Author's Note: Part 25 is told from Dad's perspective.
All characters are over 18
Jack and Kyle had been secretively planning and plotting over the last few weeks. Danny gave Kyle a budget for renovating the spare room in the apartment and Kyle had enlisted Jack's help. When asked how it was going, their response was usually 'you'll see.'
I had to admit to no small degree of curiosity. They managed to have things delivered while Danny and I were at work. I was impressed at how they were navigating their project along with school work. They were both enrolled as full time students, with Jack studying creative writing and Kyle in the culinary program.
School kept them busy and Jack was frequently in their room working on a writing something, while Kyle was furiously working in the kitchen trying to perfect techniques required by his courses. The latter providing us the benefit of some very tasty dishes. Kyle's creations were improving every week.
It was a good thing there was a full gym in the apartment building, otherwise we would be putting on weight from all the tasting that we were doing for Kyle. Jack's work was much more isolating and it was only when Kyle dragged him out to taste something that we saw much of him anymore.
I understood, of course, but I missed him. He no longer needed me to take care of him and I felt a little like he had outgrown me, if only a little, and usually when I was feeling sorry for myself. Fortunately, Danny was adept at picking up on my moods and always knew how to cheer me up.
Danny had taken to planning our wedding and honeymoon. We both agreed to something small and intimate. Neither one of us wanted anything showy or opulent. The most important thing was that we would be officially and legally joined together.
I still hadn't met Danny's brother. He didn't talk about him much, I didn't even know his name. I sensed that there was something between them that was unresolved. I wanted to ask but wasn't sure how to broach the subject.
One evening when we were planning the invite list, I noticed that none of his family was on the list. We were getting married and I didn't want him to keep anything from me. Any burdens we had should be shared. We sat next to each other reviewing the guest list and I pulled him close to my side.
"Can we talk about your brother?" I said quietly. "I don't see him on the list and you never talk about him, except to mention that there was something between you two once." I felt Danny stiffen at my mention of his brother.
"Danny, please. I want you to be able to talk to me, about anything. We're planning our wedding and I don't want this to be hanging over our heads. If you don't want to talk about it now, I understand but I do want you to talk to me about it at some point before we get married." I rubbed his back and he relaxed a little.
"I'm sorry, Mike. It's hard for me to think about, let alone talk about. I've been trying to put it behind me for a while. We were always close and then he sort of freaked about our messing around. He found himself a girlfriend and she is very controlling.
"She disapproves of me and my lifestyle and he cut off contact. I tried to reach out but he blocked my number and my email. I miss him. I would love to have him back in my life but I'm at a loss."
I hugged him and held him. "Thank you for telling me. Do you think that I could reach out? I don't want to overstep but he might listen to me. How long has it been?"
"It's been two years since, my brother, Colin stopped talking to me." Danny said with a resigned sigh. The subject was upsetting but he seemed to be a bit better now that he'd talked about it. "I don't even know his address anymore. He's not on social media. Heck, I don't even know if he's alive."
I rubbed his back and soothed him as best I could. "Let's find him." I said. Danny pulled away from me and looked at me with surprise.
"You're serious?" He asked incredulously. "I don't know if I could handle being rejected by him again, Mike. I think it might break me." Danny's eyes started to well up with tears. I took him by his hands and squeezed them.
"You're stronger than you think, and you've got me, and Jack, and Kyle. We're family and we stick together. We support each other.
"If Colin rejects you, then at least you've tried. You'll never have to live with the regret that you didn't give him every chance. That's worth something." I reassured him. Danny thought for a moment before answering.
"Ok. Let's find him. You're right, I shouldn't let this stay unresolved. I have to try. If not for the person that he used to be, than for me. One more chance." He smiled weakly at me.
I kissed him tenderly. "I'm so proud of you, and I'm here for you every step of the way. I've got an idea on how we can start to track him down."
"Ok." Danny said resolutely. "We should start right away before I change my mind. Thank you, Mike. I'm so lucky to have you." I said that I was also very lucky and that we should get to work.
Because the company we work for has contracts with state government, we were able to get access to some internal government information through some of our contacts. They were only too willing to help Danny, who was a favorite among our clients.
We tracked down the company that Colin worked for and also some information from the DMV on what car he drove and the registration number. What we were doing wasn't exactly legal but our contacts were still willing to help as long as we never revealed our sources of information.
The day soon arrived. We staked out Colin's car in the parking garage his company used. We parked across the way so that we could see him as he approached and we waited.
"Are you sure about this?" I asked Danny, who was obviously nervous. He kept biting his nails, which normally I would lecture him about but I gave him a pass. This was a very nerve wracking situation. "If you want to do it another time, or not at all, I'll support you."
"I need to do it. I've come this far and I don't want to walk away now. I have to know." He said marshaling his resolve. I said that I understood and would be here for him.
A few minutes later and we saw a tall figure approaching Colin's car. "That's him!" Danny exclaimed. "I don't think I can do it, Mike. I'm too nervous." He said anxiously.
