Chapter Four
An Evenings Turn

Cornelius
Todayland August 2037

He sat in the cushioned booth.

The long mahogany table was covered with a thick, maroon wool cloth. A vase filled with a single white rose and two stems with leaves to fill the space. Two white candles lit with small flames were placed in crystal candlesticks on either side of the vase. Large glass under plates sat in front of both Franny and him. Currently there was no other plate placed on top of it because their server already took their second course meal away. Now they sat across from each other, waiting for their last course – which was dessert. But, the wait until it arrived gave Cornelius too much time to think upon what happened the other day at the office.

So much anger. His bushy brows knotted. The hatred in his eyes.

A soft hand brushed over his and he looked up from the table cloth to meet his wife's softly smiled face. Cornelius turned his hand over to grasp her smaller one within his fingers, brushing his thumb over her soft knuckles.

"Don't think about it anymore tonight, darling." Her softly spoken voice filled the once silence between them. "I know it makes you feel guilty every time it comes across your mind, but there was nothing you could do. It's in the past now, Cornelius. You have to keep moving forward and look towards the future."

Cornelius chuckled when she used his motto against him – which she tended to do a lot of the time. He simply nodded his head as the returned reply.

The restaurant they sat in wasn't all that full – not like it had been around two hours ago. An hour ago, more people from his company began to head home after the first course was taken back to the kitchen, leaving the restaurant nearly dead – much to Cornelius' surprise. When he called a few weeks ago to set up the events reservation, he requested the booth he was sat at now to be under his name only. A large booth big enough for six people was placed in the far-right corner facing the windows. A spot he always had them sit at, even from the very first visit they came. Their first date. He remembered after the meal that Franny and him had gotten into a debate on who was going to pay the bill. Not even before the server could completely place the black book on the table, they had both reached for it. That was the first time Cornelius had come close to holding her hand. He could still recall how soft her skin was from that simple brush, how he could smell the rose of her lotion on his fingers after. Their debate had lasted several minutes, both trying to pull the book from beneath the others hand, until Franny finally called it quits and let Cornelius have the bill. He also never forgot after they left the building how she grabbed a fistful of his dress shirt and threatened him. He was dumb and let her pay the next time.

"What are you smiling about?" Franny's voice broke his state of concentration.

That's when he took notice she had shifted to allow her chin to rest on her folded hands. He also observed that neither of them had spoken in several minutes, allowing the silence crept along without a thread of conversation.

"Huh," Cornelius pushed his fallen glasses back up his nose, "the first time I brought you here. Our first official date." He answered proudly. With close surveillance, he saw the blood flow brighten her cheeks. The nervous chuckle came after.

"You mean when I threatened to push you into the lake if you dared pay for the next dinner?"

"Yep. The very one."

Their server came back to their table with the final plate. She quietly spoke for them to enjoy before walking away – leaving the notebook with their bill behind.

Cornelius watched as Franny picked up her fork. "You know I still would, right?" She popped a piece of Dacquoise on her tongue. "If you try to take my turn." He smiled as she chewed the layered cake of almond and hazelnut meringue with whipped cream. "Just try to keep that in mind." She ended up pointing her fork in his direction with a smirk.

"Hun, you do realise we both end up paying the bill now, right? We are married after all." Cornelius grabbed his fork to scoop up his first bite of the chilled cake.

"I like to think of it as having my independence." Franny spoke playfully. As cheerful as she had just been, her mood suddenly shifted. He saw how her brows slightly dipped between her nose – creating wrinkles – and how her fingers began to pick at the skin of her nails.

"Franny? What is it?"

She only gave him a shrug in reply.

"Franny." Cornelius spoke with a slightly firmer tone to get her out of her head and look at him not the table.

She dropped her fork against the plate, the echo bouncing between them.

"I'm sorry … I don't really know. I can't stop thinking about earlier. Wilbur seemed extremely jumpy and tense when we were checking out from the shopping centre. He practically raced us out the front doors."

