Sweet Twins

Charles stepped closer to Nancy and wrapped his arms around her neck, pinning her to him seductively. "How are you going to tank me? I know you have to lay next to Bobby until he falls asleep, but afterwards, why don't you do the same for me?" Charles lifted his eyebrows suggestively as he asked Nancy this.

Nancy clammed up at his question. Not knowing what to say, she mumbled, "Of course I stay with Bobby until he sleeps. He is just a child. You are an adult! Are you jealous... of a child?"

"Of course I'm jealous, Nancy," Charles twirled her hair around his finger trying to sound romantic. "Come on."

Nancy realized then that he was serious. Anxiously, she replied, "Charles, please do not do anything stupid or ask me to do anything stupid. Your mother would kill me if she finds out. I still want to live, you know?" Nancy pushed him away as she said.

Charles paid no attention. Instead, he pulled her closer, moving his hands up to the back of her head, and moving his face closer to hers.

"No. Please." Nancy hoped if she spoke clearly and with authority, Charles might listen. She didn't want to think about what would happen if he continued to ignore her.

As Nancy was contemplating her options, an innocent voice cut through the tension, "What's going on?" Bobby had snuck out back into the room.

Nancy panicked, but Charles released her upon hearing Bobby's voice.

"Mommy, is Daddy bullying you?" Bobby sounded sleepy and confused. Bobby rubbed his eyes and became more alert, assessing the situation. He started to look angry as he took the scene in fully.

"Yes," Nancy blurted out, the panic crippling her ability to lie. "That is not good, Daddy." Bobby said, wagging his finger at his dad, mimicking a teacher reprimanding a misbehaving student. Nancy turned bright red as Bobby scolded his father.

When he received no response from either adult, Bobby continued, "Daddy, is this true? Were you bullying Mommy?" Bobby looked at his father in askance. However, Bobby's voice was clearly upset.

'Oh my baby! Why did you appear at such a time?' Charles thought to himself.

'Why are you asking me such questions? I thought you were smart to understand?'

"I just want to finish what you asked me to do yesterday. Bobby, please go to sleep alone, okay?" Charles rolled his eyes in irritation at the boy.

Bobby was confused. He didn't remember saying anything relevant yesterday.

All he could recall from yesterday really was that Grandma had fallen and he had dropped his phone. Yesterday was actually pretty bad, he thought to himself, sadly.

confusion, and sadness all played across his face as he thought and then he said, "No! I want Mommy to sleep

room, Mommy?" Bobby looked up at Nancy with puppy dog eyes and

relief at the escape

his chubby, little hand

glass of red wine sitting on the table and finished it in

He hurriedly went to the bathroom to

face was blank as he drove Nancy

felt for Nancy was gone as if it had

wasn't that he

He had no one to whom he could vent and discuss his feelings in hopes of unraveling them, but it was almost an empty sort of sadness that had washed over him with the morning light.

think of the situation for fear of getting angry and saying something she'd regret. After all, if you haven't anything nice to say, its

inflection as the hospital came into sight. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Charles cut her off. "Don't

not break the tenuous peace. Even after she was out of the car, she

at her as he drove

mobile phone. He dialed Jay's number and

Jay was still

by the ringtone, annoyed and confused. He realized that the sound that awoke him was his ringtone and that someone was calling him. Without checking to see who it was, he screamed into his phone, "Why are you calling so early?" You interrupted a great dream. Tell me quick and it better

You're such a bum," Charles shouted in disgust. His pent up emotion from the last few days finally had an outlet and his blood was already boiling at Jay at the small

sleepiness disappeared within an instant. He collected himself and started talking in a

you who called. Tell me, what's the matter," he said gently as he

impatient sigh, Charles said,

to call in so many favors to gather enough evidence to have Fannie in the first place. He and Hiram had put a lot of work into it and now

as he squinted

family. I will never be able to change that," Charles tried to explain. Charles lit up a cigarette and took a puff. He kept the smoke in for a short

the thick smoke, his charmingly attractive face showed

exclaimed

voice and snapped at Jay through the phone. Now he

tell them I was wrong and to release Fannie right this second," Jay said, hoping to deescalate things. Jay did