After dodging questions about his finances all evening, Shane finally realized his unwelcome dinner companion was simply a junk bonds trader. Shane had absolutely no interest in doing any business with this boor and was so irritated by how he had spoiled his dinner, Shane wasn't even sure he could muster enough manners to politely dismiss him. Fortunately, he was saved by an unexpected voice from behind him.

"Looks like I got here just in time," the voice boomed.

"Andrew!" Jeanne squealed as she jumped up from her chair and rushed to greet her brother. Shane glanced down the table at Kim and saw her rising as well before turning around in his chair and seeing his son standing by the door to the private dining room the group had reserved.

As soon as Andrew finished hugging his sister, Kim was in his arms giving her son a motherly hug. Shane, relieved to finally escape Walter's sales pitch, quickly stood to embrace Andrew as well.

"Andrew, this is such a surprise," Kim gushed. "We thought you couldn't make it."

"I didn't think I could make it either." Andrew squeezed Jeannie's shoulder. "But I wouldn't want to miss my little sister's big day. Besides, once I start ISA training, I'm not sure when I'll have a chance …"

Kim was shocked at Andrew's words and interrupted him. "ISA training? What are you talking about?"

"Oh, um, I thought you knew," Andrew stammered. "I figured Dad would have told you. I joined the ISA."

Kim immediately cast an accusing look at Shane. Before she could say anything, Shane jumped in. "Whoa! When we talked Andrew, nothing was ever final. There was absolutely nothing to tell your mother."

Not accepting his excuse, Kim glared at Shane and seethed, "But you knew he was thinking about it and still you didn't tell me."

Noting the tension between Kim and Shane, conversations at the dinner table stopped and Shane was acutely aware that all eyes were on him and Kim. "Let's talk about this later." His voice was firm and Kim realized any discussion would have to wait. "Come on Andrew." Shane motioned towards his chair. "Sit down and let's get you some dinner." Shane turned around to make room for Andrew at the table but felt Kim's penetrating gaze upon his back.

An uneasy quiet filled the car on the ride back to the hotel. Jeannie and Andrew sensed the unfamiliar tension that now existed between their parents. Andrew was silently kicking himself for not sharing his ISA aspirations with his mother. But he knew, just like his father knew, that Kim would not have been happy with his plans and so had cowardly avoided telling her. Andrew realized he had actually hoped his father would smooth the way by breaking the news to her first, but apparently that hadn't happened.

Now that his ISA plans were out in the open, Andrew hoped the damage it caused between his parents was not irreparable. Both Andrew and Jeannie knew how much their parents loved each other. But they also knew enough about their parent's relationship to know that they too often allowed obstacles to get in the way of their happiness together. Andrew just hoped his joining the ISA wasn't one such obstacle.

As they pulled into the hotel parking lot, Andrew broke the uncomfortable silence engulfing the car. "You can drop Jeannie and me off at the lobby Dad. I'll get another room and then Jeannie wants to show me the club here at the hotel."

Jeannie shot Andrew a questioning look and Andrew gave her a confirming nod. Jeannie quickly caught on to the ruse. "Yeah, Dad. There's a band playing there that I think Andrew would like."

Neither Kim nor Shane was fooled by their children's attempt to give them time alone. Kim was still seething and Shane knew that they needed to talk this out. He welcomed Andrew and Jeannie's faintly veiled excuses.

Pulling up to the front lobby, Shane shifted the car into park and turned around to face his backseat passengers. Andrew was almost out of the car before he spoke. "Okay you two. Now Jeannie, you have a key to the bungalow?"

"Yes Dad." She flashed the electronic keycard to her Dad as she slid across the seat and followed Andrew out the door.

Andrew leaned down and looked into the passenger window. "We won't be late. Just want to check out this band Jeannie's been raving about." He spoke across his mother who sat stoically staring straight ahead. Shane took the comment as a suggestion he shouldn't put off talking with Kim.

Shane nodded to Andrew and put the car back in drive, then circled through the hotel parking lot until he pulled into a spot near their bungalow. Kim silently got out of the car and walked alone to the door, using her own keycard to let herself in. Shane sighed deeply before following her inside.

When he stepped into the bungalow, Kim was standing at the window looking out into the darkness. The tension in the room was palpable.

"Kim …"

Kim cringed at the sound of her name and clutched at the windowsill.

"Nothing was definite when Andrew told me his plans," Shane began slowly. "I was hoping it was just a passing idea. You know Andrew."

Kim was silent for a few moments before she turned and met Shane's gaze. "Of course I know Andrew. I'm his mother." Almost laughing, Kim continued. "I'm just his mother, certainly not someone who needs to know his plans especially if they will affect the rest of his life."

"Oh Kim," Shane shook his head and pursed his lips before proceeding. "I wanted to talk to Andrew again before I said anything to you. I wanted to make sure this was a path he really wanted to take." He ran a hand through his hair, frustration clearly evident in his eyes. "I didn't want to upset you if it wasn't something Andrew was going to pursue. I just wanted to make certain he had really thought his decision through before I said anything to you."

"So when would that have been?" Kim snorted.

"Kim, Andrew's plans weren't definite." Shane paced in front of Kim, stopping to put his hands on her shoulders, as if he could shake some sense into her.

"Sounds pretty definite to me."

"Yes, now it is. But at the time … Kim, I wasn't trying to keep anything from you," Shane said in exasperation. "I'm not any happier about this than you are." He dropped his hands to his side helplessly.

"Oh really," Kim replied with disbelief. "Come on Shane. Your son's following in your footsteps. I'm sure you're thrilled he's decided to join the great ISA, protector of the world."

"That's not fair!" Shane snapped. "This is certainly not a path I would have chosen for him. I know very well what the ISA cost me ... cost us. But if this is something he wants to do … if he is determined to join the ISA, I don't think there is anything you or I can do to change his mind." He searched her face looking for some sort of agreement but only saw anger.

"Not now but maybe if I had known …"

"All right, I should have told you," Shane exhaled sharply. "I thought there was still time to talk to Andrew – to talk him out of it – and avoid upsetting you. I'm sorry but I am not going to keep rehashing what I should have done. We're just going to have to accept it."

"Well I'm not sure I'm going to accept it," Kim turned away, her voice rising in an unaccustomed shrill.

A prolonged silence settled over them as Shane contemplated Kim's anger. "I'm not going to argue about this anymore. What's done is done." Shane grabbed his overnight bag, glanced once more at Kim who, in the momentary silence had turned back and was now glaring at him, and then headed up the stairs to the suite's main bedroom.

Kim was left clenching and unclenching her fists, wrestling with a whirl of emotions as she watched Shane climb the stairs.