“Charlotte Leah Watkins, I cannot believe you!”

She clutched the phone in her hands as she cried. Her chest and eyes hurt from sobbing. She rubbed the snot from her face as she pulled the blanket back over her head.

“Why the hell would you kick them out?” The woman yelled, “It’s been a week. Let them come home this instant!”

“Mom! Why can’t you be on my side?!” She shrieked.

“So, what if they’re sleeping together? That’s no reason to kick them out!” She could almost hear the woman’s eyes roll through the phone, “Sasha moved in with you to go to college. Kicking her out just because—”

“Because she’s fucking my husband?!”

“Do not talk to your mother like that!”

“I walked in on them, Mom! I walked in on them and you’re just taking their side?”

“You’re one person! You don’t need a two-bedroom apartment. Just let them move back in until they find their own place,” Her mother groaned, “I’ll send you money if that’s the real issue.”

“The real issue can’t be that my husband is cheating on me with my sister?” She exasperatedly laughed.

“You just don’t understand that they’re in love. It’s unfortunate that it happened this way, but now that you’re getting divorced—”

Charlie’s face fell, “Who told you that?”

The voice on the other side of the phone paused, “Roman and Sasha said so when they left a few days ago. I thought you knew.”

“Of course, they would just run to you whenever they get in trouble.”

“She’s my daughter too, Charlotte. I can’t just stop loving her because she made a mistake.”

“A drunken night is a mistake. An affair is a choice,” Charlie hissed, “Did you know?”

“Charl—”

“Mother, did you know?”

“Your grandmother and I found out about it and told them to keep it secret until they knew if they were in love.”

Charlie coughed through a sob, “How long?”

“Charlotte—”

“How long?”

“Four years.”

Panic crawled throughout her as she dropped her phone. Her mother’s voice was drowned out by her own blood pressure tightening her heartbeat against her neck. Her hands covered her mouth as she gagged.

“Charlotte,” The phone yelled at her, “They didn’t want to hurt you. It’s obvious you’ve been jealous of your sister since you were children and—”

She shakily picked up the phone and clicked the speaker on. Her mother’s depressed sigh on the other end seemed forced.

“Before or after the wedding?”

“What kind of questions is—”

“Mama, just tell me.”

“They love each other. You love them. Can’t you just be happy that they can be together now?” The woman scolded, “For god’s sake, Charlotte! You’re going to be an aunt, anyway. Just be happy for them and make this easier for everyone else.”

Charlie hung up the phone. The next number she called answered after a single ring. The boom of bass and music of a loud bar in the background fell away as her answerer moved to another location.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“Hey Charlie!” The cheerful woman answered, “What’s up baby girl?”

“Four years, Via.”

“Those pieces of shit!”

“My family knew,” Her dry sob got caught in her throat, “They fucking knew. My own mother won’t tell me if they started before or after we got married.”

“Would it help to know?”

Charlie didn’t answer because she didn’t know.

“When the last time you showered?”

“What’s today?”

Olivia sighed before putting on a strong voice, “That’s it. I’ll be over in a minute. I’ll tell Mickey I need to clock out.”

“Via, I don’t want you to get—”

“You need me. I’m going to be there.”

The voice comforted her more than she understood, “Thank you.”

Charlie laid under the blanket with her phone of multiple missed calls and texts. Her screensaver of a handsome man and beagle stared back at her mockingly. She threw her phone across the room, and it shattered against the wall. She screamed in frustration before she pulled at her own hair. After an indeterminate eternity of silence, the door to her apartment unlocked and someone stepped in.

“Hey Char,” The woman whispered, “Are you still awake?”

She nodded. Olivia walked over to inspect the bruise on her face. She touched it softly.

“Your shiner is healing nicely,” She sadly smiled, “How’s the concussion?”

She helped the puddle of blankets of a woman sit up on the floor. She crawled under the blankets to snuggle up next to her. Olivia wrapped her arms around her in a comforting hug. Charlie leaned into her friend.

