You know I love crazy

 

Rox listened carefully as Elvis did his best to explain his half-brother, Wade.

"Really, I didn't even know I had one," he was even lipped. He told her how this guy approached him at school who he thought might be a drug dealer of some kind. He seemed to fit in and Elvis wasn't sure what to make of him. "Then..then he cornered me, I thought he was about to punch me, but he asked me if I had ever met someone who looked like him and was calling himself Wade," Elvis said he knew it sounded crazy, but this identical twin of Wade's was posing as him and doing all these bad things.

"And you believed him?" Rox swelled a frown. She knew she would never believe Wade. There was just something about that look of his that put her off.

"Well, yeah, I mean he was really upset at the time. He said he almost lost his job."

"Why you?" she winced hard, thinking of all people why did Wade have to be Elvis' half-brother? Did he really even have proof they were related?

Rox and Elvis were out taking a late-night walk where they had some time to themselves, away from the crowded apartment. Sure, it was cold. The wind was brisk with a chance of snow. They huddled together in their thin coats. Evidently, they were native to this kind of cold.

 They came to a stop when they both noticed the aired-up Santa lying face down. It moved as if it might be doing push-ups. Finally, she cracked a laugh and so did Elvis. Rox knew this was no time to hash out what had happened with Wade moving in and her moving out. It was Christmas. 

A part of her hated to let herself be happy. She knew she should be there for Elvis too. Naturally, he hadn't heard a word from his mother. Sure, he said he was OK with that. Maybe Rox believed him. She guessed he really did need his brother in his life. She just wished she knew the whole story. 

They walked the block hand in hand. Maybe everyone was right. She needed to leave Pan alone. There was Ari who she could call and he promised to give her updates, even if he hadn't yet. After all, it was the holidays.

They were back at the apartments and someone was waiting for Elvis. Before Rox knew it, she was right there with Elvis at the old gray sedan. 

"Mom?" Elvis squinted. 

She didn't have much to say. She handed over the car keys. She said it was his now. 

"Are you going somewhere?" He wanted to know.  

"I wish," she smiled. "Like some place warm." That's when she told him she was going to jail.