Chapter 473 - Input (2/2)

”What?” I frowned.

”This was your chance. You saw him in person. You could have yelled at him.” Dr. Moore studied me. ”Why didn't you yell? Why didn't you just ignore him right away? Why did you stop to begin with?”

”Why did I stop?” I mumbled, thinking back. ”Because he was there. Right there in front of me. In person.”

”This was your chance to get everything off your chest. Tell him that you hated him for not being there, or that you were mad that he never came back, or maybe even blow him off like he didn't matter.” Dr. Moore pushed on. ”So why did you stop? What made you freeze?”

”I...I was caught off guard.” I worked out. ”He came to see me in person. He came to look for me. And I just thought-” I stopped. ”I hoped. I had hope.”

”What did you hope for?” He asked.

I looked up at Mr. Atkins, feeling slightly guilty. He gave a small smile, one that was understanding. He knew the feeling. He wanted a relationship with his dad, and never got it. ”I was hoping that he was looking for me. To apologize. He wasn't supposed to be mad. He was supposed to apologize and say-” I stopped again.

Dr. Moore waited patiently, not moving an inch. He was patient, but wasn't I the same? He'll get rewarded for being patient, but I wasn't. I cleared my throat. ”To say everything that I wanted to hear. 'Sorry.''I didn't know.''I'm your brother.'” I looked at the bruise again. ”Instead, I got greeted like my mother would greet me. He was a lot like her in that aspect. Accusatory like I had done something wrong.”

”You didn't do anything wrong.” Mr. Atkins left his corner and came to sit next to me on the couch. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as we sat side by side. ”You probably still have hope, don't you?” I stiffened. ”It's okay, if you do. Like we said yesterday, we support you no matter what. We'll always be here for you.”

”He wants to do a blood test.” I repeated what the boys had said yesterday.

”He probably feels some kind of guilt.” Dr. Moore said. ”If you're only half-siblings, then he could convince himself that you're only his mom's child. Lessen the blow to himself.” He raised an eyebrow. ”Do you want to do the blood test?”

I shrugged. A part of me, and a part of me didnt.

”Mr. Pickens already told us that he'll most likely have to go through with the blood test.” Mr. Atkins said. ”It'll probably be brought up on Monday when we go to court outselves.”

”What about the game?” I asked.

”You don't have to go to court on Monday, Jake. Just me and George will do. We'll file the proper paperwork and hope to get a hearing in the coming week.” Mr. Atkins patted me on the head. ”You just go play with the boys, alright?”

I nodded.