Dallas, Texas
1992
Parking in his driveway, getting out of his car, John Ross following behind him at a leisurely pace, JR approached the house, his keys becoming unnecessary when Sue Ellen opened the front door and stepped outside.
"Sorry we're late darlin'," kissing his wife softly, he handed her the bouquet of yellow roses they'd stopped to pick up on the way home from the airport, "these are for you."
"Thank you," accepting the flowers, Sue Ellen returned his kiss. Married twenty-two years, their attraction to each other had not lessened, only changed with age.
Stepping away as their kiss ended, he gave Sue Ellen space to turn her attention to one of the other loves of her life, their son.
"Mama, looking beautiful as always."
"John Ross."
Pulling him into a hug, it wouldn't have been clear to an outsider that it had been just weeks since she'd seen him last, her affection for their eldest clear, so very different from how she'd been raised.
"How have the first weeks been? I presume you've been studying hard and that's why you haven't called?"
Back at college for his senior year after spending a few weeks in Europe decompressing followed by the rest of the summer working at Ewing Oil, his last visit home had been less than a month earlier, but that didn't stop Sue Ellen from thinking about him, from missing him.
"Studying, partying, they share a few letters."
Laughing aloud himself, he shot a look at his wife, her smirk indicating she found the comment amusing, but her lack of audible laugh indicating she wasn't ready to let the subject go just yet.
"Why don't we go inside and you can tell me all about it."
"I'm not sure you'll want to hear all about it."
Taking his mother's arm, heading inside, John Ross' comment made them both chuckle this time, each remembering exactly what college had been like, and how little they'd shared with their own parents.
"Our daughter might appreciate a visit from her daddy," meeting his eye as he closed the door behind them, Sue Ellen let him know his attention was needed elsewhere, something he understood far too well.
"Upstairs?"
Nodding, Sue Ellen shot him a sympathetic smile before leading John Ross into the living room, the interaction between mother and son one he'd heard many times before, having had it a few times himself.
"Now, club soda?"
"Mama."
Well aware that John Ross drank more than club soda at fraternity parties, he didn't get involved, heading upstairs away from the conversation. He didn't know what he was about to encounter when he reached his daughter's bedroom, the drama of a seventeen year old girl constantly new to him after Bobby and Jenna bore the brunt of Lucy and Charlie's teenage years, what he did know though was that he'd do his level best to make whatever was wrong all better.
Canterbury, England
"This arrived for you earlier."
Setting her evening cup of tea down, she stood up and handed the letter to Christopher as he walked into the sitting room. Watching him examine the sealed envelope, her stomach dropped. She herself was very familiar with the coat of arms having spent the past few hours turning the letter over in her hands, ruminating on the contents and waiting for her son to comment on the envelope time felt like it had slowed down.
He'd sent away for it, his original birth certificate, the paperwork filled out, post-dated and mailed days before he was eighteen with the intention that it be processed as soon as possible. He too had attended the counselling appointment that was required of anyone in his position before approval of any such request, but now that what he'd wanted from the process had arrived, he seemed to be in no hurry to progress to the next step.
"Would you prefer to be alone?"
Shaking his head, he was clear in his answer, "no."
He wanted her there, his mother, adoptive mother but always just mummy growing up; he wanted her present to share the moment with.
Sliding the letter opener across the top of the envelope, he read silently for a moment before murmuring, "Houston. My mother, my biological mother, was from Houston."
Handing the paper to her to look over, the knot in her stomach tightened as she read the information, some details the same as those sitting in their filing cabinet in the study, others clearly showing a different reality.
'Name and surname: Christopher James Wentworth'
They'd kept his first and middle names, liking them the instant they'd heard them in an offhanded comment from the midwife, but Wentworth had gone the way of the rest of the biological mother's information, into a sealed file, not uttered on the day all those years ago and not uttered between them yet.
'Name and surname: Katherine Wentworth'
'Place of birth: Houston, Texas, United States of America'
'Occupation: University Student'
They'd known very little of the girl, not meeting her, catching a glimpse of her or hearing from her since, but she had known the scrap of information Christopher had taken note of.
