Catering with Benefits (2) - Second Course - 40. Who's Your Father

In early March Justin called Jared to follow up on the mystery of their fathers’ sharing a name.

“Sorry to be so long getting back to you Jared, but it’s just been manic lately with big functions”.

“That’s OK, did you find out anything?”

“Not really, my aunt doesn’t know of any other Brendans in the family so I guess we’re at a dead end”.

“Well I’ve been busy researching at the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages. I found out my birth father’s birthday is 19 September 1969”.

“Fucking hell!”

There was a long silence then Jared asked. “Are you still there Justin?”

“Sorry, I was just processing what you said about the birthday. I’m not sure of the year but my dad’s birthday is 19 September. This is getting spooky.”

“You don’t think we have the same father?”

“I hope not but it is looking a bit like that.”

“You mean you don’t want me as a brother?”

“It’s not that, it’s about how we might be brothers. I need to talk to mum about this. I’m getting really worried. I have to go now Jared. Bye.”

Justin called his mother immediately. “Mum I need to see you tonight.”

“Good Justin, love to see you. Bring Craig and I’ll cook a meal for us.”

“No Mum, I just want to see you alone.”

“Sounds serious, is there something wrong Justin?”

“Maybe, I’ll tell you when I get there. Bye Mum.”

Jessica worried all afternoon about Justin and was hoping it was not his health.

He arrived in a bit of a state as he had worked himself up on the trip over.

“Hi Mum, love you.”

“Love you too Justin. Now sit down while I make a cuppa, then tell me what’s wrong.”

“Well Mum, I met a guy a few months ago and his name is Jared Haynes.”

“Is he a distant relative or something?”

“That’s the problem. It seems we both have fathers named Brendan Haynes.”

“But...”

“Wait Mum, there’s more, they both have 19 September as their birthday. Was Dad born in 1969?”

“I think so, let me think. He will be 50 next year, so...yes, he was. You don’t think this friend has the same father?”

“What else can it be, same name, same birthday.”

“Well I suppose your father could have gotten a girl pregnant before I met him. It does happen. Doesn’t his mother know?”

“That’s where it gets complicated; Jared was adopted at birth, so he does not know his birth mother or father other than from his birth certificate.”

“Do you know his mother’s name?”

“No, I forgot to ask, why?”

“Well I might have heard about her if we mixed in the same circles. And if your friend was adopted at birth then it does sound like an unplanned pregnancy.”

“I’ll ring him right away and find out.”

After speaking to Jared Justin told his mother. “Her name is Roberta.”

“I can’t say I remember any Roberta from those years. What is her surname?”

“That’s where it gets weirder. They were married.”

“How does he know that?”

“Her name on his birth certificate is Roberta Haynes.”

“That bastard, he was married before he met me and didn’t tell me. I hope he got a divorce.”

“Mum, isn’t it so that Catholics can’t get divorced in church law and therefore can’t re-marry in the church.”

“You’re right Justin.”

“So did you get married in the church?”

“Yes, the full white wedding and all that goes with it; every girl’s dream. It was the happiest day of my life, until you were born.”

“Do you think we should visit him and ask him outright?”

“Can you imagine his outrage if we accuse him of that? It would take half a dozen prison guards to control him. I don’t want to do that and I don’t think you should either.”

“Then what can we do Mum?”

“Do we need to do anything Justin?”

“We can’t just leave this now we’ve gone this far. It leaves so many questions unanswered.”

“Such as?”

“Do I have a brother, for starters?”

“Why don’t we talk to Julia, surely she must have some idea.”

“If it were just a one night stand maybe not, but if he was married surely she knows about that.”

Justin left his mother in a worse state then when he arrived. At home, Craig asked, “How’s your mum, did you give her my love?”

“Oh she’s OK...no she’s not and neither am I.”

“What’s going on, I thought it strange when you said I couldn’t go with you to visit your mum?”

“My life’s falling apart again and as usual it’s my fucking father’s fault.”

“Tell me.”

“Remember Jared, that friend of Thomas’s?”

“Yes, what’s this got to do with him?”

“I didn’t tell you, but his surname is Haynes also and his father’s name is Brendan, same as mine and they have the same birthday.”

“You mean?...”

“Yes, he is probably my brother. It seems dad was married before he met mum and she didn’t know anything about it.”

“Bloody hell, no wonder you’re so upset. How did you find out all this?”

“Jared’s birth certificate.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Mum and I want to ask Aunt Julia what she knows rather than visit the old bastard in jail.”

“Sounds like a good idea, when are you going?”

“I need to call her and a set a date, but I’m not in the mood now.”

“Do you want a drink to settle you down?”

“Yes, and then I want you to fuck my brains out.”

“Can do both, but sit down and relax first”.

***

Justin called Jared before he set a date to visit his aunt and asked Jared for a copy of his birth certificate.

“Why do you need that?” asked Jared.

“I’m going to visit my aunt Julia, my father’s sister, to find out what she knows, so I think I should have all the information to show her.”

“OK, I’ll scan it and send it to you. Do you really think she might know my mother?”

“I have no idea really, but if he was married surely she has some knowledge of it, even if it was just a marriage of convenience.”

