Summary

Holden has found out that the DNA test showed that he and Logan are half-brothers and he feels betrayed that Daisy didn't tell him earlier. He's struggling to deal with it and barricades himself at home.

Logan is finally ready to hear the truth and Daisy tells him what she heard at the Gala about how Holden's dad and Logan's mum got together all those years ago.

Parker launches an intervention because Holden withdrew like that last time when he and Allie broke up. Allie, Daisy and Parker go to the Vermont household to reach out to him. On the way, Allie reveals the reason why she and Holden have so much history, and why they broke up.

--

The Vermonts' butler let us in when they saw Parker and Allie at the door. Inside, the sound of a child's chortles echoed from the main living area. "A, b, c, d, e, f, g," Fox sang aloud before laughing.

"Allie!" Fox beamed when we walked through the door.

"Hey!" She exclaimed, scooping him up into her arms. She pointed at her cheek and he kissed it. "Why don't you come and play with me anymore?" He whined.

She sighed and thought for a moment before answering, "well, I've just had so much studying to do." Fox screwed up his face, sulking. He looked at me, his head tilted to the side, staring in deep thought.

"Oh hello!" He exclaimed.

"Hey Fox," I replied. He stuck his tongue out at me. I stuck mine out back. Parker stifled a laugh.

"Where's your brother?" Parker asked. Allie let him down and Fox walked over to Parker.

"He's been in his room all day," Fox sulked. "I told him to come out and play but he just stayed there."

"Has he come out at all?" Parker asked, turning to Fox's nanny who was tidying up Fox's pencils and books.

"No. Young master Holden has been in his room since he got home," she replied.

Parker bent down and took Fox by the shoulders. "Can you help me get Holden to open his bedroom door?" Fox nodded. They discussed something and Fox giggled before going over to his nanny. She handed something to him, and Fox led Parker up the stairs.

We all followed to Holden's room – the first one to the left of the top of the staircase. Parker nodded and Fox started pounding on the door. "Holden!" He wailed. "Holden!" He banged his little fists against the door. When that didn't work, he took in a deep breath and all of a sudden started crying. A very convincing cry.

We all knew Holden only had a couple of soft spots, and one of those was definitely his little brother. He opened the door and as soon as he stuck his head out, Fox wiped away his tears and had a permanent grin slapped across his face.

"Oh my God," he groaned. Before he could slam the door, Allie stepped in between the door and frame and we all knew he wouldn't be able to shut that door. With a strong heave, Fox did his best to push Allie slightly forward. Then Parker pulled the door shut and Fox passed him a small key.

"Hey!" Holden yelled, banging his hands against the door. With a click, Parker locked the door. Fox high-fived Parker.

"I'm not watching you lock yourself up for months again. Sort this out or I'm not letting you out," Parker replied.

"Ok, let's go," Fox said with a small jump.

"Go where?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The Park!" Fox exclaimed. "He promised!" He pointed at Parker.

"Ok you rascal," Parker exclaimed. He picked Fox up and slung him across his shoulder. "We'll be back in an hour probably," Parker said to the nanny.

"I'll let the Vermonts know," she replied.

Parker put Fox down so that he could put on his shoes. It turned out there was a huge park within the gated community. There was a huge tree with a rope and tyre swing set. In the centre of the grassed area was an elaborate colourful playset with a small rock-climbing wall and three intertwining rainbow coloured slides. For such a nice park, it was surprisingly empty for an afternoon. There were a couple of benches around the sides, one of which was under a tree.

"You go on first," Parker said. Fox took off and ran towards the slides. Parker and I sat on the bench underneath the tree. "I hope Holden sorts himself out," Parker remarked.

"Yeah," I mumbled. "I had no idea they went through something like that," I said. "What's going to happen with his parents?"

"They're the only rich people I know who are happy," he said, looking down solemnly. It didn't surprise me, because I'd briefly met Parker's family, and the Vermonts seemed like a stark contrast. "I mean, look at him," Parker laughed. Fox was clambering up the rock-climbing wall before zooming down and sprinting towards the tyre swing. "I'm sure if there's any family that can get through this, it's them."

"Come push me!" Fox hollered, swinging his legs back and forth without managing to move the swing.

"I guess we're being summoned," I said. I gave Fox a big push and he swung back and forth, bending his arms and swinging his legs to keep it going.

"Again! Again!" Fox called out. "I wanna go higher!" This time it was Parker's turn.

"Make sure you hold on because if you fall off I'm not catching you," Parker teased.

"I am holding on. I won't fall off!" Fox squealed.

"Okay then. Don't cry if you fall off," Parker grinned before giving him a big push.

"Yay!" Fox laughed.

We went back to the bench to sit down. "So that's why you seemed so shell shocked the night of the gala," Parker said, crossing his arms. I still remembered that night. The first time I found out the truth about Holden and Logan.

Parker and I walked around all night. He'd kept me distracted from the news I'd just heard. The night he almost kissed me. And here we were again, with him by my side again.

"Yeah," I replied. "I overheard them when I went upstairs to look for Holden."

"I'm sorry you had to be the one to hear it."

"Should I have told Holden earlier? Maybe then we wouldn't be in this mess."

"It's not good news. I don't think there'd ever be a good time to find out something like this. I mean, finding out through the paper isn't ideal, but it'd be a shock no matter what. Don't beat yourself up about it."

"Thanks Parker." He seemed to always be there when my life was in chaos. Except when he was the cause of the chaos. Looking at him then, I could no longer convince myself that I was mad at him about what'd happened with Clarissa. Even if there was something going on with him and Clarissa, I could still call him a friend, and that was enough for me.

Fox managed to rope me into piggy backing him on the way back to his house. Not that it was difficult because he was tiny. "Giddy up!" He exclaimed.

"I'm not a horse!" I replied.

"C'mon walk faster," he urged.

"Why don't you walk then?" I craned my neck backwards to look at his reaction. He was pouting. He really did look a lot like a mini Holden. He was adorable. What Parker said was probably true. Only a happy family could create a kid like Fox. I could only hope that after this news they stayed a happy family.

We soon got back to the Vermonts' house and Fox went back to his nanny to get cleaned up. "I should probably get home soon," I said.

"Yeah. I'll drop you off." Parker pondered for a moment. "Oh, we need to release them," he said, fishing the key out from his pocket. We went back upstairs and gently opened the door. Inside, Allie was fast asleep in Holden's bed. He was lying on the floor to the right of his bed.

"Looks like she must've talked him out of his ridiculous approach to handling his problems," Parker remarked.

Holden stirred from where he was lying on the ground. He glanced back up at the bed where Allie was still sleeping and pressed a single finger against his lips. I nodded and we waited for him to shut the door and come back out.

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I know it wasn't your fault," Holden said. "I'm ready to hear the truth now."

---

hello all,

as usual thank you for continuing to read and support this story. This has been my baby for a while and I've truly fallen in love with the characters. If things go according to plan (rarely, let's be honest cause I keep changing things or chapters end up being way too long), there are about 8 chapters left!!

Unsurprisingly with the Covid issue at the moment, I'm no longer on placement and in my procrastination have opted to write. Hopefully you'll all be pleased to know I have pre-written a couple of chapters so there'll be more regular updates x

In the mean time, I'm wishing you and your loved ones health and safety x

love always,

daria xoxo

P.S What days do you guys prefer having updates? I've got pre-written chapters so I'm thinking twice weekly updates - let me know!