Rentboy

came from the glass shower stall. As fast as he could, Fox opened the window and
    switched on the fan, breathing deeply to calm himself as the air cleared. He opened the shower door
    and leaned in to switch off the water. “Look how pink you both are. You must be the cleanest twins in
    the world.”
    His time away had made them cling to him even more, while their happiness at his return
    reminded him of a couple of puppies who missed their master. The thought of their joy being trampled
    on by William Baillie’s return made him feel almost as ill as wet towels did. They’d had two more
    days of freedom, but it couldn’t last. There was nothing to keep Baillie in Uganda now.
    The twins stepped out of the shower, and Fox handed them a towel each. While they rubbed
    themselves he took another towel and began to dry their hair. “Where’s your pajamas, in the
    bedroom?” He never expected an answer, but he was thrilled that they were saying mum now. If they
    could say mum and Fox and pronounce the words perfectly, then they could say other things too.
    From the shelf beside the sink he picked up the hairbrush, glancing at the misted mirror. Just the
    sight of mist made him ill. “Arden first.” His sister stood with her back to him while he gently
    brushed the tangles from her hair. When it was perfect, she stood watching while he did the same to
    Alder.
    Fox glanced at the mirror again to see the mist clearing. The psychologist had come in to see him
    while he was still in the hospital and made him an appointment to come to his Harley Street office for
    counseling. Cognitive behavioral therapy would sort him out in no time, he’d said.
    Fox jumped, convinced he saw a shadow cross the mirror. Every time anything unexpected
    happened, he jumped. Last night he woke up from a dream, certain someone was in the room with
    him, but he was alone. Afterward he had checked the whole house to see if his father had returned.
    “There you go, sweetheart,” he said when Alder’s hair was as perfect as his sister’s.
    Naked, side by side, the twins looked at him, waiting for instructions. Again Fox looked at the
    mirror. The mist had cleared completely, reflecting, to Fox’s horror, William Baillie, standing in the
    half-open doorway staring into the mirror. But his gaze was not on Fox or Alder. He looked intently
    at Arden, making Fox look at her also. For the first time he realized that she was budding little
    breasts, and there was a sprinkling of golden pubic hair at the apex of her thighs. Alder, too, had
    pubic hair, though both twins had narrow, skinny bodies like Fox.
    With lust on his face, William Baillie stared at his daughter’s slender, pale beauty. The sickness
    sprouting in Fox’s belly compared equally with the sickness he had felt when nearly suffocating in
    Eddie’s kitchen.
    As if he had not seen him, Fox kicked the door closed. “Right, you’re both too big to be running
    round the house naked anymore.” He took a couple of clean towels. “Wrap those around yourselves,
    and we’ll go and get your pajamas on.”
    Alder wrapped the towel around his waist, and Arden did the same. “No, like this.” Fox took
    Arden’s towel and wrapped it so it covered her breasts. Alder copied her. “That’s right; well done.”
    He pulled them into a tight hug.
    I’ll keep you safe.
    Cautiously Fox opened the bathroom door. If Baillie was still there, the twins would be
    terrified. But he was gone. “Bedroom!” It must have been the tone of his voice, because the twins
    looked nervous and ran.
    Tonight is the night you die, Captain Baillie. I will not let you hurt my sister.
    From the drawer in their bedroom Fox took two pairs of Winnie the Pooh pajamas and threw
    them at the twins, making them laugh. “Get them on.”
    The twins dropped their towels on the floor and then pulled on their pajamas. He didn’t want
    them out of their bedroom now until he could take care of William Baillie. Fear had taken hold of
    him, and he couldn’t let it go. None of them were safe, but Arden was in greater danger than anyone.
    I’d let him fuck me before I’d let him touch you.
    “Do you need a bedtime snack? You can stay up here and look at the telly, and I’ll bring it up.
    Do you want Ovaltine?”
    They nodded.
    “Say ‘Ovaltine.’”
    They looked at Fox and then at each other, but neither spoke.
    The bedroom door opened slowly. Fox held his breath as his chest seized up and his throat
    constricted. He was