"Isn't that normal for him?" Cornelius picked off another piece of cake and smiled when Franny did.

"Well, yes, unless it's for something he actually wants to shop for, but I saw that frightened look in his eyes. It was like he had seen something that absolutely terrified him. He made up excuses, going as far as to say he wanted to clean his room, like he thought that would get us back home quicker." The corner of her lips lifted.

Cornelius raised a blond brow. "Did he now?"

"Yes. And as shocking as it sounds, he actually did it too." Franny placed her fork down once she had had her fill of sweet dessert – following after another bite himself.

"Our Wilbur?" Cornelius reached for the black leather book from the edge of the table. Opening it to glance at the bill for the damage and placing the cash in the opposite fold with the added tip. "Cleaned his room?"

"Since he said he wanted to I told him to get started when we walked through the door. He tried to complain, but after an empty threat involving your propulsion canon, he was quick to begin."

Cornelius could only laugh at the image, placing the book back near the edge.

They walked out of the restaurant side-by-side towards their parked vehicle. One of his best mass-produced inventions. Flying cars. Franny wrapped herself around his arm once the cool nights gust rushed over them. Her arm looped around his like a snake and pressed her cheek into his shoulder. Cornelius took in a deep breath when the wind carried her perfume from her skin. The sweet aroma reminded him of a fresh bloomed rose field. He pulled her body closer with his hand wrapped on her waist, enjoying the way she molded into his side like she was made to be there.

All too soon, Franny released herself from beside him, leaving the warm spot vulnerable to the chill of the night. He kept his eyes on her as she made her way to the passenger side of the car.

"Francesca?" He called out in a sudden urge to have her look at him.

Her path was interrupted by the call of her name. She turned her body to face him. "Yes, darling?"

Cornelius went to speak his three favorite words, but the sight before him made it nearly impossible to disturb what should be painted. The moon was full that night. The parking lot was lit by lampposts of bright white, except for the post near their vehicle. The reflected light of the moon made her pale skin shine, highlighting her dust of freckles. She looked like a glorious goddess sent from the universe above. Only, she had to be more beautiful than those of immortality. That perfect cowlick that arched and curled on her forehead. The famous ribbon she used to tie half her hair back in a twisting of braids and curls – a beautiful light blue that only made her dark hair stand out. Her dress didn't help to dissuade her beauty. The thin straps that showed her shoulders and the fitting bust shaping her curves. The skirt flaring out at the hips with a slip to allow glances of her leg when she walked. Cornelius watched the fabric shift around her from the wind blowing, moving the blue pattern like waves against the shore. Franny had adjusted his suit jacket to rest over her shoulders again – though he wasn't sure when she had gotten ahold of it.

"Cornelius?" Her head tilted a bit. "Something the matter?"

"Huh?" Cornelius was shaken from his mesmerizing sight. "Oh, no, no nothing's wrong, dear." He reached into his trouser pockets to fumble with the keys that seemed to refuse to leave.

"Then why were you staring at me like that?" She started to move her hands frantically through her hair. "Is there a bug in my hair? I know you and my brothers find that a funny prank, but-"

Cornelius, having finally freed the keys, pressed the microchip key into the slit to unlock the vehicle and allow the doors to lift open. "No, there isn't anything in your hair. I was just … admiring how beautiful you look tonight."

Franny dropped her hands and gave him a soft, blushing smile. "You're very sweet."

"Just honest."

They both climbed into the front seats. Cornelius in the drivers and Franny next to him in the passenger. Once the doors fell closed again, he started the vehicle by putting the microchip in the slot and the palm of his hand. After the push of a few buttons, the vehicle lifted from the ground to start the track home with the automated programming. From the corner of his eye, Cornelius saw Franny had her nose buried in her book, so he busied himself with checking the weather. He pulled the screen up on the dashboard, the forecast was gloomy, cloudy and rainy for the remainder of the week – possible sunshine, though brief.