“I can’t really tell anymore.”

She hugged her softly and brushed the hair from her face, “I told you to wait to call your mom until I could come by later today.”

“They’re went to her because I kicked them out,” Charlie whispered, “She told me to just be happy for them because everyone else is.”

“Screw that! Your sister’s a man stealing whore, your husband’s a two-timing piece of shit, and your mom’s just a straight up bitch,” Olivia hugged her around the blanket, “You don’t owe them anything.”

After a tirade that shifted into her native Spanish, Charlie finally mumbled why she called her.

“Roman told my mom he’s already started divorcing me.”

“Him? Divorce you?” She laughed, “Honey, you are the only thing keeping him alive at this point. He doesn’t even know who his doctor is or where you bank at.”

“That’s true,” She whispered.

“Exactly. You think he knows where to get a lawyer? Hell, Sasha’s just out of college and doesn’t even have a job.”

“Thank you for coming here, Via,” Charlie shrugged the blanket off her, “I’m glad you’re on my side.”

“Someone’s got to care for you,” The woman looked around and whistled, “Where’s Roxy?”

Charlie’s face puckered.

“They took the fucking dog? Oh, hell no!” She sneered, “When do they get back?”

“Sometime tomorrow. They’re already heading back,” She murmured, “I’ll need to get my stuff out by—”

“No, you won’t. They screwed you over. They can find another place to live,” Oliva snorted, “They can’t afford this place anyway. Your nanny gig is the only reason you can live in this part of town.”

She hugged her friend. The woman patted Charlie’s head and rubbed her back. Olivia met her a few years previous and was the older sister she never asked for.

“You’ll be okay. You just have to get through it,” The woman sniffed, “Well, you’ve got to shower first.”

“Via,” She took a deep breath, “Why wasn’t I good enough for him?”

“I know it feels that way, but this isn’t your fault.”

“I love them. I did everything I could for them,” She shook as she tried to stop the incoming tears, “I don’t understand why they did this to me.”

“Because some people just suck,” Olivia squeezed her, “You’re too good for this world.”

“Thanks for being on my side.”

“Always will be. Now baby girl, let’s get you in the shower. If I have to hop in there with you I will, but please—”

“Thanks, I’ll be fine,” Charlie genuinely laughed, “I don’t need you to shower with me.”

Olivia helped her to the bathroom and ran the hot water. As she closed the door behind her, Charlie’s phone started to ring.

“I’ll get it!” Olivia called.

Through the cobweb of shattered screen, a shirtless man with the name “Roman” showed as the caller. She sent him straight to voicemail. He called again. She sent him back to voicemail again. After the fifth call, a new number appeared on Charlie’s phone.

“Hello?”

“This is Indiana State Trooper Bart Johnson. I’m trying to reach Charlie Watkins.”

“This is her phone. I’m guessing her husband needs to get bailed out? Typical,” She groaned, “She’s in the shower right now. Just tell me where and I can handle it.”

There was a long pause on the other end before he responded, “I’m afraid I can’t discuss anything unless Mrs. Watkins is present.”

His tone warned her that this wasn’t about that.

“Is something wrong?” Olivia asked, “You said…Indiana?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Let me get her real quick.”

Olivia knocked on the door before she opened it and called out to Charlie. She wrapped a towel around her and held the phone to her ear.

“This is Charlie.”

Her body froze from the voice on the other line. Via caught her as she slid towards the ground. Charlie gagged and dropped her phone. She shrieked and tried to get out of her friend’s arms.

“They—they’re dead.”

“What?”

“I’ve got to drive to Indie to—” She clutched her chest, “Via, they’re dead.”

“Oh my God. Charlie, I am so—”

“I killed them,” Her eyes watered, “This is all my fault.”

Her eerie remembrance was interrupted by a fist banging on the front door. Charlie jumped up from the couch and looked around. Wade laid on the floor beside her as his hand reached up to touch her. She shook the memory from her mind as she tried to remember her surroundings.