“How’s your mum taking all this?”

“She’s pissed off to say the least.”

“I’ll bet she is. So she really knows nothing about it?”

“No, it’s all news to her; she didn’t even have any suspicions. And I’m a bit disappointed that Aunt Julia never said anything about it in all these years. I really do have a strange family.”

“Are you talking about my family too, brother?”

“I think that’s pretty well confirmed now, we are half brothers. I never thought I would have a brother.”

“Me neither.” replied Jared.

“I think I like the sound of that, big brother Jared.”

“Little brother Justin”.

***

As soon as he received the birth certificate Justin called his aunt and asked if he and his mum could go to visit. He did not alert her to the reason for the visit but said he was following up on his promise to visit his cousins.

“We always love to see you both, will Craig be coming also?”

“No he’s got to take his Gran somewhere that night.” he lied.

“OK, I’ll prepare dinner for us all. See you on Wednesday evening.”

Justin wondered how he and his mum would be able to talk to Julia without Hannah and the boys being present, but if he said anything like that it might make Julia suspicious, so he left it unsaid. He hoped he could work out a strategy before the visit.

When Justin arrived at his mother’s he asked, “Mum, how are we going to get Aunt Julia alone so we don’t have to raise this in front of the boys and Hannah?”

“Maybe I can make an excuse to visit her garden and ask her to show us something in the garden. I might take her a few cuttings from Alice’s garden and ask if I can take some cuttings from Julia’s garden. Can we go via your place and I’ll pick a few cuttings from Alice’s?”

“That might work, but the boys usually want to hang around me, how do we put them off?”

“Let’s take them a gift that will occupy their attention for a while after we arrive.”

“Great, there’s a games store in that mall just before their place. I’ll stop there and get them a new game for their console”.

Upon arrival there were hugs all round, wine was handed over and the cousins were given their new game. Justin suggested they try it out immediately to be sure it would work on their console, while Jessica started working on Julia about the garden. When they headed off to the garden, Justin took his cue and excused himself, saying he needed to remind his mother about a cutting that Craig’s Gran wanted. He told the boys he expected them to work out how to play the game before he got back and then he would challenge them.

When Jessica saw Justin approaching she said, “Julia we have not been entirely honest with you regarding the reason for our visit tonight.”

Julia was taken aback and got a bit defensive. “So why are you really here?”

“We need to talk to you about Brendan.”

“Oh what has he done now? Surely he can’t get up to too much mischief in Jail.”

“It’s what he did many years ago or at least what we think he did.”

By then Justin had arrived and pulled the birth certificate from his pocket.

“What’s that?” asked Julia in an accusing manner.

“Aunt Julia, I want to show you this certificate and hopefully you can explain it to us.”

“So who is this Jared Haynes?”

“Look at his father’s name, does it look familiar?”

“So it’s someone with the same name as my brother, coincidence that’s all.”

“And the same birthday, is that coincidence?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“What we want to know is - did you know your brother was married before he married me?” asked Jessica.

“Why do you think he was married?”

“The mother, Roberta has his surname.”

“I don’t know anything about a marriage.”

“Then do you know anything about him getting a girl pregnant when he was about 18 years old?”

“Yes I do, but now is not the time to discuss it.”

“When would be a good time?” asked Justin.

“And what do you know that you have kept from us all these years?” accused Jessica.

“I told you, not now and I’m not discussing it any further tonight”.

Jessica noticed Julia was getting very defensive, just like her brother used to behave. A shiver went down her spine when she realised how alike the siblings were. Justin opened his mouth to say something, but Jessica got in first and said, “Just leave it for now Justin. We don’t want to upset your aunt anymore than we already have.”

“OK Mum, sorry Aunt Julia, it’s just that we need to know.”

“I understand that Justin, and I will tell you at an appropriate time. Please leave it for now”.

The trio returned to the rest of the family. While Hannah prepared dinner, Jessica tried to help and Justin tried to concentrate on playing the new computer game as he had promised Alex and James. Julia disappeared into her bedroom and did not re-appear until Hannah called her for dinner. “What have you been doing, ignoring our guests?” asked Hannah.

“Oh I got a bit dirty down in the garden and just wanted to freshen up and change my shirt”.

Dinner was pleasant and Hannah and the boys did not seem to suspect there were undercurrents of mystery threatening the family dinner. As Justin and Jessica left, Julia said “I’ll call you”.

On the drive home, Justin said to his mother, “Mum, I don’t understand what Aunt Julia meant. She said Dad was not married, so why does Jared’s mother have the same surname?”

“Things were different then son. Now you call them partners when two people live together but are not married. But years ago when unmarried people lived together the woman would often assume the man’s name to give the illusion of being married.”

“Maybe that’s it Mum. She said she knows about him getting a girl pregnant. I know that happens, so what’s the big mystery that she won’t tell us about now?”

“Well it was probably a bit of a family scandal and I guess she doesn’t want to discuss it in front of the boys. Maybe she hasn’t even told Hannah.”

“You’re probably right Mum. I hope she calls us soon.”

“I’m sure she will. Just be patient son”.