Darcy walked into her office still feeling like a heel. She draped her coat on the coat rack beside her desk and slipped into her chair. She had to straighten out her thoughts and compartmentalize her emotions before doing any work. And she had to do it quick.

He cell phone rang.

Darcy looked around for it and growled. She left it in her coat pocket. She got up and tries to get at it quick. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the caller ID. Victor. She slid her finger on the screen to answer.

"Hello?"

"Hey, babe. I just got off the phone with mom. She said shell be her tonight. In time for dinner. You think your mom would want to throw on a roast?" Victor said.

Davey flopped into her chair and sighed. "I suppose I can ask her. Why don't we have that tomorrow? It's frozen."

"Yeah, well, so is everything else we cook."

Darcy rolled her eyes and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah. Ok. I'll ask mom. That cot is still set up isn't it? I figure Emily will be comfortable in it. It's too low for mom."

"Yeah, she'd be fine. Both of them."

There was silence in the phone. Darcy had plopped her head into her hand. Her elbow stretched across her desk. She was sinking lower and lower into herself.

"What's the matter?" Victor asked.

"Nothing." Darcy said through pouting lips.

"Come on Darc. I'm driving. Tell me what's wrong."

Darcy sighed. "I got into a fight with Emily." She confessed.

"What? You had one simple task to do." Victor teased. "And you couldn't even do that?"

"Not now Vic. I'm not in the mood."

"Ok. What was it about?"

"I don't know. She accused me of not understanding her and told me we were smothering her. She wants to think her own thoughts...." Darcy stopped talking. She was interrupted by a sound.

Victor was laughing. "You really don't know how to handle those things do you?" He laughed some more.

"It's not funny Vic! She called me stupid."

Victor laughed louder and harder on the phone.

Darcy sighed and grumbled under her breath. "Alright. Fine! I'm glad I entertained you." Darcy snapped.

"Aww. Ok. I...."

Darcy hung up on Victor. She was sure that in a few hours she may find it funny, but not at that moment. She was still upset with herself and Victor was adding to it.

Her cell phone rang again.

"What?" Darcy asked, annoyed.

"I'm sorry." Victor said. "I shouldn't have at you so soon."

"Yeah, alright. I gotta go. I have to call your mom yet." Darcy said,more solemn. She hung up her phone and dialled home.

"Emily, so nice to see you here today." Mr. Fray said. He was walking into the school.

"Hi Mr. Fray. What are you doing here?" Emily asked. She was still feeling upset

"Oh, I'm subbing for Mr. Whitehorn." Mr. Fray explained.

Emily nodded.

"How are you feeling today, Emily? You still seem a little under the weather."

"I'm ok." Emily answered. "Still tired but feel a lot better than last week."

Mr. Fray nodded. "Ok, then. I don't expect you to participate in PE today. And I don't want you to participate in soccer."

Emily gasped. She opened her mouth to protest.

Mr. Held up his hand to stop Emily from trying to speak. "You can come to practise. But I don't want you playing. At least, not until I see a note from the doctor that you can.

"Hmph!" Emily grunted. She crossed her arms. She glared at the ground.

Mr. Fray sighed. "I'm sorry, Emily. But, what happened last week scared me. And I don't want to see that happen again. Your health comes first. So you make sure you see the doctor and get that note. I know your parents will want to check with your family doctor after all that's happened."

Emily didn't answer. She continued to glare at the ground.

"Okay?" Mr. Fray asked with a stern tone to gain Emily's attention.

"Fine!" Emily grumbled.

"Alright then. So I'll see you next practise." Mr. Fray smiled and went inside.

Emily wanted to kick something but there was nothing around she could kick. She turned and began scuffing her heels on the ground aggressively as she walked to the door.

Sísele smiled to herself as she pulled the roast out of the freezer. She was happy to start it. She was excited that Catherine was coming. She hummed to herself as she puttered around the kitchen. She had it all planned in her head. She was going to put the roast in the oven, first at 225°, then at 350° for the last few hours. She would quarter and boil potatoes. Make rice. Steam some carrots and corn. Make gravy out of the roast juices when it was done.

