AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Mike, ever the life of the party, released a buoyant cheer. "Survived the dentist!" he declared, wiggling around in Joe's arms so hard he was practically vibrating. He grinned, a playful gleam in his eyes. "And I won't have to go through that again for a whole year!"
Crawling into the backseat of the car, the fabric of the seat comforting under my hands, I watched as Joe secured Mike in the front seat before climbing behind the wheel. Mike turned to Joe, his voice full of hope and innocence. "Daddy, can I have ice cream as a reward for my bravery?"
Joe chuckled, his amusement evident. "Mike, this was Lina's appointment, not yours. And you have your own dental checkup coming up next month, so it’s not a whole year away."
I couldn't help but giggle from my spot in the backseat.
Mike, never one to be deterred, playfully proposed, "Maybe it would be better to just lose all my teeth, wouldn't have to clean them or go to the dentist then!"
This earned him a light swat from Joe as he started the car. "Don't be a bad role model, Mike."
As we reached my apartment, Mike's voice broke the playful atmosphere. "Daddy, can I hang out with Lina for a bit?" he asked, his eyes flicking to me in the rear-view mirror.
Joe paused for a moment before responding. "Alright, but behave. I'll be back to pick you up in an hour."
We sauntered into my apartment, a place of comfort and familiarity. Mike eased himself onto my worn-out couch while I flitted about the room, our laughter and banter bouncing off the walls. Our discussion veered towards our favorite toys, a topic which animated Mike instantly.
"I've got this Teddy bear," Mike started, his eyes twinkling with a childlike fervor. "It's the oldest toy I have.”
That prompted a smile on my face. "I think I have something that could rival your Teddy." I found myself saying, a spark of excitement alight in my eyes. "It's an old toy, stored away with some other stuff. Wait here."
I shuffled off to retrieve the box. Standing on my toes, my fingers just managed to graze the dusty cardboard box. With a little jump and a helping hand from Mike, we pulled it down. As I peeled away the layers of old memorabilia, I stumbled upon a forgotten piece of paper, yellowed with age and collecting dust.
"What's this?" Mike asked, a glimmer of curiosity in his eyes.
I unfolded the letter, the brittle paper creaking under the strain. As my eyes darted across the lines, a faint flicker of hope ignited within me – the letter contained a potential clue to the identity of my long-lost biological father.
Upon Mike's gentle prodding, I found myself opening up about a past I'd mostly kept hidden.
"I grew up with my mom and my stepdad," I explained, my voice almost a whisper. "They were great, really. But there's always been this...hole, you know?"
Mike nodded, a silent pillar of support.
"The letter... it mentions a place where my biological father used to work. It's vague, but it might lead me to his name, maybe even to him," I revealed, my heart hammering in my chest.
With a soft, encouraging voice, Mike nudged me forward, “You should follow this lead.” The light of determination in his eyes reflected my own internal resolve.
“You really think I can find him?” I asked, the enormity of the task weighing heavily on me.
“I know you can,” Mike affirmed, the absolute certainty in his voice made my heart flutter. “And I’ll be there with you every step of the way.”
The mystery that had shadowed me for so long was now a tangible entity, something I could pursue, maybe even solve.
In the ensuing days, our routine took on a whole new rhythm. The humdrum of our everyday lives was replaced by an urgency that fuelled our every action. Each alleyway, each historical building, each city record was a potential clue leading to my father.
Armed with determination and gallons of coffee, we immersed ourselves in our mission. Hunched over our laptops, we scoured the internet, delved into city records, traced the path of the company mentioned in the letter.
Yet, our leads hit brick walls, the online maze offering scarce information, the city records reduced to a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. The initial spark of excitement and anticipation gradually dimmed, clouded by the endless sea of dead ends.
Chapter 9: Lina
I adjusted the rearview mirror, glancing at Mike as we drove. The tight knot of nervousness that had settled in my stomach seemed to loosen slightly at his comforting presence.
“Mike,” I began, my eyes still on the road. “About my parents… They're… quite something.”
Mike laughed, his bright eyes mirroring the evening sun. “That's one way to put it. What should I be expecting? Fireworks?”
“Just a whirlwind,” I grinned back. “A whirlwind named Joan.”
