Serendipity

Chapter 4

"Hey Ethan, I need you to go with Harry into town tomorrow morning to get animal feed," aunt Harper says entering my bedroom Saturday night.

"Okay," I answer while looking up from my sketchpad with a nod. "What time are we going?"

"You're leaving by 7 a.m.," she replies as she steps further into the room to glance at the sketchpad with a smile.

"Beautiful as always, Ethan," she praises with a bright smile as she studies the drawing of Travis and Harry standing next to each other in their hockey uniforms.

"Thanks, aunt Harper," I whisper with a dark red blush coating across my cheeks.

"You know, one of my clients owns an art gallery. I could show him some of your drawings, and perhaps he would show them, if you would like me, too?"

"Thanks, but no thanks," I mumble with a shake of my head. "My drawings are not good enough for that."

She frowns at me as she sits on the edge of the bed in front of the sketchpad; "Ethan, your drawings are spectacular, just like you. Can I ask him to come see them here as long as their are no strings attached?"

Biting my lower lip as I think for a moment before slowly nodding; "Okay, as long as there is no strings attached?"

"Right," she confirms with a nod and a smile. "I'll call him Monday morning, and see when he can come here."

She stands to leave the room, but then much to my surprise asks; "Oh, I was wondering if you would like to do an Anstory DNA test to see if we can figure out who you dad is?"

"Um, sure," I shrug, avoiding her gaze. "Let me know what the cost is, and I will pull the money out of the bank on Monday."

I get $1,000 a month in death benifits from mum's death like aunt Harper's child do for their dad's death. I checked the balance the other day, and I have $44,000 in the back since I have only spent $4,000 over the last four years. When I turn 18, I plan on taking the test to get my licence, and buy myself a car.

"No need, love, I've got the cost covered," she replies, her voice firm, so I know better than to argue with her.

"Thanks," I reply, frowning at her as I'm not sure why she won't let me do this.

"You're welcome, Ethy," she grins at me, knowing full well I hate that nickname.

"Aunt Harper," I groan with a small pout.

She just chuckles as she walks out of the room, and I shake my head fondly at my goofy aunt before focusing on my drawing to continue working on it. About ten minutes later, aunt Harper walks back into the room as she softly knocks on the door. Glancing up at her, I notice she has her left hand behind her back as she smirks at me.

Raising my left eyebrow at her in silent question, she brings her around around to the front as she tosses a box toward me. It lands to the left of me on the bed, and I curiously pick it up to find it's an Ansestory DNA test box.

Snapping my eyes back at her as she is holding back laughter at my shock as she says; "I already got it in case you wanted to do this."

"You're the best, do you know this?" I giggle as I focus on the box to read what is written on it.

"I'll do this Monday morning, so I can mail it out that day," I softly tell her, now a little nervous at the possibility of finding out who my dad is.

"That's fine, Ethan," she softly assures me before leaving the room again.

Getting off the bed to place the box on the desk, and just stare at it for several seconds before I'm startled by Harley leaning against my side.

"What's that, Ethan?" he asks curiously as he looks at the box, too.

"An Ansestory DNA text to see if it can help me find out who my dad is," I honestly tell him as we continue to stare at the box.

"Will he take you away from us?" he asks horrified, and I instantly look down at him with a frown.

He has tears in his eyes, and I instantly feel guilt settle in my stomach. I have no idea how to answer him, and he breaks out into a loud sobbing fit as he latches his arms around my waist as he burries his face into my side.

"What's wrong?" Hannah worriedly inquires from the doorway.

"He gonna take a test, and then his dad is gonna take him away!" Harley wails from my stomach without lifting his head from my stomach.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Harry demands as he and aunt Harper enter room, too.

I explain everything to them, and I then tell aunt Harper I'm not doing the text until the results come back around my 18th birthday. Harley calms down slightly at my words, and after several minutes, he has calmed down to hiccups. Even if I want to know who my father is right now, I won't because I don't want to be taken away from my family. Besides, in reality I only have three months to wait to do this.

"Ethan, you can do it now instead of waiting," aunt Harper tries to assure me. "Even if he is found now, it would take some time for a custody hearing could be held, and most likely you would be 18."

"I'm not going to risk it, so I'll take the test, and send it in where it comes back around my birthday, so there is no issue," I reply with a shrug of my shoulders that are slumped.

Grabbing the box after I ask Harely to let go of me, I place the box on the highest shelf of my closet - out of sight, out of mind for now.