The Art Of Us

6 • We Love The People We Want To Hate

Charles came home a little later than usual, but when he did finally arrive home he was welcomed with the delicious smell of lasagna. It had always been his favorite meal, from as soon as he could eat solid food and tasted it for the very first time. However, he had no idea that it was a distraction for was about to happen tonight.

He smiled at Fred, who poked his head out of the kitchen to greet him. It was no surprise to see him in their home, which happened more often than not. Charles was glad to see the man that helped his mother raise him. He had always been the father figure he never had. Up till today.

"Are the three of us eating together tonight?" He questioned, as he looked in the small kitchen of their apartment to take a sneak peek.

"Yes, I cooked!" Fred beamed brightly. He loved taking care of Charles and Alice, even with something as simple as cooking.

"Alright!"

Charles made his way over to the couch and let himself fall down, as he watched his mother setting the table.

"By the way, Mom, FP was at your party. That was kinda nice, don't you think?" He chirped, giving her a heart warming smile. He believed for it to be a very nice gesture.

"Very." Alice said plainly, continuing to put down some glasses.

"I ran into him a little while ago, he was at Pop's." Charles continued, oblivious to his mother's nerves.

"And yes, I know what you've told me... we just talked a little bit about his work, don't worry." He said quickly, before she'd lecture him again.

"He seems like a great guy, why are you so mad at him?" It was a question burning in his mind ever since their first encounter, and finally dared to ask it.

Alice finally looked up and met Fred's eyes, who just came walking out of the kitchen. She had planned to talk to him after dinner, but it look like the opportunity to open up was about to present itself. She couldn't run away from it, she had for sixteen years, but the past was about to catch up with her. He needed to hear it from her before he'd find out himself.

"That's actually something that I wanted to talk to you about." Alice began carefully, as she sat down on the couch next to him.

Fred took off his apron and sat down on the chair, knowingly looking at the two. Charles seemed to notice that something was off, because his face was tensing.

"You were right. There shouldn't be any secrets between us. And I've been keeping this one for longer than I'm proud of." Alice's eyes started to gloss over, which only concerned Charles about her well-being.

"Mom, are you okay? I'm worried about you." He said, scooting over closer to her as he looked straight into her eyes. Usually he could feel exactly what was wrong, but today that seemed impossible.

"If this really hurts you, you don't have to tell me." Charles added immediately, giving her a soft smile. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel pressure.

"No honey, I do. I really do." Alice sniffed, before taking a long breath.

She looked at Fred one more time, before speaking the words that had been hidden away for sixteen years.

"FP is your father, Charles." She said in a small whisper, as the first tears fell from her eyes.

The blood disappeared out of the young boy's face. The man that he had looked up to all his life, the man that created the world that was his biggest escape was his father.

"He's my... father?" He stammered out, his mind spinning.

"You always told me you didn't know." His voice cracked, which only made Alice even sadder than she already was.