"I told you she was American."
Christopher had been the gift they'd been waiting for, a gift she'd feared she'd have to return when the midwife asked for their patience and grace just minutes after they'd received him, a contemptuous comment about things being very different across the Atlantic telling her all she needed to know about where Christopher had come from.
"I know, I just… Texas…"
Cracking a smile, his facial expression brought her some relief. Frequent travellers, Texas was one place they'd never been, their knowledge of the state coming from admittedly biased, stereotypical sources, ones they logically knew not to trust but she knew they shared a common thought on.
A talented sportsman, able to switch from hockey to cricket to lacrosse to rowing and tennis depending on what time of the year it was and what he felt like doing, she couldn't quite picture him playing American football or riding in a rodeo, things he potentially may have done had Katherine Wentworth decided not to sign the adoption papers.
"I wonder if she still lives there…"
Speaking more to himself than her it seemed, she already knew the answer to the question that had been weighing on her mind, although that didn't stop her from asking.
"You're going to go, aren't you?"
Not due to start his university studies until October, now was the time to take a chance on pursuing the information at his fingertips, they both knew it, they'd discussed it, but then it had been a hypothetical, now it was real.
"Would you be upset?"
"No. I've been preparing myself since we told you all those years ago and even more since you sent the forms away."
Appreciating that he wanted her opinion, she couldn't make the decision for him, it had to be something he did on his own.
"Yes, but this will change everything."
Sounding as if he was no longer sure he wanted to pursue the details of his past, his demeanour reminded her that as confident and mature as he seemed a lot of the time, parts of that were just a façade and somewhere in him the little boy who had been terrified of thunderstorms and loved trains still existed.
"It might, or it might not. I'd hope that whatever happens, our relationship is stronger than something a visit to America could break."
Married two years, her marriage to Albert had remained fruitless until a day in September 1974 when they'd received a call informing them of their good fortune. 6lb 4oz with ten tiny fingers, ten tiny toes and wispy dark hair, it had been love at first sight for her, a love that had only grown as he had.
"It is."
Agreeing, Christopher opened his arms to her, something he hadn't done in a while, a mixture of his youthful need for independence and space and cultural upbringing, affection needing not to be so overtly displayed for it to be understood.
"We love you Christopher, never forget that."
Almost but not quite a foot taller than her, their hug was not shoulder to shoulder but head to chest, their fit comfortable and comforting, the emotion she felt changing but never diminishing as the years passed.
"I love you too, and father."
Sounding formal when referring to Albert, she knew he wasn't being deliberately distant, their circumstances throughout his lifetime responsible for the way he spoke. She was mummy, the one who had sung songs, read books, cut the crusts off his sandwiches, kissed his scrapes and bruises better, helped him with homework, and been at every sports match or academic event he'd participated in. In contrast, Albert was a pilot, flying domestically when she'd first met him and then internationally later on, his schedule making it completely impossible for him to be present for everything in Christopher's life, although that didn't mean he didn't love their son or provide an excellent life for them.
Christopher had attended the best schools which added to the network of social connections she'd brought from her own upbringing, Albert keeping them in the lifestyle she'd become accustomed to growing up barely two miles from where they now resided. Her father much the same, busy with work and his own efforts to keep them socially relevant, it had been her mother that had acted more like Christopher's second parent at times, not that anyone had minded, Christopher adored his nana and she adored him.
"Do you think she'll want to meet me?"
Letting her go, Christopher asked a delicate question.
"I hope so, but I don't know. Adoption is complicated. We don't know why she made the decision she did; only that she seemed to have second thoughts after you were born."
Considering the time and place he'd been born it wasn't too hard to imagine a difficult meeting. Some women had wanted their babies desperately and hadn't been allowed to or able to keep them, others had wanted nothing to do with them and the reminder that they existed most likely wouldn't be pleasant, while a lot more probably had very mixed feelings, especially after potentially having subsequent children. She didn't know Katherine Wentworth and couldn't speak for her, but what she did know was that she'd begged to hold Christopher before she'd said goodbye, which sounded a lot like love to her.
"I need to know, one way or the other."
