Kel felt strangely calm. How she hasn't felt in a long time. She had left work early, taken Sammy from school, went shopping. It was a lenient evening, not cold, so much so that Sammy would try to take a few free basket throws in the garden. SHe watched him throw the ball and wait for it to fall back into the basket but the ball soared into the air. Sammy didn't give up. He ran to pick it up and started all over again.

"Who is coming to dinner?" He asked her as he dribbled.

"A friend of mine"

"And what's this friend's name?"

"It's called Brandon"

"And can he play basketball?"

"Yes. I think so"

"Ah well," replied Sammy, "because you just can't do it"

"Oh thank you"

"Dad can do it. You don't," Sammy pointed out cruelly.

Kel stopped for a second, she knew her son had no intentionality, but when he named him something broke. SHe cursed herself for being in that situation. For what Sammy was losing and what she knew very well. It was not explained how Dylan managed to stay away from him; yet they came from the same shortcomings. Things between them worked to the extent that they had always worked. Goodbye and come back. It seemed like they couldn't be without or together. There had been very hard days when he had made an effort to stay, but that soul in turmoil had no peace. He couldn't take aquiet and hold him back had only made things worse. Adapting to him instead had consumed Kelly.

The phone rang and Kelly thought it was Brandon to cancel. No come on.

"Hello ?"

"Hello Kel" Dylan's voice.

"Dylan?"

"Hei"

"It will be full night in London, you could call later too"

"I'm not in London"

"Ah no? Already problems in heaven?"

"Kel..." he puffed.

" so where are you?"

" in Machala"

Dylan was back on one of his plans. The school he was building in Ecuador and his environmental research projects.

"Do you want to talk to Sammy?"

"I wanted to talk to you too"

"Do we have to?"

"We have to. I'm sorry I just left you a message when I arrived in London, I should have try to call back"

"It doesn't matter," she said in a spontaneous, sweet tone.

"No, I should have," he concluded resolutely, "and I know you're mad at me but Kel, it's always me"

"I know"

"I'll be there for Sammy's birthday and we'll spend some time together"

"I know you will"

"Brenda will probably come with me"

On the other side there was silence.

"Kelly?"

"Is Brenda there with you?"

"SHe is with me. I wanted to show her my plans."

"Are you back together?"

"I don't know, it's still a becoming"

Still that half-slit heart she had to live with. Continuously. And it exhausted her. SHe had believed that Sammy could be enough, that he was enough. But it was a mistake.

"Kelly we haven't been together in years"

"I know this"

"I don't want to be afraid to tell you things"

"In fact you don't have to have," Kel sighed, "we have to find a compromise, something that doesn't destroy what we have in rubble. That we earned. That we wanted. But I don't even know where to start"

"Not me either. But can we try?"

"We can," she replied, "There is Sammy so You greet him. I have people for dinner"

"Who is coming?" He asked.

"Brandon," Kelly replied.

"Really?"

"Really" Kelly was starting to be in a hurry "don't give you strange ideas. He's not like you"

"What does it mean he's not like me?" Dylan had his voice vaguely altered.

"Brandon doesn't fit into people's lives. He never did. But I haven't seen him in years and I want to spend an evening with an adult. A friend of mine. We don't have to end up in bed together. It doesn't always work like this. Not for everyone. Sometimes people know how to take the hearts of others and hold it in their hand without shattering it"

"Ah yes? Is that what I did?"

"That's what you did and I'm no longer a little girl who believes every word, who lets herself be dragged," Kel stopped, took a breath, "sorry. I was unfair"

"It's ok"

"So Sammy want to talk to you.."

Kelly called her son back and saw him walk away with the phone and basketball "hey dad! A friend comes, yes. I'm shooting.. not so much pa... I'm good, when are you coming back? Really?"

And he disappeared into the house.

Kel closed her eyes and repeated what had repeated herself several times, let go of Kel, let go.

Machala (Ecuador)

Brenda was looking at the Pacific Ocean. SHe was not far from Dylan. SHe saw him moving and smiling. The ocean, him. SHe didn't even know why she had agreed to get to Ecuador and what days they were waiting for her. But she was happy to be there. Sometimes you just have to enjoy the moment.

Dylan nodded to her that he had finished and that they could go. The air was moist and heavy but the sunset show took her back for a moment L.A. . It had been ten years since she touched that ocean and that sunset painted above with her eyes.

They were at the port of Bolivar. They had rented a dark green off-road vehicle uncovered.

"Are you done?"

"Yes. Your brother is invited to dinner tonight"

Brenda looked at him for a moment to see some signs of dissent but didn't find any.

"From Kel?"

"Yes" he turned around and saw the look of those who were scrutinizing "I'm not going to address topics that are not there. I just want her to be happy. I really want it. I hurt her Brenda. I hurt her, maybe too much"

Not just her, she tough but sHe had promised not to ask questions.

"Where are we going?"

"For dinner," he replied. There is a great seafood restaurant down the street.

"Do you know what this place reminds me of?"

"Baja" he guessed.

"Yeah ," she laughed.

".. Jimbo was pissed off"

Brenda laughed even louder.

"Jim and Cindy have always loved you. You need to know this"

"Yes I know"

They shook hands.

"'Maybe we can dance tonight"

"Maybe," Brenda replied.