“This is…Nathan’s father,” Liam said.
Another look of shock greeted Nathan. The room spun around and became stifling and hot.
“How did you find me?” Nathan asked his dad.
“I tracked your credit card purchase for a ticket to New Zealand, and then I got one of the IT guys from my old company to go through your computer. I don’t care that it was an invasion of privacy. You had me worried sick. You were fresh out of rehab. I didn’t know what kind of trouble you’d gotten yourself into this time.” His dad unfolded a piece of paper from his pocket. It was a print out of Nathan’s missed connections post. “And it was so much worse.”
“What is that?” Mark took the piece of paper from his dad.
“Nathan, what have you done? We could’ve discussed this,” his dad said.
“Mark, what is it?” Liam asked.
But Mark didn’t answer. He was completely absorbed, his eyes expanding in shock as he read each line, as he looked at that old photo.
“Mark,” Liam said roughly.
Nathan’s dad watched Mark’s expression change, and as the pieces of this sordid puzzle clicked for him, he went into his own state of shock.
“Oh dear God,” Nathan’s dad said.
“Will somebody please explain what the fuck is going on?” Liam yelled, silencing everyone. All heads turned to Nathan.
It was now or never.
“I’m Mariel’s son.” The tears instantly sprung to his eyes. “She shagged my dad at a festival in the nineties when she was studying in London. Nine months later, she left me on his doorstep.”
The crowd erupted in gasps. Even though most of them had no idea who he was talking about, it was still gossip to feast on. Mark went as pale as a ghost, while Nathan’s dad seemed to take all of his color. And Liam…Liam’s face was a block of stone, betraying nothing.
“I’m not preparing for a film role. I came here to find out more about my mum and why she chose never to have contact with me. My whole life, I’ve never fit in with my family. And I thought maybe there was another family waiting for me somewhere, a mother who loved me. I wanted to find out who she was, and I wanted to know what I did wrong.”
Mark had a sorrowful look in his eyes. Walt clung to his side.
“All I’ve done since I arrived is lie, but I didn’t know how to tell you the truth. How do you tell this wonderful family who took me in that I am their bastard child? I fell in love with you, with all of you, and I didn’t want to let that go. For the first time, I felt part of something special. I liked who I was.” He wiped tears off his cheeks. He hated all these eyes on him. All eyes on him except for Liam who stared at the wall, his jaw set and tight.
“Mark, I am so sorry,” Nathan eked out.
Mark hugged Walt tight against him. He was at a complete loss of words.
“Liam?”
He reached out for Liam’s hand.
“You lied to me. This whole time…”
Nathan nodded yes. It was true, and he was done making excuses.
“We should get back inside. The show’s about to start,” Liam said. He led Walt and Mark back into the auditorium, not once looking back at Nathan.
Two ushers came over to officially break up this scene and get people back to their seats. The auditorium doors swung closed on the darkened theater just as the first notes of theInto the Woodsoverture bellowed out.
“Let’s go, son.” His dad put his arm around Nathan, and they left behind the Fosters for good. At least Nathan wasn’t leaving alone, but he still felt hollow.
Chapter 29
Liam
The post-premiere dinner celebration for Franny was cancelled. Mark waited until Franny took her bows to break the news about Nathan to her, but she’d heard whispering about the fight that took place in lobby just before the curtain rose. Liam’s heart ached watching Franny absorb the shock. Mark didn’t seem as hurt. If anything, he had an intense focus, like he was running on adrenaline to keep his family together.
