yeah basically his mom and her dad had an affair. when he found out that nolan's mother was pregnant, he made it clear that it was all a mistake and he didn't want to be a father to her child. so she had the baby (him) on her own and raised him without telling people who his father was. when nolan was two months shy of his 9th birthday, his mother was killed and he and the man who married his mom and adopted him (so his dad) moved to portland. i hope this all makes sense!