He winced, a blend of guilt and frustration assailing him.
"How are things with you two?" his mother prodded.
He pressed his lips together. "We've broken up, Mum," he answered.
Linda and Faye glanced at him sharply.
"Well, I guess that was to be expected," Linda said after a brief silence. "I'm just surprised you did it so soon."
"If I'd waited, it would have been harder. I didn't want her planning a wedding that was never going to happen."
"So how did she take it?" Faye asked quietly.
"She didn't take it well in the beginning but she seems to have accepted it now. She'll stay at my house until we find her a new place. I promised to help her with that."
"Right. Is there anything we can do to help? Is there anything you need?"
"Well, I told her I'll be staying here until she finds a place. Mum, if she ever calls you, could you confirm that to her?"
"Yes, of course. But you have to keep an eye on her, Kane," Linda responded. "She's probably even more fragile now that you've ended things with her."
He rubbed his face with his hands. After her recent actions, including her nightmare which he doubted was real, he was positive Hannah was manipulating the situation to keep him tethered to her. The only thing stopping him from putting a complete end to it was the fear that he might push her into severe depression.
"I'll talk to her and get her to share more with her friends. They'll be more than happy to support her. But she just doesn't want anybody to know yet that we've broken up. She said she's not ready for all the fuss and attention. And yet, she expects me to be there every time she needs me, even though we're not together anymore."
"She doesn't want anyone else but you, Kane," Faye said with sympathy. "Do you think she'll accept help from me?"
"She probably would but only because you're my sister. I know she's still hanging on to some hope that we'll get back together. I'm sorely tempted to just cut the ties and leave her to her own devices," he said with a touch of bitterness.
"Make her see a counsellor, or at least her other friends. Then you can move on without guilt that you're leaving her in a fragile state of mind without support. Right now, you're the only one she's likely to listen to."
"Okay, I will," he said with resignation.
"So you're moving back here for a while, darling?" Linda asked. "I'll get one of the rooms ready for you."
"Um." He glanced at Faye as he tried to find a good excuse to tell his mother.
"Hey, I've got an idea," Faye interjected. "Why don't you stay with me and Ray for a couple of weeks? That way we can help you with whatever you need to do for Hannah, like help look for a place for her or something."
"You can do that even if Kane's here, Faye," their mother said. "I'd love to have one of my kids stay with me again, even for just a few weeks."
"Uh, you know, Mum, I think Faye's got a point. We're all very busy with work and it will save some time if I stay with them while they help me with whatever I need."
"What, you don't want to live with your folks, Kane Summers?" Linda asked with a tinge of hurt in her voice.
"I do, Mum!" he replied, draping an arm around his mother's shoulders. "Just give me a couple of weeks with Faye and Ray, then I'll move in here. I'm sure it will take more than a month before we get Hannah settled into a new place, so you can have me for at least two weeks."
"Okay, then. Whatever you think. Now you two bring those dishes to the dining table," Linda said as she strode out of the kitchen carrying a platter.
Kane enveloped Faye in a hug when their mum was out of sight. "Thank you. You're the best sister in the world."
"You're welcome. You do know you've made your life just a tad more complicated?"
"Yes. Can you blame me?"
"No. I just hope everything works out for all of you in the end. And don't toy with Jasmine's feelings! Or Jess wouldn't be happy with me for helping you move into her house with Jaz for two weeks."
"I have no intention of ever hurting Jaz. If I do, it won't be deliberate."
~~~~~~~
Kane's annoyance came back ten-fold when he spotted Jasmine laughing with Dylan. Wasn't Dylan supposed to be playing pool, not chatting up his girlfriend?
He'd never been in this situation before, where one of his brothers was also keen on the same girl and he didn't know how to handle it. Well, the sooner Dylan knew Jasmine was his, the better. He couldn't afford Dylan—or Brad—falling in love with Jasmine. That would be disastrous. At least Brad appeared to have given up.
"Dinner's ready," his mum called.