"When were you born?" Carlisle asked.

"May of 1987. I'll be twenty-nine this year."

"I left for Oxford in June of 1986, and came home late in the summer." He hesitated. "I never saw your mother again."

"Did you…did you know about me?"

He stared at me for a moment. "Assuming you're asking that because you believe I'm your father, the answer is no. I didn't. If I had, I would have come home right away."

"Why did you leave?"

He looked around the room, but didn't respond.

I cleared my throat, suddenly embarrassed. "I'm sorry," I muttered, glancing toward Esme. "Perhaps you want to talk another time?"

He chuckled. "No, Edward, it's fine. Esme knows all about my history with your mother." He buried his hand in his hair. "Except for this part, of course."

I leaned forward. "I meant what I said to Esme, Carlisle. I didn't come here to cause trouble. I came…I came because I had to see you—to see if there was any chance the man I knew as my father was not in fact, him."

"Was that your hope?"

"It was," I stated fervently.

"May I ask why?"

I looked at Bella, who nodded. As simply as I could, I explained my life. I told them about meeting Bella; although I left out much of that story, but told them how incredibly happy I was with her. I explained the circumstances that led to Bella finding my mother's journal, and about Alec's visit.

Carlisle listened intently the whole time, rarely interrupting. He looked angry at times, upset at others, and when I finished he was silent. Finally he spoke. "The sculpture of the Iris—is it about seven inches tall and done in pewter?"

"Yes."

"I gave that to your mother before I left for Oxford. They were her favorite flower and when I saw it, I wanted her to have it. Something to remember me by until I came home again."

"But you didn't come home."

He shook his head, standing up and pacing. It was another one of his habits I had, it would seem. He came back and sat down, taking Esme's hand.

"I loved your mother the moment I saw her. She was lovely—her red hair shone in the sunlight and her enchanting laughter. I loved hearing her laugh. She was talking to Alec, who was a few years ahead of us. I went over to say hello to him, and I introduced myself to your mother. We hit it off right away. I asked her about Alec, but she assured me he was only a friend." Carlisle shook his head. "Alec never breathed a word to me about how he felt about your mother. We were never particularly close—he wasn't ever that thrilled about me being around."

"What happened?"

"We dated. We were in love. We made plans for the future. It had always been my dream to study at Oxford and one day, I found out I'd been accepted for a summer program." He smiled. "Your mother was beyond happy for me. I had planned on coming here to Chicago after I had done my summer program. We made different plans. I would go to England; she would work for the summer. Then we'd both come here and go to University of Chicago."

"But?"

"I was offered an unexpected scholarship at Oxford. I called and told her. She was upset, but still supportive—she knew this was my dream." He paused for a moment. "I came home to get my things, and we talked about how to make it work. I would go to school in Oxford, she would attend here and we'd make it through. We knew it would be hard, but we both thought we could do it. When I left, I had every intention of doing exactly that. Finish school there, then come home and marry your mother."

"But?"

"Something had changed while I was away. Alec was around all the time. She continued to maintain he was only a friend—that she thought of him as a brother, and with me away, he was a great companion. By this point, Alec and I barely spoke and I didn't like it very much, but your mother made sense. Better she had Alec, someone who was like family, for a friend, than to be alone all the time.

"The night before I left, your mother and I were, ah, together. She came with me to the airport and we said our goodbyes. I promised to be home for Christmas and I left." His gaze was fixed on the rug, and when he looked up, I could see the pain that still lingered. "She wrote me in November and said she couldn't do this anymore. It was too difficult to carry on a long-distance relationship. I called her when I got the letter, and she told me she had met someone. I was heartbroken. I wrote and called, but my letters came back, and she refused to take my calls. It was only the following summer when I came home for a visit I found out she had married Alec. He was the someone else." He pushed up his glasses and met my eyes. "I left and never came back."

"I don't understand. Why wouldn't she tell you?"

Esme spoke up. "I think Alec convinced her to break it off. From everything Carlisle told me about your mother, she always put him first. I think Alec worked on her, convincing her letting Carlisle go was best for him. And then got what he wanted all along—your mother."

"You never saw her?" I asked Carlisle.

"No. I was devastated. I had held out hope that once I came home and we talked, we'd work it out. But when I found out she was married, I simply left. There was nothing more for me to do."

"And you didn't know about the baby? About me?"

Carlisle shook his head. "Don't forget Edward—things were much different back then. Being pregnant and alone was still considered scandalous. We didn't have Skype, texting, or cell phones. The only family I had left was Alec, and he certainly wouldn't tell me the truth. Later, I heard through friends, he and Elizabeth had a child, but I never asked the age, or even suspected it could have been mine. I thought she'd moved on to a better life. One without me."

He leaned forward. "If I had known, I would have come back. Married her. Changed my life for you." His voice caught. "To know she was unhappy, that you were alone and badly treated, is gutting me."

I held out my hand, which he grasped firmly. "I loved your mother for a long time, Edward. I would have loved you as well. Your life would have been so different."

For a second, I thought about it. I shook my head. "I think things happened for a reason. Because of my life, I met my Bella. I wouldn't give that up for anything."

Carlisle nodded.

I glanced as Esme. "You are remarkably okay with all this."

She smiled and Carlisle laughed, squeezing her knee. "I have loved two women in my life, Edward. Your mother and Esme. Both of them were great gifts to me. It took me a lot of years to get over your mother. I met Esme twenty years ago. It took me five more years to admit I loved her. We have a wonderful life together. She knows all about your mother, and my past. We're very open with each other."

Esme shook her head. "I don't fear ghosts from the past, Edward. Your mother helped make your father the man he is today."

