Work Text:
“TK?” Jonah’s voice is quiet and TK can hear his confusion clear through the question. “Am I doing something wrong?”
He looks up at TK; his eyebrows knitted together, and his lower lip is jutted out. His green eyes showing slight defeat. TK doesn’t know how to do it; but he knows he wants that look to go away, “Of course not, buddy. We just need to be patient; someone will walk by, eventually.”
TK didn’t say it out loud; but he wasn’t too sure how true that would be with it being in the high 80s on a Thursday afternoon in the suburbs of Austin.
Jonah doesn’t seem too convinced by TK’s false optimism so TK tries his next best trick; distraction.
“Why don’t you inside, grab some more markers, huh?” TK suggests. “We can make some more signs, use some of that glitter glue we got yesterday.”
Jonah dejectedly agrees before hoping off of his chair and walking through the opened garage and into their house.
TK occupies his time alone by spinning the mixing spoon in the pitcher of strawberry fizzy lemonade and rearranging the red plastic cups. He feels his phone start to vibrate agains the table and hurries to grab it, at risk of the newly arranged cups becoming askew.
“Hey,” TK answers, not bothering to see who it is.
“Hey babe,” Carlos’ voice is cutting through the line and TK smiles to himself. He sounds exhausted but TK loves the sound just the same. “I’m heading home, did you want me to pick up anything for dinner?”
TK looks at the pitcher of lemonade again before answering. “Do you think we already have everything for chicken Alfredo?”
Carlos is quiet a moment, visualizing what they already have in the kitchen. “I think so, but, I’ll probably pick up some more parmesan cheese anyways. We just had it a couple of nights ago, is it that high in demand again already?”
TK shrugs even though he knows Carlos can't see him. “It’s Jonah’s favorite and I think he just needs a little bit of a pick me up.”
“What’s going on?” TK can hear Carlos getting into this car, the sound of his voice becoming more insulated.
“We’re selling lemonade.” TK mixes the pitcher again as he sees some of the flavoring start to settle at the bottom. “Well, we’re trying to.”
“TK, I already told you we can afford the science camp we’re sending Jonah to this week.” Carlos jokes.
TK fights a laugh before he replies. “First of all, it’s math camp this week, science was last week and second,” TK leans against the back his chair. “You’re not funny.”
“Oh you know you laughed,” Carlos answers, seeing right through TK.
“Anyways,” TK says, moving swiftly on. “Last week they learned how to make fizzy lemonade as a science experiment. This week, they watched a School House Rock special about how to save money. Long story short, I have a seven year old who has decided to go toe to toe with Country Time Lemonade.” TK explains and Carlos laughs. “Though it’s not looking to good for us but Jonah doesn’t want to give up.”
“Well, he is your brother.” Carlos remarks, off-handedly.
“I’m assuming that’s a good thing?”
“It’s the best thing, TK” Carlos answers. “You never do anything halfway; you should have known Jonah wouldn’t either.”
“That’s true.” TK mumbles. “And we are both our mother’s child.” TK mutters to himself, thinking fondly about Gwyn. Gwyn always tried her best not to give up on anything, on anyone; on him. “It’s just, we haven’t had any customers and I can tell it’s starting to get to him. I don’t want him to be sad about something out of his control.”
Carlos is silent a moment before replying, “Well, between you and me, I think his luck might change soon.”
—
TK’s looking over the signs he and Jonah had spent the last 20 minutes working on. He points at a black and yellow blob. “And that is,”
“It’s a bumblebee, TK.” Jonah rolls his eyes. “Can’t you see the stinger?”
TK looks at the drawing closer, not seeing anything different. “Oh yeah, it’s right there.” TK points in a general direction and Jonah moves his finger down until he’s pointing at something completely different. “Ah, got it.”
He holds up the sign, “Why bumblebees? We’re not selling honey.”
Jonah releases a very purposeful and heavy sigh. “They’re yellow? Like the lemons?”
TK nods his head, “Oh yes, obviously.”
Before TK can continue to embarrass himself is front of the seven year old business mogul himself, he sees a movement out of the corner of his eyes. He turns slightly to see Carlos walking down the sidewalk. He’s still dressed in his uniform and TK can’t help but feel a pang sympathy for him. Last time he checked his watch it was 86 degrees; and that was an hour ago.
Carlos walks up to where both he and Jonah are sitting before saying, “Hey there, so I was in the neighborhood."
TK’s eyebrows furrow, confused by what is husband is doing. “Carlos we’re married, we live together, this is our neighborhood. Why wouldn't you be here?”
“Just go with it, babe.” Carlos says through a tired smile. “Anyways, I was in the neighborhood and couldn’t help but be drawn to this colorful sign. I really love the bumblebees.”
Jonah’s smile is so bright TK can feel himself falling in love with Carlos all over again. “Thanks! He didn’t even know where the stinger was.” Jonah using his thumb to gesture to TK.
“How could he not,” Carlos jokes and TK can start to see where this is going. “Isn’t it that,” Carlos points to exactly where the stinger is. “Right there?”
“Is there something we can help you with, sir?” TK asks the question; annoyed but more importantly, playful.
“Well, I was hoping to buy some lemonade, and this seemed like the perfect place.” Carlos smiles and TK swears he can see all traces of defeat leave Jonah’s eyes. “What do you have?”
Jonah begins to talk Carlos through the both options: classic lemonade, strawberry lemonade; both fizzy. “It’s twenty-five cents a cup.”
“Hmm,” Carlos looks over the pitchers, weighing his options. “How much for the both pitchers?”
“You want to buy all of it?” Jonah asks, eyes wide.
“Yeah, how much are we looking at?” Carlos asks, reaching for his wallet. TK gently nudges Jonah, whispering loud enough for Carlos to hear. “Overcharge him.”
Jonah ignores him as Carlos laughs and pulls out a five. Jonah does the math, and TK watches his work. He can see the math camp is doing him some good. When Jonah tells him how much it’ll be, Carlos hands over the five and tells him to keep the change.
“Thanks, Carlos.” Jonah smiles up at Carlos, one of his front teeth missing.
“Go put that with the money you got from the tooth fairy, okay?” TK suggests. “Then come back out here so we can clean this all up before dinner.”
TK watches after Jonah before turning and looking up at Carlos. “You’re ridiculous.”
“You love it.” Carlos argues and TK sighs as he stands up and begins pouring the lemonade from the cups back into the pitchers.
“You know I do.” TK leans forward looking around them and the houses next to them. “Where’s your baby?”
“What are you talking about, you’re standing right there.” Carlos says the words casually.
TK smiles despite himself. “You’re cute, I mean your car.”
“Parked down at the Bakers; don’t worry, I let Mandy know.” Carlos shrugs, “Felt like parking in the drive way and walking up would ruin the illusion.” Carlos gestures to the plastic bag in hand, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to go put some parmesan cheese in the fridge before this Texas heat causes it to spoil.”
TK grabs Carlos’ shoulder before he makes it too far, “Babe,” He looks up at Carlos. “Thank you.”
“Anything for you two.” Carlos smiles. “Chicken Alfredo paired with a ice cold glass of fizzy lemonade. Sounds like a pretty perfect dinner to me, don’t you think?”
TK smiles. “About as perfect as could be.”