Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 372(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
There was his mama, and clearly a much younger version of Harrison. Black feathered hair. Hazel eyes. Wearing jeans, a denim vest jacket, sneakers, and crude tattoos on his chest, he had his long skinny arm around his mama. His skin was a deep bronze, as if he were from Malibu and went surfing all day. Mama looked madly in love… She looked up at Harrison, who was staring straight into the camera with a sly smile smeared across his face. He had a crucifix hanging from his neck and a devilishness in his eyes.
Caspian picked up the second photo of a bunch of young adults. Mama was sitting on Harrison’s lap, her legs kicked up and laughing, and there were a bunch of mopeds all around them.
“I cared for your mother a whole lot, Caspian. She cared enough for you, too—enough to make sure I wasn’t included in your life, if she knew in fact I was your biological father. I’m mighty sad about all the years we may have lost but I can’t fault her for it, and I hope you don’t, either. With the stuff I was involved in, I probably would’ve done the same thing. I’m sure it was a hard decision for her to make, all the same.”
Caspian slid the photos back across the table.
“Harrison, it just so happens that I found a suitable, discrete place that doesn’t keep our information on file, nothin’ like that. I vetted them well. I’m a stickler about my privacy. When do you want to take the DNA test?”
“I can take it whenever you want, Caspian. I work a lotta hours but rarely take off. If there’s a legit reason to play hooky, this is it.”
“There’s a place close by here, Generation DNA. They do testing in Lyndon, Kentucky.”
“Oh, okay. That’s only like twenty minutes away.”
“Right, give or take. They say it doesn’t take long, like fifteen or twenty minutes, but we need to make an appointment. They’re discreet, and promise to destroy the samples.” Caspian grabbed his phone. As he was looking up the number to the place, he shot his possible half-brother a glance.
“Any more of you? Brothers and sisters?” Caspian questioned.
“Yeah,” Jasper stated around a mouthful of burger. “I’ve got two younger brothers. One from my mama’s second marriage, so that’s no relation to you, and another brother from dad’s ex-girlfriend, right after mama. He would be your half-brother. His name is Harrison Jr.”
Caspian called the place right then and left a voice message. When he hung up, Harrison was gawking at him. He picked up a fry, dipped it in his ketchup, and popped it in his mouth as they stared at one another. The lyrics of ‘A Moment Like This,’ by Kelly Clarkson, sent a significant message over the air.
“What if I’m not yours and I have to start my search over?” Caspian grabbed his beer and polished it off.
Folding his hands, Harrison shrugged and looked down at the table, mulling the question. Then he offered a crooked grin.
“Well, to that I’d say it was nice to meet you anyway, and that I hope you find your pappy.”
“You seem pretty convinced even without a DNA test.”
“I just have a hunch is all. You feel like kin to me. Your mother wasn’t the type of lady to sleep around, either. She left that up to me.” He chuckled dismally, scratching the side of his head. He pushed his half-eaten chicken salad plate away. Caspian noticed their posture was identical. The way they folded their hands, too.
“Did you love my mama?”
“I wish I could give you an answer. I don’t know. I believed I did at the time, but I learned over time love is different from that. I cared for her a great deal though. A great deal.”
“Did you know my Aunt Angel?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “I remember Angel. She was datin’ a friend of mine… Bobby.”
“They got married. He’s my uncle.”
“Oh my God! No kiddin’!” He laughed. “I never knew that.” The man was really cracking up then. “I haven’t spoken to Bobby since way back then. I had no idea what happened to him. I’m ’sprised they got married. They fought like cats and dogs and was more off than on. Oil and water. I hope I’m not overstepping my bounds, but Angel was out of Bobby’s damn league.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe she ended up with his ass, of all people.”
“What makes you say that?” Caspian asked with a smile as he grabbed Azure’s water and drank. She was giving him the evil eye regarding his theft, but didn’t say anything about it.
“Bobby was always looking for the easy way out. He wasn’t… what’s the word?”
“Ambitious,” Jasper offered.
“Yeah, ambitious! Now, I know I was a two-bit criminal back then, but whatever I did, crime and all, I did well and put my all into it. Bobby just kind of floated around. I think ’cause the girls back then found him good lookin’, he got over. Didn’t they break up for a long time though? I coulda sworn it.”