Page 18 of Destiny

“Dad, I’m on a date.”

“Yes, you are. With Ruby’s daughter.”

“Fine.” I sigh. “I’ll see if we can stop by Ryan and Ruby’s place after dinner. It’s on the way back anyway.”

“Thanks,” Dad says. “I’ll text you the name and address of the clinic. If Ruby says it’s okay, then we’ll go.”

“Dad, Ruby and Ryan don’t know everything yet. About Lauren and Jack and Wendy Madigan.”

“They probably know by now.”

“If they do, I don’t think they’ve told Ava.”

“Then you need to bring Ava up to speed.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

I end the call and head back into the dining room. I just wanted a nice dinner with Ava tonight. I know all hell is about to break loose, but I was hoping we could have one enjoyable evening. Who knows when I’ll be able to afford another one like this?

I have some money left over from the huge insurance settlement I got to renovate my place, but that won’t last long.

When I return, our appetizers are on the table, and Ava is done with her pink squirrel and is sipping water.

“The calamari is to die for,” she says after swallowing. “I only ate one piece. I hope you don’t mind that I started without you.”

“Of course not.” My tuna tartare looks amazing on a bed of greens with fried wontons, green onions, and a little wasabi. But I’m no longer hungry. I meet Ava’s gaze. “That was my dad.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah. But I have a lot to tell you.”

“Okay.” She spears another calamari ring with her fork. “I’m all ears.”

“I met your… Well, I guess she’s your aunt.”

“Oh?” She pops the calamari into her mouth.

“You know, Pat Lamone’s birth mother. Anyway, she has another son. A son named Jack Murphy.”

Ava’s eyes widen.

“I know, right? His father is apparently a man named Sean Murphy. He was conceived via donated sperm.”

“Not your dad…”

“No, not my dad.” I shake my head. “God, that would be too weird. My dad swears he never donated sperm and that he’s been faithful to my mother since their marriage. Jack is a year younger than I am. He’s thirty-one.”

“Okay…”

“Anyway, hedoeskind of bear a familial resemblance. His hair isn’t quite as red as mine, but we share some characteristics.”

“So you think you’re related to this guy?”

“I don’t know, Ava. Sean Murphy is a pretty common name for an Irish guy. But Jack asked my dad and me to submit our blood for DNA testing to see if we’re related.”

“Oh, okay. I’m sure he’d like to know. And I’m sureyou’dlike to know.”

“I would.” I fidget with my napkin. “Though it seems doubtful. I may be imagining the characteristics we share. I don’t know any other Sean Murphys in our family, other than my great-uncle, and he can’t be the father since he died over fifty years ago.”

---