in the world can't protect you from the truth.
― Wally Lamb
Quiet Desperation
I sat in my office staring off into space. I was numb. Try as hard I could, I wasn't able to process what Breton had told me.
All my life I was convinced I was from the other side of the tracks and based on foster homes where I was raised, that seemed a natural conclusion.
The only time I ever doubted my lowly origins was when Breton would praise me for being gifted and if I protested I was average he'd simply stare at me and ask, "Where do you think that giftedness comes from?"
I thought Breton was just trying to encourage me but life had already taught me not to indulge in starry notions.
I knew my place and and sensed heroes weren't born orphans, except in books, and even then it required a willing suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader—because that's how fiction worked, but not life...
No, not by a long shot.
I must have been totally absorbed in my thoughts because I didn't hear Autumn come in or see her sit down in the chair opposite me.
When I finally glanced up I saw her elfin face smiling at me. "Earth to Jake, Come in, Jake. Ae you there?"
I coloured and gave an embarrassed laugh. "Sorry, I guess I was lost in space—I didn't notice you come in."
"Either you're planning a new novel or something is disturbing you—which is it?"
"The latter, I'm afraid, I met with Father Breton and he disclosed a secret he's been keeping from me for some time."
The colour drained from Autumn's face. "It must be serious for you to be so shut in with your thoughts. Do you want to talk about it?"
"He told me who my father was, and it's kind of turned my world upside down."
"Is it that bad--is he notorious?"
"Not notorious, but famous...and wealthy. Autumn, my dad knew who I was and didn't lift a finger to help me. He was ashamed of me because I was born out of wedlock to his mistress. I guess it would have been a scandal in high society, so he abandoned me to the streets to be raised by strangers."
Her eyes filled up with tears. "Oh Jake, I'm so sorry. Hearing that must have been horrendous."
I shrugged, "I can't even begin to grasp the whole situation. Apparently, he was tracking me from afar and when I ended up in juvie he approached Father Breton who was prison chaplain and made a full confession. He asked Breton to mentor me—to be the father he couldn't or didn't want to be."
"So what do you intend to do about it?"
"What can I do? Both my parents are dead. Apparently, my father felt tremendous guilt but was convinced it was too late to have a relationship with me."
"Why is Breton telling you this now?"
"Because next March when I turn thirty, I will inherit all my father's wealth and the assets are astronomical. He was a multi-billionaire."
We just stared at each other. Neither of us could speak because we couldn't come to terms with what that meant for our future.
Nothing about my life was normal—not even being orphaned.