Eva sits at the dinner table where a magnificent breakfast lays with pastries, fresh-squeezed juice, a variety of fruits and tea and coffee. Isabella runs down the stairs and sits at the table, taking a croissant and taking a bite of it in a hurry.

Eva puts down the knife she holds in her hand. "Izzie! Manners! Why are you in such a rush?"

"Brian's mom is picking us up."

"Is she now? So I guess I'm not wanted at today's school drop."

Isabella keeps gulping food down her throat. "Sorry mom, forgot."

Eva frowns. "That still doesn't excuse you for swallowing your food. Chew your food, Isabella Forsyth."

Izzie looks up from her plate and slows down her eating efforts as requested. She takes her phone from her pocket and starts scrolling with her thumb.

"And no phones on the table, either. You know the rules."

Izzie grumbles something and puts the phone down on the table.

Charlie comes down the stairs dressed impeccably in a grey suit and tie. "Good morning."

"Morning daddy," Izzie says while glancing at her phone that keeps buzzing.

Charlie kisses Izzie on her forehead and then sits next to Eva. "Morning, sweetheart..." he whispers.

Eva looks at him and places her hand gently on his.

"When can I video chat with Aimee?"

Eva's head turns in surprise at her daughter, that is taking another pastry to her plate.

"You said not to call her for a few days, but I want to show her something, so when can I call her?"

Eva opens her mouth, but words fail her.

"Soon," Charlie intervenes. "As soon as her father comes back from India."

Isabella seems content with the answer and steals another glance at the phone that buzzes once again. Eva looks up at her husband, grateful for his quick intervention.

"Miss Isabella, there is a car waiting for you," Ben announces when he enters the room.

Isabella gets up excitedly. "I'm going to get my bag!" and she runs upstairs.

"A car?" Charlie asks.

"Ben, please let them in and ask if Brian's mother would like to come in," Eva asks.

Ben nods and leaves.

"Your daughter has a new friend." She turns her attention back to Charlie.

"Do you mean a boyfriend?"

"For now he is a boy that it's her friend." She smiles knowingly. "But it may change soon..."

Charlie leans back in his chair. "Do I need to get a gun?"

Eva roars with laughter. "You with a gun?"

Charlie caresses his wife's face tenderly. "Finally cracked a smile on my beautiful wife's face. You have been tense since he left for India."

Eva lowers her eyes to the table. "I'm worried..."

He picks up her hand and places a gentle kiss on her hand. "I know."

Isabella runs down the stairs. "Bye!"

"Have a good day!" Eva screams and Izzie leaves the house.

Charlie leans back and cocks an eyebrow. "What's this kid's Brian surname? At least I need to check out his parents..."

Eva laughs wholeheartedly at her husband's attempt to be an overly protective father.

Benjamin walks back inside and hands a letter to Charlie. "Sir, the post"

Charlie takes the letter and frowns.

"What?" Eva asks.

"It's a letter from Liam's facility. All that I needed..." Charlie's face contorts. His last moments with his brother still linger in his memory.

He takes the letter opener and cuts the envelope. Inside there is a letter with a note attached to it.

He scans it briefly before reading it aloud.

'Part of the therapeutic process entails writing letters. But, the patient reserves the choice to send these to their recipients. Your brother has decided to send his letter to you. I have read the letter and enclosed this note. You may respond if you wish to do so, but be advised that I will read all his correspondence and make a judgment if the contents are appropriate for my patient.

If you have questions, please call me.

Regards,

Dr Brunner'

Eva gets up from the table. "I'll leave you to it to read by yourself."

Charlie removes the note to one side and unfolds the letter.

Eva approaches Charlie and leaves a lingering kiss on his cheek to calm his nerves. "I'll be in the garden," she says.

Charlie grabs her arm softly. "It's addressed to both of us. I think he wants us both to read it."

"Oh..." Eva responds.

"I can read the letter by myself, and you read when you are ready..." Charlie offers with a sympathetic smile. The storm between his brother and Eva's daughter has caused friction in the marriage, with Charlie feeling torn between the love of his life and his younger brother.

Eva sighs and sits down again at the table. "Read."

Charlie puts his hand over his wife. "Are you sure?"

Eva puts her hands together and considers his words. "No, but I want to hear what he has to say."

Charlie looks at the letter, and he recognises his brother's handwriting. Liam always wrote his f's with a squiggly line. He takes a deep breath and looks once more at Eva before reading it aloud.

'Dear Eva and Charlie,

First, I need to say how sorry I am for how difficult I made things for you both. You took me in when no one else would. You cared for me as no one else has. And you never gave up on me, even when I had already given up on myself.'

Charlie clears his throat and takes a sip of water.

'Charlie, you have been the best brother that anyone could ever ask for. But, although you know in your heart that I'm not like you or Matt, you pushed me to be someone I'm not.

Now, I will not tell you I have the clarity of mind or soul to tell you who I am today. But, I also never allowed to explore who I am, who I am meant to be.

I'm not putting the blame on anyone. Not you, mom or dad, or even stubborn Matt. I know you guys were deciding what you thought in your heart it was for best for me. But I'm not that guy.'

Charlie turns the page,

'I'm the kid that wanted to play in the bush, or surf on the beach. I'm not a sales guy, and I don't fit in the company. I've written to mom and dad, and Matt to tell them that much. I don't know who I am, but I intend to find out once I'm better. But, I know that is not with MCL.

I don't know how they will take this decision, but I hope you stand by me one more time, even if it is the last time. I need to find the happiness that I've been longing for so long.'

Charlie looks away with tears in his eyes.

Eva touches his right arm softly. "Are you okay?"

"He's never been like us. And I knew it and said nothing. You know he wanted to work in fitness? He enrolled himself to do a sports nutrition course, and dad and Matt pulled him out. That was his chance, and I said nothing." Charlie sniffles and looks upset with himself. "He's right. We always chose for him. He never had a say, not as I or Matt did. Maybe because it didn't fit the mould of what the family should be..."

"Is that all?" Eva asks softly and looks at the letter.

Charlie looks back at the letter. "The rest is for you... do you want me to read?"

"Yes," she says unhesitantly while contorting her hands together.

Charlie rubs his hand over his lips and proceeds with reading the letter.

'Eva, you are the most amazing partner to my brother. You have risen to every occasion in a tough family and you have taken your own place. I admire you, and the relationship and bond you both have.

I never meant to hurt you. I never meant to put myself in a position where I may not see my niece again.

You need to believe me when I say. I never meant to hurt her. She was the light that offered me hope, and I'll never recover from breaking her heart the way I did.

I also want you to know that my promise to you will be kept. I will not interfere anymore with her, and I will stay away from her. Her happiness is the most important thing to me. Apart from you, Charlie and Isabella, Aimee is the only thing that ever mattered, and I'm ashamed that it took me so long to realise it.

Liam'

Eva sobs uncontrollably in Charlie's embrace at those words.

"He needs us and we let him down," she says between sobs.

"What would you say about a family trip?" Charlie asks softly.

Author's Note:

Photo by Alvaro Serrano on Unsplash