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  Rand’s grandfather was an Air Force colonel, who’d attended several of their ball games when he’d been home. The Colonel mostly worked stateside now, so even though he did a lot of traveling, he’d made an effort to stay close to Richmond since Rand’s father had agreed not to enforce Rand’s required long summer visitations to Wisconsin.

  After one of their last baseball games of the fall season, the Colonel spoke with Mike about a career in the Air Force, even offering to put in a good word for him if he successfully made it through basic training and decided where his own specific talents were best suited.

  Even though Mrs. Morales wasn’t thrilled about Mike enlisting, Mike was probably going to do it anyway, he finally admitted to Nick. His only other option was a dead-end job, and even his mom had acknowledged, there was probably a better chance of Mike having a successful career someday if he was able to get an education by joining the service.

  On the day of their last scheduled ball game of the season, much to Nick’s surprise, Dad motioned him into his study before he could make his way outside through the doorway to meet Rand. Their team would probably make the playoffs though, which would involve another month of games after school or on Saturdays.

  “Sit down, Nick,” Dad murmured, closing the door behind Nick as he walked into the study.

  “How’s everything going, Dad?” Nick asked, taking a seat in the chair facing Dad’s desk.

  “Same old, same old,” Dad answered.

  Nick noticed Dad was looking tired today, but that was probably because he’d spent all night on a plane flying home from the U.K.

  “Is something wrong? I’ll have to take off in about ten more minutes, because we have our last regular season game this afternoon, so we’re all meeting early for a little extra practice.”

  Dad was definitely looking at him with approval as he sat in the chair behind his desk. “I thought I’d stop by today and watch you play. All I do is work, and I feel like I’m missing the best part of your life. Rand’s grandfather mentioned to me the other day that you guys are really good.” Dad grimaced. “Actually, I think he was lecturing me. He made a point of coming to my office to speak with me.”

  Nick’s jaw dropped momentarily before he spoke. “The Colonel’s one of the Hornet’s biggest fans.”

  Dad did something Nick hadn’t seen him do in a while. He laughed.

  “I’m going to make more of a point to go see the girls at their dance recitals and school plays this year, I’ve decided, because I’m going to delegate some of my workload. But since you’re probably going to be going away to school in a few years, it’s more important that I get to know you a little better, Son.”

  Five minutes later, when Nick was walking outside through the doorway from the kitchen into the garage, he was feeling dazed. He couldn’t recall a time that Dad had ever spoken to him as frankly as he had just now.

  Like an equal.

  * * *

  Nick was surprised to see Dad show up at the beginning of the game, because in the back of his mind, he still wasn’t quite sure if Dad meant what he said.

  Nick hit three home runs during the course of the game, and both Mike and Rand were smiling from ear to ear when they won the game against one of the best teams in the league.

  “Geez, what’s got into you today?” Mike asked, slapping Nick’s back as they walked from the field.

  “I think I might have been showing off to my dad, since he hasn’t come to one of my games since I was like eight years old.”

  Glancing at Rand first before turning back to Nick, Mike looked puzzled. “Why?”

  “I’ve always wondered that myself,” Rand murmured. “Even though I know what it’s like, my grandfather’s always been there for me.”

  “It’s not something I’m supposed to talk about,” Nick said, watching his dad walking towards them. “I promise, I’ll tell you why when the time is right.”

  Mike was studying Nick’s dad. “I suppose it’s something to do with that big guy who’s always following you around?”

  “It is,” Nick answered softly.

  “Great game, guys,” Dad said, reaching out and slapping Nick on his back. “I knew you were good, Nick. But not this good.”

  “That has a lot to do with Mike, here, who came into the picture a couple years ago. Mike Morales, this is my dad.”

  Dad’s look was definitely quizzical as he studied Mike before reaching out with his hand. “Nice to meet you Mike. Are you sure we haven’t met somewhere before?”

  Mike shook Dad’s hand firmly. “No. Not as far as I know, Sir.”

  “Mike?” Mrs. Morales called out from the other side of the parking lot as she began to approach. “What a game. You guys were fantastic.”

  Dad turned, checking out Mrs. Morales, who had her eyes on Mike.

  Dad made a choking noise in his throat as Mike’s mom came closer.

  Mrs. Morales must have just noticed Dad because she stilled, staring at his face.

  Dad appeared to be in shock, until finally, he spoke. “Thérèse? Is that really you?”

  “Michael,” she said, with a certain formality in her voice.

  “You’re still living in the area?” Nick’s dad asked hoarsely.

  “We moved away for a while, but I had friends here, so I eventually came back.”

  Looking puzzled, Dad asked, “We?”

  “My son and I,” Mrs. Morales answered.

  Dad looked taken aback. “Your son?”

  “Don’t try and pretend that you didn’t know,” Mike’s mom growled. “Your fiancé had no problem doing your dirty work for you after I called and left the message.”

  Dad truly looked confused. “Thérèse? I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

  Just then, Mrs. Morales must have remembered they had an audience, and looking shaken, she glanced at Mike, who seemed equally distressed.

  But Nick understood. “Dad? You and Mrs. Morales were dating before you married Mom?”

