“Yes.”He laughed through his tears.“Yes, I’m me.”
Jessica drew her brows together, eyes squeezed shut as she nodded.
“It doesn’t matter how,” she said, and then threw herself into Adrien’s arms.
Adrien caught her with ease, tucking her against his shoulder, cupping the back of her head.She fit there perfectly, like she always had.
“It doesn’t matter,” Jessica repeated, shaking her head against Adrien’s clavicle.She gasped in and sobbed out: “You’re here.You’re here.”
“Adrien,” David started, his hand hovering in the scant space between them.“A-Adrien, do you remember me?I’m your brother, I’m David—”
Adrien choked a disbelieving laugh and hoped that it was not a cruel noise.He reached out to grasp David’s hand in midair, tugging him close until his arms enveloped Adrien and Jessica alike.
“Of course I remember you!”he cried, hot tears coursing down his cheeks as he pressed their foreheads together.“I’d never forget you!Either of you!”
“Jess?”a voice behind them inquired and Adrien recognized it as that of Jessica’s wife.“Jessie, are you okay?Who—who is this?”
“It’s my brother!”Jessica sobbed into Adrien’s shirt.She pulled away and her face was a blotchy mess, makeup running down her flushed and patchy cheeks.“Kim, this is my brother Adrien!”
“Adrien?”Kim repeated in disbelief.“Didn’t your brother Adrien…?”
“Mom?”AJ asked, stepping up beside his mother, struggling to get a better look at Adrien’s face.
“Oh, baby.”Jessica wept, finally releasing Adrien and grasping for her son’s hand.She kissed his knuckles, pulling him into the huddle.“This is him.This is your uncle.This is who you’re named after.”
“You’re…?”AJ looked lost, glancing between Adrien and the dark partition behind him.“You’reWatatsumi?Youmade all those?”
For a moment, Adrien was perplexed, unsure of what AJ was referring to.He followed his gaze back to the breakaway wall that his sister had been standing in front of moments prior.As he blinked away the tears clouding his vision, the squares upon it came into focus.
A hundred projects—photos of sculptures and murals, sketches and paintings and collages on cheap canvases and craft paper he’d thought had been lost to time.Each was displayed lovingly upon the gallery wall, curated with small placards.
Here, in the arms of his siblings.There, upon the wall of the gallery, in front of a hundred adoring eyes.
A space just for his art.
A place just for him.
But one person was missing.
Adrien turned, lifting one arm away from Jessica and extending it towards the man standing in waiting beside him.Who hadbeenwaiting beside him—giving him space when he needed, the comfort of his presence when he didn’t.All gentle words and calm, reassuring tones.His new half.
It felt wrong not to have him there, like a piece of the puzzle was missing.
“Come here,” Adrien said to Blake, beckoning him near.“Come meet our family.”
34
Friday, August 5
Ninety Minutes Remaining
The warmth that Adrien’s family exuded was contagious.Blake spent the rest of the evening in the back room of the gallery with them, his fingers entwined with Adrien’s as the siblings caught up and reminisced.They had taken the pygmalion situation with understanding and grace—which Blake chalked up to having grown up around the supernatural.Having a merman for a brother must have tempered their shock.
Despite their mother’s abuse, both Jessica and David had grown up well, attributing their success to their brother’s parenting.
Jessica had become a prevalent art dealer, working out of Los Angeles and New York, and had been happily married to Kimberly for many years.Their children—Olivia and AJ—were bright, sweet children who reminded Blake a great deal of Adrien himself.They were mesmerized by his sudden appearance, flooding him with questions and affection.
David had a rougher time, struggling with agoraphobia and CPTSD for many years before becoming a motivational speaker and advocate against child abuse.
