After Francesca had been dropped off, the sound of rock under the tyres made Carmen ask, “Where you going?”

“Here,” Robert said, and pulled the vehicle to the roadside.

The cool clamminess under the thick tree cover and the smell of spoiling leaves and soil helped him to remember the day he went to the stream with Derek. He expected to return to that spot and check whether it can still energize him.

He checked out at Erica in the mirror.

“Okay, begin kissing,”. He said, trusting Carmen hadn't altered her perspective. He could stress over kissing his sister before Erica later. It was anything but no joking matter, they...