"What are you doing?"

Mikal jumped and grappled with his phone.

"Hallan, what is wrong with you?"

He chuckled and sat beside Mikal, folding his legs underneath him and snagging the bowl of popcorn from his lap. Mikal's plans to travel on Sunday were still standing, but after waking up in hell the past two days, he thought staying home on Friday would help him get better quicker. So, he hung around the pool, watching whatever was on the screen.

"What are you doing?"

"Watching a movie."

"No, I mean, what are you doing? You've been acting strange the past few days. Sneaking around. You know I'd notice, so what's going on."

"What makes you think I have been sneaking around? Work has been hectic."

"True, but you have been on edge, and not once since the Pope girl went missing have you mentioned anything about her."

"I am tired of talking to walls. Our parents are not listening."

"Or you have plotted something new and are keeping it to yourself." Mikal snatched his bowl back with a nonchalant glare at his grinning brother. "Whatever it is, you know you can trust me. Even if...I mean... even if I haven't been too trustworthy lately."

"There is nothing to doubt with you, brother. Which is why I'll happily tell you I am up to something. But too many cooks spoil a dish, so I need as few eyes on me as possible. Even your own."

"Does it have to do with the Pope issue?"

"Yes."

"Fixing it?"

"Working on that."

"Is that why you went to her office the day she disappeared?"

"Yes. And that's the end of this interrogation. I'll say more when there is more to say."

Hallan nodded. "If you need help with anything, I am here. You are too used to carrying the weight of my problems by yourself."

"This has nothing to do with you."

"Please." Hallan scowled. "If I had not sold my shares, there would be no threat for you to lose sleep over. The girls would still be leagues beneath us, and we would have the majority of shares to combat them."

"You made a mistake. It happens."

"I still want to help. I feel useless when it comes to this case."

"You will. When I need you, I will ask for your help. You don't have to worry about it at all. I still have complete trust in you. Your selling the shares didn't break that. I was only worried that you were in trouble and keeping it quiet."

Hallan watched the television when he spoke again. "I was planning on leaving."

Mikal choked. His eyes bulged as he shifted the bowl from his lap so none of the popcorn spilt. When his spasms did not stop, Hallan jumped into action and filled a glass for him to drink. He drank from it slowly, coughing into his hands until it passed. His chest hurt, the side of his head was back to aching again, and he cursed under his breath.

"Sorry. Can I get you anything?"

"You can give me context." He sniffled and rested his head against the sofa.

"Right. Um, Grace and I were planning on leaving the town. You know, start a life elsewhere. I sold those shares because I wanted to start a comfortable life away from here. Guess I am spoilt after all."

Mikal chuckled, taking care, before he started coughing again. "What do you mean leave? What were you leaving for?"

"You left."

"Yes. I did. I left, but I didn't run away. It all sounds like you wanted to run away, and I don't understand why. Mom knew you were dating Grace, and she couldn't talk you into breaking up. You were standing up for yourself. Why give up to run?"

"Not then, no. Back then, I was sneaking around, trying to stay out of mom's way. Why do you think I got the house fixed quietly? I didn't want to clash with her like I knew I would."

"So what changed?"

"She found out. When she found out about Grace and I living in the house, she exploded. She insulted Grace, and if I wasn't there when she arrived, I am sure she would have beaten her around the house. It was the first time I stood up to her."

"And you decided not to leave after that?"

"Yes."

"And Grace didn't agree."

"No."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I told her we didn't have to run or act like we were doing something wrong. She held her own, saying she didn't want to live here and living outside this town would be better. No matter what I said, she didn't change her mind."

"Is that why she broke up with you? Because you didn't want to leave?" Hallan looked ashamed when they looked at each other. Mikal was willing to bet his brother was thinking of all the times they warned him about his relationship with Grace. Of course, Mikal never got to know Grace, and he didn't share his mother's opinion of the girl, but what did he know? Hallan's eyes fell away, and he shook his head in disappointment.

"I put our company at risk, and now you are here cleaning up my mess."

"You made a choice, and it turned out to be wrong. Everyone has been there. You are still in one piece, and that's what should matter to you."

"If it only affected me, I'd take that to the bank, but I put our hold on the company in jeopardy."

"You are growing. You learn from the mistakes."

"I am sorry. For everything you have to handle because of me."

"And I would do it a hundred times over, just as you would do for me."

Hallan snorted again. "You are the perfect son. What can I ever clean up?"

Keziah's face flashed in his mind. He felt his hand travel down her back when her eyes raised to his face. He had held her in that moment because he worried about her. But when the initial worry faded, it was just him holding her and looking down into her soulful eyes. Her anxiety soaked into him, and he found himself saying what he could to reassure her while trying to stay true to himself and his goals.

"Who knows, maybe there is a time you will be cleaning my mess."

"What do you mean?"

"You'll know when we get there."

"Is it going to be bad?"

Mikal shrugged. "If things drag on it might. But I am hopeful it wouldn't get that far."

"And you can't tell me?"

"Not yet."

"Pope again?"

Mikal didn't answer. He knew his brother had drawn his own conclusions. He didn't have it in him to discuss it.

"Oh, Mom is inviting Mrs Corrine for dinner on Wednesday."

Mikal frowned and took another swig of the lime water. "When did she tell you this?"

"Two days ago."

He straightened, biting the insides of his cheek against the soreness in his back and neck.

"Mrs Corrine has been trying to cram her daughter down my throat for years. Mom knows I can't stand that old woman."

"Probably why she didn't tell you. But I am your brother, so I am looking out for you."

"Unbelievable." He coughed and took another generous swing of water.

"I mean, you know Mom and Mrs Corrine have been friends for decades."

"I am not saying she shouldn't invite her over. In the past, she knew Mrs Corrine's insistence made me uncomfortable, and she always told me ahead of time so I could make excuses. She is up to something now. Isn't she?"

"I don't know about that."

"Please." He rolled his eyes.

Hallan flinched and suddenly got interested in his cuticle. "The daughter is coming as well."

Mikal paused, then shook his head in disappointment. He had a feeling he knew what his mother was trying to do. Maybe she suspected what he feared. Perhaps she saw in him what he spent every breathing second denying when asked. And she, in her own way, wanted to find ways to stop it. He would understand if she had chosen to confront him directly, rather than resort to tricks.

"What's worse than Mrs Corrine is her daughter. Listening to Belle is like nails on a chalkboard."

"The girl likes you."

"Yeah, and they both used up all my patience."

"Don't tell her I told you. I have enough issues in the house. I only said because..."

"You love me. I know."

He was going to be out of the house on Wednesday evening. His mother's dinner parties started around five and ended well after nine, so he had to find something to fill the time. He groaned and sunk the pad of his fingers into his eyes.

"Need anything? Your drugs?"

Mikal rested his head against the couch and sighed. "No, but thank you."