Chapter 3

Reunion

Eric was at a loss for words, neither of them spoke for a minute or so,

But Brian broke the silence first. "Are you Rev Eric Camden?"

All Eric could reply was a "yes."

"I am not sure where to begin" Brian said with a shaky voice," I am wondering if we could talk if you have some time, I guess I should start off first by introducing myself ,my name is…,"

Before he could finish the sentence Eric finished it for him," your Brian, I can't believe you standing in my office." He said as tears stained his cheeks. "I wondered what this day would be like for 35 years, I can't believe you are really here"

Eric not sure how Brian would react hesitated for physical contact, but the urge the hug his son overwhelmed him. He got up from his desk & just walked over to him without asking just grabbed him and hugged a bit stunned took a second before he reacted but his emotions kicked in and he hugged his FATHER back.

Back at the Camden's, Annie again looked the phone number she had for Brian. She was a bit apprehensive but she dialed the number again anyway not really knowing what to say to him if he actually answered this time. Brian had the cell in his pocket and it began to ring he took it out of his pocket and saw it was the same unfamiliar number that was on it earlier today.

Eric saw the number. "That's my home number on your phone, it must be my wife, Annie"

Eric took the phone from Brian and answered it. Annie was shocked that it was Eric who answered.

Annie exclaimed, "Eric? How did I get you, I must have dialed the wrong number."

"No Annie you didn't dial a wrong number, you did dial Brian's Cell phone. He literally just walked into my office. We haven't even had the time to talk yet".

An excited Annie said, "Oh Eric don't let him leave I will be right there."

"I don't think he is going anywhere Annie, but yes come to the church I am pretty sure he wants to meet you too" Brian silently shook his head yes in agreement.

Brian and Eric both sat in the couch in Eric's office, both still trying to feel each other out.

Finally Brian started the conversation. "This is all new to me the adoption I mean. I only found out yesterday quite by accident that I was adopted. Nicole, that's my sister and I were having a big and heated discussion about my dad and let it slip about my adoption, for some reason she though I knew. When she realized I didn't she tried to back track, but obviously that didn't work. I am lucky that it is Nicole that keeps all my mother's paperwork; she went through it yesterday for me and found my original birth certificate. After Nic showed me the birth certificate, she remembered hearing about the national adoption registry from some talk show she saw at one time. We were able to look it up on the internet and found the website, so I registered and I was shocked when I…."

Before Brian could finish his sentence, Annie walked in. Both Eric and Brian stood up and without saying anything, Annie went over to Brian and hugged him, she hugged him for a long time almost afraid to let him go they were both so overwhelmed they were unable to even speak. Finally they broke the embrace and she kissed him on the cheek and held his face.

She could barely get the words out "My beautiful son, for so long I have wanted this. This doesn't seem real".

Brian melted back into his mother's embrace and started to really weep. Brian thought to himself "these people were so different than the parents that raised him. My adoptive parents were not the touchy feely kind, and emotions were not a thing that you had or were supposed to show, and it was especially drilled in to me from dad from what I now know as my ADOPTIVE FATHER "you can't be all emotional and be a man." Michael Davis would always say." Brian finally regained his composure.

He relayed the little bit of information to his mother that he had already given to his father. He then went on to let him know why he and his sister were having the heated discussion about his family more specifically his dad. He told them of what they probably were going to see on the news anyway about his dad and the company seizure by the government.

Then Brian thought to himself "How is it that I feel so open with these people, in a way I never have with any one before. I can't believe I feel so safe with them. I feel like I have finally come home."

In his head he knew they were his biological parents and he would feel at least a certain attachment, but it really didn't make sense somehow that he should be able to be this way with them because he never could be that way with the parents that raised him. Brian continued talking to he finished going through recent events in his life,

he paused again long enough for Annie to begin to talk "Oh Brian I am so sorry you have had it so rough, if only we had been able to keep you when you were born, but we were so young and there was just no way we could then, I know we can't change the past or make up for not being there for you, but I hope you will let us be a part of your life now. We so much want that." Eric said pretty much the same as his wife and letting him know how much they wanted him to be a part of their lives.