Without a warning, Franny moved across the car to press a kiss to his cheek. Cornelius brushed his fingers over the sticky spot when she pulled away. Her lips glossy shine smudged from the contact.

"Thank you for tonight. It was wonderful, despite the fact it was for work."

Blushing, he smiled at her warmly. "You're welcome."

They both fell into a comfortable silence, just enjoying the company of their other half. Franny turned page by page as she read and Cornelius checked his phone. He glanced over files on blueprints and progression reports on inventions they were working on or taking into consideration. He took a moment to check his email that always seemed flooded with inquires of matters the sender found important. He did find an email from one of his interns that were working on the hover-board prototype with him. He knew it was late but decided to send a reply informing the man that they would discuss it tomorrow at work.

When the robotic voice announced they had arrived at their destination, Cornelius pocketed his phone. The vehicle lowered itself onto the driveway before the garage door, opened its door and cut the power. Cornelius was quick to disembark first and swing around to the passenger side to help Franny up. She removed his jacket from around her shoulder to drape in the crook of her arm.

"Your happiness will always come first," he watched her head whip up to look in his direction, "remember?"

Cornelius slipped his arms around her waist to hold her upper back and pull her into his chest. She reached up to press her palm flat against his olive button-up. Through his glasses, he stared into her warm, chocolate doe eyes before bending forward to rest his forehead against her own. He closed his eyes to enjoy the warmth of her close presence. He could feel the brief touches of her breath over his lips. His tongue slipped out to moisten the suddenly dry skin of his own. She was so close.

"I do remember, and you take every chance you can to show me." His hands curl in her dress from the brush of her lips upon his with each word she whispered. "It is one of the many reasons I fell in love with you, Cornelius Robinson." He felt her hand slip up his chest to rest over the beating organ beyond his breast. He wanted nothing more than to love her right there.

Cornelius moved his head forward to close the unnecessary gap between them, but a loud crash from inside the house made them both twist themselves from each other and stare in the direction of the front doors. Franny gave a quick look back at him before taking off for the house. Cornelius followed close on her heel – reminding himself to get that kiss later.

Not even a second beyond the threshold before he knew exactly who was responsible for the status of his home.

Cornelius saw all the furniture just inside the entryway hall was in pieces. The mahogany table Franny got from her father, the glass vases shattered, books toppled on the floor. His hand clenched into his palm.

Wilbur. He heard the troublemakers voice just passed the archway of the entryway, making his way towards it with Franny not far behind him.

He found his son and Carl positioned in a way that they won't notice them. Locked in a heated conversation with the robot in the kitchen, or what was left of the kitchen – the fridges left destroyed and all contents scattered about. In Wilbur's hands – and Carl's – was his Disassembler Ray.

He must have found a way into the basement. Poor Carl, probably didn't have a chance to stop the boy once his mind was made up.

"I can't tell you why." Wilbur said.

"Oh," Cornelius saw how both of them froze with tension in their shoulders at the sound of Franny's voice entering the conversation, "and why can't you tell him?"

The fear in Wilbur's eyes was enough to tell Cornelius that he was not expecting to be found out for this little stunt. Poor Carl, once again stuck in the middle of his sons crazy, stupid, and otherwise dangerous schemes. Although, that could be his fault entirely. When his son grew older, he added new functions into Carl's programing to keep his child safe and a close, watchful eye if he started to find trouble.

Wilbur, nervously biting his lip, stuttered with his words. "That, is an excellent question." He clearly jerked the ray from Carl's hands to hid it behind his back – or tried to.

Cornelius and Franny remained under the threshold of the kitchen with their arms crossed. He, nor she changed their furious gaze.

"All right, young man." Cornelius started. "Give us your best excuse."

Wilbur moved his eyes to look at Carl for help, but the robot only moved back with a shake of their head. When he failed to say anything, Franny marched up to their son and wrapped her hand around his upper arm.

