Chris wished the police not to be called. But the neighbourhood was upset. The police action caused whoever in his own house to get out. He saw his brother's shocked face. Chris picked up the children and ran away, and instantly, the words came back, "CHRIS! STOP! I'M SORRY!"
Chris stopped, and fell to the road in tears. It was the same words from his dream the night before. Diana and Kyle were at his side. Seeing Martin running up the lane to see Chris, Diana cried, "You leave Daddy alone!"
Martin stopped still, shocked by how the kids called his brother, "Daddy". Martin said, "Chris... I'm sorry."
Chris stood up and turned to Martin and cried, "You stop stalking me! I could have you arrested for stalking me. All you are trying to do is steal the children and blackmail me to drop them at some adoption center!"
Martin cried, "What?! Why would I do that? How have I blackmailed you?"
Chris cried, "By telling me that if I don't give the children up, you'll have me out of the Tortuga! All you are doing to me is causing trouble."
Martin stood dumbfounded. He felt Laura's hands tighten about his arm beside him. He felt Aviva's presence next to him. In between Chris and Martin were the kids, staring after their uncle and aunties. Chris wanted to run in and grab the kids, but Martin could reach in and stop Chris in mid-flight.
Chris looked at Aviva, who was crying softly. She stared at him, hugging herself. Chris felt the need to walk in his brother's circle and hug her tightly. But the kids...
Diana cried, "Auntie Aviva, don't cry! I grant Chris a wish to find me a mommy!"
Chris' face blushed. His standing was getting shaky. His eyes layed on Aviva, who Martin now cradled with one arm, trying to comfort her. Chris knew something had happened. Martin looked at Chris and pulled away Aviva's unusual long coat to reveal her arm in a cast. Chrsi was shocked, "What happened?!"
Martin urged the girls to go back to the house. He looked at Chris and said, "I wish that the kids could go in and see their aunts."
Chris' fist clutched. Anger was flashing before him. Diana tucked at Chris' metal hand and said, "Can we, Daddy? Can we?"
Kyle groaned, "I'm hungry."
Chris felt guilty all of a sudden and said, "Go ahead. Maybe Aunt Laura has something for you to eat."
Watching both kids run to the house, Chris felt guilier. He turned to see Martin dealing with the accident. The neighbour and Martin laughed for a while and backed off and brushed the minor crash off. Chris was frozen in his steps. Martin looked at Chris and said, "Are you going to move it to your driveway?"
Chris shook his head and looked away. Martin shrugged his shoulders, "Fine then."
Chris looked as Martin got into the car and moved it to his driveway. This was Chris' moment to run away. He turned his heel and walked down the street, letting his fears eat him away.
"You're not running away, aren't you?"
Chris turned to see Martin just feet towards him. Martin didn't look so angry, instead he looked concerned. Chris played with the gravel with his shoe, still not saying anything to his brother. Martin said, "Aviva had a bad fall. When she saw you leave, she went back into the Tortuga to the balcony. Not paying attention, but looking at something else, she tripped and fell over the balcony's edge."
Chris showed a face of worry and concern. Martin continued, "Her arm is in a cast for three weeks. So we couldn't go out, with or without you, Chris."
Chris gulped, still afraid to say anything.
Martin continued, "Sometimes people try to help you. But the problem is you, Chris. If you think what everyone's concern is blackmailing and accusations, then you are not fit to be a friend. You need to grow up and realize the truth is in you. You caused troubles and it made people feel concern about you. You lie about others is because you are hiding the truth; you lie to make others suffer. What you haven't learned yet that your choices, your habits, your accusations, and even your actions can cause someone to be seriously hurt, like Aviva.
"You made a terrible decision running away from Mother's and right now. You told in front of the cops that I blackmailed you, which wasn't true. You are dwelling on something that didn't make any sense. What you need to understand is that you look at yourself. The person you accuse is not the one in the wrong, you need to see why you said what you did say.
"Many people are accused daily and how many can't defend themselves, because the other had 'proof'? Just because they have 'proof', doesn't mean they can use it against the accused. The accused is the true victim, not him that accuses the other. The one that accuses others is the blackmailer, accuser, and a liar. I'm sorry, Chris, but I'm the victim here. You made a decision that made me feel so concerned about you. You adopted two kids, in your mind it's fun and happy, but in reality, something might happen. I'm trying to protect you."
Chris' heart broke finally. He looked at Martin, tears springing in his eyes. Martin was already crying, not ashamed to show them. Chris turned to face Martin and came closer, "I... I didn't know what I was thinking."
Martin said, "Either does those that accuse others."
Chris smiled faintly. Martin spread out his arms and said, "There's always more than a second chance."
Chris smiled brightly and hugged Martin tightly, "Thank you for being there."
Martin smiled and hugged Chris even tighter, "It's because I care for my little brother. And I watch out for his well-being. I'm older and believe me, you may not make the same mistakes or things I have done, but sometimes, I see in those things you're going to do, I see me making them and they don't look right at all. That's why I am here to help you, and accusing me isn't going to help you make the right path."
Chris sighed, "I didn't think about it that way... I thought you were trying to ruin my... my life."
Martin answered, "No, I wasn't. Helping isn't blackmailing. How many people did exactly what you said and done and are in great depression right now?"
Chris said, "What if the person is, well... Not in depression, but in pride?"
Martin frowned slightly, "Then, they are the problem. If the victim is in depression because their name was hurt... Chris, the true victim is he that suffers the most. If the person whose saying too much about another person is thinking they are in the right, they are actually in the wrong. Too many people are dead because their name was hurt and no one cares about him because of what other people siad against him."
Chris and Martin hugged tightly again. Chris said painfully, "I'm so sorry, Martin... Please... I'm sorry."
Martin tightened his grip about Chris, "I forgive you, Chris. I'm really sorry for what I did say to you... I shouldn't have said it that way. That's another thing people have trouble with... They say things and the person it is said to, they take it the wrong way, not the one who said it."
Chris said, "I know... But I really want to see Aviva... I'm worried about her."
Martin tuck his arm around Chris and walked with him to the house. Once inside, Martin shut the door. The first drops of rain began to pour as within a few hours, the lights of the little home went out.