Speaking, his words were fair and reasonable, but his tone indicated he had a lot of trepidation. He needed to know, but they all hoped he wasn't setting himself up for disappointment.
"It's your decision; we'll support whatever you choose to do."
Dallas, Texas
Ascending the Southfork staircase on strict orders from his wife, Bobby approached his son's bedroom door and knocked.
"Lucas?"
"Yeah?"
Answering his query but not the door, Lucas' behaviour wasn't unusual. At fifteen, he was in his own world most of the time, pulled out only when there was a meal to be eaten or a comment he truly wished to make.
"I'm coming in."
Announcing his intention, he opened the door, finding Lucas lying on his bed, a book in hand.
"Lucas, you might be a Ewing, but even a Ewing isn't going to get into the ball dressed like that."
Hair wet from the shower, he'd made half an effort, not quite getting there with his clothes, the clean polo shirt he'd pulled from the closet up to Jenna's standards for about everything he did except attending the Oil Baron's Ball.
"I'm not wearing this."
Giving him a look as if he were the one being silly, as if his intentions were completely obvious, Lucas made no move to rectify the situation.
"Good," glancing at his watch, he clapped his hands in an attempt to spur some action. "Put your tux on, we're leaving soon."
"I will, after I finish the chapter." Lifting his book to show what he was reading, something Gary had gifted him the last time he'd visited, Lucas stopped short of getting up.
"Lucas."
His frustration evident, he didn't want to discourage his son from doing what he wanted to do, his personality and behaviour easily the least concerning of the younger Ewings, allowing he and Jenna a good night's sleep most evenings, however there was a time and place for doing as he wished and a time and place for following orders.
"Dad, relax, why don't you go and make sure mom's going to be on time, you know her and Charlie are the ones that really delay plans."
Chuckling, against his better judgement as he was trying to be stern, he couldn't disagree with Lucas, his wife and daughter had been known to push the limit on departure time, always making it, but only just.
"Your mother is the one that sent me up here, now move."
Shaking his head, he reiterated his point and without further argument, Lucas complied, getting up, pulling his shirt off and walking over to his closet.
A few miles down the street, Ada Emeline Ewing stood at the top of the staircase, waiting for her daddy to walk the few steps ahead to announce her arrival, something they'd done since she was little. Her parents had seen her emerald green gown before, her excitement for the Oil Baron's Ball building in the weeks prior leading to several dress rehearsals, however now was the moment for her to make an entrance with her hair, makeup and gown all looking immaculate.
Hearing him clear his throat, she smirked as John Ross muttered, "oh here we go," just loud enough for her to hear.
While tolerant of her theatrics, he never missed the opportunity to point out when he thought she was being dramatic, although that didn't stop him from indulging her by playing along.
"I was wondering when you'd appear."
Standing at the bottom of the stairs, her mama and daddy beside him, John Ross didn't immediately comment on her appearance, however her mama and daddy did, their compliments as expected, her own happiness boosted as expected too.
"I like to make an entrance."
"Tell me something I don't know."
Descending the staircase, she accepted the hugs each of her parents gave her, complimenting each of their appearances as they had hers, following them into the living room and carrying on the conversation her brother had started.
"I can do that. A lot has happened since you left for college."
It was true. John Ross had been gone only weeks but socially a lot had changed in that short space of time.
"Oh yeah?"
"I don't want to hear any 'I told you so' comments, but you were right."
She'd been lied to all summer; the boyfriend she'd once believed she loved and who loved her abandoning their relationship just weeks after leaving the state for college despite making promise after promise that long-distance would work for them, that he could resist temptation, that she was the only one he wanted.
John Ross had told her it wouldn't work, that a high school girlfriend had no place in a college man's life, but she'd naïvely thought her relationship different. She'd been wrong, she could admit it, but she didn't want to have to say it more than once.
There was an argument to be made that she should be grateful he'd broken it off so early if that was how it was going to end for them, however grateful wasn't something she felt at all. It was humiliating to be broken up with over the phone, to have her carefully planned social calendar suddenly full of empty spaces. There were no shortage of boys who'd be interested in escorting her to parties and events now that she was single, but she hadn't been expected her life to go the way it had and had yet to feel the excitement she'd previously enjoyed when single and playing the field.
