Logan

162. I Need Answers

*Natalie's POV*

Going to the diner with Ember and Jax was easy, for being Ripley's nephews they were very efficient. Our truck ride over consisted of them asking me little questions about the town, and mumbling amongst themselves about the different directions and streets. They'd been here before, and didn't need my help navigating. Ember opened my door first before I could, Jax stood beside him and put their hand out for me to take. Marlin's was a cute little diner, photos and wooden plaques of the different towns around the area, the place was set on the weather channel, quiet. We seated ourselves and I looked at the gigantic display case, different pies, cookies, cupcakes, everything.

The waitress, Lydia, led us to a table and asked what we wanted to drink. I always say hot chocolate or soda, since I never really know how the coffee tastes. It'd been a while since I had it here, so I opted for a soda.

I pulled out the photo of the field trip, and slid it over to Jax and Ember sitting beside each other. Jax bit his lip, while Ember remained silent and glanced down at it then up at me.

"You're going to tell me what this means." I demand, "I need answers. You and I both know he's not some creepy stalker or that he's obsessed with my mother, but that he's significant in my life somehow."

Ember picked up the photo with a pained expression, as if he wanted to smile but instead chose to be cool again. "What if I show you something?" He said, pulling an plastic bag out of his coat pocket. Inside it is a wrinkled envelope from a photo kiosk, the edges are frayed and white compared to the bright yellow body. Disposable camera old.

Ember looks at me then at Jax, and then he switches his gaze back to me and slides the envelope in my direction.

I look down, and my heart drops into my stomach, and my breath catches.

"How do you have these?" I gasp, not realizing the immediate tears stinging my eyes.

I swallow the wave of grief down as I look again.

My uncle Robbie is smiling from ear to ear, his brown wavy hair and big grin, a little boy with the same wavy hair and big smile. Standing next to them is Captain Ripley, a young version of him, smiling in a way I've only seen a few times, and a toddler.

It's me, I'm the toddler.

I treat the photo like the priceless heirloom it is, possibly the only of it's kind. I carefully pick it up, careful not to touch the face, balancing it on the side of my fingers. "I-I don't understand, how you have this. That's him," I put the photo down, "that's my uncle Robbie," I'm trying to speak but it's coming out in squeaks, "and that's me," I barely say, "that's me, Rip-Thomas, he's holding me." I look closer at the photo, "the little boy," a memory flashes my mind, "that's you. But how?"

We look at each other and I see that he's tearing up too, "Natalie, I-" he sniffles and he blinks, "We, you and me, we're cousins. Robbie, he's-he's my dad."

Before I can say anything he points at the photo, "This was taken at your third birthday party. I got to see you for the first time, here. My mom, Uncle Tom's sister, she and my Mere wanted to conceive but IVF was taking a long time, so your uncle offered to be a donor. I got to see him whenever I wanted, summers, holidays, random days I had concerts and doctor's appointments." He looked at me, then at Jax, "When you came along, your mother never let anyone see you. Um, so on your third birthday, dad said he wasn't coming unless he could bring me. He knew that Grandma Bev and Grandpa Wallace would cave, they were getting older and they just didn't want the drama. Your mom said no, but he didn't tell me. I was really excited to see you and my little cousins for the first time, I was 12, almost 13-so I mean, I knew when I wasn't wanted. God your mom, she hated my guts. But I was really happy here, we," he stopped talking, and his hand grasped mine.