2.9 Bad Mood

Winter descends on Riverview seemingly overnight. 

Calvin is not pleased to find some local kid has erected a snowman in his front yard. 

He gets rid of it with a brutal efficiency. 

He feels better already. 

Which is good. His job is not the kind you should do in a bad mood. 

Though the seasons have changed, not much time has actually passed. Naomi still feels her mother's loss keenly, if secretly. 

When she's alone she asks herself if they really couldn't have reconciled. If maybe she should have gone to Starlight Shores to make amends. She knows Calvin would just say her mother was a controlling, bitter old woman... but somehow, she feels like she could've done something to patch things up. If she'd just had more time. 

But she always puts on her mask of calm quickly enough. It would be unprofessional to be seen so distraught. Or, as her mother would say, improper. Though Salvatore has been understanding, she doesn't want her co-workers to think she's over-emotional, or worse, "hysterical". That would be a death sentence for her career. 

Instead of going straight home, Naomi stops at the library. Maybe some reading will calm her nerves. 

Unfortunately the library proves to be noisy. The nerve of some people, just letting their kids roam around without supervision. Children shouldn't be so...bothersome. 

Unable to focus, Naomi puts her book away with one disapproving look at the wandering toddler. 

Naomi really can't catch a break tonight, can she? 

"Oh! Oh dear! Uhhh....the hospital! Right! Let's go there!" Naomi says in a panic. She gingerly takes the woman's arm and leads her out of the library. 

Unbeknownst to Naomi, Salvatore witnessed the entire incident. He wonders vaguely if he should help them, but they leave too quickly. 

Oh well. Back to reading. 

The delivery is quick, leaving Naomi alone in the cold outside. With a shiver, she starts looking for her car keys. Time to go home. 

She comes home to the kids radio station playing softly and a story book on the end table by the couch. Calvin must have just put Evan to bed. 

After a shower, Naomi tries to quietly sneak into bed. She nuzzles Calvin's neck for a moment before laying on her back. She's asleep before long. 

Calvin himself begins to stir awake a few hours later. 

He looks at Naomi in surprise for a few moments before sliding out of bed. 

He's picked up an...interesting...hobby as of late. He's not sure his politician-girlfriend would approve of him "vandalizing" public property, which he tries not to think about as he vandalizes public property. 

Before long he's engaging in his other, slightly more reputable activity. 

His sales are making more money now that he has a decent haul to bring in. Doesn't make it smell any less bad, though. The cashier wishes he would shower in between diving and bringing his wares to the consignment store. That can't be too much to ask. 

He comes home feeling like a rebel. Too bad there's no one around to share it with... 

Naomi would be on her way home normally, but Anita Lobos here is her newest coworker! Naomi feels it only fair for her to introduce herself properly... 

As usual, she's interrupted by the shrill ring of her cell phone. 

"Oh...Calvin, yes, sorry. I lost track of time. I'll be right there."

"Trouble in paradise?" Anita tries to joke. 

Naomi just finds herself sighing. "You could say that. See you tomorrow at work?" 

Anita nods, "Yeah, for sure." 

Naomi's home not long after. 

"Sorry I was late, I was chatting with a new employee," Naomi explains. 

"Yeah, whatever," Calvin says dismissively. Naomi's expression darkens. Sometimes there's really not getting on Calvin's good side. 

She has a quiet dinner...

Then they go to bed together at the same time. 

Calvin forgot to show her the fireflies he found in the dumpster. They glow softly in the night. 

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AN: Sheesh, I stopped looking for a few seconds and a year passed! After updating my asylum blog that involves Naomi's grandson, I felt compelled to update this blog again. I really hope I can get to generation four before long!