2005

Larry came by the next afternoon, and Charlie shared the news with him in the dining room. The physicist was happy that the ice between Alan and his mentee had thawed somewhat, as could be seen by how they interacted.

"My biological father is having an art shownext week!"

"Really?" Larry had been surprised when he had found out that David Lev, the famous artist, was Charlie's biological father. Like Alan and Don, he worried about Charlie's expectiations being disapointed.

"I want to see him up close before I introduce myself later." Charlie explained.

"Oh...kay..." Larry in his worry, had worse twitchiness than usual in his face.

"What? Aren't you happy for me?" Charlie asked sharply.

"Of course I am Charles, it's just that I am...concerned."

"About?"

"That maybe..." Larry thought for a moment. "You might expect too much from your biological father."

2003

Don buried himself in the new case, though he made a point to call home at least once a day.

"How are ya, mom?"

"Fine, I was just about to make some lunch for Charlie, would you like me to bring you something?" she offered, worried about Don's constant diet of junk food.

"It's okay mom, someone just brought Chinese."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah"

"I wouldn't mind."

"It's fine. Besides, I'll try to come over tomorrow night"

At Calsci, the head of the math department,Dr. Greg Zeal talked with David Lev at some diner. The artist's father had been the man's disertation advisor and friend. He knew all about the situation, and kept David up to date about how Charlie was doing.

"I still gasp at how much he looks like you did at that age" Greg commented.

"What is he up to?"

"Teaching, and consulting."

"Is his mother still okay? There hasn't been a relapse?"

"Nope. Now that she's better, have you considered revealing yourself?" Greg found it a shame that the father and son hadn't met.

"I just don't know how to do it!"

"Try to be his friend, then tell him who you are" Greg had known David a long time. "or I could arrange a symposium about the relationship between art and math, and have both of you be speakers!"

"Margaret would interfere. That woman's a tiger when it comes to him"

"Don't I know it! WhenI was Charlie's disertation advisor..." he shook his head. "She would accuse me of pushing him too hard."

"When he was at Princeton, I paid the rent for the apartment he was sharing with his mother, for the rest of the school year. Guess what she did? Send back the money" David sighed.

"How did you two meet anyway?"

"At a park. I impulsively did a sketch of her other son. "

Soon, the bill was paid,and David wondered if he'll ever have the chance to get to know his son.

TBC