"I'm sorry, I didn't want to be."
"Thanks."
"Come on, let me cheer you up."
Walking them towards the drinks cart, his eye on the open bottle of champagne, he didn't even hesitate to pour two glasses, the watchful eye of their parents clearly no concern to him.
Accepting the flute he handed her, she stayed quiet when it came to indicating that she wasn't nearly as miserable now as she had been earlier. While her mama had done her best to comfort her immediately after the call came through, it had been her daddy who'd really helped her see another perspective, one she liked the sound of, even if it meant she was presently single again. However, if John Ross was set on making the same effort, who was she to stop him?
Across the room, watching their children talking, their relationship surprisingly strengthened by the distance college put between them, unlike another relationship their daughter had tried to maintain, Sue Ellen commented on the change from earlier, not surprised at all when JR took credit for the improvement in atmosphere.
"She seems to be doing well, considering."
"You underestimate our girl. All she needed was a little reminder that she's a Ewing and that means a lot more in this town than being a Johnson or whatever that boy's name was."
A daddy's girl, the spitting image of her aunt Kristin, Ada didn't need to be reminded of who she was, what had likely cheered her up was hearing it from JR that she was in fact superior for being that person, something they didn't quite agree was a positive message to be sending their already confident, privileged daughter.
"He's a Thompson, and she can't survive on her name forever."
"Thompson, Johnson, whatever, and sure she can, it'd be a waste not to, ask Lucy, I'm sure she'd agree."
Not orphaned but close to it, Lucy had always known she was set to receive an inheritance early in life, knowledge that had been dangerous for her development. Unfocused rather than rebellious, life hadn't hit her hard, always able to swerve away from true consequences for her actions or inaction at the last minute.
"Lucy is a Cooper."
Married to Mitch Cooper not once, not twice, but three times, the most recent wedding seemed to have been the one that stuck, but only because Mitch had finally figured out what made Lucy uncomfortable and changed the way he lived to accommodate that. Medical research was a wonderful pursuit, however it didn't provide any of the benefits Lucy had expected when marrying a doctor. Trying and failing, it was only later, after he'd found his real passion lay in reconstructive surgery had the personal side of his life meshed with his professional.
"Lucy is a Ewing when it suits her."
Reiterating, JR's comment was getting harder and harder to disagree with.
Having Ada follow in Lucy's path wouldn't be her first choice, but it also wouldn't be the end of the world. Lucy was happy and happiness was all she really wanted for her family, especially her daughter who'd been so unhappy just hours ago.
Shrugging, she met JR's eye, telling him he was right without saying it directly.
Seeing Antonia out of the corner of her eye, she turned her head to face her, aware JR understood the message about to be relayed too when his arm snaked around her waist, holding her close.
"Mrs Ewing, the limousine is here."
"Thank you."
Setting her drink down, JR following her lead, she met John Ross' eye, asking him to continue with what he'd been doing. Her children were to each other what she and JR had never had in their own siblings at such a young age and it was a lovely thing to witness.
Houston, Texas
Laying his knife and fork down together as he finished what he could of the dry chicken and potato dinner meal included with his domestic airfare, Christopher didn't even open the next sealed container, the gelatinous texture of the pudding not enticing him in the least.
"You're not eating that?"
Appearing to have taken notice of his behaviour, the middle-aged man seated beside him made a comment he wouldn't have made himself had he noticed it of someone else.
"No."
"You mind if I do?"
Taken aback by the directness, all he could do was shrug, setting the container down on the man's tray.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Tearing the lid off the plastic container, he dug his spoon into the beige dessert, continuing the conversation as he devoured the extra portion.
"Is that an accent I hear?"
"It is. I'm English."
"I knew it!" hitting his hand against the tray, the man congratulated himself on his own guess, then continued, "you here on business or pleasure?"
Shockingly interested in his personal life, the man seemed friendly enough although he didn't quite know how to answer his questions, or why he should.
