Aaron spent most of the weekend adjusting to life with a cat. Lisa was right—Dinah was calm, quiet, and generally preferred her own company. She only approached him for attention a couple of times; he pet her as Keeley had shown him, and she seemed to enjoy it.

A picture of Keeley with a kitten perched on her arm became his phone's home screen, while a photo of Dinah sleeping in a bathroom sink graced the lock screen. He scrolled through his camera roll, noticing most of the pictures were of Dinah, taken in just three days. These photos would give him something to talk about with Keeley, especially since the cat slept in some rather amusing positions. Dinah was proving to be more interesting than he'd initially thought.

Glancing at the clock, he figured Keeley would be finishing up in the lab and starting on her dissertation. He sent her a few of the more interesting cat pictures, thinking she might appreciate them.

She replied immediately: "What are these for?"

Knowing Keeley's offbeat sense of humor, Aaron decided to match her energy instead of responding seriously. Based on their progress on Saturday, joking around seemed the most effective way to become her best friend again. He'd never seen her so comfortable around him before.

"Slow and steady wins the race," he mused. He'd rushed things their senior year of high school; this time, friendship was the key to winning back her heart.

He texted, "Dinah is encouraging you to do well on your dissertation research."

"Go ahead and thank her for me," she replied.

"I will. How's it coming?"

"How did you know I was working on my dissertation?"

"Lucky guess."

Keeley didn't respond for fifteen minutes, so Aaron returned to his quarterly stock analysis—a tedious task he'd done countless times.

Then, she texted, "I'm gathering sources for the research portion of my proposal."

She hadn't mentioned her research topic. He realized she must have a true passion for genetics, remembering her desire to get a PhD back in high school. She'd given up that dream to become a full-time socialite. He wondered about the depth of her passion.

"What are you doing your dissertation on?" he texted.

"My faculty mentor still has to approve it, but I want to research whether gene therapy is a plausible cure for cystic fibrosis."

Cystic fibrosis… The term vaguely rang a bell. Wasn't it a genetic disorder affecting breathing? Why would Keeley be interested in that?

He hesitated to ask, doubting he'd get a straight answer. He was amazed she'd even responded this much.

A vague memory surfaced: a framed picture of a young blonde boy with a nasal cannula. He'd seen it at Keeley's house, and the boy appeared in other family photos.

Kaleb. Why hadn't she mentioned her brother had cystic fibrosis? Had he died from it? He'd assumed her mother-in-law had died simultaneously, perhaps in a car accident, but their deaths might have been separate events.

If Kaleb died from the disease, Keeley's drive to research a cure made perfect sense. Why hadn't she told him?

When she double-majored in biochemistry and molecular biology at Boston University, he hadn't questioned her motives. He'd majored in economics to please his father. He should have recognized Keeley's passion for her studies.

She probably intended her double degree as a stepping stone to a PhD, but she never mentioned it. Had she feared he wouldn't let her return to school after their marriage? The thought stung.

He'd been too preoccupied with others' opinions of her, trying to help her fit into his world. In doing so, he'd extinguished her spark. Guilt overwhelmed him.

"Oh, Keeley," he thought, sighing, "you gave up so much for me."

He finally replied, "That's a really cool topic. Good luck getting your approval! Dinah and I will be rooting for you."

"Thanks," she replied.

Aaron let the conversation end. She was busy—living the dream she'd sacrificed to be the perfect Mrs. Hale.

He knew how much her family meant to her. He cursed himself for his blindness.

His heart ached. Keeley loved her brother deeply, yet she'd forgone honoring his legacy to win his approval. She'd loved him so much, and he'd never truly understood her.

He laid his head on his desk, overwhelmed with regret. Aiden barged in five minutes later without knocking.

"Boss man! I—whoa, what happened to you?"

Aaron instantly regained his composure. "Yes?"

"I just wanted to let you know I found a piece of evidence that might be the first nail in your father's coffin, but if you're busy…"

He folded his hands. "I'm not. Close the door and tell me what you found."

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