Carmen had just gotten off the phone with Jack. He had told her that he had to travel back home for a few day to see his ill grandmother, and that he'd call her when he got there. She was staring at her ceiling when her mom knocked on the door. "Hey baby." Carmen rolled over onto her side so that her mom could sit down beside her. "Hey mom, what's up?" Christina propped her feet up on the bed and pulled Carmen in close to her. "I just wanted to talk. How's your summer been going?" She asked her daughter. "Great…I guess." Carmen told her. Christina sat up, Carmen followed. "Mom what's wrong?" Christina shifted in her seat. "It's just…It's just that…You know the whole issue with Stephen. I don't know if I'm comfortable with it." "Well mom, have you talked this over with David? Maybe we can find an easy solution." "That's the thing. I haven't mija." Carmen got up and walked towards her door. "Than I suggest you call him up and talk to him about it. I'm actually on my way to Tibby's. Brian's coming over and we are all going…" Christina threw herself across Carmen's bed. She started to cry. "I don't know what to say to him! He's his son for goodness sake Carmen!" Carmen covered her face with her hands. "Mom…it'll be fine. I really have to go!" She walked back over to her mom and pulled her off the bed. Just then, Stephen walked into her room. "Hey Carmen…oh, is your mom ok?" Carmen laughed. "Yeah! She's fine Stephen! Umm…can you wait for me in the living room…I'm coming right out in a minute!" Stephen didn't need an explanation. He turned around don his heels and headed down the hall into the living room.
Carmen and Stephen drove to Tibby's house in silence. Brian was just getting there when Carmen drove up. "Hey guys." Carmen patted Brian on the back and Stephen shook his hand. "Hello Brian." Tibby came running out of the house to greet them. "Hey Carmi, Phen, and Brian!" She kissed Brian on the cheek and then put an arm around his waist. "We will be watching this evening's showing in theater 1…my room. So please use the bathroom and do whatever else you need to do, before you actually sit down to watch the film." Carmen had noticed that Tibby seemed more upbeat and calm, now that her little cousins were gone. "Tibby are you ok?" She asked her. Tibby laughed. "Yes. I am perfectly ok! I don't think things could get any better!" Brian smiled a faint smile. "At least you can spend all of your spare time with me…of course I mean us." Brian said gesturing to everyone standing there. Tibby leaned in and kissed him. This time it was on the mouth. "Shut up."
It was about nine-thirty when Tibby's film finished. Carmen hugged her goodbye and she and Stephen walked very quietly down the stairs and out the front door. When they were in the car Carmen broke the silence. "Are you hungry? I'm starving?" Stephen started rapping his hand on the door. "I can stand to eat something." Carmen swerved the car and pulled into the closest Mcdonalds. "What are you in the mood for?"
After getting his order and getting the food, Carmen drove to the park. She didn't ask him, and he didn't put up a fight. She parked the car and handed him his food. "I just thought we could talk." Stephen sat there for a moment. "You know…well of course you don't know…I talked to Kostos again today." Carmen shoved a fry in her mouth. "Oh really? And what did he have to say today?" "He just called to talk. I told him I couldn't help him anymore." Carmen was taking a bit of her burger. "I'm proud of you…I don't know what was going through his mind when he slept with that woman. It hurt Lena so much…we all didn't know what we were going to do with her…" Carmen had to put her food down and grab a napkin. The tears were coming. Stephen reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry." Carmen covered his hand with hers. "You have nothing to be sorry about Stephen." She said quietly. "I know…but I can still be sorry for all the pain he has caused in her life." He repeated. Carmen leaned in and hugged him. "I think some would call this a moment." She said. Stephen laughed. Carmen pulled away. "What's so funny?" He still laughed. "I never thought I would actually be here…in Bethesda…here talking to the girl who is my sister…" Carmen stopped him in mid-sentence. "You mean…you consider me to be your sister?" Stephen smiled at Carmen. "Well, kind of yes. I mean you are the stepdaughter of my father…doesn't that kind of make us brother and sister? Even though we've only known each other for a week?" Carmen leaned in and hugged him again. "I'm so glad I met you."