"Carl?" She spoke calmly without taking her eyes away from Wilbur. "Would you mind giving us a moment alone with our son?" She yanked the ray out of Wilbur's grasp and handed it off to Carl to return to the basement. Cornelius watched the eager robot make his way out of the room.

Franny dragged her troublesome son by his arm through the great room towards the hall where his bedroom door was. As Cornelius followed behind his wife's stomping heels and his son's nervous taps, he noticed Wilbur was not fighting against his mothers pull. The teenage boy followed closely with a bowed head.

Franny pushed open his already cracked door and pointed her finger inside – indicating that Wilbur should enter before her. Cornelius followed behind his son and knew Franny had when he heard the soft click of the latch behind him. His hands shoved themselves into his pockets after his glasses had been adjusted on his nose. Wilbur crossed the room to plop down in a plush red beanbag he had placed near the large wall of glass, hands folded in his lap.

"All right young man," Franny's voice broke the silent barrier,

"Yeah, yeah, I know." He interrupted. "I'm grounded until I'm thirty, no video games, and I have to reverse the all the furniture I've broken." Wilbur looked at his mother, not a shred of fight in his eyes – unusual.

Franny made her way across the room to sit in another beanbag chair. "And you will be scrubbing the kitchen until it's spotless." She reached over to gently squeeze her son's knee.

Cornelius grabbed his glasses from the bridge of his nose to wipe the lenses off with the bottom of his shirt. "Why?"

Wilbur turned his attention to his father – who had been quiet until that moment.

"I don't get it, Wilbur. Out of all the crazy, stupid, and not to mention dangerous things you have done in your youth, you have never, not once destroyed this house." He replaced his glasses. "Why now?"

"Well," Wilbur pipped up, "that's not completely true. Remember when Cousin Lazlo painted me orange? I ran around mom's music lounge splattering paint everywhere." Wilbur lifted his lips to offer a smile.

"Yes, there was that, but you were nearly five and Lazlo should have known better being twelve. You weren't the one in trouble for that." Wilbur dropped his smile. Cornelius lost his own after the memory disappeared. "I want to know why this time you decided to mess up a home that doesn't just belong to us, but all family."

Wilbur looked to his mother – who hadn't moved from the beanbag, nor taken her eyes off him – then looked down in his lap. "Can we talk? Please?" Wilbur begged his father with large brown eyes. "Alone?"

Cornelius opened his mouth to answer no, but when he looked at his son's expressive, pleading eyes – Franny's eyes – he stopped to rethink his answer. Cornelius usually left the punishing of their son to his wife, seeing as how she grew up with two older brother's she took care of after their mother passed, and he didn't grow up with parents for twelve years. He knew next to nothing about raising children except when it came to homework and science projects. With a quiet sigh and pinch of his nose, Cornelius turned to Franny.

"Would you mind, honey? I'll come find you after we're done."

Franny pushed herself up from the beanbag after a final squeeze of Wilbur's knee. "All right." When the soft click of the door filled the room, his full attention was on his son.

"You have my devotion, Wilbur."

"I used the Disassembler Ray," Wilbur stated.

"Yes, I'm well aware of that."

"Please, let me explain." Wilbur's tone spoke in begging. His fingers picking at the tiny hole in the leather fabric. "I used the Disassembler Ray, you know, after I tricked Carl into giving me the new code to the basement. I needed to find an invention of yours. I know you've hidden this one from everyone, especially me."

Cornelius leaned against the edge of Wilbur's desk while he listened, bracing his palms on the curve and being careful to not disturb the pile of mess scattered on the surface.

"I figured out after snooping through your notes that you needed the ray to find it. You hid it rather well, which I fully understand is the whole point of hidden, but I was determined to find it before you came home and would never know it was taken. I was all ready to except the punishment after, but I never figured out the clue and go frustrated. So, I started destroying everything I could think of to find it by chance." Wilbur's head dropped again, seeming to no longer have will to look in his father's eyes.