I cleared my throat. "Is it too soon to be deciding that? That you are my father, I mean?"

Everyone in the room laughed, including Bella, who had remained silent all this time. Carlisle grinned at me. "We can take a paternity test. In fact, we should, so when I go confront Alec with all this, I have proof, but frankly Edward, we're so much alike there is really no denying it. The dates line up. I'm convinced I'm your father."

My heart soared at his words. Deep in my heart, I knew it as well.

"Do I, ah, have any siblings?"

"No. Esme and I were never able to have any. It's the only thing that's been missing from our life." He beamed. "Until now."

"How are you so calm?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I know—I shouldn't be. But the moment I saw you, I knew. It's as if somehow I knew something was missing and I was waiting for you to find me. And now you have, I'm not going to waste a moment brooding." He leaned forward. "I want to know you, Edward. Everything about you. I want to know my son and his lovely wife. Be a part of your life—if you'll let me."

My eyes filled with tears. "You're going to be a grandfather."

"That is the second best news I've heard today." He stood up and held out his arms. "Can I congratulate my son?"

For the first time in my life, I felt my real father's embrace. His arms held me, warm, strong, and sure, and I was safe.

Neither of us held back the tears.

~o0o~

I dropped a kiss onto Bella's forehead, smiling at her sleeping form. We had been thrilled to find out Carlisle and Esme were staying in the same hotel, and we had all left the auditorium together. We came back to our room, where we sat talking for hours. Bella had fallen asleep against my shoulder, and after a bit, I carefully stood up, gathering her in my arms and bringing her to bed. She didn't even stir as I slipped her under the blankets, making sure she was warm.

When I got back to the living room, I was surprised to see only Carlisle.

"Where is Esme?"

He smiled as he handed me another small brandy. "She's tired, so she went to our room. She said to say goodnight and she'll see you tomorrow." He sipped his drink. "I think she thought maybe we'd like a little time alone."

"That was kind of her."

"I meant it when I said Esme and I have no secrets, Edward. But if there is something you want to know about your mother or our relationship, and you were holding back because Esme was here, ask me. I'll answer anything you want to know."

"I knew my mother, as, well, my mother. Looking back now, I realize there was always a shadow in our lives. She was never truly happy. When it was only us, she smiled and laughed, but when Alec came home…she changed." I sighed. "We both changed. It was as if his presence—" I trailed off, uncertain how to explain it.

"Sucked all the happiness out of the room?" Carlisle asked dryly.

I smiled sadly. "That's one way to describe it. He was always so distant with me. When Mom was alive he was civil, although not at all warm. After she died, he didn't even bother hiding his contempt of me."

"I'm sorry you went through that, Edward."

"You didn't know."

"No. I didn't. I hate that you went through life with someone who made you feel less." He shook his head. "I never understood what Elizabeth saw in him. Why she thought so highly of him."

"His colleagues think he's great, and can do no wrong. Other doctors, people he approves of—he's different with them. I used to watch him if we were out and ran into someone he knew. The change was startling."

He nodded. "He was like that growing up. He acted one way in public, concerned and charming. When we were alone, he let me know I was nothing but an interloper. He wasn't fond of my mother."

"So we both suffered because of him."

"You more so, Edward. He took his hatred for me out on you."

"I don't understand why he didn't tell you after she died. Shipped me off to you so he wouldn't have to look at me."

"Because giving you to me, would have meant he lost. He took you away from me. You and your mother. He knew what having you would mean to me and he'd deny me that happiness no matter what. Add in the fact he could make you miserable, and that was the icing on the cake." He reached over, shaking my shoulder slightly. "He refused to allow us the happiness he was denied. He lost your mother so you had to pay the price." His face darkened. "He has a lot of explaining to do."

"What are your plans?"

"I'm going to do the lectures. You and I are going to see my friend tomorrow for the DNA tests. He told me it takes about forty-eight hours since we are direct relatives."

"We think."

He shook his head. "We know."

"What if—?"

"Edward. I know you're worried, but I'm not. You look just like me. You act like me. We even share the same mannerisms, the same speech pattern. Esme pointed that out to me. Is there anything, any one trait, which you share in common with Alec?"

"No."

"I don't even need a test to tell me what I already know. You are my son. But I want it so I can tell Alec I have proof of his lies."

"And then?"

"Then we are going to forget him. And you and I are going to build the bond he tried so hard to sever. Hell, it's already there. We're so alike, it will infuriate him." He studied me. "And I hope one day, you'll be comfortable enough to call me Dad… not him."

"I never called him that. It was always Father." I shrugged, feeling oddly bashful. "I hope one day you're proud enough of me, you want me to call you Dad."

He chuckled, his cheeks slightly red—another trait we shared. "I think I'm already there. I can see the kind of man you are, Edward. Thoughtful, caring, smart. You treat Bella the way I treat Esme. Bella looks at you as if you hung the moon for her."

"I would if I could. I love her more than anything."

He leaned back. "I, ah, noticed her ring."

"It was my grandmother's. Mom always wore it on her right hand."

"It was your grandmother's, Edward. But not her mother. My mother. I gave her that ring as a promise. Knowing she still wore it is such a comfort. Seeing it on your wife's hand is truly wonderful."

"I had no idea."

"No one did. I gave it to her before I left and she told me she would return it when she broke it off. I told her not to—I didn't want it." He sighed. "I'm so glad your neighbor kept all those boxes. Just another example of how unfeeling Alec was about everything. I can't believe he threw all her things away."

"I'll show them all to you when you come to visit."

"I'd like that."

Then he smiled and clapped me on the shoulder. "Now, let me tell you about your mother when she was young."

I beamed. "I'd like that."

Thank you for reading. See you on the weekend.