His Heart

Chapter forty-two: Charlie

I kept an eye on Maddie and she sighed.

"I'm ok, Papá. I won't do it again." She said.

"I'm just worried about you. I think we should take you to therapy." I said, softly.

She shook her head.

"It would be good for you. You'll be able to talk to someone about the things you don't feel comfortable talking to me about." I argued.

"I don't want to, Papá." She said.

"Think about it. Please?"

She hesitated. "Ok."

"Thank you."

"You really love her, don't you?" She said.

I blinked at the sudden topic change.

"Yeah."

"So why haven't you done anything about it?" She asked.

"For a start, it's been less than a year." I said.

"Eleven months."

"Exactly."

"But time shouldn't be an issue." She argued. "If you love her, you should do something about it."

"Like what? Ask her to move in? Where would they go? This house was made for four."

"I don't know. But don't hesitate because you're afraid."

"What am I afraid of?"

She shrugged.

"You think I'm afraid of losing your mamá? Of moving on?"

"Your words not mine." She replied.

I sighed. She was right.

"So what should I do?"

"You know."

She gave me a look before leaving the room.

She's right you know. Jasmine's voice chimed. You can't spend your life going slow because you're afraid. Sometimes you need to take the fast lane.

Isn't that more dangerous?

Maybe. But it's much more fun.

~*~

"Leo, would you like to spend some time with the twins tomorrow?" I asked.

"Yes please."

"I'll give Lizzie a ring and make sure that's ok." I said.

I picked up the phone, she answered almost immediately.

"Hi." She said.

"Hi." I chuckled. "Are the boys free tomorrow?"

"Sure. Will you and Maddie come?"

"Sure." I said. "I know Maddie would love to see the boys again."

"How's she been?"

"I'm trying to talk her into therapy." I said.

"Maybe we should get Archer to talk to her." She chuckled.

I laughed. "Maybe."

"Charlie, do you ever think about the future?" She asked.

"All the time." I replied. "Do you?"

Am I in it?

"Yeah." She said. "I always wonder about how the kids' life will be. About the people they'll turn into. It both amazes and frightens me: the people they grow up to be. There's only so much I can do for them."