Fudge

I cupped Charlottes face in my hands and blew gently across her face.

“Don’t do that Christian” she shook her head from my grip irritably.

The reaction shocked me and I took a step back.

“Careful!” she exclaimed, “you’ll step on my shopping”.

I stumbled to a halt but was powerless to stop myself standing on the bag. A sickening crunch confirmed the deed.

“You moron, you absolute moron” she snarled.

“It was an accident” I countered, stung by the rebuke “I didn’t mean to do it”.

“Yeah you don’t MEAN to do a lot of things. Christ, is that your excuse for all your blunders in life?”.

“Charlotte please” I held up my hands feeling genuinely hurt and perplexed, “What’s the matter?”.

She walked silently and slowly toward me before firing an open handed slap to my face. I recoiled in horror until my back was against the wall.

“No more questions” she muttered, eyes wide, “Sit down Chris. We need to talk”. She hung her head looking utterly defeated.

I followed her into the living-room, a lump in my throat and a heavy heart. This did not have the hallmarks of a happy ending. Once she had sat down, she looked up at me with purpose.

“I didn’t want to have to ask this but I have no choice”, she took a deep breath, “Have you been spooning fudge into my dressing-table?”.

The realisation hit me like a taser. I’d been found out.

“Fudge?” I tried to ride out the storm.

“Every drawer, shelf and cupboard is coated in Fudge” she shook her head in disbelief, “I mean, you must have been doing it for weeks. Making up a massive bowl of fudge then spooning it into the dressing-table whilst I slept”.

“ALRIGHT!” I erupted, “It’s true…it’s ALL true. I can’t stop myself, I wish I could but I can’t.”.

“Oh Chris” she shook her head half in pity and have in disgust, “You’ve fallen for the lure of the fudge again”.

As I nodded numbly, the tears flowed easily down my face.