"Personal business…"
"That's vague."
Calling his comment what it was, he didn't sound as if he had plans to ease off and let them return to being strangers any time soon.
"This isn't a holiday, but I'm not here on business either. I came to meet someone, they weren't in Houston like I expected but Houston wasn't a complete waste of time."
Katherine Wentworth's address had been listed on his birth certificate so naturally he'd tried there first however when he'd arrived the housekeeper who'd answered the door had indicated she'd long moved away and her parents, his natural grandparents, were off on vacation through to next month.
"Someone? A girl?"
"Sort of…"
At thirty-six, he didn't think the lady who'd birthed him really counted as a girl, not in the way the man was implying, however she was certainly a lady.
"This evasiveness, is that a British thing?"
Chuckling, genuinely amused this time, all he could do was nod.
"Whoever she is, I hope you find her."
Slapping him on the shoulder friendlily, the man didn't ask any further questions, simply wishing him well.
"Thank you."
He hadn't met Katherine yet but the small amount of information he'd received from her parents housekeeper had led him to the library where he'd been able to find out a little bit more about her. Newspaper clippings painted a picture of who she was and at face value, she appeared to be happy and thriving. He didn't know whether there was room for him in her seemingly perfect life, but he'd come too far to not do his best to find out.
Dallas, Texas
Seated around the round table, her husband and son on one side, her daughter and son-in-law on the other, Lucy, Mitch, JR, Sue Ellen, John Ross, Ada, Jack and April completing the circle, Jenna watched along with everyone else as Punk Anderson took his place on the stage at the annual event.
"The oilman of the year for 1992 is…"
Waiting for the drumroll, he held them all in suspense, something they were all very used to now, the anticipation of his next few words always exciting and never stale, even after so many years.
"…JR Ewing!"
Breaking into applause the moment she and the rest of the crowd heard the announcement, she watched as JR kissed Sue Ellen and then energetically stood and headed towards the front of the room, stopping a couple of times to shake hands with various business associates before he finally reached a waiting Punk.
"What can I say? I suppose I'll start with thank you…"
Beginning his speech with modesty, she had to laugh at her brother-in-law's demeanour. JR had never been a shy man and tonight was no different.
Listening to JR's speech, she looked around the table, eyeing each of her family members and taking note of their reactions.
JR's wife and children were proud, Ewing Oil so very important to their family, no matter how much drama it had brought into their lives over the years. The company had given them so much, it wasn't the number one in their lives, family held that place, no one doubting that JR and Sue Ellen adored each other and their children, but there was also no minimising the effect Ewing Oil had had on their family, it was a part of them.
Lucy, Jack, and their spouses all appeared to be happy for JR, laughing at his jokes, their reactions genuine and likely all very pleased about effect of JR's success on their lives, no Ewing but JR owning the Ewing Oil however, each Ewing entitled to a share of the company profits once they passed the age of 18.
Bobby was proud and noticeably relieved which she knew came from the knowledge that he wouldn't have to deal with a grumpy JR at the office on Monday. Establishing Southworth Stables all on his own, Bobby had decided early on that JR was right and business administration wasn't his strength, leading to a sale of a third of the company to his brother, a move that had worked out well in the years since.
Beside his father, Lucas, the son who bore very little resemblance to either of them, appeared to be listening as he should, but she could tell he'd rather be somewhere else. Large events weren't really Lucas' thing but he'd come, he always did and she loved him for it. He wasn't overly easy to relate to sometimes, their personalities so very different even when she thought back to being his age, however he was sweet and compliant in a way neither Charlie nor Lucy had been and that made her life a lot easier.
Finally, her daughter and son-in-law while happy seemed to be in their own world. Drinking only orange juice and club soda for weeks now Charlie had yet to let her in on the secret she was keeping, but she knew. Apparently, Charlie and Daniel, high school sweethearts who'd years ago now done what she and Bobby had failed to at the same stage in life, were better at keeping that particular secret than anyone else in the family was.
Sue Ellen had announced she was expecting the baby who'd grown into Ada at just eight or nine weeks, she herself had let news out about Lucas a day or two after the doctor called her, knowing everyone would suspect something was amiss when she inevitably cancelled social engagements on account of not feeling well.
