A Long Way From Home

Chapter 5

"D-dad?" I stuttered, "No, you're mistaken. My dad is dead!"

"Is that what she told you?" Evan asked.

"He was in a car accident after I was born!" I exclaimed.

"No, honey, your mom is just a bitch."

"Mom's a bitch?! I haven't seen you in eighteen years!" I yelled.

"She wouldn't let me!" he yelled back.

"And for good reason! You, are, not, my, dad!" I screamed.

"Aristotle Erin Fortescue lower your goddamn voice!" he screamed back.

"My last name is Foster," I whispered.

"What?" he asked.

"Foster. My last name is Foster!" I said louder.

"That's Alexander's dad's name," he said.

"How do you know Alex?" I asked, "How long have you been stalking me?"

"Stalking you?! I'm your father for god's sake!"

"Prove it." 

He stomped off into the house, and came back less than a minute later, waving a piece of paper in his hand.

"Your birth certificate," he said, handing it to me, "Bet you've never seen it before."

Come to think of it, I hadn't.

He pointed to the paper. "Read it," he commanded.

"Evan Fortescue, father," I whispered. "What the fuck?"

"That means," I paused, taking a deep breath. "My whole life has been a lie."

I looked into his eyes. Bright, emerald green. Just like mine. Alex and Mom had dark brown, almost black eyes.

"You really are my dad, aren't you?" I asked. He nodded. I turned to Dylan. "That makes you my brother!" 

He nodded. "But why wait until I'm eighteen to tell me this? Why not sooner?" I asked, desperately trying to put everything together in my head. 

"It's complicated," he said softly.

"But, Dad-"

"Enough, Aris."

I sighed and plopped down in the lawn chair. If he wasn't going to tell me, I'd have to find out for myself.

"Do you have a shower?" I asked, "And a spare room? Maybe a change of clothes?"

"Show her to her room," my dad said to no one in particular. 

Matt, Lennox, and Dylan looked at each other, silently deciding who would go.

After a minute of no one moving, Lennox said, "I'll do it," with a sigh.

He led me inside. The kitchen was fairly average sized, with stainless steel appliances, and hard wood floors, but I didn't have much time to look around.

Lennox led me up a winding staircase to a wide hallway with three rooms. He pointed to the middle door, and I walked in. 

My room was beautiful. One wall was made entirely of glass, giving me a gorgeous view of the beach. A queen sized bed jutted out from the wall across from the glass. On the only empty wall there was a gray couch, a wooden wardrobe and dresser, and a door -- presumably to an adjoining bathroom. 

Lennox did not come in. "You don't have to stand out there all alone, ya know," I said, inviting him in.

"I figured you wanted your space," he replied.

"Nah."

He plopped down on the couch, and let out a sigh. "Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot," I replied, falling backwards on my bed.

"Why did you come with us so willingly? You knew I wasn't Alex, so why'd you tell that lady I was?"

"To piss my mom off, at first," I answered, "Then it was because I was curious. You all seemed to know me, and you weren't trying to hurt me, and I wanted to know why."

"No one can care about you without having a reason?" he said softly.

I sat up and looked at him, "Well, it's different when the people in question are complete strangers."

"Yeah, you have a valid point," he chuckled.

I reached behind me and grabbed a pillow. "Get out. I'm getting in the shower," I said, throwing it at him.

"I'll get you back for that." He left and shut the door behind him.

I hopped off the bed and opened the dresser. It was empty. What did I honestly expect? 

Fuck it, I thought to myself, falling back down on the bed. I'll shower tomorrow. I closed my eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.