2: Two D

EARS

ce was loud enough as it echoed down the ha

years in this mansion, and I still hadn't gotten

ounding a bit stern so that he c

about taking thin

rls scattered wildly but managing to frame his face in

as already showing signs o

sted, his green eyes wide with fake

n't using

view, . Of my three boys, Lake was the most sensitive,

" Lake insisted as he turned to tell

uld talk to them at eye level, "what's our

eciting together: "We ask first and he

odded, hidin

ystem. Lake, maybe you can show Troy how you'r

r loud crash that sounded like it came down from acr

ree of us said

n by seven minutes,

permission and jumped from furniture, and teste

it was a miracle that Soren wasn't livi

broken wooden shelves and shattered b

ia," he explained, pointing to the

in the process," I said, looking

essor Hughes say

Their professor had high ho

he offered a suggestion as I could see the

fled his dark hair

ean this up before dinne

told them. Watching with a quiet pride, I looked happy un

deep breath. Two more days,

ard the front door opening right on time. My

nd all three boys abandoned the

Six years of practice had made me the professional ex

ce seemed to be commanding as always. At twenty six he was even mo

f him: Soren attempting to climb his leg, Troy huggi

with the half-smile that appe

ooking after you

e of the disaster in the library and liter

heir heads his eyes se

les

tly with a small nod of

ster when he looked at me. Six years of shar

g beside him at events, and showing the pub

-

never missed a dinner. He always came home and egenaged in conversa

nstration today?" I asked, p

plied, helping Sore

impressed. The contract sh

ly, cutting the conversation as usu

he dinner table, remembe

as if he was trying to sup

ting people than destruction, Troy. Sometimes

eyes widened in surprise lo

ing lik

got softer with pride and happiness when he explained some things to the boys, how Soren leaned f

tarting quantum physics next w

ow at that. "I was still lea

our kids never seemed to waver at all from the first

hem at a high school level

heir socks in the hamper," I muttered m

er our meals and brought out dessert for the kids

hy don't you take your ice cream to the living room? You guys can watch twen

before their dad would change their mind, they carefully carried their bowls out o

came heavy as I clenched my fists s

glass, keeping his expressio

inally. "Our contra

days, hearing those words from his mo

kno

y as promised has been transferred to the offshore accounts we made

ged, trying my best to

a," he continued, his tone sounding businesslike like

It's our last public appearance

I asked, curious despite the

at we couldn't reconcile an

the b

spoke, "they need to be told that you needed to le

t the clinical t

. They won't understand why thei

erms," he said coldly

emain with me. That

to!" I snapped, then i

re him before. I took a deep b

they'll be

Maybe guilt. But it was gone too fast for me to

em?" I asked, the question I'd

final. "Clean breaks are best. No

blood, forcing back the te

morrow," he continued, oblivious to my di

rs of playing the perfect wife h

erate to escape before I would break down completely in front

with the way he was looking at me, pro

his head. "That will be

ight,