His father looked up from the workbench, startled. “What now?” Lucas’s voice was sharp. “You need to tell me the truth.” His dad frowned, putting down the wrench. “Truth about what?” “About my mom. About Daniel.” The name tasted foreign in his mouth. “He says he knew her. That they were close. That… that he might be my real father.”
Silence. It was immediate and total, the kind that makes your ears ring. His father stared at him, stunned. “He said that? Daniel?” Lucas nodded, his voice tight. “He didn’t say it like a fact. Just… something he thinks. He said Mom never told him. That he saw me and just—wondered.” His dad sat down slowly on the edge of the workbench.