my long legs into the seat and shut the door. “Mariposa.” I leaned over, kissing her lightly. “How are you?”
She kissed me back, sucking on my lower lip before answering my question. “I’m a little sad, actually. It’s our last day of class. Where we met and fell in love. Saying goodbye to Dr. Redmond feels wrong.” Her lower lip stuck out in a pout, so I copied her previous action, sucking on it for a few seconds.
Today was our final day of Psychology of Personality. Dr. Redmond had allowed me to make up lost class time and work, and after hearing our story, was full of questions for both Aveline and myself. I was sort of sad for class to end as well. There had never been a period of time in my life where I learned as much about myself.
Aveline pulled away from the curb, heading toward campus. “How’s Papa today?” she asked with a smile.
“Better each day. The center is amazing. All that technology that we never knew existed. He seems to be getting stronger and stronger.” I took Aveline’s free hand in mine, linking our fingers together.
“That’s the best news. Mom and Dad told me this morning that they can’t imagine how they ever survived without Ana. They haven’t had takeout in weeks. She brings joy to them.” Aveline informed me. “And your Mama called me this morning.” She finished, looking at me from the corner of her eye.
“Yeah, mariposa?” I asked, relaxed and unconcerned about something involving my mother for the first time ever.
“She’s coming to my office a few times a week for sign language lessons! She wants to know how to communicate with my parents.” Aveline’s smile was blinding.
I could have never guessed the link that formed so quickly between our parents. A tragedy that happened over eighteen years ago still had the power to draw them together.
Pulling up to campus, Aveline parked and we walked to the Psych building hand in hand. My mind was flooded with memories. God, the first time I saw her I was so judgmental, immediately passing her off as a spoiled rich girl. Then I learned that she was the cause of all my anger and rage. And I hated her, a small, beautiful, stranger—without ever having spoken to her.
Settling into our seats, Dr. Redmond entered the classroom. An excited hush fell over the room. No matter the class I took, emotions ran high on the last day of the semester.
Next to me, Aveline reached out, entwining my fingers with hers once again.
“Good afternoon for the final time, class. This is our final lecture for Psychology 201, Psychology of Personality,” Dr. Redmond announced, standing in front of the podium. “I’ve spent the last few days grading your final papers and I’m pleased with everything you’ve learned this semester.”
Moving across the stage, Dr. Redmond spoke. “From our examination of personality disorders, to theories from behaviorists and human psychologists, you all have studied many facets about the construction and evolution of personality. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I end this class as I began it. Asking you to verify whether you agree with my first proposed hypothesis. That the age-old question of nature vs. nurture is yes. It’s both.”
She looked around the room, arms out to her sides, and eyes wide. “Would anyone like to come up here to discuss this?”
A few seconds passed and finally several hands raised. Without hesitation, so did mine.
Aveline squeezed the hand linked with hers. “What are you doing?” she hissed. “You hate”—she fumbled for the right term—“volunteering, answering questions, class participation… all of this.”
I chuckled at her wide-eyed shock “I really do.”
“You, sir. In the middle, with the long hair and very colorful tattoos. Please come on up.”
I complied, standing up and walking down the aisle and up onto the stage.
Murmurs increased as students saw who the class volunteer was. Hell, I surprised myself. I had never raised my hand during my four years of high school. Avoiding communication that had anything to do with academics was the name of the game.
“Hello,” Dr. Redmond stretched out her hand and I shook it.
“Ricardo Martinez,” I introduced myself, watching her eyes register who I was and my story.
She motioned to two chairs and we sat. Holding a wired microphone to her mouth, she asked her first question. “To start, tell me your thoughts on nature versus nurture from this class, Ricardo.”
Dr. Redmond handed me the microphone, I took it and paused. “Before taking this class, I would’ve wanted to believe that we are who we are because of nature, or our genetic makeup. What I believed was that it was nurture, or our environment that made us who we are. Now, I know it’s both. Our genes influence the environment we create, and our environment impacts how our genes are used. The two are interwoven.”
Dr. Redmond nodded. “I agree. But how did you, personally, get to this point of understanding?”
Sitting forward, my legs splayed wide, I rested my elbows on my knees, the microphone held in one hand. “Like the students at the start of class I had a traumatic childhood event occur. My father dove into a lake to save a drowning girl and broke his neck. He’s lived as a quadriplegic ever since.”
The room was silent. Not a cough, sneeze, or sniffle was heard.
“And growing up in that environment caused a lot of anger and resentment to build up inside me. As a child, I turned those feelings into a symbolic monster. The monster inside me fed off that anger and allowed me to harbor negativity.”
“Please continue,” Dr. Redmond encouraged.
“Through this class, I met the girl my dad saved when he was injured.” I registered the sounds of gasps and quiet whispers in the room. Dr. Redmond, knowing our story, smiled. “And I fell in love with her. Through the environment or nurturing she brought to my life, I realized that monster and that anger was a distraction from my pain. Once I recognized that I could love someone so closely linked with my hatred, the anger faded. The pain remained but began to fade as well. And I realized I was wrong. My true nature wasn’t monstrous. My true nature is strong. It took an environment filled with forgiveness and selflessness and love to connect all those dots. Because, as your question implies, it all connects. We are interwoven.”
Handing the microphone to Dr. Redmond, she stood, hugging me. “Perfectly said, Ricardo. Thank you for sharing that.”
