Page 49 of A Sixpence For Your Shoe

“Oh, fucking excellent. Is that bacon I smell?” He pushes around me and walks towards the kitchen where Misha has beenmaking a full breakfast for us. I told her not to bother, but she insisted seeing as it is her first time meeting another of my sons.

“Who the fuck is this?” I hear Celso say from the kitchen.

Walking in after him I slap him on the back of the head. “Have you forgotten all of your manners?” I huff.

Misha turns to face him, and she freezes for a moment, her eyes tracing over him as though they know each other. “Hi, um, I’m Misha.” She says, holding out her hand. Celso moves in slow motion as his eyes trace over her. “Do I know you?” He asks, confused.

“I don’t think so.” She shrugs, but you also look familiar.

“I must have seen you at a club or something.” Celso shrugs too, dismissing it. “How long until the food is ready? I’m starving.” He leans over her to peek into the pan and then tries to steal a slice of bacon. She smacks his hand away with the spatula and laughs. “Just wait dammit.” She is smiling widely, and I can’t tear my eyes off the two of them.

Why are they acting as though they’ve known each other for years?

“Make yourself useful and set the table.” Misha huffs, pushing Celso away.

He laughs too and shakes his head. “She’s bossy dad. I can see why you like her.”

“Set the fucking table and stop messing around.” I snarl.

I move between them, wrapping my arm around Misha and pulling her back against my chest.

She leans her head into me and looks back, smiling, her gentle eyes still belong to me.

I glance at Celso again and a possessive, jealous streak aches inside me. He’s young, good looking and charismatic. Of course, she would be attracted to him.

A low growl rumbles through my chest, and she turns to glance at me with worry traced in her eyes. “Are you ok?” She whispers.

I nod. “I’m fine, little pet.” I reassure her. It’s not her I’m worried about. It’s my son.

Maybe his marriage is not going as well as I thought it was. Maybe he’s thinking he can have a little fun on the side.

I will cut his balls off and shove them down his throat.

“So, dad, how’s life been now that you’re retired?”

“You’d know if you ever visited.” I snap.

He chuckles. “Sorry, Neve has been keeping me very busy.”

“Are you enjoying married life?” I ask.

“Fuck, dad, I’ve never been happier in my life. She’s perfect. I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

“Hmm.” I snort. “Luck? I don’t think stalking someone until they give up and marry you is how one would defineluck.”I laugh, relieved to hear he’s still in love with his wife.

Celso packs up laughing then stops and pulls a face as he presses his hand against his temple.

Misha is two steps ahead of me and hands him a glass of water and two painkillers. “Here. It smells like you need these.” She grins.

“That bad?” he asks, smiling at her.

“Worse.”

Celso leans down and sniffs his own top. “But I showered.” He says defensively.

“I think it’s seeping from your pores.” She taunts him.

All morning the two of them banter back and forth as though they are the oldest friends in the book. Each time I reassure myself that it doesn’t mean anything, my own sinister thoughts override my reassurance, and I get angrier.

---