“Wait up bro! Seriously! I know you’re trying to get back home as quickly as you can but if we wear ourselves out we’ll never get home! I didn’t have breakfast for crying out loud!” Todd complained while out of breath.

Richard moved as swiftly as he could, completely ignorant of his brother’s whining. Other things occupied his mind.

At that moment his eyes were windows opened to the path which lead him home.
His ears were deafened and his limbs only understood the word ‘forward’.

Thoughts had kept his lips mute and his intentions focused. Thoughts that troubled him greatly but brought him the pleasure of curiosity.

“I’ve got to get back home really quick! I don’t want George in my room! The kid has the eyes of someone who knows too much! I need a clean slate! It’s all I wanted. It’s all I’ve ever wanted! If he finds a single clue, it’s all over! If he makes that call and Henry comes over…Shit! Shit! Why did I have to be so hasty…that blonde piece of shit always ruins everything…everything!”

Richard’s thoughts echoed within his skull.
Todd stood still and tried to catch his breath.

He stared at his brother’s shoulders. They remained as broad as they were when Richard was a kid.

Todd had always looked up to his older brother.

After their father walked out on them and they were left with their mother, a sickly woman, Richard took up the responsibility of head of the family and father to Todd.

Richard's story was told to Todd, by their sivkly mother. Todd was too young to remember such past. He wasn't born during the difficult time, his mother spoke of.

Richard and Todd's father walked out of their lives shortly after Todd was born.

The Beckahams suffered in abject poverty until Richard turned eighteen and their lives changed.

According to their mother's tale, Richard never told Todd the origin of the money he brought back home. He always got home at dusk, tattered and sometimes injured.

Whenever their mother asked about a scar or pink eye on his brother’s face, Richard always replied with the simple words; “Just making a better life for the family.”

After those simple words, he would pass out on an old sofa in the living room, with a bottle of whiskey on his left hand and a bag of dollar notes on his right. He was much too young to drink, but according to their mother, Richard did not care and she did not have the strength to stop him.

While on the wheel chair, their mother would  take off his Richard’s shoes and placed a wool blanket over him. This continued for years until Richard came home one day with a new car, keys to a new house and an announcement of his admission into medical school.

Todd smiled at the brief thought of the past while his eyes remained fixed on his older brother’s back.

“I’ve always seen your back bro. I’ve never tried to get ahead of you and I’ve always been satisfied with it. You were the reason for every meal I ever had and you were my ticket to Law school. How could I think of doubting you? It’s hard! It’s fucking hard! But recently, it’s becoming fucking easy.” Todd said in a low tone.

“What the fuck are you reciting? Some dumb poetry?” Richard asked without turning his neck.

“Um…No…I just…I’m just…It’s nothing.” Todd answered. Sweat trickled down his legs.

“Good. Now stop whining like a bitch and let’s go. The sky’s darkening and grey clouds are gathering. It’s going to rain soon. I don’t want to get Alice worried.” Richard admonished his younger brother, his eyes kept their focus.

Todd sprinted a few steps and caught up with Richard.

He looked up. Richard still remained a few inches taller than him. Age did not change a thing. Richard remained ahead of him in every way.

“This is how George must feel whenever I visit.” Todd chuckled quietly.

“What was that?” Richard asked.

“Oh…Um…I was just worried…I’m just thinking about George…I hope he’s okay…” Todd lied.

“George will be fine. He might be a weak kid but he’s smart enough to survive anything. He’s a good kid and just like you, I want to keep him out of trouble but he’s so fucking curious.”

"I guess so. " Richard smiled.

Todd admired his brother’s smile.

One of the reasons he respected Richard, was the fact that he was the perfect family man despite the awful life they both had as kids.

Todd like a child began to kick up sand while he walked.

The memories were lovely, they were wonderful, and they were worth pondering upon.

At that joyful minute, something caught Todd’s eye.

A few strands of blonde hair peeked out the back pocket of Richard’s pants.

Todd’s thoughts became disoriented with presumptions, theories and questions that revolved around the blonde hair his older brother held so dear.

“Bro, there’s something…” Todd began to stutter.

He was not sure if his brother wanted to hide the blonde hair from Alice. He was not sure why Richard really wanted to keep the gold-like hair strands. He was unsure of everything in recent times. However, he thought his action at that moment, the right thing to do.

“What is it?!” Richard snapped, fed up with Todd’s questions.

“The hair…it’s falling off your pocket…”

Todd tried desperately to justify the words he said, but they made no sense.

Why did he have to tell Richard about the hair? What did Richard want with human hair? Who did the hair belong to?
Todd had questions by their hundreds flood his mind but he bit his lips in restraint and decided to trust the brother he had always admired.

“Oh right. I should probably keep this safe. I know you have a lot of questions about this Todd but I promise to tell you the truth one day. For now all I can say is, Alice mustn’t see this hair.”

“You could just say it’s hers. I mean Alice’s blonde. You could say you took it for good luck. Like a rabbit’s foot, only this time, it’s her hair.” Todd laughed.