Walking to my row, all eyes were glued to mine. I leaned over, kissing Aveline as a few girls sang out their choruses of, “Aww’s.”
“I couldn’t end class any better than that. Look online when you get home for your grades. It has been a pleasure learning and discovering with you all.” With that Dr. Redmond exited the stage and students left her class for the final time.
Aveline and I stayed put, holding hands. She stared at me, mouth agape.
“What was that about?” she asked when the room was empty.
I angled my body close to hers. “You’ve done so much to show that you love me. I wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone to show you a small part of what you’ve given me.”
Aveline’s eyes glistened. “Did you really feel like a monster lived inside you? Since the accident?”
I nodded. “I did, but now I know better. Loving you made me love myself, too. Something I had never done before.”
“Then it’s all worth it. Slaying monsters and building families and becoming butterflies. This classroom taught us. We learned who we are. So totally worth it.” She pressed her lips to mine, and then pulled away as we stood and walked out of class hand in hand.
* * *
TWO HOURS LATER, we worked together, rolling carts of tools into the main bay. Aveline adjusted her glasses, a light sheen of sweat coating her skin in the open area that lacked air conditioning. Her usually perfect knot was now a pile of hair stacked on her head in a messy bun. She wore a pale-yellow tank top and frayed jean shorts, something she reveled in telling me her mom had no idea she now owned.
All I knew was she looked sexy as sin and it took indescribable willpower to keep my hands off her.
I also loved that every day she seemed more comfortable in her own skin. She wore what she liked, no longer trying to be perfect.
She was perfect just as she was. Inside and out.
Here, at work, we had to be focused. Hard as it was, if work was to be a shared space, we had an unspoken agreement to get that work done so that we could get to her apartment each evening as soon as possible.
Where the real fun began.
In the meantime, the hard work was paying off. My office was setup, with a filing system, computer bookkeeping program, and signage was already hung outside. Pedro’s was ready for business.
“Hola? Is there a Rocket to Uranus in da house?”
Aveline turned to me, eyes crinkled in the corners, lips twisted to the side.
Rolling my eyes, I walked closer to the door, cupping my hands around my mouth so I could yell. “Captain Winkey? Crotch Cannon? Clam Hammer? Is that you?”
Hollers of laughter rang out as Dean, Landon, and Jon walked through the open garage, rolling my bike right along with them.
“What the hell?” I asked, hands on my hips, a scowl replacing my easy smile.
Dean stepped forward, giving me a one-armed man hug. “We needed to get you a new business owner present, or some shit like that. Grace told me it was what you do.”
Landon smacked his hand against mine in a juvenile man shake we had invented in third grade and never stopped using. “Jon and I are still broke. But we brought celebratory beers!” Landon and Jon held up twelve packs of beer as Grace and Emma joined us inside the garage holding boxes of pizza. Daisy followed with a beautifully decorated cake.
“Congratulations, Ricky and Aveline.” Grace placed the pizza boxes on the ground and hugged each of us.
“I’m so excited for you both.” Emma also hugged us, but as she pulled away, I held onto her hand.
“What’s this?” I asked, eyeing the trio of diamonds on her left ring finger.
Landon came over, slinging his arm over her shoulder. “She took pity on me and agreed to marry me. I’ll need you as a groomsman next May, Action Jackson.”
“Congrats, Cave Hunter. I’d be honored,” I said with a smirk.
Emma stomped her foot. “There will be no penis jokes at my wedding, Ricky!” She scowled darkly at me and her fiancé.
“Yes, Mrs. Harris,” Dean and I answered in unison and then doubled over in laughter as Emma screeched.
A tug on my arm turned me toward Daisy. “Pequena Margarita, gracias for the beautiful cake.” I kissed Dean’s younger sister on the cheek.
Her round blue eyes shined as she looked at me and then at Aveline. “I’ve never seen you happier. So full of light. I’m thrilled for you.” She sniffled, causing Jon to pull her into his arms.
“Stop making my Sunshine cry, Bushwhacker,” he spoke harshly. With him and only him, I wasn’t sure it was a joke.
“C’mere, man.” I motioned with my head for Jon to follow me into the office. “I’m sorry about all the shit I said a few weeks ago. I was in a bad place.”
Jon socked me in the arm. “No apologies, bud. I get it. I was there at one time too. These dang girls mess with our minds. I’m happy you let the bad stuff go. And now you’re free.”
Nodding, we walked back to join the group where Dean was passing out beers. He lifted one in the air. “To Ricky and Aveline and the opening of Pedro’s. Ricky, you’ve been one of my best friends since grade school. This is the only time I’ve ever seen you lose that pissed off, constipated look. Aveline, we thank you for that. And I’m guessing for keeping him well laid. That always helps, too.”
We laughed, but the idiot wasn’t finished. “The only thing I could think of that would make you even happier was to bring this bike back to you. Other than Grace, I’ve never known a harder worker. You paid for this bike in full after scrimping and saving for years. It deserves to be back in your hands. We love you, man.”
Pesky wetness irritated the corners of my eyes, but I made that disappear with a few chugs of beer. We sat on blankets that the girls brought, drinking beer and eating pizza, telling stories that made us laugh and the girls hyperventilate. We remembered the tough times and the better ones and promised to always have each other’s back.
And in that room, that day, I felt the least lonely I had in my life.
I was full. The friendship, loyalty, support, and the love surrounded and filled me until I was saturated with joy.
The monster was gone. In his place was a man who had won.