Keen couldn''t help but try to find excuses and reasons for Mr. Joshua''s actions. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he sent Joshua a text message.


    "Mr. Joshua, are you on the same side as Ms. Pearce?"


    A momentter, a reply came.


    "Did Mr. Richards tell you that?"


    Keen''s eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know, Mr. Joshua?"


    Joshua: "A guess."


    Keen''s admiration for him grew. "You even guessed that, Mr. Joshua? You''re amazing." He quickly sent another message. "I don''t believe what Mr. Richards said, but Dad isn''t here, and Mom just woke up, so I had to ask you."


    Joshua replied immediately: "Mom just woke up?"


    At this time, it should be evening in Solmaris. How could Ste have just woken up?


    Keen typed: "Mom was sick. She had a fever for several days. I came to Solmaris to visit her."


    Joshua asked: "Sick? Since when?"


    Keen replied: "Abby said it''s been two or three days. But she woke up a little while ago, and the doctors are checking on her now." After a thought, he added aforting line. "The doctor said Mom is going to be fine, so don''t worry, Mr. Joshua."


    This time, Joshua didn''t reply for a long time. Keen felt a pang of disappointment. Mr. Joshua still hadn''t answered his question. After what felt like an eternity, his phone vibrated.


    It was a message from Joshua: "About your question, I will exin it to you in personter."


    Keen asked: "Mr. Joshua, are youing to see Mom?"


    Joshua replied: "Yes. But I hope you won''t tell anyone, Keen."


    Without a second thought, Keen agreed. "I''ll be staying at the hospital with Mom tonight. When you get here, you can let me know secretly, and I''ll bring you to see her." In Keens heart Mr. Joshua was definitely not the bad person Mr. Richards described. He was sure there must be some


    misunderstanding between his mom and Mr. Joshua.


    Keen replied: "Okay, I promise, Mr. Joshua."


    When Foreman tried to see Ste, he was predictably kicked out by Abby again. She threw Callie out for good measure, too. Just seeing the two of them annoyed


    her.


    Abby had wanted Haynes to take Keen home, but the boy insisted on staying the night with Ste. He even told Abby he didn''t need her to stay, saying he had secrets to share with his mom.


    Abby considered it. Ste and Keen hadn''t seen each other in long time, and Ste''s mood had been low. Having Keen around might do her some good. That was, after all, why she''d asked Haynes to bring him in the first ce.


    "Alright," Abby said. "But if Star needs anything, you have to call me immediately.


    And if you get sleepy, remember to have me take over."


    Keen nodded emphatically. "Abby, I already took a nap. I''m not tired at all."


    Abby smiled. "No wonder you wereining about being tired earlier. You were just nning to stay up with your mom tonight... Keen, you''re bing so thoughtful."


    Keen looked down, a little guiltily. Abby didn''t notice anything amiss. She gave him a few more instructions and then left the room.