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.

across his face as he thought and then he

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

sure," Nancy answered quickly, almost sighing with relief at the

Nancy had agreed. Bobby waved his chubby, little hand at

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

the bathroom to take another

morning, Charles' face was blank as he drove Nancy to

for Nancy was gone as if it

wasn't that he was

was almost an empty sort of sadness that had washed over him with the morning light. He didn't even blame Nancy;

night. She tried not to think of the situation for fear of

will call Jay and have him straighten things out with Fannie," Charles said this without inflection as the hospital came into sight. Just as she opened her mouth to say something, Charles cut her

the car door. She was confused and just trying to not break the tenuous peace.

even look at her as

mobile phone. He dialed Jay's

was still

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

time! You're still sleeping? 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

an instant. He collected himself and started talking

Tell me, what's the matter," he said gently as he rubbed

an impatient sigh, Charles said,

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 she was to be released? As if it had been pointless to lock her up in

as he squinted his eyes and raised

cares too much about her 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 while before breathing it

charmingly attractive face showed a

woman!" Jay exclaimed in a

me?" Charles suddenly raised his voice and snapped at Jay through the phone. Now he was really

and to release Fannie right this second," Jay said, hoping to deescalate things. Jay did not