“Yeah right, and risk a long night of talk. The moment I tell her that, her head’s going swell and she’ll be the queen of the world. I’m too tired to hear endless chants all night.” Richard said.

“You right. The moment she hears that, she’ll be all hyperactive. And there’s nothing more unappealing to deal with than a hyperactive Alice. Well, about the hair, I do have a lot of questions big bro but I’ll trust you. I always have and I must say I turned out pretty good.” Todd said with pride in his voice but fear in his heart.

“Yeah, you did turn out good. Really good. I’m proud of you.” Richard said after a hearty chuckle.

Todd’s chest felt instant warmth.

The smile on Richard’s face was the same one he had at Todd’s graduations from High school, College, Law school and Grad school. It was the smile of a proud parent. Todd cherished that smile.

Todd did love his brother. Soon, the confusion that seemed sewn into his thoughts by the threads of doubt began to fade away.

There was no way Richard was a villain. Richard may have been quite the secretive fox but he always put his family first. He was an admirable example for a brother, father and friend. There must be a reasonable excuse for his crazy actions and incomprehensible mutterings in matters that involved Mary. Maybe SHE was the villain. Richard was not the villain, he couldn’t be.

Lost in the tussle between right and wrong, Todd’s inner pandemonium and his brother’s hasty step, brought them to the front of the wooden mansion.

The clouds had grown too heavy to carry the grey that soaked them. The skies darkened, lightning blinked its obvious light, thunder clapped at a distance, the rain began to pour down by drizzle and then in dense drops.

Richard and Todd ran to the porch of the house, while the door flew open.

“George have you had your bath? George?” Alice asked in a voice not so loud. She did not want to wake Melody.

“I guess he has.” She muttered to herself.

Alice prayed silently for Richard and Todd’s return while she sipped hot cocoa in the front of the fireplace.

She wore a purple wool-sweater and blue jean pants which rested by its hems on a pair of long grey socks. Her hair fell loose on her shoulders.

She stood up from a white-cushioned sofa at the front of the fire place and walked to one of the windows a few feet from the right side of the front door.

The clouds got darker and the sky called for a night blessed by stars, as the moon’s unnoticed rays peered through thick clouds.

“It’s going to rain cats and dogs. How are they not here yet? It’s too dark to go searching for them. Oh! Richard what sick unplanned quest are you up to this time?” Alice asked the absent, while she parted beautiful white curtains drenched in the exquisiteness of gold lace embroidery.

Alice squinted after she caught two figures walk towards the house a few minutes after the rain had begun its gravity proclaimed dance towards earth’s soil.

“They’re here!” Alice yelped like her daughter would at the sight of candy.

She ran to the front door and opened it a bit. The wind flung the hinges of the mahogany door wide open.

Todd and Richard ran into the huge cabin.

“Lord it’s cold.” Todd complained.

“Hey sweetie.” Richard said after he kissed his wife’s cheek.

“You should both know, that when wet, shoes are left outside. You’ll ruin the carpet and rugs.” Alice said.

“Give us a break Alice. This has been a long day. Isn’t that right Todd?”

“More like a hectic day bro. I’m going to take a shower but first, what’s for dinner? I’m starving.” Todd rubbed his palms together as he fled into the kitchen.

“You can have some of the nuggets, but stay away from the cupcakes! They’re for Melody! I’ll be in there to serve the pasta soon!!” Alice called after Todd.

“Chicken nuggets? Cupcakes? Pasta? That’s quite the feast. You’ve been busy.” Richard told his wife with a smile, while he kept his arms wrapped around her waist.

“I have been busy. It’s a summer vacay after all. There’s nothing to do but be the best mother I can to my kids and a dream-come-true wife to my husband. I wake up, sit pretty, make uploads to my blog and then the whole day belongs to me. Why waste all that time when I can have all the fun I want in my favourite part of the house.” Alice smiled back.

“You should’ve been a chef. When we get back to San Francisco, you’re definitely getting your own restaurant. I’ll make sure that happens.” Richard boasted.

“If we do go back to Sans Francisco…You might still have a secret unplanned rendezvous for the family this year. You always do.”

“What do you mean babe? Of course we’ll go back home. My family and I can’t stay in the woods forever.”

“You say that now, but you’ll wake up tomorrow with a very different agenda. It’s really getting out of hand Richard. I didn’t want to say anything but after seeing the both of them come back home with injuries…I just can’t do it anymore.” Alice freed herself off her husband’s lovelorn grip.

Richard ignored his wife’s words for a while, as he tried to assemble the sugar-coated excuses he had recited to himself all day.

“Baby I know you’re scared because of the gun shots but they weren’t gunshots. That was just Todd and I…Wait…Them? Injuries?” Richard asked after his wife’s previous words settled in his brain.

“Gunshots?!” Alice asked her husband after she took a fright-packed step backwards.

“Alice wait a minute…What do you mean ‘the both of them’? Did George come back with someone…what injuries…what are you talking about?”

With sweat beads on her forehead due to an unsure cause, Alice said the words her heart told her to.

