His own words come flowing back to his mind as he leans upon the counter. He's lost in thought until he sees Charlie come up beside him.
"So she's told him?" Charlie asks him.
Cal doesn't answer, he just nods in response.
"And I thought she was being selfish. When in fact she thought she was just protecting him." He told Charlie.
Cal looks at Charlie and Charlie looks at him. He knows Cal trying to use that as an excuse for why he hasn't told Ethan, but he knows Ethan needs to know. Charlie starts to lose his patience with him.
"Tell him the truth." He says, hoping to remind Cal about their early conversation in the staffroom.
"Then what?"
Charlie gives him a response that resonates with him.
"Be his big brother."
Cal watches as Charlie walks away. Sighing to himself, he knows Charlie's right. His words have hit home about so many things. Especially about how it's always been Ethan who's been the one there for him whenever he messes up or things go wrong. Now, it's time for him to step up. Time for him to be the big brother he's supposed to be. He decides there and then he's going to tell Ethan today. He's going to tell him the truth, even if it doesn't go to plan as he hopes.
The day is slowly coming to a close. Cal stands in the staffroom making tea when Ethan walks in and sits down on a stool. Cal looks over shoulder and sees his brother sit. He sees Ethan's stressed out expression.
"Bad day?" He asked, making conversation.
"The worst." Ethan replies. "Just..."
He pauses for a moment still trying to get his mind around what's happened in the day.
"No time think, everything going wrong."
Cal doesn't know whether to tell him now or wait till he's sure his brother has finished talking.
"Ethan, there's um something I wanted to say..." Cal starts to say when he doesn't hear his brother speak.
"Are you having a Thursday night special?" Ethan suddenly asks.
At first Cal is confused about what his brother is talking about. Then he looks down and sees the food on his place.
"Uh, yes." He replies, smiling to himself as he remembers something. "Mum's bridge night."
He takes the plate and a glass of milk walking over to Ethan.
"I'm really glad she never knew what I used to feed you. Or she'd never let me babysit again, I'll tell you that." He recounts to him as he takes a chair.
As Cal takes a seat, Ethan says to him.
"We were so lucky growing up with mum."
Hearing Ethan talk about their mum when he knows she isn't makes Cal pause for a second. He knows this is the time to tell him.
"About mum..."
But, Ethan isn't paying attention to him. He keeps on talking. Cal closes his eyes taking a deep breath. Ethan hears him inhale and turns towards him. He notices Cal's expression. Suddenly his eyes burrow in a worried frown.
"What?"
"Um, I've got something to tell you."
"Is everything okay?" Ethan asks, as a strange feeling creeps up on him.
"Not really, no."
"Is it Matilda?"
"No, it's not about Matilda."
"Then what is it? Are you ill?" Ethan says as horrible scenarios ran through his mind.
Cal shakes his head.
"I'm not ill. It's about mum."