“Have you heard anything from him,” Sophie asks me for at least the hundredth time today.
My eyes flash back to the telly. “No, I haven’t.” It’s been two days since he left for wherever it is he went. My mobile rings, so I step outside on the balcony to take it. “Yeah, Mum?” I answer.
“I’ve just come from bringing Aunt Colleen home with me. I thought you’d be interested to know who came to visit her the other day.”
I already know who she’s speaking of, but I play the game. “Was it Ethan?”
“It was indeed. He was asking all sorts of questions about his biological father.”
“What did she tell him?” “The truth, Peter,” my mum answers. “I’ll be over within the hour. I need to speak to Aunt Colleen.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, love.” Not caring what she or anyone else thinks, I hang up. Before I really think it through, I’m already believing I can save Ethan, again. Why didn’t I think of this before? I did it once, I can it again.
My hands rap on Ethan’s bedroom door. “Soph, let’s go. I know where he is,” I yell out.
Sophie flings the door open, her eyes are still red and puffy. “Where is he?” “I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I think he’s gone to find his Dad.” “Germany?” “Yeah, he’s gone to look for his real father. We just need to get the details from my Aunt Colleen first.” She hurries behind me, once the taxi stops in front of us, she leaps inside. I spout out my mother’s address, then I relax for the first time in almost forty-eight hours. Once inside, I drag Sophie into the sitting area. My mother is waiting for us as she sips her tea like nothing is going on. “She’s in the spare room. Go easy, Peter.”
Aunt Colleen doesn’t look great, but she doesn’t look horrible either. Her eyes rest on Sophie as we enter. “I was wondering when you’d come?”
“You were expecting us?” I ask.
Her eyes leave Sophie and fall on me. “Of course, Peter. When have you ever left Ethan to figure things out for himself?”
I’m angry at her for always leaving it to me to fix her son. This is all her fault. I sigh. The truth is I’m doing this for Ethan, not her. No matter what, I love him like a brother. “What did you tell him?”
She lay back, rolling her eyes. “What, you’re not even going to say that you’re glad I’m doing well?” I stay fixed in place, as she continues. “I told him where he lived. He’s probably already there.”
I almost forget that Sophie is here, when she chimes in, “Where exactly is there?”
My Aunt studies Sophie for a second time then says, “He loves you, you know. Don’t take this out on him. You mark my words, he’ll be back for you.”
Sophie shakes her head softly. “I just want to find him.”
“Hamburg, Germany. He’s there. The name you are looking for is Dirk Hasse. I’m sure he went to look for him,” she answers quickly, but softly adds, “that’s all I know.”
Sophie and I exchange a brief, but a knowing glance. I guess we’re going on a road trip.