There was no reaction from his dad, but Lynne smiled. “At least it sounds like a better job. Steve. It’s good that he’s doing well in his career. Sounds like he’ll be busy.” She titled her head, a small, puzzled frown crinkling her brow. “What is it, sweetie?” Steve just shrugged, but he too looked at his son.
He’d gone over how to ask this question so many times since that first interview, and he was determined not to make it sound like an accusation. “Am I adopted?” He watched their reaction, and the way they didn’t answer straight away and how they glanced at each other was enough of an answer. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I’ve always thought of you as our son.” Lynne reached out her hand to him.
His dad looked just as surprised and contrite, but his more direct and pragmatic nature took some of the sentimentality out of his voice. “We were going to when you were old enough, and then Harry was born, and we didn’t want you to feel any different from him. Then as Harry’s special needs became more pronounced, we just focused on that, and the fact we adopted you really never seemed important. To us you are our son, always have been.” He frowned. “How did you find out?”
He had hesitated to touch his mum’s hand, but did, with a deep breath. “So, Harry’s your child?” They nodded, and he explained what he could. “I had some pretty thorough background checks for this job, and it turned up some clues.” He couldn’t tell them how Hsu had known he had no parents, and he wasn’t ready to tell them that he was immortal yet , wasn’t sure if he was ever going to be, but a part of him wanted to tell them.
“You’re both our children.” Lynne implored. “But yeah, I gave birth to Harry. We’d been trying for a baby for a while, even before you came into our lives and finally it happened.”
“What about my biological parents?” Although, if Hsu was right, and he had no reason to think that he wasn’t or was lying, he wouldn’t have any.
Again it was Steve who answered with straightforward honesty. “We don’t know. The doctors reckoned you were less than a day old when you were found and brought to the hospital. Someone found you just outside the Poplar community centre. Probably some poor teenage girl too scared to tell her parents, but I know the police looked, but they didn’t find her. Anyway, with the help of some contacts in social services we we the lucky ones who adopted you.” His dad always had contacts everywhere.
Theo was about to ask further, although generally, he was satisfied. It did seem he was a foundling with no biological parents, and there was no great conspiracy in not telling him. “I just….”
“If Theo’s adopted, does that mean he’s not my brother anymore?” Harry had come downstairs and walked into the dining room having overheard just enough and was worried.
“No, I’m still your brother. You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Theo wrapped his arm around his taller brother’s shoulders. Aside from their mum, he was pretty much the only one who Harry would let to hug him.
“Good. I still want to play video games with you. You’ll come and visit more often now?”
“I won’t be able to because I’m moving away for my new job.” Seeing Harry’s disappointment, Theo added. “But we can skype whenever you want to hang out. Just not straight away, ‘cause I’m going to be busy getting used to the job.” It was a well educated guess that was an understatement. “But definitely once I’m settled. Okay?”
Harry nodded, satisfied with Theo’s answer. “Okay. I’ll look forward to it; Can I visit you in Switzerland? Mum, I can do that, can’t I?”
Ignoring his mum’s horrified expression, Theo just shrugged. “We’ll have to see, Harry. Like I said, let me get used to my new job and my boss, and maybe we can figure something out. But no promises, mate, okay?”
Dinner was finished with a return to normal family small talk about extended family members, and Steve talked about some of the redevelopment plans he had for one of his properties. After helping Lynne with the washing up, Theo made his farewells with long hugs with his mum and brother. His dad walked him to the door. “Finding out we adopted you hasn’t changed anything, has it?”