"I like what you did with the place," Gray said mildly. "You stayed true to the integrity of the original."

"Thanks," Aaron replied gruffly. He hadn't done this for thanks; he only cared about maintaining his brotherly image to prevent his prison past from resurfacing.

Keeley knew her husband's motives. His complaints while hiring help for the apartment had made that clear. She aimed to finish lunch quickly.

Kaleb, still at home, wondered about their day off. They deflected with a vague errand, a lie he easily accepted, returning to his football game in pajamas.

"Shall we get sushi now?" Keeley asked sweetly.

"An excellent idea," Gray replied, striding toward the elevator. He'd needed a new key; the elevator had been replaced during his absence. After showing his ID, the doorman provided one.

They went to a popular sushi restaurant, opened a few years ago. Keeley told Gray to order whatever he wanted; he hadn't had sushi since before prison, and Japanese food had been a favorite.

As they waited, the conversation inevitably turned to their children. Keeley inwardly sighed; this would be tricky. Simplicity was key. Aaron, thankfully, understood.

"Kaleb pitches for the Detroit Tigers and is enjoying the off-season. Violet is with the New York City Ballet; her new show opens next week, and she has the lead. Oliver studies mechanical engineering at your alma mater, aiming for NASA. And Nathan is in culinary school."

Aaron had avoided detailed discussions about his children, offering only general updates like family vacations, but now he had to be more open. He took a deep breath.

"Gray, I mean no offense, but I hope you won't tell my kids you're their uncle. I don't want them knowing they're related to a murderer."

Gray laughed—a reaction neither Aaron nor Keeley expected.

"You think too lowly of me, baby brother! I suspected as much before my arrest. I'm not offended. I struggled knowing I was related to a murderer most of my childhood; I wouldn't disrupt their lives."

He waved dismissively. "I've already thought of a solution. I was planning to revert to my original name anyway. Nobody knows Michael Gray; the publicity was under my alias. And I look older; no one will connect us."

The Hales exchanged a surprised glance. He wanted to be involved in their children's lives? He hadn't shown much interest in the twins as babies.

How involved did he want to be? The children knew their parents' friends; a sudden new presence would be suspicious.

"Why not take things slowly?" Keeley suggested. "You could see Violet's show. She always has opening night visitors, but a matinee would be less crowded."

The post-show meet-and-greet would provide safety in numbers. A public meeting seemed best.

"Excellent suggestion, Keeley," Gray said smoothly. "I might do that."

She was relieved; he wasn't being pushy. Their previous relationship hadn't been close, even before his imprisonment.

He might want family connection, but he hadn't been family-oriented. He'd been uninterested in the daily demands of babies.

But things might be different now that the children were older. Keeley hoped not; she preferred distance.

"So, what are your plans now?" she asked, changing the subject.

"Catching up on everything I missed—movies, music, technology. I imagine it's changed considerably," Gray replied casually.

That was true. Smartphones now displayed holograms, and hands-free technology was common, activated simply by proximity. Virtual reality games, requiring only headsets, were extremely popular. The transition might be difficult for Gray. Keeley felt a little sorry for him.

"That's a good idea," she said weakly.

The arrival of the food spared her further conversation. Lunch could have been worse. Aaron's feelings were unclear; she'd have to ask him later.

The final two paragraphs are removed as they are unrelated to the story content and seem to be promotional material for a website.