  Before Dad could answer, Mrs. Morales closed her eyes, saying softly, “You’re on the right track, Nick. You and Mike hit it off right away, and it seemed to me that you were good for each other. I suppose I could have tried to break it up, but Mike has always had the freedom to choose his own friends.”

  Nick murmured, “Rand noticed the resemblance after we first met.”

  “Mom?” Mike asked, looking uncertainly at his mom first and then at Nick’s dad. “You said my father knew you were pregnant, but didn’t want the responsibility, so I’ve never had the desire to even know who he was. Are you telling me…?”

  Dad looked stunned.

  Mrs. Morales heaved a sigh. “Yes, Mike. Mr. Hanover is your father.”

  Chapter Two

  After hearing the remarkable news about Mike and promising to keep the information private, Rand had taken off to meet the team so that Nick and Mike could discuss how best to move forward with their parents.

  “Let’s just go grab something to eat and drink from the concessions,” Dad said. “The four of us need to talk this out.”

  “Alright,” Mrs. Morales had agreed.

  Mike had been quiet since learning that Nick’s father was his, and for the first time since Nick had met him, Mike was showing his vulnerability. And Nick couldn’t blame him for being afraid about what he was about to hear, because Nick was a little nervous about the situation himself, since it appeared that his mom had been the instigator of trouble between Dad and the woman he’d been dating before marrying her. His parents’ relationship was rocky enough as it was, and Nick was worried about his two younger teenage sisters, Naomi and Shauna, and how this news would affect them if Dad confronted Mom.

  After grabbing some hot dogs and drinks, they settled at an isolated picnic bench near the edge of the park. Nick sat with Dad on one side, while Mike and his mom sat across from them on the other. For the next few minutes, everyone focused on their food and drinks until finally, Dad pushed aside the remai
nder of his food.

  Looking thoughtful and studying Mrs. Morales, Dad began, “The last time I saw you, everything was good between us Thérèse. I need to know what happened, and why you suddenly disappeared.” He heaved a sigh. “Please?”

  Now Mrs. Morales was looking uncertain. It was obvious she’d come to believe the worst of Dad, because of whatever had happened between her and Mom.

  “I found out I was pregnant. I called and left a message for you to meet with me, at our regular place near the movie theatre.”

  “You left a message for me at my apartment?” Dad asked, turning to Nick. “We didn’t have the technology we have today. Emailing and leaving messages on answering machines—that’s how we communicated back then.”

  “Yes,” Mrs. Morales answered. “I left the message on your machine.”

  “The apartment belonged to my parents. It was one of their rentals, so my mom had a key to the place,” Dad said quietly. “She’d been pushing Gwen on me for nearly a year after I got my degree while I was trying to decide whether it was worth it for me to get my Master’s.”

  “I didn’t know that,” Mrs. Morales said.

  “I didn’t want you to,” Dad answered, shrugging.

  She sighed. “Is that why you never asked me to move in with you?”

  Dad drank the rest of his water before carefully resting the empty bottle in front of him.

  He heaved a sigh, before his eyes met hers. “That, and because I wanted more from you than a short-term relationship. If you moved in with me, I wanted if to be because we were going to get married, Thérèse.”

  She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand.

  Looking shaken, Mike reached for her other hand, and squeezed it.

  Strangely, Nick wasn’t surprised. Dad had always distanced himself from Mom, and he knew there was some kind of huge rift between them already. But a situation like this had the potential of breaking them up for good.

  Dad asked softly, “What happened?”

  “I waited.” Mrs. Morales pursed her lips. “It wasn’t your mom who I spoke with. A younger woman showed up instead.”

  “Gwen?”

  She nodded. “The woman you ended up marrying.”

  “Gwen and Mom must have been in cahoots.” Dad swiped a hand over his face. “What did she say?”

  “That you two were engaged, and once the two of you were married, things were going to change, and she wasn’t going to allow you to have anymore flings.”

  Dad cursed.

  “And then she said that I should stay away from you, if I knew what was good for me, otherwise there would be trouble. I had no reason to doubt her.” Mrs. Morales suddenly had tears in her eyes. “She suggested I leave town, so I did.”

  “Didn’t you know me better than that? Gwen and I never even dated before you left town,” Dad finally murmured.

  Mrs. Morales suddenly looked dejected. “You couldn’t have tried very hard to find me.”

  “No,” Dad answered grimly. “I was told by your landlord that you never wanted to see me again.”

  “But…” Mrs. Morales looked stricken.

  “He must have been paid off by my mom, Thérèse.”

  The four of them sat there in silence for the next few minutes.

  Dad cleared his throat. “There’s nothing we can do about the past, but you can be damned sure I’m not going to shy away from providing for my son.”

  Mike finally spoke. “I don’t expect anything from you, Sir. Once I graduate from high school, I’m enlisting in the Air Force, to get a better education.”

  Dad studied him intently. “Alright. I understand you’re almost eighteen, and you’ve been taking care of yourself for a while now, I’m sure, but I want to be part of your life. I’ll leave that up to you to decide how much of a part.”

  Nick grinned at Mike. “I know you might not be too excited about this Mike, but I am. You’ve always been like a brother to me anyway. That’s because you really are.”

