The party is dying down. Only Uncle Joe remains in the pool. Brock got his love of water and swimming talent from his dad. A few others remain, talking and laughing at the bar. Bradley and his girlfriend are snuggling together in another lounge chair.
I so don’t need to see that right now. God only knows what Brock and Ashley are doing in the dark.
“I need to talk to you,” I say to Dad.
“Sure. What’s up?”
“Inside. In your office.”
“Really? Is everything all right?”
“Honestly? I’m not sure. Let’s go inside.”
Dad enters his office after changing into lounge pants and a T-shirt. His hair is damp and slicked back. He closes the door. “What’s going on, Dale?”
I hand him the crumpled letter and wait as he scans it.
“I see,” is all he says.
“I called the PI. He’s willing to give me the name of his client if I meet him tomorrow morning in Grand Junction.”
Dad says nothing.
“So…what do you think?”
“I don’t know what to think, Dale. Why would he be coming out of the woodwork now?”
“I don’t know. For money, is my guess.”
“That’s my guess as well.”
“Dad…”
“Yeah?”
“Did you ever try to find our father?”
He doesn’t answer right away. He rubs his temples and then the graying stubble on his jawline. “No,” he finally says. “I didn’t.”
“Why? I mean, I’m not complaining about how things worked out, but if Donny and I had a father out there, you certainly didn’t need to take responsibility for us.”
“Maybe I wanted to take responsibility.”
“I don’t understand.”
“No.” He sighs. “You probably don’t. Your mother was dead. Neither of you remembered your father. What good would it have done to find him? He’s obviously a lowlife who abandoned his sons.”
“I’m not arguing that point.”
“No father is listed on either of your birth certificates,” he continues. “Just your mother.”
“We know we’re full blood brothers,” I say. “The DNA tests show that. Obviously there’s a man out there who fathered us.”
“Because there was no father listed on the birth certificates, we didn’t need to get his okay for the adoption.”
“Were you afraid he wouldn’t consent? Why wouldn’t he? He obviously didn’t want us.”
“He probably would have consented. The fact is, legally we didn’t need him.”
“You and Mom took on a huge burden.”
“We did. And we agreed it was the best thing for you boys.”
“Living here? Of course. Donny and I never wanted for anything. You’ve been wonderful. You got us into therapy after a horrible experience. But I’ve always wondered… Why? Especially for Mom. She was only twenty-five, and she became a mother of three practically overnight.”
Dad pauses again, fidgeting with his fingers. Then, “Do you want to meet this man?”
“Only out of curiosity.”
“I’d like to go with you.”
“Of course. I was hoping you would.”
“Your brother should have the choice as well.”
“Yeah. But we don’t have to tell him yet. He’s leaving to go back to Denver tomorrow. He doesn’t need to see the PI with us. If this client of his turns out to truly be our father, I’ll tell him.”
“Good enough. The letter came to you. Do you think Donny got the same letter?”
“I doubt it. The letter came a week ago. I just decided to look through my personal mail tonight.”
“Why tonight?”
To get my mind off the Brock and Ashley show. This letter got my mind off everything but Ashley.
“I don’t know,” I lie. “I hadn’t gone through it in a while. Seemed like the thing to do.”
“Fine, Dale. I won’t push it. The contents of the letter are what’s important here. I’ll go with you to the city in the morning to meet this PI.”
“I offered him a grand for the name.”
I expect a stern lecture, but instead my father chuckles.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing. It’s just interesting to know that my son isn’t above using the same tactics I did in my day. I’m not condoning it, but sometimes money talks. Okay, money always talks.”
“You did something similar?” I ask.
“Many, many times.”
“Why?”
Again, he pauses. Then, “Dale, there are things about me you don’t know. Things my brothers, sister, and I have kept from our children. For their own well-being.”
“What kinds of things?”
“You ask why I wanted responsibility for you and your brother.”
“Yes. I’ve always wondered. I remember you and Uncle Ry rescuing us from that terrible place. Is that why you took responsibility?”
“Partially.”
“Dad—”
“I’ll tell you the whole truth, Dale. It’s time. But not until after we get this stuff about your alleged father settled.”
“Dad, please.”
“That’s my offer. If this man is your father, we need to know what he wants.”
“He’s no threat. Donny and I are adults now. It’s too late for him.”
“Which is why it’s strange he’s surfacing now.” Dad sniffs. “I smell a rat, Dale. A big rat.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Ashley
Diana is gone. She left for Denver an hour ago with her brother Donny. It’s only eight in the morning, and already I miss her. Brianna is hustling about, ready to drive back to Grand Junction for her senior year of college. I’m just trying to stay out of the way.