She sank into the chair, her shoulders slumped like something in her finally gave out.
“I don’t know how to tell you this, Jeremy. I’ve been lying to you your whole life.”
“You have a brother.”
My mind stalled and I couldn’t compute what I’d just heard.
“WHAT??”
“I had a baby when I was 17… before I met your father.” Tears leaked down her cheeks. “His name is Gerard.”
I couldn’t breathe or think. “Where is he?”
“I gave him up for adoption when he was five.
I was so young, Jeremy. I was scared out of my mind. His father disappeared the minute I told him I was pregnant.
I didn’t know how to raise a child on my own.”
She shook her head. “I was ashamed. And then years passed, and it got easier to pretend it never happened.
Until…”
“Until what?”
“Gerard found me… six months ago. We took the DNA test and everything.” She wiped her nose with a trembling hand. “At first, I was so happy.
My boy, all grown up. But then…”
“But then what, Mom?”
“He started asking for money. Said he was in trouble and needed help getting back on his feet.
“Then one night last month, he showed up here… panicked. Gave me that phone and all that cash.
Told me to hide it somewhere safe, that people might come looking for it. Then he disappeared.”
“What kind of people?”
“I don’t know! That’s what terrifies me.Continue reading…