At forty-three, she didn't think herself old enough to be a grandmother however she had had Charlie young and her only daughter had lived a long, fulfilling life up until this point, checking marriage, college, travel, and a career off the list already, motherhood the next natural step for her.
"...have a good evening everyone."
Stepping away from the microphone, JR received a round of applause once again. Her recollection of his words hazy, that wasn't much of a concern, she knew JR well enough to guess what he'd said.
Happy, for JR and Sue Ellen's family and for her own, she raised a glass when he returned to the table. It was a good night and she knew it was only going to get better.
New York, New York
Rising from her desk as she heard the buzzing sound coming from the speaker beside the front door of her 20th floor apartment, Katherine walked over and pressed the button to answer the call.
"Hello?"
"Good morning Mrs Eliot, you have a visitor waiting for you in reception, a young man."
Announcing the unexpected guest Henry didn't sound nearly as confused as she felt, although to him the news likely wasn't overly surprising. As the doorman for a large apartment building he probably came in contact with a lot of people every day, ones with stranger stories than the one he was telling her now.
"Young man? I wasn't expecting anyone. Who is he?"
"He was a little evasive when I asked that question. He said he'd prefer to tell you himself. He can't be more than twenty."
"He's here to see me? Not Alexander?"
At ten, it would be strange for her son to be receiving guests on a school morning, let alone one who was of the age Henry estimated the young man to be, however it was the only explanation she could think of for who the visitor was, she didn't know any men in their early twenties, at least not personally. Professionally she could think of a few interns at the office that might meet the age range, but she could barely picture their faces let alone know them well enough to expect a visit from them at her home.
"Yes ma'am, he asked for you by name."
"Do you think I should come down?"
Curious, she knew herself well enough to know she wouldn't be able to get back to work any time soon if she let the man leave without first seeing what he wanted with her, but life in New York had taught her to first be wary of strange situations, so she asked Henry for his input.
"I don't see any harm, he seems like a nice fellow to me. That said, if you don't wish to see him I can send him away."
"No, I'll be right there."
Checking her hair in the mirror beside the door, she grabbed her purse and keys, then exited the apartment, walking quickly over to the elevator.
Watching the numbers tick down, it wasn't until she stepped out of the elevator into the lobby that she began to feel strange, a knot in her stomach forming as she looked around, spotting a man with dark hair standing facing the street, his back to her.
Approaching him, she didn't say a word however he must have heard her heels tapping against the floor because he turned around as she got closer.
"Good… oh my."
Attempting to greet him, she lost her words and almost lost her balance as she came face-to-face with her son, her first son.
"Mrs Eliot, let me help you."
Appearing at her side, Henry showed her to one of the armchairs that were mostly for show, Christopher keeping his distance but looking on.
"Thank you."
Glancing back and forth between Henry and Christopher, she could see the concern on both men's faces, Henry a middle-aged New York native and Christopher, an eighteen year old who could have passed for a young Bobby Ewing had she seen a picture without a date.
"I'm sorry; I didn't mean to upset you."
Apologising, the words, along with his unmistakeable English accent were what drew a response from her.
"Not upset, surprised…"
Looking at Henry she smiled and nodded, letting him know it was ok to leave them alone. She didn't know Christopher, she could barely believe he was there in front of her, but she instinctively trusted him.
"My apologies, I've been rude; we're talking like we know each other and I haven't even introduced myself."
Laughing, relaxing a little, the shock beginning to dissipate, she indicated she needed no introduction, "you're Christopher."
Knitting his brow, the concern he'd previously displayed turned to confusion as she pinpointed who he was without him telling her.
"How…?"
"You look just like him."
The same dark hair she and Bobby both shared, hair that would definitely curl if he let it grow long enough, his bright blue eyes were ones she recognised as her own, ones Alexander had inherited from her too, however the rest of his appearance were clearly Bobby's genetics. Tall and broad-shouldered, he struck her as athletic without her knowing anything about him, filling her head with even more questions than she already had.
"Who?"
