“You wanted him back?”
“Of course we did.”
Linda explained that their finances had improved. They had a larger apartment, and she was working again.
But Daniel had become deeply attached to Margaret and her husband.
“He called them his parents,” Linda said. “He cried whenever we tried to take him away.”
Johnny frowned.
“Did you visit him?”
“Yes. For a while.”
“Then why did you stop?”
Linda stared at her hands.
“Margaret believed moving him would hurt him. Your father agreed that we shouldn’t force it.”
“And you?”
“I wanted my son.”
Her voice broke.
“But I was afraid of taking him from the only home he remembered.”
Johnny was silent.
Linda continued, “Eventually, we agreed that Daniel would stay. We arranged for Margaret and her husband to become his legal parents.”
“Why didn’t you tell me I had a twin?”
“At first, we thought you were too young. Later, every year made it harder.”
Johnny stood.
“You could’ve told me when I turned 18.”
“I know.”
“When I got married?”
She nodded through tears.
“When Dad died?”
Linda covered her mouth.
Johnny stepped back.
“You let me bury my father without knowing he had another son.”
Linda began sobbing.
I reached for Johnny’s hand.
He didn’t pull away.
After a while, he asked, “Did Daniel know about us?”
Linda nodded.
“Margaret told him when he became an adult.”
“Did he ever ask to meet me?”
Linda hesitated.
“Margaret called us once, years ago. She said Daniel wanted to know whether you were interested.”
“What did you say?”
“Your father told her not to disturb your life.”
Johnny stared at his mother.
“And you agreed?”
“I was afraid you’d hate us.”
He looked toward the door.
“I need some time.”
Linda reached for him.
“Johnny, please.”
He stepped away.
“I love you, Mom. But I don’t know what to do with this.”
We drove home quietly.
Halfway there, Johnny pulled into a parking lot.
He rested his forehead against the steering wheel.
“She wanted him back,” he whispered.
“Yes.”
“And Margaret didn’t want to give him up.”
“It sounds like all of them were afraid of losing something.”
Johnny sat upright.
“But Daniel and I lost each other.”
I couldn’t argue.
That evening, Johnny walked across the street.
I went with him.
Margaret opened the door, looking nervous.
“Johnny. I’m glad you came.”
“I spoke to my mother.”
Margaret’s expression fell.
He stepped inside.
“She said she wanted Daniel back.”
Margaret nodded slowly.
“She did.”
“Why didn’t you tell me that?”
“Because I was ashamed.”
Johnny waited.
Margaret sat in the same chair she’d offered him the night before.
