“How can it be you?” he demanded. “I was sure you disappeared 30 years ago!”
My knees nearly gave out.
“This can’t be.”
“Do you know each other?” I asked.
Dad whispered, “Adrian…”
Julian looked at me.
“There’s something your father never told you.”
My father stared at my fiancé as if he’d seen a ghost.
“You’re Leonard’s son. You were just a little boy the last time I saw you.”
Whispers spread through the pews.
“What’s happening?” I asked.
Neither answered.
Elise, my maid of honor, hurried over. “Everyone, please stay seated. We just need a moment.”
“Do you know each other?”
I pulled Dad into a small office.
“Tell me the truth.”
“His real name is Adrian,” he said. “He used his middle name with you.”
My stomach dropped.
“I knew his family years ago. Before you were born, I was engaged to a woman named Claire. Later, she married Leonard. The wealthy developer. Together, they had a son with a unique facial birthmark.”
Julian had a large red birthmark across his face!
“His real name is Adrian.”
“Claire was my first love,” he said. “But Leonard pulled her into his world. Their marriage became ugly. Around then, the construction company I worked for collapsed. Leonard helped cover up financial fraud tied to it.”
“And Adrian came back because of that?”
Dad looked toward the door.
“No. I think he came back because of Claire.”
Elise opened the door.
“Julian wants to speak to her alone.”
Dad stood. “No!”
“I’m not a child.”
Reluctantly, he sat.
Their marriage became ugly.
