I learned about Thomas's decision after he died. I spent weeks angry with him. I wanted to believe that he had deliberately taken you away from me because he wanted to be my only father.
But that would not be fair.
He was a good man in many ways. He taught me to work hard, to keep my promises, and to treat people with respect. He gave me a home when I needed one.
He also made a decision that hurt me for the rest of my life.
Both things can be true.
Mason leaned back.
He recognized the honesty in those words.
Daniel had always been able to see things in more than one direction.
The letter continued.
When I was little, I thought that you had forgotten me. When I was older, I thought perhaps you had changed your mind. When I became a father, I realized that I could not imagine leaving Caleb somewhere and never asking whether he was safe.
That was when I understood how much you must have suffered.
Mason lowered his head.
I found the papers showing that you had contacted the agency.
I found the investigator's name.
I found the letters.
I found the photograph.
I sat at the kitchen table for three hours looking at that picture.
Hannah asked what was wrong.
I told her I had finally found my brother.
She asked whether I was going to call you.
I said yes.
I didn't.
Mason laughed through tears.
He could almost hear Daniel saying it.
The next paragraph was shorter.
I don't know whether I was waiting for the perfect moment or simply hiding from the possibility that there might not be one.
I kept thinking that I needed to explain everything before I could ask for anything.
But perhaps I should have simply called and said hello.
Mason pressed his fingers against his forehead.
He continued.
If you are angry with Thomas, I understand.
If you are angry with me, I understand that too.
But please don't let the anger make you believe that the years we lost were empty.
I remembered you.
I remembered our mother.
I remembered the apartment.
I remembered the teddy bear.
I remembered your promise.
The final paragraph filled almost half the page.
I want you to meet my children.
Caleb is stubborn. He thinks he knows everything. He has your determination, although he would probably deny it.
Mia is fearless. She asks questions that nobody else thinks to ask.
Hannah is the best person I have ever known.
I want them to know you.
Not as a stranger who arrived after I was gone, but as the brother I carried with me all my life.
If you meet them, please tell them about our mother.
Tell them that she sang when she cooked.
Tell them that she laughed too loudly.
Tell them that she was not perfect, but she loved us.
And tell them that I was lucky.
I had two brothers.
One was taken from me when I was little.
The other found me again, even if it happened too late for us to sit together.
I love you, Mace.
Always.
Owen.
Mason placed the letter on the desk.
He sat motionless.
Then he opened the bottom drawer and removed a small photograph.
It showed him and Owen in front of their old apartment building.
Their mother stood behind them.
She was laughing.
Mason looked at her face.
For decades, he had remembered her voice more clearly than her appearance.
He could still hear her singing in the kitchen.
He could still remember the smell of bread.
He could still picture Owen falling asleep on the sofa with his feet hanging over the edge.
He had thought those memories belonged only to him.
Now he understood that Daniel had carried them too.
Mason placed the photograph beside the letter.
Then he whispered:
"I'll tell them."
The next morning, Mason visited Hannah.
She was preparing breakfast when he arrived.
Caleb sat at the kitchen table reading a comic book.
Mia was attempting to persuade Scout to wear a knitted hat.
The teddy bear appeared deeply unhappy.
"Uncle Mace!" Caleb shouted.
Mason smiled.
"Morning."
"Are you staying?"
"If your mother agrees."
Hannah looked over her shoulder.
"Of course."
Mason placed the letter on the table.
"I read it."
Hannah turned off the stove.
"All of it?"
"Yes."
She sat beside him.
"How do you feel?"
Mason looked at the paper.
"Like I finally heard my brother speak."
Hannah nodded.
"That makes sense."
He told her about Thomas's letter.