“I meant George and Todd…They looked so tattered and beat up. And when I say injuries, I’m talking about George. There were scratches on his body. I think he got caught in branches and thorns…It’s so sad.”

Richard took a long look at his wife and after a deep sigh he told her the words he intended to.

“Babe, like I said earlier, what you heard wasn’t gunshots. It was George, Todd and I trying to frighten pheasants and chipmunks with fire-crackers. George almost blew up a fucking tree! That kid’s crazy! Can you believe it?! Well I got tired of his crap and yelled at him. He just walked out on us and never came back. I was sure he headed home. Lazy kid! You know George. That was probably his own way to ruin our time because he hated the trip.”

“Shit! That was close! She’ll buy it.” Richard’s thoughts whispered within.

“Well I didn’t hear any gunshots. I was making margaritas so the blender was turned on for a while. That’s probably why I didn’t hear a thing. I’m just glad you’re all home safe and sound. So you say George came back home after blowing up a tree?” Alice asked.

“Yeah! A freaking tree!” Richard tried desperately to find confidence in his lie.

“Is that so?” Alice said with sarcasm settled in those three words.

“I’ll deal with that kid tomorrow. First I…I’ve got to get change, I’ll be upstairs. I’m starving but I know you won’t let me eat until I’ve had my bath.” Richard said.

His initial purpose of getting home quickly had not been fulfilled yet. He had to make sure George had not been to the master bedroom.

“Babe, did George go into our bedroom?” He asked.

“No. I don’t think so. He had supper and after his bath, he must’ve gone to his room. He’s probably asleep.”

“That’s true. The house is really quiet.”

“I have to make sure he’s not there. I can’t risk it. There’s too much information. That kid will get caught up in everything.” Richard’s thoughts were loud this time but his lips remained locked in a smile.

“I’m going to have my bath then.” Richard announced.

“I’ll come with. I need to get a rubber band. I can’t serve the food with my hair loose like this.” Alice said.

“Richie, are you sure everything’s okay? You did come home really late? Are your hurt? Is Todd hurt?” Alice asked, still not convinced by her husband’s cock and bull story.

“We’re fine honey. Todd and I just had to search for the perfect camping site. That’s all.” Richard told his wife as they walk towards the stairs.

Alice began to climb the stairs when she saw a head peek from the master bedroom.
She knew that head. It was George.

What was he doing in their bedroom? At that at minute she recalled Richard’s question about George’s presence in the bedroom.

“Something’s wrong.” Alice thought.

George seemed troubled. He peeked out the door again, muttered silently and withdrew into the bedroom once more.

Alice was riddled in confusion.

As a wife she had to let her husband know what George was up to but as a mother, she thought otherwise.

Alice halted and turned back to her husband and Todd who had left the kitchen a while ago, to have his bath as well.

“You know what? You both had such a long day. It’ll be mean of me to uphold the ‘no-bath-no-dinner’ rule. You should both have dinner then you can have your bath.” She smiled.

“Yes! Thanks Alice, you’re the best. Come on bro, I’m starving. That pasta will make a perfect dish with the jars of margaritas I found in the kitchen.” Todd said happily while he ran down the stairs.

“You stay away from my margaritas!!” Alice warned an absent Todd.

“I’m not that hungry Alice. I’d rather have my bath first. What about your hair? Don’t you need the rubber band?” Richard argued with intent of his own.

“I’m not moving Richie. Acid reflux and ulcers are real and I won’t be responsible for such a terrible fate upon my husband. Or do you not like my pasta? Is that it? You’ve grown tired of my food? And my hair is fine. I can wrap it without a rubber band. My concern right now is you.” Alice continued her senseless charade while she kept a view of her bedroom door on the corner of her eye.

“I love your pasta Alice. Everyone loves your pasta. No one’s tired of it. I’ll eat three plates if that makes you happy. Just let me through.”

“No Richie! You look famished! What would I do if you fall in the bathroom because you’re weak from hunger? Your eyes are dim, your face is…”

“Fine! Fine! I’ll eat. Let’s go to the dinner table.” Richard gave up. Alice was right. He was hungry and his knees knocked. His vision had begun to dance in waves by seconds.

“Alright then. Lead the way love.” Alice smiled.

“Phew! Close call!” Alice thought.

Richard walked down the stairs and towards the dining table.

Alice took slow steps down the Cyprus railed stairs while she caught her son run out of the bedroom, shut the door and dash into his room, like a thief.

“What are you up to George?” Her thoughts voiced the question that troubled her.

Alice had heard two different stories from her husband and her son. She did not know the truth and lies remained undefined.

She loved Richard but trust began to fade off their marriage, after Todd told her of a letter her husband received three years ago.

Richard always seemed to have secrets, but in recent times, his resolve to hide these unknown secrets reeked of desperation. Desperation Alice thought dangerous. Desperation she wanted far away from her children.

Alice walked towards the kitchen as she wrapped her hair into a simple bun by its strands, in hope that the man she loved would not be the villain to her story.