Adriana sat beside Bruce as he slept. She wanted to try to stay awake to confront him as soon as he was up. The problem was confirmed. In a way, it was a relief. She felt they were ahead of the problem before it got too bad. He would kick this habit easily, she told herself.
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.
Adriana woke up after flinching at something touching her nose. She opened her eyes and saw Arsenio in the bed beside her. She had fallen asleep.
"Arsenio?" she said sleepily. "Did you just stick your finger in my nose?"
Arsenio laughed without answering. Adriana grabbed him and began to tickle him and he laughed loudly. His squeals lightened her mood as her sleep had been tense.
"I though we agreed to let your mother get her sleep, little one," Adriana heard Bruce say as he came out of the bathroom.
"It's alright," Adriana said and tickled the bottom of one of Arsenio's feet and he squealed again. "I'm getting him back."
Bruce walked over and gave Adriana a kiss on the lips.
"You're dressed for work," Adriana remarked. Bruce hadn't been in to work in a few days.
"Today I'll need to show my face and handle a few things," Bruce said. "I won't be home any later than 6."
"I go too!" Arsenio said. "Mommy?"
"Hm?" Adriana looked at her son. "You want to go with your father? You could ask him-"
"He's asked," Bruce said. "And now I suppose you're looking for a second opinion, aren't you little man? I'll be back in a few hours and we'll have the whole evening to spend together."
"Six!" Arsenio said and then looked over at the clock beside the bed.
"Right.." Bruce said, reminded of how intelligent his child was. "A little more than a few, but I will be back as soon as I can. I promise."
Arsenio didn't look happy, so Bruce reached over Adriana and picked him up from the bed. Adriana watched Bruce holding him and rubbing his back. Arsenio and Bruce had spent a great deal of time together since Bruce had taken several days off work. And now that Bruce was going back, Arsenio was behaving as though it were the end of the world.
"Heyyy, we are going to have a fun day," Adriana said and sat up to tug on Arsenio's ankle. "You and me."
Arsenio turned his head and looked at her for a second, then looked like he was about to cry. He then turned back to Bruce and threw his arms around Bruce's neck.
"The betrayal!" Adriana laughed.
"Arsenio," Bruce said while rubbing his son's back. "I need you to stay here today and keep your mother company. And take good care of her, okay?"
Arsenio nodded.
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"Mommy?" Arsenio said as he played with a few puzzle pieces while sitting in his highchair. "Mommy? Mommy?"
Arsenio looked at Alfred, who was looking at Adriana curiously, since she appeared to not be hearing Arsenio calling her.
"Mommy, mommy, mommy, mommy!" Arsenio said repeatedly.
"Oh!" Adriana said and turned to him. "Sorry baby...I was concentrating.."
"Mommy, I help?" Arsenio said and looked at what she was doing.
"This knife is really sharp," Adriana said as she diced vegetables to blanch and freeze. "It's not safe for little ones...but I'll tell you what, when I make soup you can be my special taste tester okay?"
