How Green Becomes Wood

"He tried to take one of the more expensive bouquets, I told him if he did not return it I would call the police and report him for shoplifting." Dark answered, buckling his seat belt, "He returned the flowers, said words which would be censored on television, and left."
 
"That man is an absolute ass!" Alec stated heatedly. He crossed his arms and scowled. "The nerve of him, marching into Uncle Tristan's store and threatening him and insulting him... It's no wonder Tristan didn't want him to know we existed!"
 
"He is," Dark agreed, looking ahead, "I let him know he was no longer welcome at this store. If he returns, it will be trespassing. And if he does, I want you to immediately go out the back door and shut it behind you. Thankfully, he is wrong. He kept saying nobody would care if something happened to your uncle, but if the Media caught word, there would be outrage."
 
"I will," Alec promised. "But if he ever did do something to Uncle Tristan, Media wouldn't be the first to be outraged! Would they!" He scowled, twisting the lock of dyed hair around his finger. "I bet he's gotten away with a lot of stuff in the past to act like this. But he's not going to get away with it around here. Right?"
 
"Good! He's a very nasty fellow. Judgemental and rude, too," Alec sniffed. He fiddled with the seatbelt as he stared out the window. "Sorry about your shopping. Do you want to go do it now?"
 
Dark shook his head slightly, "He was already leaving when I stepped out. I do not know how much I did. But you can have a treat if you would like, I cannot imagine it was easy for you to realize who was in the store, or to hear the things he said."
 
Alec sighed and shook his head. "Oh, Ba. You really do have the personality of a real hero, too." He pulled the belt out and let it slowly slide through his hand. "It was... shocking, and what he said did hurt, but it mostly made me angry. Angry on Tristan's behalf, you know? But wince I already knew he wasn't a good man, it didn't hurt as much on personal level. Why should I have to recieve any negativity he tries to give me? I wouldn't trust him to lend me a penny. I'm not going to listen to his nonsense."
 
"That is a good perspective to have. I am glad it did not affect you too badly." Dark replied, ignoring the hero comment, "I hope he does not go to that Easter Dinner. I told him not to, it would be a mistake for him to do so, I believe."
 
Alec looked at Dark in horror. "Do you think he'd go? He absolutely cannot go! We gotta do something." He bit his lip in thought. "Yes. We have to invite him over to our house for Easter. We'll do... We'll do an egg hunt! Or something. Or just a nice dinner. Then he'd have another commitment that he couldn't get out of."
 
Alec gave Dark a raised eyebrow look. "You don't? Gee, I hadn't noticed," he said dryly. "Yes, I know we don't celebrate Easter, but there's no reason we can't have a fancy dinner party that just happens to coincide with many other people's Easter dinner."
 
"I suppose that's true, but maybe it'll help him to have something to back him up," Alec said. He smiled briefly, but he couldn't keep his smile long. "Do you think he'll be alright? I mean, really alright? He's all by himself."
 
Dark was silent for a few moments, "I think so, ultimately. I doubt this man knows where Tristan lives, only where the flower shop is. That is why I am going to talk to Cooger, he can stop by more frequently to just make sure he is okay. I am no fan of the police, but there are options there, if it becomes too serious. I do not think it will, though."
 
"That's good," Alec said softly, "and I'm glad of that, but... I meant like mentally. I know I wouldn't be great, so I'm worried about him. But he should be able to help himself somehow, right? He can call a friend to be with him, right?"
 
"I talked with him for a little while, and I sent him home," Dark replied, "but it will probably not be easy to just shake off. I do not know what he needs for his support, but I have to trust him to know what he needs."
 
Alec nodded, satisfied with that answer. "Thank you, Ba, for saving us both." Then he pointed to the store parking lot. There's a spot not too far from the front and near a cart return!"
 
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