“Doubtful.” I snort. “Anyway, don’t strain yourself trying to come up with reasons justifying why Blake isn’t a saint. I don’t want to give you an aneurysm.” I sink deeper into the hot water.
“I promise not to have an aneurysm if you’ll tell me about her.”
“Elizabeth.” My voice is low but firm.
She sighs loudly. “Fine, I won’t pry. Still, it’d be nice if you told me what’s going on after I gave you my thoughts.”
I can hear the pout in her words. I allow myself a small smile.
“Thank you, Elizabeth.”
“You’re welcome.” She hesitates. “You know you can tell me anything, right? I’m always here for you.”
I rest the back of my head against the rim of the tub. “I know. Thanks.” Closing my eyes, I disconnect the line.
r />
What Is Wrong With Him?
The second the boy sees his twin walk into the giant mansion they call home, he launches himself, his small fists tight and shaking with rage.
“You butthole!” the boy yells, spittle flying from his cherubic mouth. He’s bitter, and “butthole” is the worst word he knows.
The twin raises his arms to block the blow. “I’m sorry!” he shouts. “I thought you were gonna be there.”
“You lie!”
“Mom said you were waiting for us.”
“Liar!”
The boy keeps repeating it. He can’t believe his mother left him home and took his twin to Disneyland. She knows how much he loves the amusement park…how much he adores her.
“Stop that, both of you!” comes a sharp rebuke. “Goodness, what’s wrong with the two of you?”
“I told you he was going to be upset!” the twin says to their mother, gesturing wildly.
She is not having any of it. Hands on her hips, she turns to the boy.
“What did I say about acting out, Lucas?”
“You told me if I was good—”
“Were you good?”
“Yes!”
“No,” she corrects him coldly. “Remember last week when you made a mess of my dress?”
The boy remembers, and it’s unfair that she’s upset about that. It was just mud, and it came out. He saw the housekeeper clean it.
“I wanted to hug you, Mommy.”
“Well, you shouldn’t have done that. I’ve told you a thousand times to stay away when you’re dirty.”
Suddenly this is too much for him to handle. The boy bursts out crying, tears pouring down his cheeks.
“Other moms don’t mind when their sons hug them!”