Cornelius crossed his arms over his chest. "Why were you trying to find the scanner and oracle drops?" Wilbur looked back to him with a surprised expression briefly before he moved to stare out the window without an answer.

Cornelius quietly made his way into the beanbag Franny had just vacated. Leaning on his elbows and a soft smack of his lips. "You know, at dinner you mother told me about what happened at the shops earlier. She expressed you seemed spooked. How you nearly pushed her from the check-out?" He saw Wilbur flickered his eyes back to him, but no other part of his son moved. "Does that incident have anything to do with your actions tonight?"

"I saw this man near the checkout." Wilbur whispered. "He was staring at mom, or at least that is what I was seeing."

Cornelius raised a brow.

"Not how most people would look at another person at least. It was … like there was an underlining agenda. It gave me chills to see their stare. It was like he hated her. Or you."

"Wilbur,"

"Dad, I'm being serious. I saw him. The tension alone nearly made me sick."

Cornelius held his breath until Wilbur stopped talking. "Well, there are people out there who don't appreciate the work I've done. Envious of what our family has. Money, a nice house over our heads, but Wilbur, I promise you that I won't let anything happen to your mother, you, or anyone else in our family."

Wilbur's shoulders slumped. "I just wanted the scanner to find out who he was."

Cornelius smirked. "I figured as much." He pushed himself back to his feet. "Come here." Wilbur stood and immediately wrapped his skinny arms around his waist. With a tight hug, Cornelius spoke into his son's hair. "I understand your intentions, Wilbur I really do, but your actions towards that intention were wrong. So, adding to your punishment, you are to have the house fixed and spotless before I come home tomorrow."

Wilbur pushed his hands against his father's stomach. "But that could take all day! I'll never get it done in time!"

"Well, then you better not sleep in to late. Good night, son."

Cornelius left his room and laughed to himself when a loud grunt of frustration came from the other side of the door. Cornelius made his way to his own bedroom upstairs, down the long hall, and finding the flood of light escaping from the crack. The room was bright from the bedside lamps. The king-size bed he stood near was perfectly made – a cork of Franny's to always make the bed. The lounge area just off the end of the bed. A two-seater couch, end tables, coffee table, and bookshelves on each side of the fireplace filled with books.

While he sat on his side of the bed to remove his shoes, he took notice that Franny wasn't around, though she had to be from the lights. He turned his head to glance around again until he noticed the bathroom light on as well.

"Franny?"

"In here." She replied from the onsite. Her foot pulled the cracked door open more in invitation of welcome.

Cornelius moved himself to lean against the doorframe. Spotting his wife leaned over the counter to look in the mirror as she removed her make-up. Her dark hair loose from the twisting of braids to lay freely around her back – still curled from earlier that night.

"How did it go with Wilbur?"

Cornelius moved into the bathroom to stand slightly behind her. Not meeting her eyes in the mirror but taking in the sight of her body. Cornelius moved his fingers to trace the length of her bare leg until the edge of his t-shirt fell just passed her backside. His other hand stopping at her elbow from the sleeve. How is it she could even make a simple shirt look attractive?

"Cornelius?"

Being drawn from his thoughts, Cornelius quickly removed himself from Franny to pull his shoes from his feet and drop into the closet. "I'm sorry, hun, what was that?" Cornelius pulled at his tie to loosen it, lift it from his head and drop it to the chair. Beginning to undo the buttons of his shirt and remove it to join the tie along with the white undershirt.

"I asked how it went with Wilbur." She grabbed her toothbrush to start brushing her teeth.

"Nothing unusual. He gave his excuse." Cornelius removed his trousers to drape over the back of the chair while his socks were tossed into the basket. Replacing with a pair of pajamas.

"What was the excuse?" Franny spoke between brushes.

"Well, he didn't give much of an excuse, but the actual truth."

The sound of the vibration from her toothbrush stopped, turning herself around to look at him directly. "He did what now?"

