Playing For Keeps by Deborah Fletcher Mello

twitch in her eye when she’s telling a fib. She knows something and she’s trying to protect her sister.”
    Malcolm nodded. “I’ll talk to Cleo. She’ll tell me if something’s wrong.”
    His mother hesitated for a brief moment. “I hope that she does but I don’t want you to be surprised if she shuts you out. It’s the age but Cleo also has a lot of her mother’s ways. She gets angry quick and she shuts down when she can’t handle things.”
    â€œI hate that she and I have been bumping heads lately. That’s going to make it even harder to get through to her but I can’t let her bad behavior slide. If I don’t tighten the reins now I know she’ll be completely out of control.”
    â€œAnd you’re right. You have to stay steady the course and do what you know is right for her. You have to be her father first. She doesn’t need you to be her friend.”
    Contemplating his mother’s words he sat in reflection for a few moments, his mind racing as he considered what he needed to do. Minutes later Malcolm and his mother exchanged a look.
    â€œWhat’s on your mind?” Miss Claudette asked. “You look like you have something you want to say.”
    Malcolm bit down on his bottom lip as he pondered her question for a brief moment. “I want you and the girls to meet my friend Priscilla. She and I talked about it earlier today and I was really comfortable with her and the girls getting to know each other. Now I’m not so sure.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œIf there’s something going on with Cleo, I have to focus on that. I’m starting to think the timing’s just bad.”
    His mother rocked slightly back and forth, her head nodding. “She must be very special for you to want to introduce her to the girls.”
    Malcolm smiled. “I really like her, Mama.”
    â€œJust how serious is it?”
    He shrugged his broad shoulders but didn’t bother to reply.
    His mother pressed her fingertips to the side of his face. Her head bobbed slightly. “Well, I look forward to meeting this young woman,” Miss Claudette said as she opened her Bible. “I’m going to read for a few minutes before I go to bed. If you’re hungry, there’s some baked lasagna in the refrigerator.”
    Nodding, Malcolm stood back up. As he moved out the door his mother called after him.
    â€œYes, ma’am?”
    â€œIf you are serious about this young lady then you have to consider what kind of mother she’s going to be toward Claudia and Cleo. My babies need a strong female figure to look up to and they need to see you in a healthy relationship with a woman. There’s never going to be a perfect time for her to meet the girls and if she can’t handle either one of them having a problem now then she surely won’t be able to handle it later. You need to keep that in mind.”
    Malcolm stood staring at his mother momentarily. “Yes, ma’am,” he said, nodding his head. He turned to make his exit, the conversation still racing through his head.

Chapter Six
    Malcolm woke with a quick start. The air in the room was chilled and he realized he’d kicked his blankets to the floor. It was still dark outside, the early morning hour always perfect for his daily run. He rolled against the mattress to steal a quick glance at the alarm clock on the nightstand. Realizing that he had at least another hour before the alarm was scheduled to sound he rolled back, pulling the covers back up over his legs.
    After tossing and turning longer than he would have liked he finally sat upright in the bed, rest refusing to come. He’d fallen asleep thinking about his daughters. The girls had consumed his dreams and he’d wakened with thoughts of them on his mind. Morning breath blew past his full lips as he sighed. Although his concerns about what could possibly be affecting Cleo