“Why did you not move back home?”

“Al, I told you that already” Shane sighed with frustration. “I didn’t want to cause Carmen any more heart ache. Plus I had to sort out my own head. And I knew if I went home I would have been asked questions, would have been ignored etc”

“You don’t know that.”
“Alice, please let’s not get into that.”
“But Shane,”

“Shane I’m stuck on this question,” Shay interrupted shouting from the kitchen.

“Excuse me a minute” Shane went into the kitchen leaving Alice alone to process what she had been told.

Shane returned a few minutes later. “Sorry about that”

“It’s okay. So how are you coping with Shay?”

Shane smiled. “I’m liking it. At first through I did not have a clue what to do, but over time it just became second nature. I think it helps that he is older.”

“Yeah. So what you been doing for work?”

Shane looked away “I’ve been working at Wax”

“But we went there and asked for you. We rang up”

“I know I told them to tell you that I wasn’t there”

“Shane!”

“Alice please stop shouting at me, I’m trying to explain. I know it was the wrong thing to do but like I’ve already said I needed some space. So yeah I’ve been working there in the mornings and doing some house calls and agency work as well”.

“What made you decide to live so far away from us?”
“Needed the space and it was the house that did it for me”

“How can you afford something like this?”

“I’m just renting it, so yep that is about all I’ve been doing, working, working, working and looking after Shay.”

“And you still couldn’t pick up the phone and talk to us.”

Shane sighed “Look that was stupid on my part. I should have I know that and all I can do is apologize.”

“It’s okay; I’m just trying to process everything.”

“So how is everyone?”

“They are all good; Carmen is in New York by the way. Got a DJ contract out there. Just thought you would like to know”.

“I do and thank you.”

“I’ve got an idea” Alice stood up “Hey Shay!”

Shay came running in “Yeah?”

“We are all going out, grab your coat” Shay looked puzzled. “I’ll tell you where we are going when we get in the car”.

Shane looked at Alice in confusion “Where we going” Alice smirked at her and Shane knew exactly where Alice was planning on taking them “Oh no, no, no Al. I can not face another inquisition tonight.”

“You don’t have much choice. Let’s go”