Another silence.
Then Michael said, “You need to come over. Both of you.”
“Your father was my father too.”
****
An hour later, Diana stayed with the children while Aaron and I sat across from Michael at his kitchen table.
He looked at Aaron.
“Our father had the same mark.”
Aaron went completely still.
“How long have you known?”
“What did you say?”
Michael’s eyes dropped to the table.
“Your father was my father too.”
I was the first one to speak.
“Your father knew too.”
“How long have you known?”
“Since I was seventeen.”
Aaron stared at him. “You knew?”
Michael nodded.
“Your father knew too,” I said.
“He made me promise.”
“Yes.”
“And he made you keep it from Aaron?”
Michael rubbed both hands over his face.
“He made me promise. Said I could be part of Aaron’s life as his friend, but never as his brother.”
“I was burying my father, Aaron.”
“Even after he died?” I asked.
Michael looked at Aaron.
“After our father died, you were the only family I had left. I’d already kept the truth from you for years. I was terrified that if I told you then, you’d hate me for lying and I’d lose you too.”
Aaron pushed back from the table.
“That’s why you were like that at the funeral.”
“You have a lot to talk about.”
Michael’s face crumpled.
“I was burying my father, Aaron. And I had to stand there pretending he wasn’t mine.”
Aaron covered his face with both hands.
I watched him for a moment. Then I stood.
He looked up. “Elena….”
“I got the answer I came for.”
“You have a lot to talk about.”
“Wait.”
