“Want to sit next to me and read along?”
“Read it out loud.” She liked Max’s voice. She liked hearing it. Maybe she was falling in love with him, too.
Max,
I don’t expect you to recognize my name, as you’ve likely never heard of me, but I’m your father’s elder brother. I wanted a chance to tell you my story. I was cast out of the family long ago, well before you were born, because I didn’t fit the mold of what my family wanted me to be.
You see, I wanted to travel, hunt and discover new and exciting things beyond Alpha-Prime. My parents wanted me to take over what I considered the boring family business of making as much money as possible to pass on to the next generation so Vandervere would always be a name associated with wealth. I didn’t much care about wealth back then.
So, at the age of sixteen and the legal age of majority on Alpha-Prime for succession, I refused to participate in their plans. I did not get the finger tattoo. I refused to learn how they kept their money and made more. They pressured me for two years. I was steadfast in my desire to change my life. I repeatedly told them no, reading up on all the places I planned to travel to someday.
On the day my younger brother, your father, turned sixteen, my parents disowned me and officially gave my name to your father. Your father became an only child. He also disowned me without regret. He became sole heir to their wealth, as he’d always wanted.
I was delighted to be free. For forty years, I’ve lived how I wanted, done as I pleased and only sought news of the Vandervere name once I discovered you had been born, Max. I know you used to be Ilian and I’m sorry that changed for you so abruptly.
My one regret was never fathering a child. So, I kept track of you, my one and only nephew.
I didn’t learn about the false arson charge and near trip to the gulag until after you’d been released and exonerated.
However, I know how our family operates, what your new circumstances are even though you were blameless. What happened to you was completely unfair and I wish your parents were of a different sort than mine, but they are not.
Therefore, I wanted you to know there is someone out in the universe who knows you’re innocent and understands what it means to be erased from a family as if you’ve never existed.
If you do not want anything to do with me, that is perfectly fine. I understand. I merely wanted to introduce myself, tell you my story (such as it is) and offer any help or support you might need.
I’ve included an address where I check in now and again for messages, if you’d like to contact me.
Otherwise, I wish you the best possible life, Max.
With respect,
Uncle Milo Vandervere
The original MCVIII
Max placed the letter on Ruby’s desk. He stared at it without speaking.
Ruby hated to break the silence, but she was about to burst with the thousand or so questions she wanted to ask. “What do you think?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You never knew about this Uncle Milo guy?”
“Nope. Not even a clue.”
“Are you going to contact him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t need anything, but it would be interesting to meet him, I suppose.”
“Well, I have to send a message back. Want to invite him here to Nocturne Falls for a visit?”
Max frowned. “A visit here? I don’t know.”
“It’s better to meet here, right? Home field advantage and all that.”
“Home field advantage? What does that mean?”
Ruby pushed out a sigh. “Better to meet him in a place you’re familiar with and he is a stranger. You have the benefit of meeting where you want, with any or all friends at your back and everything.”
