Dating : Family Paradox

He never thought he would send in one of those swabs but his mom just kept going on about it. Danny did it mostly just to make her happy.

Cousins were expected, distant relatives sure, maybe a famous person from history, but a half-brother? That was not expected.

Even stranger, this Andrew Gerald Adams is his half-brother on his mom’s side.

Danny had spent days trying to figure this one out, to figure out how he felt about it, and just what the hell? A half-brother, seriously? The hours spent thinking so many negative thoughts but a half-brother should be a wonderful thing. Danny always wanted a brother, any sibling really, but a brother especially.

The emotional whirlwind, he felt, was winding down, now he wanted answers. He was shocked when his half-brother agreed to meet Danny so soon after reaching out.

The nerves were there about meeting him but he was more anxious to find out what he knows. What happened? Was he adopted out? Did his dad raise him? If he does not get answers the disappointment will be devastating.

Then it hit him, what if Andrew wants answers? Danny could only tell him what life was like with their mom. Would he want to hear that? Danny questioned whether he was ready to deal with heavy emotions.

“Oh shit,” Danny’s hand went to his mouth. “What if he cries?”

The knock at the door startled him. Oh shit.

Danny looked around the room, clean, glanced in the mirror, presentable, and then realized he was stalling.

With a deep breath he stepped to the door, turned the knob, and pulled the heavy wood door open. His mouth fell open.

Standing in the doorway was a man, an old man somewhere north of sixty.

“Hi,” the old man said. “Danny?”

Danny closed his mouth and shook his head. “Um, I was expecting a younger man named Andrew. Is he with you?”

The old man chuckled. “May I come in?”

“Of course,” Danny stepped aside. Once the older man stepped through the doorway Danny poked his head outside and looked around. No one.

“You have a beautiful home,” the stranger complemented.

“Thank, uh” Danny blinked his eyes, closed the door, and turned toward his guest. “Thank you. Coffee?”

“Yes, please. Black.” The older man looked around the living room as he slowly made his way toward a table clearly set for guests. On the wall he saw a family photo; Danny, his dad, and…”

“So — mom,” Danny’s voice cut the silence.

“She looks exactly like I remember her in this,” Danny’s guest gestured toward the picture. “When was this? Couple years ago?”

“Wait,” Danny absentmindedly sat at the table and placed the old man’s coffee across the table. “What?”

The older man chuckled softly as he sat and lifted his coffee to his lips. “Thank you, very good.”

Danny looked at the older man. “May I ask where Andrew is? I thought he was coming.”

“He’s here.” The stranger sipped his coffee. “I should probably tell you what’s going on.”

It was Danny’s turn to laugh. “Yes, I’d appreciate that. I’m very confused.”

The older man laughed with Danny. “Understandably,” he sips his coffee, “it might be easier to start with mom’s first love.”

Danny had always wondered about him. His mom never mentioned being married before or even having a son before him. So many questions, any new information would be welcome.

“I met Gerald Andrews Adams in 1967.” The stranger looked into his cup at the black bold tasting liquid. The left side of his mouth curled up into a smile, a memory. “People called him ‘Veep’ and I still don’t know why.”

The man took a sip of his coffee. He took a deep breath. “Excuse me,” he said. “It’s still hard all these years later.”

It was only then Danny noticed the scar running across the man face, cutting through an otherwise full gray beard.

“I just wanted to meet him, you know?” The older man’s voice shook. “He was so broken down as I grew up, the war took its toll.” He closed his eyes. “I just wanted to hang out and know a younger happier him.”

Danny was quickly becoming thoroughly confused but he did not want to interrupt the man’s story. This was clearly an emotional moment for him.

“We had a few drinks, you know?” The stranger looked at the younger man and smiled. “You wouldn’t understand the rationale behind this now a-days but drinking and driving was just how you got home from the bar back then.”

“Wait,” Danny had to interrupt at this point. Confusion was really starting to make his head spin. “Who are you? I thought you were Andrew dad?”

“No,” the man leaned back and composed himself. “I didn’t know how to go about telling you.” The old man cleared his throat. “I’m Andrew.”

“Wait,” Danny shook his head and closed his eyes, “no, how is that possible? You’re older than my mom.”

“Yes, by a couple of years actually.”

“So, what are you trying to pull here?” Anger built in Danny and showed in his voice.

“I understand you’re confused but let me explain before you get too angry.”

“Yes. Please.” Danny leaned back and crossed his arms eager to hear what bullshit was about to come out of the strange man’s mouth.

The man leaned forward, setting both elbows on the table and interlacing his fingers. “I’m Doctor Andrew Gerald Adams, and about two years ago, as a grad student in my timeline, I invented a time machine.”

Danny laughed out loud, a booming laugh, and stood from the table. “Ok, I don’t know why you’re doing this but you can leave now.”

Andrew stood, hands extended in front of him. “I know, I know. Time travel hasn’t been invented in this timeline because I’ve made the choice not to recreate it.”

“This is nuts, get out!”

Andrew tried one plea to soothe Danny’s aggravation, “Let me guess, you expected someone thirty-two, born in Washougal, on three June?”

