Wise Words

"Morning sweetheart," Charles Bing said brightly.

He planted a generous kiss on the top of his wife's pretty blond head, before seating himself at the breakfast table.

"So, what's for breakfast, Annette?" he demanded, rubbing his hands greedily.

"Buttermilk pancakes with wild berries, sir. Be patient," the maid replied tersely.

His wife was glaring at him with seething rage in her eyes, and the maid sounded jumpy and tense… What the hell was going on around here?

"Nora dear, is anything the matter?" Charles asked tentatively.

Nora silently placed a gossip magazine on the table, pushing it towards Charles. Peoples Weekly.

"I don't know Charles, you tell me," she replied quietly.

Charles's heart instantly dropped to his feet. The front cover displayed a CCTV still-shot of him in the elevator, getting hot and heavy with a 19 year old Asian man. Charles had his arms wrapped tightly around the boy's waist, his lips pressed firmly against the boy's mouth. The magazine's headline spelt it out loud and clear in its loud fluro pink headline.

"SENATOR BING'S AFFAIR WITH TEEN BELLBOY - The Inside Scoop on the Secret Video Tape"

Shit. The cat's out of the bag. Shit oh shit.

It was obvious who was behind this. He had called that disgusting little gambler's bluff, and this was the result. Charles made a promise to himself that he would ruin this man and his family. Crush the son of a bitch under the heel of his boot. How dare he? He had no idea who he was fucking with. Did he have a wife? Did he have children? If he did, by God, they would pay.

"You know, I've suspected all along you were cheating, Charles, what with all the late nights and unreturned calls. But I let it slide because I've always supported your career. But never in a million years did I think… My God, he's fucking another man!" Nora exclaimed.

"Keep your voice down!" Charles whispered loudly, "We don't want Chandler to hear."

Nora shook her head slightly, "No Charles, you don't want Chandler to hear. The boy hero-worships you. What I'd give for him to see what a pathetic coward you really are," she said coldly.

"Nora, please…" Charles replied helplessly.

He didn't know what to say. What could one possibly say in a situation like this? His words were completely escaping him. There were no available explanations or excuses, the pictures spoke for themselves.

"I'm done. This thing between us? It's over," Nora said quietly. Charles's breath caught in his throat, his heart momentarily stopped.

"Are you asking for a divorce?" he whispered.

"What else could I ask for in a situation like this?" Nora laughed bitterly.

What else, indeed. "So, that's it then? After 11 years…" Charles lamented.

Nora looked momentarily bewildered, before nodding slightly, "Yeah, it is."

"I want the house and I want Chandler," she added matter-of-factly. Charles shook his head vigorously, a gasp of tense laughter escaping him.

"Jesus, Nora! Give me a moment. Give me one bloody moment to comprehend… After 11 years I need some time to process this…" Charles's voice faltered, his voice cracking with emotions.

"Time to process this? Seriously? Charles, you're 38 years old. You've had 38 years to come out of the closet," Nora said incredulously.

"So, you want the house and you want Chandler…" Charles reiterated quietly.

Tears spilled over Charles's cheeks. Embarrassed, he quickly dabbed them away with the sleeve of his shirt. Nora's face softened. She reached over the dining table, taking Charles's hand in hers. Charles looked startled and surprised at the human contact. The last thing he expected was for his wife to show any signs of compassion over his betrayal.

"I'm not trying to be cruel, here. I'm not taking your home and son to spite you," Nora reassured.

Charles shook his head slightly, "Then why?"

"I don't think you're in a position to raise a child when you can hardly raise yourself. And I can't uproot Chandler from this house, it would be too traumatic for him."

"Nora, I… I'm really sorry… for everything," Charles muttered.

"Don't apologise to me, apologise to yourself. Use this time… as a single man to figure out who you are, because I don't believe this-" Nora pointed at the furtive man on the magazine cover, "-is who you want to be."

Charles took the magazine from Nora, turning it face down so he couldn't see the humiliating front cover.

"I'm a slut, Charles. Not to mention a bitch, a whore, a dumb blonde, a maneater, a gold digger," Nora stated matter-of-factly.

Charles laughed nervously, "W-What?"

Nora held her hand up, "But – I've always been honest with myself. I don't hide or pretend. I am who I am, and I'll teach my son to do the same."

Charles averted his eyes from Nora, ashamed at his cowardice. She was right, so right.

"You're a f-ggot. So what? Own it."

And with those wise words, Charles kissed his wife and son goodbye. Clinging to his mother, Chandler blinked back tears as his father pulled out of the driveway and out of his life forever.