if I didn't have you, I wouldn't see the sun

 Thank god, Tristan was meeting them at Train Station Pizza and Arcade. He'd been slumming ever since Dale left. 

First, it was like a vacation. Just relaxing, trying to feel what it was like all on his own. Hell, if he didn't wake up to dirty dishes, clothes on the floor. The house might as well have been a mess. He'd gotten into some of his dad's old whiskey that he'd forgotten in the garage, and maybe he decided to make something in the Vitamix when he shouldn't because there might have been strawberries on the kitchen ceiling.

Yeah, he knew he'd have to straighten up, but it was Memorial Day weekend and it felt so right. But he'd been dragging home alone. Playing video games, forgetting to shower. Although he got right on it when Carmen sent him the message and he cleaned up nicely. Tristan was only ten minutes late. No one seemed to notice. Carmen was even later.

She asked about Dale while Randy and Kenny headed for the arcade. "Doing great, sleeping when she can." Tristan shrugged. He said he would give her some time before he visited, but they were keeping in touch all the time. No big deal. 

He didn't want to say he felt a little lost with out her. He wanted her to thrive with this new job. He wanted her to love her job. Not to say, he didn't love his job. Although, most of it was research and staring at animals a lot, noting when they pooped, for the most part. At the moment, he couldn't see himself doing anything else and he knew Dale wouldn't want to do anything else, either.

They ordered pizza and Justin followed them to the salad bar. There was beer waiting for them when they got back. That was when Carmen started in about the phone call with his mother, Trish.

"I'm worried about her," Carmen said.

"Oh, she'll be fine, my dad's there."

Tristan wasn't really concerned. Those two had made it through a lot of moves, spats, arguments, and maybe even fights. Of course, his dad had always let her do all the hitting. He'd never touched her. It was a war, perhaps, but somehow they always made up. He was her rock. She was his volcano, always spitting fire.

"Is she really OK with Kenny?" Her question alarmed him.

"Kenny? What do you mean?" Tristan winced. He turned to his beer then hoping this conversation didn't go crazy.

"You know, how much he means to me. I've raised him most of my life," Carmen looked sad to bring it up. "I've loved him since the moment he was born. I don't want anything bad to happen to him. I always felt...he was mine. No one else wanted him in my family. If..if..she ..if she does have a problem..Then I want Kenny with me."

Tristan took a sip of his lite beer. He knew he'd need another. Really, he wasn't sure if he could help Carmen. But if it was for Kenny's own good, he might have to.