Although she was just stepping into the world of adulthood, her childish side still reined her in. It was the same naivete that forced her parents to hand her over to marry Dale after a night out with him when they met in college and she got to understand that Dale wasn't so bad after all and he was a quick reminder of her dad.
She met Alec after they married, she had never been able to tell between him and Dale because they shared very similar physical appearances but Alec's eyes never lied, his were too different and endearing while Dale's eyes were plain, like a lizard's.
He smiled like a lizard too but she admired him.
Alec was rough around the edges and spontaneous, he'd never let anything keep him down and Dale was calm, careful and followed routines, he played it safe.
It had been a mistake that night when Dale left for work, Alex was only paying a visit and she wasted away at the fridge nursing a glass of scotch, she was also too oblivious to listen to Dale about drinking too early either, she was reckless too and angry that she had to be bridled by her husband.
Thanks to her lack of pure judgement, she threw herself at him after coercing him to have a drink, moral was on the losing end which Alec had a problem with and they slept together.
Dale changed when his paranoia kicked in, George had barely been able to walk when he found out, even their eye colour was the same, he asked for a DNA test and his claims had been right.
_ _ _
Rose watched as Dale threw a tantrum, she didn't want it to end this way, she wished she had been the one to let him down gently and perhaps end the madness, she too had long endured the pain of silence.
She covered her eyes as Gracie cooed rubbing her hair with her sticky hand.
"Gorge, where did Gorge go?" She asked with sad eyes.
"George's not home right now," She said with a quivering voice as she feared he might never come back, she had grown to be restless. Her hand moved to her face.
"Don't worry"
Dale glared at her from across the room, he couldn't get Gracie to calm down, she grew anxious whenever she asked of mom or her 'sibling' technically. He had to call her back to pacify her.
"Dale_"
"Don't call my name!"
He turned away proudly, it hasn't been twenty-four hours yet to be handing the case over to the police to handle and she was desperate. He lowered his head and gripped his fist when she said "Dale_Dale, where is he?"
His finger tapped over the surface of the fireplace when she pleaded with him to tell her.
"I'm asking a lawyer to file a divorce, you can go to him if you want"
She paled reminded once more, cradling Gracie as a consolation.
***
George hunched on his seat as his real father scrambled through the kitchen and rustled an omelette, it left him with chills while he stood by the gas stove waving a pan over the flames then used a fork to flip the omelette into two then tossed it and presented him with a plate and a glass of watermelon juice.
"I'm not hungry" He mumbled ravenously and avoided his eyes that seemed to emit compassion.
Alec with his tattooed arm in his pocket, crossed them by the wall gazing at him then raked his hair sitting on a stool surprised that he was sitting here in his living room, he was delighted, encouraged.
"You sure came a long way to see me" He learned his name from Marlee.
"I was just... interested"
"Curious George" He softened when George passed him a hard stare and he cleared his throat pulling at his collar.
"I have nowhere else to go," He said and Alec lightened up stepping forward.
"You can stay here with me, I'm sure I have a nice bedroom somewhere"
George looked surprised with his hand on the chair then swallowed lowering his head blushing then worked his jaw to try to control his impulse to get up to have a look at him better. It was easy talking to him.
"Do you want to take a look?"
George nodded quickly "Yes" and Alec smiled pushing the door open, he grinned at the extra doors and opened one with sky blue painted walls and a small chandelier, a queen-sized bed, the blanket had a bicycle on it with race track and a green meadow, he almost smiled at the basket with a basketball hoop over it by the bedside.
A low burning lantern with boxes by the edge. Alec stepped in and picked up a box, George saw the brands across and he chuckled.
"Olives?"
"This was meant to be delivered to the deli."
"You work at a deli?"
Alec cackled "I own the deli" George was saddened and Alec grimaced, their conversation was going well, he thought he might have said something wrong. He sighed.
"George, I didn't think you were going to arrive but I have unfinished business"
"I understand" He held on to his bag sheepishly.
"If you can wait, I'll get this place cleared up after I get back"
"I can go with you" He suggested.
Alec's eyes rose "Really?" He grinned closing the door to drop the box on a table to rest an elbow on it.
"Wow, then I guess I can get a car to load these up and we'll go from here"
"Cool"