"Your father."
The list of people who knew she'd given birth to a baby boy in September 1974 was small, but the list of people who knew who the father of her first son was was even smaller. Besides her, Matthias, her husband was the only other person who knew of Christopher's paternity, a secret she'd never have been able to keep from her parents had anything other than a closed adoption occurred. There was enough of her in Christopher to see a connection, but to anyone who had ever seen a picture of or met Bobby the resemblance would be obvious.
Sitting in the chair opposite her, Christopher looked about as surprised as she felt, surprise that was quite understandable when he responded to her statement.
"You know who my father is?"
He knew she was his mother, neither of them had said it but it was clear from the very fact that he'd sought her out and that she hadn't sent him away when they'd come face-to-face as strangers. Somehow, he'd tracked her down post-adoption and post-marriage name change. He knew she was his mother and she knew he was her son, but the identity of his father was not shared knowledge.
"Yes."
"He's not named on my original birth certificate."
Revealing how he'd obtained her details, the mention of the birth certificate brought back all sorts of memories, memories from her past with Christopher and further back, memories of a time in her life where what was and wasn't documented on official records had put her in a similar position to the one he was in now.
"It's a long story."
Looking around, aware they were in the lobby of her apartment building, hardly a private space for such a personal discussion, she didn't offer an explanation for her behaviour.
She had a feeling she couldn't have placed Christopher for adoption without Bobby's signature had she listed him as his father, but she'd never gotten that far into investigating the issue because the evening she'd shared with Bobby had been a secret long before she'd received news of the consequences and she'd always planned to keep it that way. Telling Bobby months later that he was about to be a father again when she didn't intend to mother the baby she was carrying had felt pointless, and years later she didn't particularly regret it, however it wasn't a decision that could be explained in a few words or a sentence, there was a lot of context to understand.
"I have time."
"I'm sure you do, you're a long way from home, aren't you?"
Addressing his accent, she acknowledged what she assumed was true but had no real certainty about; he'd been born in England, adopted in England, spoke like someone who'd been raised in England, but she didn't know anything about him beyond what she heard and saw now. For all she knew he'd spent his formative years in England and the rest of his life travelling or living abroad, his accent only sticking as it was how he'd originally been taught, much like how Matthias had an accent indicative of his upbringing in Switzerland by American parents before moving to the US.
Nodding once, Christopher looked her directly in the eye, strong, confident and emotionally open with her as he answered her question, "I had to come here; I had to find out how my life came to be."
Listening to him, she was still and silent, studying his face, drawn again to his eyes, eyes so similar to her own, so similar to those that looked back at her when she tucked Alexander into bed every night.
There were more than seven years between Christopher and Alexander and that age gap wasn't simply down to being busy with college, then marriage and her career, freelance investigative journalism and her place on the board of Wentworth Industries taking up as much or as little time as she chose to allocate them. The gap between her first son and her second son was influenced by more than what she had been experiencing socially and professionally, it was a deliberate emotional choice. Her heart had been broken for a long time after she'd said goodbye to Christopher in the hospital and while she had healed eventually, it hadn't been quick.
Holding eye contact with her, Christopher didn't shy away from opening up further to her even when she stayed quiet. "My adoption was never a secret, but there were only so many details mummy and daddy could share, they didn't know what they didn't know. I knew for years what I needed to do, but I had to wait and so I did…"
Her vision blurring as she listened to him speak, his attention firmly on her, his words telling a tale she knew so well yet at the same time didn't know at all, she knew she wouldn't be able to stop her tears once they started flowing.
"You might look like him, but you think like me."
The image of him fuzzy, her cheeks wet with the drops welling and overflowing, she didn't need to see him to connect with him, especially when he rose and walked the few steps over to where she sat, crouching beside her and offering her a handkerchief.
"I would love to understand what that means."
Surprised first by the fact that a young man carried a handkerchief at all, it was his comment that made her think.
The day had started like any other, Alexander had left for school, Matthias for work, and she'd settled in to continue the piece she was working on, not a single thing feeling out-of-place or different, not until she'd answered the call from Henry.
