He placed his arm around Edie's waist and gently pulled her towards him. He didn't want Cecil touching her and didn't want him anywhere around her. "Did you tell him you'd be his girlfriend? You have to be careful about what to say to him. He may be just a kid, but he's devious and manipulative and lies to get what he wants."
Cecil heard every word and started screaming and crying. "So...You...Don't...Want...to be with me?" he said, stuttering through sobs.
Pitiful green eyes stared at Edie, round as coins, begging her to make it better. "I hate seeing him upset. He's hurting. Do something?" she said, her voice strained and worried. She looked up at Stuart, begging for a positive answer with pleading eyes.
Ivan couldn't bear to see Edie upset and tried to explain. "Mrs. Yates, let Mr. Yates deal with him. He's the only one who knows how."
Edie was quick to respond. "That's nonsense! He's five!"
