“And it’s not my fault,” he said.
“Don’t be juvenile, of course it’s not your fault. But you have a blood relative you’ve never met and you should meet her. Just meet her. You don’t have to support her or be best friends or anything. Just say hello. If you want to really be an above-average human being, you might ask her if there’s anything she’d like to know about her father.”
“Why would I want to do that?”
“Because you loved and admired your father,” she said patiently. “By all accounts he was a very neat guy. I barely knew him and I really liked him. You have great parents. And he was crazy proud of you! The fact that he slipped up has nothing to do with you.”
“Jenn, you don’t know how it feels...”
“It sounds very spoiled,” she said. “But it’s your life. If you want to punish your dad by being angry and refusing to acknowledge your half sister, knock yourself out. I think the only loser in that equation will be you. I better go help with the pies.”
“Listen, don’t go yet. It’s the holiday season. Maybe we should get together—”
“No more booty calls, Michael. Sorry.”
“Not a booty call!” he insisted. “But maybe we could have coffee? Or ice cream? Or just talk?”
“We’re talking...”
“How about face-to-face talking.”
“I think we were arguing,” she said. “I’m sorry about that. I’m too opinionated sometimes. What you do with your new family scenario is your deal, not mine. I just can’t help but think your dad... Well, what do I know. Seemed like your mom was a bigger person. Always trying to do the right thing. You know?”
“And you think getting to know Amy is the right thing?” he asked.
“I didn’t say that—I think introducing yourself, telling her who you are, I think meeting her, is the right thing. Maybe you do that and find you have nothing more to talk about. But withdrawing and being angry about it, about her? That’s for sure the wrong thing. That makes it all about you. There are other people in this drama, after all.”
“There are,” he said. “Tell me about your sisters. Tell me what the kids are up to. Tell me what your Thanksgiving dinner is.”
She laughed. “You’re so good at changing the subject.”
But that wasn’t his intention, to just change the subject. He didn’t want her to say goodbye.
The next morning he called Jessie. He asked her about the details of their family dinner, the time, was he expected to bring anything. To which she laughed and said, “Hardly, Michael. But you might be called upon to help with cleanup.”
“I can do that,” he said.
Then he got busy on his computer, and with only a name and phone number to work with, he located this mysterious sister on Alameda Island. He knew what little his mother had shared, that she was a nurse practitioner married to a physician and they both worked in the city. Hospitals were not closed on holidays and they could be working, but he couldn’t bring himself to call ahead. Instead, he stopped at a roadside stand, bought a floral arrangement and drove to the island and got out of the car. He rapped lightly on the front door.
A beautiful woman about his age opened the door. Seeing the flowers she said, “Oh!”
“I’m sorry to bother you on a holiday,” he said. “My name is Michael McNichol.”
She put her hand over her mouth and her eyes welled with tears. “Oh, God,” she said. “You look like him!”
“I should have called,” he fumbled.
“Come in,” she said emotionally. “Come in!”
“Amy!” a man’s voice shouted from within. “I’m going to be late! Can you come and get this—”
A handsome man stood in the foyer, balancing a baby on his hip. He was wearing scrubs and tennis shoes.
“Nikit, this is Michael McNichol. Michael, this is my husband, Nikit Singh, and our baby, Gina.”
The baby shyly buried her head in her father’s shoulder while Nikit stretched out a hand. “How do you do! I’m so sorry, but I have to get to work. Amy, you’re okay?” he asked, passing her the baby.
“Of course, Nikit. I’ll see you later.”
“I should have called,” Michael said again. “It’s a holiday and everything...”
“Not at all, we’re glad to meet you. I’m sorry I can’t stay. Amy will have to fill me in later.” He gave his wife a kiss on the lips and gave a quick wave before going out the back door.