  The tension eased, and Mike grinned back at Nick.

  “Damn, the two of you look so much alike,” Dad murmured.

  “He looks exactly like you did when I first met you, Michael,” Mrs. Morales said softly.

  Dad reached across the table, taking Mrs. Morales’ hand in his. “I’ll do what I can to make things right, Thérèse. I have other children too, and I’ll have to consider them, but I’m not going to hide away from the situation. Mike is my son, and I have a feeling that once I get to know him, I’m going to be as proud of him as I am of Nick. The fact that the two boys found each other says it all.”

  Tears started falling from Mrs. Morales’ eyes.

  * * *

  Dad gave him a side glance after they were on the road, driving toward home.

  “You’re probably wondering why I was so willing to be upfront about this?”

  “Yes,” Nick answered. “When it comes down to it, we’ve never really talked about anything important, Dad.”

  Dad nodded his agreement. “That’s my fault. I’ve distanced myself from all you kids, when the only one I wanted to distance myself from was your mom. But you’ve just turned sixteen Nick, and you deserve to know the truth. You’ve more or less been acting on your own these last few years because you’re so responsible.”

  “According to my bodyguards?”

  “And your school principal and teachers who I’ve reached out to through the years.”

  Nick was surprised.

  “I want to talk to you privately about a few things Nick. Give me a couple days to sort out this situation first, and make some arrangements, whether Mike wants my help or not, he’s going to have it. Alright?” Dad heaved a sigh.

  “I hadn’t planned on saying anything about Mike to anyone until you were ready.”

  “Okay. I think I’d like you to stop by my office in a couple days, maybe after school?”

  “How’s Thursday? The playoffs begin Saturday.”

  “Sounds good,” Dad murmured, pulling into the driveway and heading along the long tree-lined road.

  “When are you going to let Trent go?” Nick asked, noticing the truck pulling into the driveway behind them.

  Dad pursed his lips. “Can you hang in there with him a little longer? Something still isn’t right, and I can’t put my finger on it. I’ll explain more when we talk on Thursday. I feel safer knowing Trent has an eye on you.” Dad sighed. “Especially when I’m still going to be traveling a lot. Not a word to anyone that you’re coming by the office. Not even to your mom. Alright?”

  Nick’s eyes went wide. One thing Mom had always encouraged was Nick’s communication with Dad. Why wouldn’t Dad want Mom to know Nick was coming by the office?

  “Alright,” Nick answered. “Whatever you say, Dad.”

  Chapter Three

  Mike didn’t appear to be as excited as Nick was about the news that they were brothers, Nick noticed the next day at practice. In fact, it felt awkward between them for the first time since they’d met.

  After practice, Nick pulled Mike aside. “What’s wrong?”

  Mike shrugged. “It’s funny. Instead of feeling closer, I feel more like we’re worlds apart, after finding out that your dad is also mine. Mom was really upset last night, and she barely slept.”

  “Why?”

  Mike sighed. “There’s a few things I’ve never told you.”

  Nick looked at him quizzically. “Want to go somewhere and talk?”

  “That might be a good idea,” Mike answered. “After we hit the sub shop with the team?”

  “That works for me,” Nick said.

  A few hours later, they were still sitting at a booth in the sub shop, after deciding to stick around once everyone left.

  “You go first,” Nick murmured, after swigging some water from a bottle.

  “You’ve been over to our apartment a bunch of times, and we’ve all been over to Rand’s. If you have no problem with my ethnicity, why haven’t I ever been invited to you
r house?” Mike asked abruptly.

  “That’s an easy question to answer,” Nick confessed. “It’s not just you. I’m not allowed to invite anyone.”

  Mike blinked.

  “I was kidnapped when I was eight years old. We’ve been taking precautions since then, after moving to a more downscale neighborhood and attempting to blend in so that our family’s wealth isn’t as easily visible.”

  Mike looked astonished. “Geez. What happened? Who kidnapped you?”

  “They never discovered who. I think the situation was resolved and Dad might have guessed who was responsible, along with the authorities, but I was drugged, and have never really remembered much, since I was young when it happened.” Nick pursed his lips. “Okay, so what were you wanting to say to me?”

  “My mom has never been married. It was easier for her to pretend that she was.”

  “Truthfully? I’m not surprised. Your mom seems pretty lonesome and seems so focused on you and work. It would have been hard enough being a single parent, without having to be judged by others if she was unmarried.”

  “You’re right. You’re pretty darn intuitive. You know?” Mike looked slightly dazed. “Her travel agency does well, but still, it’s costly living in Richmond, so yes she works every spare minute. It will be easier for her when I’m in the Air Force. The little bit of money I make delivering papers and doing odd jobs around the neighborhood doesn’t do much except pay for gas or a few groceries.”

  “I suppose she won’t be willing to take anything from Dad, even though we’re loaded?”

  “You’re right again.” Mike grimaced, giving Nick a side glance. “I suppose I shouldn’t say this, but I think my mom has never stopped being in love with your dad.”

  Nick heaved a sigh. “After seeing the two of them together yesterday? I think it’s the same for my dad.”