Chapter seventy one
Alan was the first to yell in excitement and begin an applause. The others, however, had a little bit of trouble putting two and two together. When they'd finally pieced in his divorce into my father's supposed death, the whole puzzle came fixed and they joined the applause.
Judging by his facial expressions, my father was waging a battle within himself on whether or not he should open up and accept his role in my life.
However, as the applause raged on, his adamance broke and he was soon on his feet and striding towards me, his face an array of nostalgic emotions. "Come here, my son," his arms were spread apart invitingly and it all seemed too good to be true.
While my head was still processing the reality of the situation, my legs came to stand weakly and I wobbled into the embrace. Tears blurred my vision rather slowly despite my efforts to hold them in.
As his arms came around to pat me, however, my walls came crashing down and the tears flowed down my cheeks. After seventeen tempting years, who would have seen this coming.
I sulked as audibly as my cries could allow, not worried in the least because the cheers and claps from the inmates drowned it all.
The whole prison was going to have a pretty topic for tomorrow.
***
"I was elated I had a surprise for Noah." Grinning, I told the gathering during the pause of my story. "A family reunion after all the drama."
"Your Father sounds like someone I'd love to meet," came Emily who let out a dreamy sigh that she might have been holding for a long time now. "What happened after that? Any change in your prison experience?"
"Did the news actually spread round?" Justin added.
Those were questions I gladly wanted to throw more light on. "Well, everything was almost blissful thenceforth. Of course the news reached every ear; my story as well as the fact that Dylan was my long lost Daddy. For one of those two reasons, I think the first, people were switching from hating on me for no reason to dropping pleasantries now and then. The days were getting even merrier and my father and I went on bonding and chatting. Things…changed."
Noah cracked a smile with arms folded. "I guess the secret rehab sessions were not exactly secret."
"I'm glad they weren't," I shrugged. "Soon, Dad asked to meet you."
He shrunk mildly, as though the memory made him feel like a coy and excited little kid. "Never saw that one coming, did I?"
To that, I smiled.
***
"I feel like I'm fifteen right now," Dad confessed rather fearfully from beside me. His stern steps and controlled expressions were a rather stark contrast to the gasps he was letting out.
Together, we strolled along the usually guarded corridors and past television booths. Although it was visiting day for me, I was permitted to have a direct conversation with my brother just like the first time. He wouldn't want a glass plane separating him from the surprise I had in store, would he?
"No worries," I assured him. "Noah has grown to be a really considerate person, truly. However, he has his tempting moments and may or may not hate you for leaving us that long. Who knows?"
"Shut up. You're not helping at the moment…"
"Oh I'm just bracing you for the worst, Dad."
"How hard could this be?"
"Easy as pie," I drawled quite sarcastically. He'd noticed of course, given me a glare and rolled his eyes away. On a serious note though, I could tell he was nervous about meeting Noah and the possible outcome.
For that reason, as we paused at the door leading into the visiting room, I gave him one last boost. "Everything will be fine, trust me."
After a second round of hesitance, he nodded in indication of readiness.
I led the way, pulling on the door handle and slipping in to meet Noah, my father just behind me.
"Hey, Jeff! Guess who's agreed to get married…" Noah paused when he realised I wasn't alone. From his chair, he stared from me to our father just as every form of color and excitement drained from his face.
I needn't tell him who that was. It was obvious he already knew.
"Hey Noah," I raised a hand, suddenly nervous too. However, his attention never left Dad.
"Hey son," came the first two words from a long lost father to his son.
***
Several moments of silence were left to crawl by, just enough time for three of us to get used to the situation. Deep within, I was praying for my brother to take this quite wisely, deal with this moment well and not make my efforts all go down the drain. Quite justifiably, he was angry, just like I'd been.
Every single setback from our childhood and up to this very moment could easily be blamed on his departure. Because if he he'd never left, none of those would have happened. As much as I'd wanted to hate him for all of it, the greater part of me wanted to forgive.
Staring at Noah though, he wasn't sure which to do.
"Hey Dad," he finally muttered with difficulty.
Our father plastered on a smile, probably unsure whether or not he was to go on. For what looked like forever, his attention fell on the wheelchair and it seemed a part of him died at the sight. It was obvious he was suffering from regret and self hate, probably blaming it all on himself.
"I'm so sorry, Noah," Dad finally said to him, emotion and genuineness lading his words.
All my older brother did was manage a weak nod and bow his head. In the meantime, I remained still in the background and hoped for this to be eventually fruitful.
"So, I heard something about a marriage," our Dad seemed to have gotten a beautiful topic to fuel the conversation. Now, he was smiling and striding closer to my brother, a merry glee radiating from his face.
Noah chuckled and was luckily flowing with it. "Her name's Emily."
"News flash, Dad. I met her first," I faked annoyance, groaning and rolling my eyes back. If I could help him at this moment he needed me most, why not?"
"I don't see you courting any woman and asking her to marry you with that ego of yours," he teased me, throwing his arms across Noah's shoulders in an attempt to restore contact that'd been lost for years.
To his words, I gasped dramatically. As much as I truly wanted to refute the statement, it struck me that there was a lot of sense in it.
"Give him time," Noah added. "When he's out of here, he'll be forced to find one. I'll be too busy with mine to keep him company."
While I was flapping Noah's statement away, our father was frowning out of confusion. "How are you planning on leaving, Jeff? Thought you got a life sentence?"
At that moment, Noah and I exchanged a mischievous stare, pondering on who between us was to explain the plan.