The phone rang.

"Hello?" Sísele answered.

"Hi, sister." A familiar voice said.

"Ohh!" Sísele squealed. "Catherine! Tell me you're already on your way."

"No. Not yet." Catherine said quietly. "I will be leaving in a couple of hours. I wanted to speak to you alone."

"Oh." Sísele became quiet. "I am shorry I spoke to your shon."

"Not that, sister. Emily."

Sísele tilted her head back. She looked up at the ceiling, thoughtfully.

"Have you spoken to Darcy?" She asked, concerned.

"Yesh. I told her about her shick."

"Good. You know Emily is sicker than they think."

"Yesh. But Darshy doeshn't lishen. I am trying."

"You must try harder, Noomi. Darcy made it. Emily can too. She needs medicine!" Catherine urged.

"I know." Sísele sighed. "I thought if I told her about her, she would undershtand. But she didn't. She takesh it ash her hishtory. Not ash a clue."

"Can't you just tell her?"

"No." Sísele answered. "She will take offensh and rebel."

"Hmm." Catherine sighed. "Isn't she too old for that behavior? I will talk to her when I get there. Maybe I can tell her more abruptly than you. She might take it better."

Sísele nodded.

Two hours had gone by. Sísele was busy in the kitchen getting prepped for dinner.

Darcy was plugging away at her desk, accepting phone calls and complaints. Getting paperwork completed.

Emily was in class, trying to concentrate. She still was tired and weak. She felt much better but the remnants were still lingering.

Victor had made it to GPL LLP. He sat in the lobby arguing with himself. He wanted to leave. He had sat, uncomfortably, in an armchair. He rested his elbows on his knees with his hands clasped together. He thought he could do it if he rushed. He shook his head.

"Excuse me?" A females voice said.

Victor jolted and looked up at the, slightly, overweight woman. His eyes enlarged. He opened his mouth to speak but closed it shut again.

"Can I help you with something?" She asked.

Victor looked ahead. He thought about what he wanted to say. When he realized he wasn't even speaking to Adam Pope, he smiled. "I'm sorry. Yes you can." He answered. He stood up and extended his right hand. " My name is Victor Conners. And I'm looking for an accountant."

"Okay, we can definitely help you with that." She said. She led him to her desk.

Victor looked around the desk and found a nameplate. 'Susan Walshe'.

"Let's see who we have available." Susan said as she sat down. She wiggled her computer mouse around and started clicking on the keyboard.

"Actually, I was given a name. I would like to see someone in particular." Victor explained.

"Alright. What was the name? I'll see if they're available."

"Adam Pope." Victor announced.

Susan turned to her computer. She frowned. "I'm sorry, Mr. Conners. But Mr. Pope is booked all day today. He has some availability next week."

"Oh. I'm sorry I can't make that. I live two hours away. I was told that he could help me."

"What for?"

"I own my own business. Construction. I am in need of an accountant for that purpose."

"For the purpose of owning a business?" Susan asked, unsure.

"No. I already own my business. I need an accountant to go over the books? I don't know what books, yet." Victor was confusing himself. Darcy is the one who handles everything. She told him once in a fit of frustration to hire an accountant to go over the books.

Susan stifled a laugh. She nodded. "I see. It sounds like you REALLY need an accountant. Wait right here. I'll go talk to him. But he won't be able to go over anything today." Susan stood up and walked away.

Victor nodded once and turned around. He didn't want her to see him exhale. He wasn't ready for this.

Victor shifted his weight on his feet. He couldn't get comfortable. He eyed up the chair he was sitting in. It was only eight feet away but it seemed like miles.

"Mr. Conners?" Susan's voice chimed into Victor's thoughts.

Victor spun around.

"Mr. Pope will see you." Susan gestured for Victor to follow her.

