A Falice Story

28. Answers

My head turns quickly and I catch a glimpse of FP; his face a mixture of hurt, anger and confusion. I stand up, Charles helping me, "FP, it's not what you think--"

He shakes his head, "Care to explain it then?! And you--get your hands off of her!" He angrily threatens Charles who immediately lets go, putting his hands up in surrender. 

"FP! Stop! You're being an idiot--and you're going to be pretty damn embarrassed when you find out who he is--" I bite back. 

FP stands still, staring at Charles, who is staring back at him. I grab FP's hands in mine and tears well up. "Al, what's going on?" he asks quietly, his voice shaking slightly. I look up at him and smile, "That's our son." 

He does a double take between myself and Charles. I wrap my arms around FP's waist, tears running down my face. FP strokes my hair, "Alice, you're--you're not messing with me right? This is real?" his eyes are misty as he keeps looking at me and Charles. 

I nod, "This is real, FP," I turn back around to face Charles, who is standing with his hands in his pockets, and he extends one to FP as he walks closer to him. FP takes his hand, firmly shaking it. Charles tries to hold back a smile, but he can't and pretty soon FP is grinning like a fool too. He wraps him into a hug and both of them are laughing by the end of it.

"Oh my God, I can't believe I almost punched my son--I'm such an idiot," FP says, chuckling in disbelief. Charles shakes his head, "It's alright, no harm done. I'm sure it looked pretty bad," he laughs. 

FP collapses into a chair, trying to grasp what I just told him. I usher Charles into the kitchen and I sit next to FP, Charles taking a seat across from us, "We have a lot to talk about..." 

**********

We fill Charles in on everything. And by everything, I mean everything. When we told him about Chic pretending to be him, his eyes practically pop out of his head.

"Wait--are you kidding me? Jeez, I thought I'd never have to hear that creep's name again," he says shaking his head. 

"Did you live with him?" I ask, finally able to gather details about who that imposter was. Charles shakes his head, "No--never. I used to date his older sister--years ago. That's how we met. He hated me and I had no idea why. When I'd come over, he'd always be creeping around the house and staring at me like he knew my darkest secrets." 

I have FP's hand in mine, absentmindedly running my fingers across his knuckles, "It was so awful--he told us you were dead--that you overdosed."

Charles scratches his head, "Shit, now that is messed up. I'm so sorry that happened to you--I honestly have no idea how or where he'd even get information about you and your family." 

FP sighs, "Well, that's all in the past now," he pauses, "But I uh, now I don't want to sound paranoid, because I know you're our kid--especially after talking to you--but could you take a test? Just to be sure--"

I swat his chest, "FP!"

"No, I completely understand--especially after that whole Chic incident. I absolutely can do that for you," Charles agrees.

I smile, "Thank you. I guess it would be okay--for peace of mind."

He nods with a kind smile and catches a glimpse of the time on his phone, "Oh, jeez. I better get back to work!"

"We're sorry to have kept you so long--four hours long to be exact--" I start.

He stops me, "No, trust me, it was--amazing. Thank you for filling me in on everything."