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.

turned around and

lose her imposing manner if it gave her the upper hand in this unwelcome

your wound yet. I cannot promise you anything, but I do feel I am your

the medicine box for her as she said this. "Here you are, Mommy," he proudly announced as

Bobby. Nancy opened it, took out disposable gloves and

intimately again

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

Mrs. Fu and you know it." She was quick to clarify, "That doesn't mean that I like you though. I

smiled, "Yes, I understand." She too tried to school her face into an expressionless mask as

slowly peeled the gauze back

fine layer of

there. Are you doing alright so far?" she said with a slight

Nancy touching her. Angelina closed her eyes

had expected. "I'm not going to lie to you. It is not well stitched. It may open, scar, or even get infected if we leave it how it is. Would you like

and she was not excited to repeat that

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

a little

to take 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

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 you now, I believe there will be a scar if left as is, so please do not blame me later or say I didn't warn

I'll trust you this time. Please,

they had forgotten that they were not alone in the room and 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 two women's strained relationship,

and laid out the tools she needed. As carefully and quickly as she could, Nancy stitched Angelina. It was obvious only to her that

tried to be a good sport. She never moved or made a sound, even when Nancy reached points she knew should have hurt. However, Angelina kept her eyes firmly shut as well, which saved both women from awkward eye contact in such proximity. For this, Nancy

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

as close to a compliment as Angelina had ever given Nancy. There was even a hint

the best, isn't she?" Bobby said as he

the best

and Charles both complimented