As we eat lunch the relaxed conversation continues.

'Shall we surprise mom and dad and have dinner at Bellevue tonight?' Christian asks.

'That would be good; mom will be delighted to see you. She knows I won't speak about last week, Hannah told her that if they questioned me I'd go back to being without words. They've respected my wishes so far but dad might have you in his study for a telling off and trying to get info.'

'I can cope with that. I'll tell Taylor and Mrs Jones they can have the rest of the day off, we can spend quality time together, we've got some catching up to do. Are you meant to be seeing Hannah today?'

'No I'm seeing her tomorrow evening at seven, though I've got to think about where to take her on a date yet.' I reply

'Ok how about after dinner tonight you come back here then we can shoot some pool and have a couple of beers. I'm hoping to see Ana on Thursday so I might be busy for a few nights after that, we'll have some catching up to do then!' he grins at me.

'Too much information, I don't want to know. I'm not interested in your sex life and you won't be knowing about mine either! ' I exclaim.

'Ok I get the picture, but remember even if I'm busy with Ana I'll always have time for you. It's not every day I have to fly over two thousand miles to check my little brother is alright after an ex of mine goes postal on him'

'Hmm, but you can't put me first all the time. Christian if I did go into construction with Elliot would you be really angry? I ask him, I figure he's quite relaxed at the moment so I can ask him anything.

'No, I'm proud of what Elliot does, but you have this amazing brain that can glance at a spread sheet and know something's not right, you're quick thinking, and really intelligent and would do well working with me or setting up your own business.'

'I know but sometimes I look at what Elliot does and it must be hugely satisfying to start off with a hole in the ground and a few months later there's a beautiful house that is all your own work.' I reply.

'When he gets back from his vacation why don't you work with him for a bit to see if you enjoy it then. I'd be really jealous though if that's what you decided to do, I enjoy having you work for me. If you want to build things you could always work in my ship yard.'

'I'll think about it, shall we head up to Bellevue now, we can take out the boat cruiser this afternoon, I can grab some clothes and then we can get back here straight after dinner, for beers and pool.'

'Sounds like a good plan, though I wouldn't mind stopping at the electrical store on the way. I'd quite like to look at ipads if that's ok.' He says.

'That's cool, I might buy one as someone was over generous with the wages they paid me for last week' I say cheekily.

He grins, then grabs some car keys. Christian ends up buying three ipads, his, mine and Ana's. He wouldn't let me pay. We then drive to Bellevue, there's no-one home so we head straight to the boathouse to get the cruiser out. It feels good to be back out on the water again. Christian doesn't mind sailing mom and dad's boats with any of us but he won't take us on the water in his, preferring to sail that one alone.

As we cruise back into the boathouse I see mom, dad and Mia are sat on the patio. They wave and then walk down the garden to meet us. Mom is ecstatic that we're friends again and that we're both staying for dinner. Mia and mom go to cook dinner and dad disappears into his study so Christian follows him, obviously so that they can have a conversation about last week.

I go upstairs, I want some privacy to call Hannah, I've sent her a few texts throughout the day but haven't heard anything back yet. I leave a voicemail as there's no reply, she must be on her way to the gym class.

Christian knocks on my door and enters; dad wants to see me in his study now. 'Was it that bad?' I ask.

'Yeah, he's pretty pissed with me right now; I don't know how he can make me feel like this when I'm twenty seven years old. If it wouldn't upset mom so much I'd probably be heading straight to Escala. Hopefully dinner will be over quickly, do you still want to come with me.'

'Yes I think we need to escape. Is he going to get cross with me?' I ask. Christian shrugs his shoulders and says 'Hopefully not, I told him you weren't to blame in anyway and that I totally over reacted. He's mad about the fact that mom was distraught with our falling out.'

'Well I'd better get this over with.' I say and descend the stairs and knock on the study door. Christian might have tried to take all the blame but dad is still furious with me. He's shouting now, I thought Christian had a temper but dad has one to rival it but it doesn't make an appearance very often.

'What were you thinking when you were heading for the airport. How would that have made your mother feel, she was distraught enough as it was but if you'd gone to the other side of the country you would have broken her heart. I can't believe how inconsiderate you were to her feelings. She is always there for you when you need her and you were just going to leave, did you not think how this would affect the family or were you just thinking of yourself' he vents.

'Dad stop, do you not think he's been through enough without you having a go at him as well. This isn't going to make the situation any better.' Christian shouts back. He has entered dad's study without permission to stand up for me. I look at him with alarm on my face. I can't think in here so do the only thing that does come to mind and leave.

'Matthew.' Dad shouts, at the same time that Christian softly says 'Matt.'

Shit, I have left the study without permission. I don't care though as I pass through the kitchen and into the back yard. Taking precious lungful's of air to try and stay relaxed and stop the tears I walk down to the jetty. I sit there on my own hugging my knees as my chin rests on them. I'm sat staring at the water when I hear someone behind me on the jetty.

'Matt, I'm sorry. I would never have let you go in there if I'd have known dad was going to be that cross with you. I thought he'd used up all his anger with me and I just took it so that you wouldn't have to go through it as well. When I heard he was still angry I couldn't help myself but to come to your aid. I've put you through enough this last five days without dad adding to it. It got quite heated in there after you left' Christian says. I look at him; his gray eyes have the lost hurt look that must mirror mine. He puts his arm across my shoulder and I rest my head on it.

'It's OK Christian; it's not your fault. You can't always protect me, and dad's right maybe I wasn't thinking straight and didn't consider mom's feelings. Did mom hear any of it? She'll be distraught again. Maybe it would have been best if Taylor hadn't found me and I'd just gone. I'm no good for this family.'

'Hey little bro, after everything we've talked about today don't start with this now. Mom is upset but she'll get over it. She's not cross with us as we've worked out our differences, she's mad with dad because she'd told him not to get involved unless one of us asked him to. She also said that she'd understand if we didn't stay for dinner as the atmosphere round the table might not be too great. I'll go with whatever you want to do.'

'I'd rather go back to Escala with you, but I want to see mom before we go if that's OK. I don't want to see dad, I have no words for him.' I say sadly.

'That's a big improvement; you're picking and choosing who you have words for now.' He says which makes me smile. 'Shall we go up to the house now, we can see mom, grab some stuff for you and then go, Mia might want to say goodbye as well.'

I slip up to my room to collect my things; I hear part of mom and dad's conversation.

'Carrick, the boys had sorted out their differences you should have just left it.'

'I know, but they hurt you, they need to think about their actions.'

'But now we're all hurting again, you're always so much tougher on Matt than the others'

'It's because...…...'

I stop not hearing the rest of dad's reply; I go to mom and hug her.

'I'm so sorry mom, this is all my fault, I'll go with Christian now but will think about what I'm going to do, I don't want to cause any more pain to you or the rest of the family.'

I just look at dad and leave, passing Christian in the doorway as I head up the stairs. I sit on the edge of the bed, then slowly gather some things together that I'll need for a couple of days. Christian is hoping to see Ana on Thursday so that gives me tomorrow to sort stuff out.

Mom and Christian are talking quietly in the hallway as I descend the stairs, dad is no-where to be seen but he'll probably be in his study. I hug mom again.

'You don't need to go.' She says with tears in her eyes.

'Mom I think we all need a bit of space tonight, I'll call you tomorrow. I'll be with Christian and he won't let me out of his sight so I can't do anything stupid. I love you' I say before kissing her cheek and going to the car. Christian says his goodbyes and then is by my side.

'I'll drive.' he says. I don't argue; glad to just sit in the passenger seat with my thoughts.