Page 32 of Rat Park
Dominic signed up for evening GED courses quietly and tried not to feel like an idiot when he struggled with even the simplest work. It gave him something to do, however, and he welcomed the distraction. The average seemed to be three months to complete the course, but he put off taking the exams for five months and surprised himself by passing them. He got the letter in the mail and sat on his bed, staring at the certificate, not sure what to feel at that moment. Pride, probably, but there was just a sort of exhaustion that didn’t quite hurt. He was too used to it for it to do much harm.
Dominic started cooking at home too, utilising all the skills he learnt at the Romeros’. He didn’t bake, preferring to leave that activity to moments spent with Flor in his kitchen, under his watchful, kind eye. There was not much to share about his own life in those moments, but he listened to Flor talk about the application process to college, and despite Flor’s natural anxieties about the whole thing, Dominic didn’t doubt for a second that Flor would get accepted into his first choice. Who would turn someone like Flor away?
Flor became quiet and almost shy when Dominic shared this sentiment, bumping shoulders with him gently, and Dominic smiled to himself, having nothing else to add.
Flor shared with him his choices in university, all of them in other states. Dominic nodded in understanding. He would want to escape this town too if he could, though he supposed Flor didn’t have the same dark memories of it he did.
“Why haven’t you left, if you don’t like it here?” Flor asked. Dominic shrugged.
“It’s not that I don’t like it, exactly. And between parole and…”your family, you, he wanted to add but didn’t quite know how. “Anyway, I already got a job here.”
“You could get a job anywhere,” Flor said, naively in Dominic’s mind. The move would be too expensive, and…
“I don’t got the brains to just get any job. It’d be a hassle.”
“You don’t have—that’s ridiculous. It’s not about brains. And I still maintain that you could get your GED if you wanted to.”
Dominic paused. “I got it, actually,” he admitted, deciding it would feel too much like lying to keep silent.
Flor, who had been rolling dough at Dominic’s elbow, stilled completely. Dominic could see Flor looking at him from the corner of his eye, but he didn’t turn to see his expression.
“What!”
“Yeah. Got the results the other week.”
“What! Why didn’t you tell me?”
Dominic shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.”
“Yes it is! Dominic, that’s great.”
“Pfft. I’m twenty-six. Not exactly an accomplishment.”
“Yes it is! Oh my God, Dominic. Seriously. We’re celebrating.”
“No.”
“Yes. I have the perfect place, too. It’s a little bakery that does all these creative desserts.”
“Flor,” he said, finally turning to look at him and instantly recognizing Flor’s stubborn frown.
“Dominic.”
“I don’t need—”
“Please. Come on, you didn’t even come to my eighteenth birthday party.” Flor had taken to asking for things with wide eyes and pouting lips. Dominic didn’t want to admit how effective they were, but he found himself giving in anyway.
Dominic sighed. “Fine.”
“Whoo! You’re going to love it, I promise,” he said, waving flour-covered hands around. Dominic tamped down his smile.
Loving it was what he was afraid of in the first place.
**********
The bakery cornered one of the streets, pressed between a pet groomer’s and a dance studio, a sign sticking out of the façade like conqueror’s flag.Dulce, it proclaimed, writing looped on a calm, tasteful purple. Dominic and Flor had left the car in a parking lot a couple of blocks away and walked in the sunshine towards the shop, Flor opening the door for him, causing the bell above it to jingle.
Dominic took a deep breath as soon as he was inside, the smell of chocolate and dough warm in the air. A lady behind a large counter displaying all sorts of treats smiled at them in greeting. He let Flor take care of the interaction as he looked around the space. A few small, round tables were tucked against the large window to the right, only one of them occupied by what looked to be a young couple. Sunshine streamed in, lighting up the display case. The section facing the door boasted large, one-tier cakes, the texture of the smooth buttercream visible even from the door. Dominic could see a collection of pastries and baked goods inside the glass case looking temptingly at the seated section. All types of baguettes and bread loaves lined the wall behind the counter, adding to the enticing scent.
