Sweet Twins

Nancy stood there and smiled, somewhat awkwardly.

"Mommy, I miss you so much." With that proclamation, Bobby threw himself into Nancy with no regard. His arms wrapped around her knees and he sat on her feet.

Nancy picked him up, kissed him on each of his chubby cheeks, and whispered, "I miss you, too." She was afraid to show to let on exactly how much, but her heart stung and she snuggled him in closer for a second. Hopefully, he got the message in her extra tight hold.

"My daddy said that Grandma is going through menopause, and that we should be extra patient with her. So, try to be nice, okay, Mommy?" Bobby looked up at Nancy with his big, round eyes and his father looked down and coughed to hide a laugh. Bobby whispered more nonsense in Nancy's ear, while she held him.

Nancy just smiled and humored him silently.

It was then that Angelina decided the interaction had lasted too long and become too intimate for her taste, so she snorted to bring the attention back to her.

Nancy carefully placed Bobby back on the ground and patted his head before she turned and walked towards Angelina. She spoke in a soft voice, like someone would speak if trying to calm a wild animal, "Ma'am, can I have a look at your injury? I know my specialty is pediatrics, but I am still a surgeon."

Angelina stubbornly crossed her arms over her chest and looked away, murmuring under her breath, "I have a perfectly good doctor at home, thank you." It was quite apparent that she meant she did not want Nancy in particular to check her.

Nancy had expected this and said, with a tight smile, "Mrs. Fu, as a doctor, I just want to remind you that your wound is serious and it is critical that you change the dressing as frequently as directed. Your face is beautiful. If you'd like to keep it that way, listen to the advice of a doctor, or you may scar. That is your choice. I can assure you that I am knowledgeable about wounds as a doctor and surgeon. I graduated top of my class from Harvard. I think this makes me more qualified in dealing with your wound than even your private doctor at home. Knowing all of this, I ask you one last time, would you like me to have a look at your injury?"

Nancy purposely kept her tone throughout calm and detached, but assertive.

If there was anything she had learned over the years, it was that self-confidence came from an inner poise and strength. She tried to pour that into this conversation instead of melting under the older woman's glares.

"Mommy, you're the best!" Bobby chimed in, oblivious to the tension between the two women. Nancy took solace in little Bobby's admiration. It stood in stark contrast to Angelina's opinion of her.

Charles, Bobby's father, had been mostly silent during this exchange and now cast a glance at her, echoing his son's admiration.

He found Nancy's confidence and persistence alluring, even in this difficult exchange.

Angelina was stunned into silence. She was no longer focused on her wound, but the cold way Nancy had addressed her. Mrs. Fu, instead of aunt.

Angelina worried that she was being too harsh on Nancy. Besides, even though she was in her fifties, she was still afraid of a scar marring her beauty. This wound was large and in charge in the front of her forehead.

finally turned around and looked at

her the upper hand in this unwelcome relationship. She declared coldly, "If this wound leaves a

promise you anything, but I do feel I am your best shot

medicine box for her as she said this.

a genuine smile directed at Bobby. Nancy opened

so intimately again made Angelina's forehead twitch

towards Angelina's forehead with another shrug, "Mrs. Fu, if you keep your

at all as she finally muttered, "Nancy, call me auntie. It's awkward when you call me Mrs. Fu and you know it." She was quick to clarify, "That doesn't mean that I like you though. I

tried to school her face into an

peeled the gauze

delay in treatment had allowed the blood on Angelina's wound to coagulate and harden. There was now a fine layer of scabs. Nancy took the alcohol and disinfected the cut again, hoping to soften

little, Auntie, but hang in there. Are you doing alright so far?"

Angelina choked out, determined to remain stoic with Nancy touching her. Angelina

not well stitched. It may open, scar, or even get infected if we leave it how it

stitched her wound the first time and she was not excited to repeat that with Nancy. It

considered if her looks or her pain were more important. Figuring the pain would be a shorter punishment than a permanently scarred

a little

advantage of the situation as an opportunity to get revenge since I am mean to you?" Angelina blurted this out before realizing what she had said, then shrugged because it was the question she most needed the answer

could see this did not calm the woman and tried a different tactic. She sighed, "Never mind. Since you have your doubts, I won't re-stitch it for you. But I'm telling

Angelina's heart sink. She compromised, "Fine. I'll trust you this time. Please, help me with the

the sudden power change amused both Charles and Bobby who stifled chuckles at seeing Angelina asking Nancy for anything. Maybe it was a weird sort of progress for the

As carefully and quickly as she could, Nancy stitched Angelina. It was obvious only to her that she was nervous because her hands remained

a sound, even when Nancy reached points she knew should have hurt. However, Angelina kept her eyes

the wound in fresh gauze. "All done, Auntie," she said with a small smile. "With any luck, it should not scar at all now.

painful as last time." It was as close to a compliment as Angelina had ever given Nancy. There was even

best, isn't she?" Bobby said

the best

Charles both