It was well past midnight when Andrew dropped Jeannie off at the bungalow suite. They had talked quite a bit about Andrew's plans and Jeannie knew he regretted not telling their mother. They even laughed that he was brave enough to face anything the ISA could bring but not brave enough to face his own mother.

It didn't surprise Jeannie that Andrew would want to join the ISA. Whereas Jeannie resented the intrusion the ISA made in their lives and how it always seemed to take their father further and further away from them, Andrew had always idolized their father and was proud of his position with the ISA. No, it didn't surprise Jeannie at all. What astonished her was that her mother really seemed surprised at Andrew's plans.

Jeannie opened the bungalow door and quietly stepped into the room. It was dark and Jeannie figured her parents had a long talk and, finally accepting Andrew's decision had gone up to bed. Relief spread through her at the thought of her parents avoiding another obstacle in their relationship. She turned towards the door to her room and was startled to see her mother sitting in the dark on the sofa. Her overnight bag was opened and it was obvious Kim had changed into her nightgown and robe down here.

"Oh, you startled me." Jeannie looked around the room for her father and then realizing he wasn't in the room, turned back to Kim. "Did you and Dad talk?"

"Yes, we talked," Kim sighed. "Andrew has made his decision, your father knew about it, and I just have to accept that your father didn't think I needed to know."

"Mom, you know that's not true," she objected earnestly. "Dad would have told you once he knew Andrew was really going to join the ISA. Even Andrew admitted to me that nothing was definite when he talked to Dad. Besides," Jeannie reasoned, "nothing you or Dad could say would have changed Andrew's mind."

"I still would have liked to have known."

Shrugging, Jeannie tried one last attempt to get through to her mother. "He didn't want to upset you. He loves you so much."

Smiling at how she defended her father, Kim reached over and grasped Jeannie's hand. "You better go to bed. You have a big day tomorrow and we all need to wake up early."

"What about you?" Kim could hear the worry in Jeannie's voice.

"I'll go to bed soon. I just want to sit down here a little while longer."

Jeannie paused for a moment, trying to think of something more to say that would make her mother understand. Coming up with nothing, she leaned over and kissed Kim good-night before she reluctantly headed to her room and closed the door.

Kim heard the latch on the doorknob click and once again the room was engulfed in silence. Kim knew Jeannie was right but wasn't yet ready to let go of her anger. As she had done since Shane had gone upstairs to bed, her mind replayed all the arguments in her head.

If Shane knew or even suspected Andrew was joining the ISA, he should have told her. Kim had a right to know. But then, if nothing was definite, Kim could understand Shane not wanting to upset her. It was so like him to do everything he could to prevent her from being upset. Shane had just wanted another chance to talk to him, Kim conceded to herself. It wasn't his fault that Andrew had joined the ISA in record time. Besides, in the end, Kim realized no matter what she or Shane would have said, Andrew would have still joined the ISA.

Slowly the jumble of thoughts in her head cleared and Kim felt her anger dissipate. "Oh Andrew," she whispered to no one, "I wish your father and I could get you to realize all that you're sacrificing." But knowing that wasn't possible, Kim tightened her robe and headed up the stairs.

As Kim stepped through the door of their bedroom, she could hear Shane's steady breathing and knew he was asleep. She slipped into bed beside him and instinctively, his hand reached for hers. There would be no need for any further words between them. Instead, a calmness settled over both of them as another crisis had been averted. Knowing this, Kim drifted off into a peaceful sleep.

Next Day

Kim, Shane and Andrew found seats together near the front of the crowded auditorium. Jeannie had departed earlier, after taking family pictures on the promenade steps outside the auditorium before having to rejoin her class inside for the formal commencement march.

Andrew noted with relief that the early morning family breakfast had been filled with excited chatter. His parents had seemed genuinely happy. Andrew dreaded thinking that his joining the ISA would be the cause of any rift between his parents.

A comfortable ease had settled over them but Andrew was troubled that Kim still had not acknowledged or even mentioned Andrew's ISA aspirations with him. Before breakfast, Shane had told Andrew it was best not to talk about it until after Jeannie's graduation weekend. Although it was now accepted, Shane warned that his joining the ISA was still a difficult idea for his mother – and for that matter, him – to embrace.

The music started and a hush settled over the auditorium as all heads turned to watch the graduates march in. Kim and Shane beamed as Jeannie passed their row and sneaked a quick wave at them. For a moment, Shane was overcome with emotion. For so long he never imagined he could have a moment like this with his family. It had always seemed out-of-reach. A shiver shot through his body as Shane thought how the whole mess with Drew and Victor and now the mystery surrounding his father could somehow end all this happiness that had taken them so long to achieve.

As if sensing Shane's uneasiness, Kim reached over and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. He looked over at her and seeing her calm expression, Shane silently vowed to himself that nothing would ever break apart his family again.

After several speeches and the perfunctory applause that followed, the music started again and the students rose, row by row, to receive their diplomas. As each student marched towards the school dignitaries, the respective parents snapped the obligatory photograph to capture the moment. Jeannie's row had just risen but with Jeannie towards the far right, Kim knew she had plenty of time to assemble the lens on the camera. Always the photographer, Kim had forgone the quick one-click digital cameras favored by the other parents, preferring her bulky SLR long shot camera with its variety of lenses.

"Hurry up with the lens. She's almost to the podium," Shane urged before out of the corner of his eye, on the other side of the auditorium, he saw a familiar figure rise. "Dammit."

"I'm working as fast as I can." Kim replied hurriedly, thinking Shane's comment was directed at her. "I just need this to click into place. There, I got it." She looked up at Shane but was surprised to see him looking intently across the room, in the opposite direction of the podium. Following his gaze, her jaw dropped as she too saw the familiar figure standing, smiling sinisterly in their direction. "Oh my God. Shane, it can't be …"

Never taking his eyes off Drew, Shane struggled across Kim and then Andrew, who thankfully was sitting at the end of the row. Stepping into the aisle, he started running towards Drew. Kim watched in disbelief as Drew gestured towards her, as if tipping an imaginary hat at her, before ducking out a side door.