Danny couldn’t remember all the facts but he did know Washougal and the age. “Yes.”

Andrew smiled, “Do you even know where Washougal is?”

“No,” Danny said with a slow shake, half nod.

“I put information in my Family Branch profile as a way to validate who I am to you. Or at least try.” Andrew tilted his head to his left and moved his arms to his side, extended in a gesture of think about it. “How would I know that info?”

Danny’s head spun again. Confusion, frustration, disbelief, realization all blended into a swirl of blurred vision. “I need to sit down.”

“Yes, here.” Andrew helped Danny to a near by couch.

Danny let himself drop onto the leather overstuffed seat. “Thank you.” Danny stayed half slumped, sitting with his arms at his side. “Time…,” Danny could not wrap his tongue around the words. “Time travel?”

Andrew took a seat in a recliner opposite Danny and smiled. “I know, it is very hard to accept something you can’t see, I can’t prove, and seems like something out of a science fictional novel.”

Danny laughed loudly, “that is quite the understatement.”

“I brought two vials from Genetics Finder.” Andrew pulled two envelopes out of the inside pocket of the long coat he wore. “We can take these together and you’ll have proof.” Andrew handed them to Danny who sat up to retrieve them. “I’ll let you open and administer mine if you wish.”

Danny nodded absentmindedly. His mind was on time travel.

Andrew sat back in the comfy chair and let Danny process.

“Ok, so let’s say I believe you,” the younger man extended his arm and rolled his wrist in a tell me more gesture, his fingers wiggling give me, give me. “Explain what…what,” he stammered.

“Yes, of course,” Andrew cut Danny off letting him off the hook from needing to speak, he was clearly having trouble. “I’ll try to make a long story short — at least initially.”

Andrew took a deep breath. “After I developed time travel…”

Danny chuckled at the words.

“…I wanted to go back and get to know my dad before the world broke him. I found him in a bar, struck up a conversation, and we hit it off. I mean how could we not, right?”

Danny watched Andrew recall the events and could see what ever happened still had a clear impact on him.

“Veep never saw the deer and,” Andrew closed his eyes, fighting tears, “and when we hit the tree.” Andrew’s voice clutched. “Well, I was the only one that walked away.” He pointed at the scar on his cheek, “This is a constant reminder, a branch from the tree that killed my dad sliced me open.”

“Ok,” Danny said, “so, he died. Your dad.” Danny paused realizing the insensitivity of the comment. “I’m sorry about your dad,” Danny reached out for Andrew’s hand, Andrew took it.

“Thank you.”

“So, what happened next?” Danny asked softly.

“Well, that was the day I lost everyone.” Andrew released Danny’s hand and leaned back, looking up at the ceiling. “Because I wanted to meet the younger him he never met my mom.” Andrew squeezed his eyes shut and leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “I had a younger sister, a nephew, a family!” Andrew drew his breath in slowly. “I’m sorry.” Andrew composed himself and continued. “Long story long; my timeline picked up there like I never existed in ‘your’ time. I never wanted to go back or redevelop the technology. I ruined my life in one incident. Imagine the damage people could do.”

Danny struggled to believe but wanted so much to believe this man. He could see, no matter the truth, that Andrew was in pain. If this fantastical story was even remotely true he had lost everyone because he wanted to know his father better. “I’m sorry Andrew,” he said softly. “Look, I don’t need the other test. It’s a crazy story but I think I believe you.”

“Thank you, Danny.” Andrew chose his next words carefully. “Since I knew who my mom was I kind of,” nerves launched butterflies into his stomach, “followed her over the years.”

Danny’s reaction was unreadable.

“I was actually at her wedding to your dad,” Andrew continued cautiously. “When you were born I swung by the hospital. I was there when they put you in the nursery.”

Danny’s mouth twisted fighting back what? Anger, sadness? Andrew could not tell.

“Over the years I checked in on y’all. When the DNA stuff became a fad I figured — maybe this is how I could meet you.”

Danny took a deep breath and closed his eyes. His breathing slowed.

“Are you okay?” Andrew asked.

Danny stood and Andrew stood to match him not knowing what to expect. He did not expect a hug, a big hug, warm, and soothing. The two men embraced for what seemed hours.

It was Danny who broke the hug. Looking at Andrew’s face, eye-to-eye, Danny spoke softly. “You have a family, I’m your brother.”

Andrew slumped forward as tears streamed from his eyes and the two men walked to the table where their coffee had cooled and sat together.

Danny refilled their cups, several times, and the talked through the evening. They shared stories of growing up with their mom; she was the same in many ways, different in others. They laughed and, on occasion, cried until it was time for Andrew to go…and then just a bit longer.

They both knew they could never tell their mom. She would likely have received a report about him and likely chalked it up to error. They laughed about the possibility of one day trying to tell her. Danny could see Andrew wanted to tell her but, more than anyone, understood why they could not.

Closing the door as he waved bye to Andrew, a promise to meet up again soon had been made. Danny still did not know if he believed Andrew’s crazy story. Time travel, he questioned. Wow.

He looked at the DNA tests he had left on the couch and picked them up. Without hesitation he threw them in the trash.

The Beginning