Cornelius grabbed his clothing and tossed everything in the hamper except his tie. Cornelius walked away from the closet to grab his toothbrush. He leaned against the benchtop as the bristles ran along his teeth.

"Mhm. He said he wanted to find the scanner for a science project he's been looking into, you know one he was supposed to do over the summer and didn't. He figured out I had hidden it somewhere, sadly he doesn't know it's at my office." Cornelius lied between brushing his teeth. Finally spitting the excess toothpaste into the bowl.

"Why would Wilbur want the scanner for a project ..?" Franny asked more to herself in a soft murmur. "Unless the scanner was going to be the project itself .."

Cornelius replaced his toothbrush and reached to wrap his arm around her waist. "He didn't give a clear answer to that one, but he'll be spending all of tomorrow fixing his error." They walked out of the bathroom together, switching off the light behind them. He watched Franny plop down on his side of the mattress, cover her eyes with her arms, and released the world's most dramatic sigh.

"What a long day." She whispered.

Cornelius chuckled while he stood at her feet, removing his glasses to place on the nightstand.

As tired as she looked, Cornelius couldn't help but see the natural beauty of his wife. Her black hair fanned out around her head – still curled. Strands that laid mid-down her back. It is the longest he has seen since she was a freshman in high school. He liked it longer. Felt it suited her better.

"Franny?" Cornelius whispered.

She lifted her arms so her eyes could look to him. "Yes?"

Cornelius moved himself on the bed, crawling above her body until their noses touched. Brushing his against hers in a loving nuzzle, her arms moving to drape over his shoulders, and for a moment they both just gazed at each other.

"Hun?" She wondered.

"You're beautiful." He kissed the tip of her nose, making her winkle her nose with a soft laugh. When his hand began to travel up her leg to her thigh - after slipping beneath the t-shirt she wore – her soft laugh stopped. "So beautiful."

"Cornelius .." She managed to whisper before he kissed her softly.

He felt her body relax beneath him, sinking just a bit more into the mattress. Feeling her hands lift to touch him – one slipping into his hair at the back of his neck and the other to brush against his cheek through the growing stubble. The touch of her soft fingers made Cornelius continue what he was doing, his hand lifting higher up her stomach and parting his lips to deepen their shared kiss.

Her moan was muffled but he heard it all the same.

His fingers touched warm, smooth skin until one of her breasts was beneath his grasp. Gripping gently to massage, rolling her nipple against his palm. Her gasp was breathy, but enough to break their kiss with an arch of her back – pushing her chest into his palm.

"Cornelius!" Her fingers gripped into his hair a bit tighter. Her other falling to grasp his upper arm.

"My darling .." He pressed his lips back to hers, muffling her further moans.

His hand continued to massage and grasp her breast until he took her peak between forefinger and thumb to pull enough to have her writhe and gasping.

"My darling, Franny .." Feeling the desire rise inside him, Cornelius moves his lips to kiss down her chin, her jaw until he had the lobe of her ear between his teeth.

Her arms wrapping around his shoulders while his hands made work to lift and remove her shirt.

Together they pulled the bedspread over their bodies, not bothering to move and gather their clothing spread over the floor. Franny's warm, slightly damp skin pressed against his chest as she adjusted herself to lay upon his body. Her breasts squished between them. Her arm wrapped over his stomach while her head nestled on his shoulder – knocking her skull into his jaw, but she didn't seem to notice. He placed one last kiss to her forehead as she drifted off to sleep.

Cornelius found it hard to fall asleep at first. Even with his body pleasured and spent, he couldn't seem to look away from the blurred ceiling, his fingers lightly brushing through Franny's hair while she slept. It bothered him. He searched for why he had lied to Franny about their son's true intentions. Why did he cover it up? Why hadn't he just told the truth? It isn't like there is anything for him to worry about that needs hiding.

Cornelius adjusted himself so he could get comfortable and glance upon his wife's sleeping, peaceful face. Seeing her with him helped ease the anxiety enough to allow him to close his eyes.

Unless there is something to worry about ..