Clifford grabbed a chair from the pile he just made and un-folded it and said,"Here Have a seat." He did the same for himself and looked at her. She was radiating stress,anguish,pain,and suffering. Clifford had remembered what the old man had said about her not being at his wake."Maybe she feels bad about that?"He thought. "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you but you just seem like the best person to talk to about this."Minerva had her head down and she was rubbing her fingers as if she had dirt on them. "Your not bothering me.Whats the matter?" Clifford said verbally reaching out to her. Minerva lifted her head and looked into Clifford's eyes,"My name is Minerva,most people call me Minnie." Clifford nodded his head and said,"My name is Clifford Baxtor.Its nice to meet you Minerva." She smiled quickly then brought back the look of desperation,"My husband.." She looked away with pain in her eyes as tears began to form. Clifford reached out and held her hand,"Minerva,its okay.I know what happened to him." Minerva looked up in shock,"No.The only ones who know what happened are the cops,Me,Rudolf,Analisette and Adrine." Clifford was confused,no one had told him anything specific.Minerva looked away again but allowed one single tear to slip out.She quickly glided her index finger up her cheek and to her eye,as if putting the tear back in her eye. Clifford realized her hand was still in his and quickly took it back. Minerva watched his speed,"Your hands are rough. My mother always told me that a man with rough hands means that they are hard workers.Charlie had the smoothest hands I've ever felt." She shook her head,trying to erase how those soft hands became hard as rock when they created a fist. "Minerva,Charlie didn't work hard?"Clifford asked hoping that she would say yes,but knew that dealing drugs wasn't real hard work. Minerva smiled,"Well,a better question would be,Did he provide for his Family?And to that I could say yes he did.Honestly We probably would have never made it this far without him." Clifford felt a warmth in his heart at her reply,many times he had hoped that Charlie was doing right by his family but never had conformation to make it fact. "That's good that he provided for you and the girls."Clifford said with a slight smile. She looked at him confused,"The girls?How do you know about my daughters Clifford?" He was scared of replying wrong,"Rudolf gave me a list of everyone in the building." Minerva rubbed her forehead with her fingertips and said,"I'm sorry Clifford,Its hard for me to trust people." In his heart he wanted to come clean right then and there,but knew that Minerva would never forgive him for deceiving her in this moment, so he chose to remain undercover."It was good that he provided for them,but material things could never fix what he did." He felt all the air get sucked out of his lungs but replied,"What did he do?"
Minerva began rubbing her hands harder and harder with each stroke."Minerva,I see that its bothering you."Clifford said with regret and fear. He was regretful that his cousin had done something that had bothered her so much that she wanted the dirt off her hands. He was fearful of what he might have done. Minerva took a deep breath then released it. "Clifford,Charlie would,He would,.."Minerva shut her eyes and wrinkled in between her eyebrows then continued,"Touch.He would touch Abby,Susie wasn't old enough,but if she was Clifford,He would have touched her too." Clifford didn't want to believe it. He shook his head and wanted to cry. Minerva looked away again,"Bastard.He deserved what he got." Clifford looked at her with anger,"No one deserves to die Minerva!" She turned her head quickly and looked into his eyes,"So what did he deserve? Tell me! Tell me the method you would have recommended for a molester,abuser,and Adulter?" Clifford's eyes widened,he couldn't believe her words. "Your silence tells me all I need to know."Minerva said softly. He shook his head. Minerva looked down,"You know,the last thing he told me was,"Those green beans better be on the table in an hour or your dead." Fucking asshole! [She smiled] He got his green beans alright."
Clifford was mulling over everything she had said up to this point.This woman,had been through so much.Charlie would write how great things were.Until now he had given him the benefit of the doubt.Why would she lie about a dead man? Why would she take time to spread a lie so fierce about her dead husband? Why would she speak in a tone of pain and shed tears if she wasn't saying the truth?
Minerva took a deep breath and spoke,"Charlie dealt with alot of bad people. I don't know if he set up for someone to take care of anything.Theres a chance that someone might be coming after me to hold me for ransom or something." Clifford thought,"Over my dead body!" He would do whatever he had to do in order to keep her and the girls safe. Its the least he could do for Charlie."Minerva,nothing is going to happen to you."Clifford said reassuringly. She looked away,"I feel like there watching my every movement,stalking me,waiting for a chance to strike." He reached out and touched her arm then gently rubbed it,"I wont let them get that close." She looked into his eyes deeply,"You would do that for me?" Minerva felt how genuine he was,it felt good to know that someone cared for her and her children. "I have no money to repay you." She replied. Clifford smiled,"Knowing that your safe is enough." Her heart began to warm with his words.
They talked for what seemed like forever and realized how much they had in common. Clifford was shocked that she was taking to him for so long,but he didn't mind it.After all,she was his responsibility now. Minerva gained trust and respect for this man,referred to him as her protector. He had smiled at that nickname and didn't refuse it. After she said good night he gave her a warm hug and said the same.
Clifford watched her leave.Part of him wanted more time with her,and the other part felt bad for wanting anything from her. He questioned if Charlie ever talked to her like he did, and felt horrible that he could never know the answer. He had found answers to other questions.He had found the truth in Minerva's words. Charlie wasn't a good man,he hurt her.Made her live a hell that no one deserved. The girls hadn't received a father,but a monster that they had to face everyday. Clifford thought if he would have been there, if he had moved to New City when Charlie begged him before Abby was born. Maybe he could have saved them from the pain Charlie brought. He shook his head and folded the chairs they had used. He grabbed his coat and exited the building. Standing on the sidewalk he looked around and noticed no one. Alone he remembered Charlies letters,pictures and Minerva's words. Anger grew inside him as tears fell from his eyes. He looked up to the heavens,"How Could You."...
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