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“Mom's different when she thinks we're not watching,” Perry whispered to Bryan as they approached the high table, clutching the diary in his pocket, “And I know exactly who can make her smile again.”

Bryan curled his lips “Let me guess. Mr Peter? You want him to be mom’s boyfriend?” He paused, smiling.

“Maybe… anyone capable of putting a smile on mom's face automatically becomes my daddy.” Perry muttered, covering his lips movement with his palms.

“Okay. Fine. Once we get home I'll take out mom's work laptop so she doesn't have to stay up all night replying to emails and sorting online crimes.”

“No Bryan. I don't think that would help.”

“So what now.” His eyes shut up as hands demonstrated midair. “To get mom's attention, we’ve to get her out of work and make her super free. That's the only way. This plan. Our plan,can…”

“— I understand Bryan.” He fumbled onto Peter's card bringing out his cell phone.

“Don't tell me you plan on giving him a call. For real?”

“I just texted him. Besides, he's here for a sensitive crime talk as he said. Or do you think he's going to get too close to mom that she wouldn't like it?”

“Far from that.” Bryan scoffed, “He's dark and too tall. I doubt mom would look at him.”

“Then you don't know mummy. Haven't you seen that all her colleagues are all tall?”

“Mmm…you're kinda right. But...”

“No, but.” A message popped in. "We've got to focus on getting mom a friend before Christmas.”

Bryan rolled his eyes, “That's in six days from now.”

“Correct.” He replied, scanning through his inbox. “He's asking for our home address.”

“Already...” Bryan shrugged, his hand at the top of his chair, fingers slowly sliding it out to sit.

“Mom would be mad. Giving our home address without her consent.”

“Leave that to me. I got mom's diary so I can equally get my way around this too.” He brought the diary closer to his face. A reminder.

“You win. You always do.” Bryan turned away, his arms folded.

“Thank God you know.” He tucked it back into his pockets.

*******

Peter sat by the window area, facing diagonally opposite the high table where he could see Stephanie. His phone buzzed. A notification from Perry. He smiled.

“No 15 Clifford Street, Off Selin city bus stop.” He nodded. The place sounded familiar. That should be two streets away from his estate area. He blushed. “Would she even listen to me? What if she's not ready to start afresh.” He looked at his watch, past five in the evening. The case was a few days from now. And his ex-wife, Catalina wasn't backing out.

He folded out a small white paper. The same one Catalina had tossed to his face.

Anyone convicted of a felony, the opposite spouse gets an automatic inheritance to everything the other possesses as long as there isn't any third party or children involved.

The body of the paper reads. And Peter's head snapped up, his eyes dimmed in exhaustion. Catalina was definitely going to rip him off. His businesses. His company. All of his inheritance would be gone. And at the bottom line of the paper stood two important executions. One. Get an experienced attorney, investigate the case and provide concrete evidence that the said allegations were false. Two. Get a detective to investigate and come up with sufficient data to bring the matter to book.

He squeezed the paper in his palms, stuffing the piece to his pocket. His throat burned. His friend. That night. Driving that lonely road. Seven years ago. Something he thought was long buried. Everything was beginning to cloud his vision. His knuckles white as knees buckled in exhaustion.

*********

“Thank you everyone. Until next year. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New year.” Stephanie said the closing remark as she catwalked down the stage. Her eyes scanned through the corners for her boys. Then flashed bright when she saw them running towards her. She lowered to her knees cupping all three to herself. “My three jewels. I missed you.” She planted a soft kiss on their forehead. At the corner, a voxpop media brought a mic close to her face. “Could you tell the public when we are expecting their daddy?” Her face fell, she pressed her lips tightly. “Can we not talk about that?” She muttered. Perry cupped her chin to look at her.

“Mom. Are you okay ?” He noticed her countenance drift slightly.

“I'm fine sweetheart.” She stood up, held Bryan, then softly brought Tyler closer to herself as they moved briskly to the exit door dodging numerous mics and pressing through the crowd.

In a short while, they got into the car. Perry and Bryan took the front seat. Carefully strapped to their seatbelt. Whilst Tyler sat at the back, his eyes marking Peter who stood at the end corner of the exit door watching them.

Stephanie's hand held the steering wheel for a moment as her eyes met with Bryan, who folded his arms into Perry playfully. Both kids were up to no good.

“Mom.” Perry's face grimaced, quickly noticing the dullness in her eyes. “Your eyes are puffy.” He stretched his palm to her neck, weighing the temperature.

Stephanie clicked her seatbelt then placed her hands on Perry's own. “Mummy is fine.” She stared into his eyes. “Believe me.” Her eyes turned light, but her veins on her forehead still stood visible.

“Let's go to the house. Freshen up. And prepare for the Christmas holiday.” Perry smiled warmly, then turned with a cocky grin to his brother. Bryan flashed a quick one at him. The diary—still hidden in place.

“Are you okay Tyler.” Stephanie twisted the key to reverse slowly checking on Tyler, his attention shifting from his laptop to the back mirror.

“Do you like the place?” She enquired.

“A little.” He replied when he could no longer see Peter. He had faded into the crowd. The car sped off, leaving the company’s buzzling gala to the mini duplex building she shared with her three kids.