She knew nothing of Christopher's life and she had little concept of what he knew of her life. He'd found her, but how much research had he done before he'd landed on her New York address? His comment indicated he didn't know much, but how could she be sure without asking him what he knew? That would mean sharing her life with him too, but that wasn't such a terrifying thought, not when the young man kneeling in front of her was looking at her with such kindness.
"Why don't we go upstairs, there's a lot to it."
She'd been through a very similar thing once before in her life, searching high and low for information that her mother had been determined to keep hidden. She hadn't made the same mistake with Matthias that her mother had made with her father, her husband knew everything there was to know about her, and now that Christopher was back, he deserved that same honesty.
"I'd like that." Smiling, his expression kind and loving, he stood and held a hand out to her, his behaviour reflective of his entire demeanour.
Drying her eyes, standing and walking slowly with him towards the elevator, she took notice of the embroidery on the handkerchief for the first time. The C and the J she knew stood for Christopher James, she'd given him those names and it seemed his adoptive parents had kept them, however the M was different and in time she was sure she'd find out enough about his life to know what his surname was now.
Quiet as they waited for the elevator to arrive, the numbers ticking down to the ground floor gave her something to focus on while she gathered her thoughts, although when they stepped inside, the behaviour suddenly felt rude.
Turning to him as the doors closed behind them, she asked something she'd wondered about since the day she'd said goodbye to him.
"How are you?"
Reaching out, he brushed his hand against hers lightly, "overwhelmed… but I've never been better."
Smiling, genuinely delighted that he was so happy to be with her, that he didn't seem to resent her for the choice she'd made when he was a baby, even if he still didn't know the circumstances around her decision, she squeezed his hand in return.
"Neither have I."
There was a lot to discuss and process, for him, for her and for their families, and she imagined there would be a lot of tears shed, but she had hope that eventually, as it had been in the past, all would once again be well in the future.
Dallas, Texas
"JR Ewing."
Answering the call mostly out of curiosity, Sly's frustration with the mystery woman evident when she'd spoken to him a few moments ago, JR waited to hear exactly what the caller had to say.
"JR, it's your favourite sister-in-law."
Making a comment she had to know wasn't true with Jenna around, Kristin announced herself, something he never overly anticipated or enjoyed.
"Kristin, to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Oh, I'm just after a little information."
Light and breezy in tone, it would have been easy to misinterpret her call as friendly, but he knew better than to do that.
"Mm?"
"Bobby, how many sons does he have?"
Well aware that technically Bobby had two sons however only one had survived past infancy, he wondered what her game was.
"Kristin, are you trying to waste my time?"
She might not be busy, the jobs companies contracted her to do having something to do with the psychology of marketing always seeming to come with very flexible hours, however she ought to know better than to call him on during the workday without a plan to be concise in her talking points.
"JR." Tsking, she laughed as she spoke his name, her teasing amusing to her, less so to him.
"I know he's quiet but you saw Lucas at the barbecue not even a month ago."
"So, one son?"
"Kristin."
His tone gruff, he was sure she got the message that he wasn't interested in idle chitchat, because her next point revealed far more than what he'd been imaging her phone call was regarding.
"I just wanted to check, I could have sworn the young man I just saw looked exactly like the college boy I met all the way back in 1967."
"Where are you?"
She had his attention now. She hadn't said it directly but she'd heavily implied she was sure she'd just seen Bobby's son, which was very interesting considering it wasn't Lucas she was referring to.
"That is for me to know and you to buy."
Motivated by the idea of endless riches, despite having plenty of money of her own being well educated, well employed and having several lucrative relationships behind her, another possibly ongoing, she wasn't dependent on him like she had once been, which made her even more dangerous.
"Kristin."
"You think about it, I'll be in touch again soon."
Taking control back into her own hands, she didn't even say goodbye before hanging up.
Setting the phone down, he leaned back in his chair. His life was complicated, but nowhere near as complicated as he imagined Bobby's was about to become.
Picking up the handset again, he dialled a series of familiar numbers.
"It's JR, are you sitting down?"
The end
Author's Note: This is the end of a long journey. Thank you for reading :)