Chapter 06

Marissa

I heard their screams as I pulled into the garage. There was another voice trying to rise above theirs in panic and frustration. I chuckled to myself as I took my sweet time getting out of the car and lugging out the bags of groceries I'd bought on my way back from work.

Charlotte was a nice girl. Sweet, well mannered, and very responsible. But she was also too quiet and soft. And the twins , well.. they knew that. Especially Asher

I slotted my key into the door and the screaming came down a bit.

“Is that mummy?” I heard Ashlyn ask through a sniffle.

I opened the door to meet Ashlyn already running towards me, Asher coming as well but much slower and Charlotte standing with her hands clasped in front of her looking tired and flustered.

I felt bad for the poor kid. A day with the twins would do that to anyone really.

Aslynn hugged my legs tightly, Asher did the same. And then they began to talk at the same time. Something about a toy and the TV remote.

Charlotte came over to help with the grocery bags.

“Hello Charlotte. Everything ok?” I said to her with a smile.

“Yes. Yes of course Miss Thorne. We were just, um..” She looked like she was about to cry. “They just kept fighting. And it's just a stupid toy.”

“It's not stupid. You're stupid!” Asher yelled.

“Asher!” I snapped. “You tell Charlotte you're sorry right now!”

“Sorry.” He mumbled with his fists by his side. He was the stubborn and hot headed one. Elias told me he behaved a lot like his father. It saddened me to know I'll never know for certain if that was true.

“It's been a long day.” Charlotte sighed.

I smiled kindly at her. She'd only been with the twins for four hours but she looked ready to make a run for it.

I'd stopped hiring babysitters when I realized how much of a handful Asher was. The only person he listened to without question was Old Miss Quincy down the road. So I arranged for them both to stay at her place after school each day. But Miss Quincy was visiting her daughter in Oregon and wouldn't be back for at least one more week.

Charlotte offered to help me make dinner but I knew she was only trying to be polite. Her eyes said another story. I made sure to tip her nicely and bade her goodnight.

“Now, what's all this angry business about a toy?” I said to the twins when they'd finally calmed down and were munching away at some Apple slices.

“It's my toy truck. Lynn wouldn't give it.” Asher said.

“Is not. It's mine. You lost yours.”

“No. Mine has the red tires.”

“That wasn't red, it was pink. My truck has pink tires and you broke it.” Ashlynn said mournfully.

I turned to Asher who had narrowed his eyes but refused to look at his sister's face.

“Is that true Ash? Did you break the truck?”

“Well, she wouldn't give it” He grumbled.

“Because it's mine!” Ashlynn screamed.

“No yelling honey. No more yelling.” I patted her hand.

“And so what? Girls don't play with trucks.” Asher sneered.

“Do too. I drive the truck to heaven and now I can't go because you broke it.”

Oh not this again. I tried really hard not to roll my eyes as I turned to her,

“Ashlyn, You're not going to heaven tonight again are you?”

“I have to go see my sister.” She pouted.

“You don't have a sister honey. You have a brother.”

“I don't want a brother. Take him away and give me back my sister.” She folded her arms across her chest.

“Well I don't want you too! Sisters are gross and stupid.” He stuck out his tongue.

“No bad words.” I said but i was tired already. “Now both of you, I'm going to buy new toy trucks by weekend. But if I hear any more bickering, I'll collect them all. All your toys. And I'll throw them into the sea.”

“All of them?” Ashlyn asked with wide eyes.

“You wouldn't.” Asher laughed but he was also afraid

“Yes. All of them.”

“Including Pancakes?” Ashlyn asked quietly, her eyes getting misty.

It wasn't fair to her. Obviously Asher was in the wrong and I would scold him later when I had the energy to, but I needed them to stop fighting. At least for the next few days.

“Pancakes has one chance. He'll stay but another offence and he's out with the rest of them.”

“That's not fair.” Asher cried out.

“Don't talk to me about fair young man. Break a toy again and I'll make sure Miss Quincy hears about it.”

That got him sober. I sighed and left the table. The silence lasted till bedtime and I was grateful for it.

Just as I got into bed, a call from Bridget came in.

“Guess who just asked me about you?” She said immediately I picked up.

“Hello Bridget, I'm doing good thank you. How are you?” I sneered as I made myself comfortable on the bed.

“Oh don't get sassy with me. I was with you at work till six today. I know you're doing fine. Now guess.”

“Uh,..I don't know. How would I even know. It could be Anybody.” I groaned

“Yes, it could be. But it isn't. It's Jack.” She announced and I heard her inhale in anticipation.

“Jack? I don't know any Jacks.”

“Are you sure? Think about it.” She sounded way too excited.

“Oh God, um…. Jack….oh, is it JJ? Is that what it stands for? Jack?”

“Huh? Who's JJ?”

“He works for the radio. I had an interview with him recently and…”

“Oh him. Goodness no” She made a sound of shivering. “It's not him.”

“Well, I'm all out of ideas.” I yawned.

“Tinsel.” She said, and then waited.

“Tinsel. Jack Tinsel.” It took a second but then my eyes widened in alarm. “Jack Tinsel?!”

“Yes!” She squealed. “The CEO is asking about you!!”