Victor took a quick deep breath and nodded. He followed Susan down the hall. She stopped and showed which door Victor could enter.

Victor smiled. He stepped through the door. He didn't know what to expect. "Thank you." He said.

Susan smiled and closed the door behind him.

Victor didn't move. He stood by the door and tried not to stare.

"Mr. Conners." Adam said. He stood up at his desk. "Come. Please. Sit down." He gestured to a chair in front of his desk.

Victor was trembling. He walked across the grey floor. He sat down.

Adam sat down and smiled at Victor. "Now, I am unable to go through anything today. But I can hear what you need and we can arrange for a time later?" He suggested. "I understand you travelled quite a ways to see me."

Victor nodded. "Two hours."

Adam gasped outwardly. He shook his head once. "That is a bit of a travel isn't it? Well, the least I can do is see you since you put in so much effort." He smiled.

Victor stared at him. He started to take mental notes. He had dirty blond hair, piercing blue eyes and a dark skin tone. Just as Sísele told him.

"Mr. Conners?" Adam urged.

Victor panicked. He was frozen. His hands started to sweat. Breathing laboured. His feet started to twitch. Victor was ready to bolt out of the office. Adams smile stuck with his memory. It was his mother's smile.

"Mr. Conners, I understand you don't know much about accounting. I'll be happy to explain some of what I can do to help you with your business." Adam tried.

Victor didn't respond. He blinked. Just as he was about to leave, he noticed something. Blue beads. He noticed Adam was wearing blue beads around his neck. It was tucked into his shirt. He frowned.

"Are you alright, Mr. Conners?"

"You're wearing beads." Victor said.

Adam looked down at himself. "Oh. Yeah." He pulled the necklace out from his shirt.

It was a sky blue with white black and green. Victor followed the necklace down to a beat up feather.

"Where did you get that from?" Victor asked.

"My dad." Adam answered. "He said it belonged to my mother." He looked at the feather. "I guess she used to wear it all the time."

"Where is she?"

Adam looked at Victor, uncertain.

"I'm sorry. I guess I shouldn't ask that." Victor conceded.

"No, no. It's ok. I've worked with First Nations people before, I understand that you would need to know about my parents."

Victor stiffened.

"You'd like to find a way to relate to me?" Adam asked.

Victor didn't move.

"That's ok. My father is white. He raised me with my grandparents. My mother, I never knew. My father said that she was from a reserve not far from here. I don't know much about her. And my dad hadn't told me much, either. I'm sorry. I wish I could tell you more."

Victor was still stiff. He gave a sharp nod.

"Now, your business, construction is it?"

"Do you have a name 'Charles'?" Victor spit out.

Adam looked at Victor, curious. "That's my middle name. Can I help you with something?" His tone became a little defensive.

"Do you know Catherine?"

"Catherine who?"

"Red Moon"

Adam stood up aggressively. "Hey, I don't know who you are, but I think it's time you left!" Adam said sternly. He pointed to his door.

"I'm sorry." Victor said softly. He put his head down. He stood slowly. "I hoped this would've gone differently." He looked at Adam. "Catherine Red Moon is my mother."

Adams mouth dropped. His hand slowly dropped to his side. He gaped at Victor.

"Catherine Red Moon is my Mother, and I know she is your mother, too. You're my brother." Victor was still trying to be gentle about it. "I came all this way to meet you."

"You don't need an accountant?" Adam stammered. He had to have something to cling to and accounting was his life. The only certain thing at the moment that he could find stability in.

Victor frowned. "You must be like your dad." Victor shook his head. "I have a wife who reads my books."

Adam scoffed in shock. He turned and threw his hands up. He grabbed his head and interlaced his fingers at the back of his head.

Victor watched him as he paced the office floor. He wanted to be less bold but it couldn't be avoided. There was no nice way to put anything. His heart raced in his chest as he tried to read Adams body language. Was he angry or just shocked? Was he confused or unwilling to believe? What did he get himself into?