Chapter 12
Feelings; Good and Bad
“Ian, Nana just called to let me know that they ran into some problems with your room. So, you’ll need to bunk with David for a day or two.” I was told by my aunt as she woke me up when we pulled into the driveway.
“I know you’re not to thrilled by this, but it’s better than having to sleep on the couch or something.” I decided to keep my mouth shut on this point since I knew I would get into trouble if I said what I was thinking.
“Anyway, I want you and David to take a short nap once we get inside since we need to go out shopping for you guys in a little bit.
“What are we going shopping for?” David asked excitedly.
“Well, both of you we getting rather low on diapers before we left and we need to get you restocked before the new school year starts.” I really started frowning at this news. While I made a point not to complain about needing to wear diapers again, I was far from happy about it. I was even less so when hearing that I was going to be expected to help when purchasing more of them.
“Do I really need to go with you? I mean you already know what size I wear.” I asked as we walked into the house.
“Yes, you need to be with us. I plan on going to a new store for them and I want to be sure I get the style you like. If you insist on staying home, then you can, but I don’t want to hear any complaint about what we bring home for you. Now what will it be?”
“I’ll go.” I answered gloomily realizing that if I left it up to my aunt she would get what she wanted and it would probably be a far cry from what I would choose myself.
“Now I want all three of you to look around and see what you like. David, I want you and Ian to take a look at some of the body suits they have and see if you can find some in your sizes and styles that you like.” Brad, David and I were told as we pulled into a parking spot in front of a store called Jordan Enterprises.
“Mom, I can see why David and Ian had to come with you but I don’t see why I had to.” Brad complained as my aunt shut the car off.
“Brad, I already told you why. We’re going to be stopping by to get your equipment after we’re done here. Besides you told me that you had used the last of your disposables during your nap.”
“Right, but I still have plenty of the cloth diapers to use at home, and it never takes more than a week to get more ordered on-line”
“And what if you get a sleepover invitation before then?”
“I can just make up some excuse, or just have it switched over to our house depending on who it is.”
“No, you’re not. Now we’re already here and it won’t take just a few minutes to get some thing picked out for you. Besides, from the people I’ve talked to these products they work just as well as the Abenas and Molicares that you normally use and cost less. Now like I told Ian earlier, you can either come in and pick out the style you’d like to try or I can do it for you. What’ll it be?”
“I’ll come in, but I hope nobody I know sees me.” Brad replied as we got out of the car.
I was surprised to see how large the store really was once we got inside.
“May I help you, ma‘am?” A kid about the same size as Brad asked after we had been looking around for a few minutes.
“Yes, I’m needing to get some protection for my sons here.”
“OK. I should be able to help you with that. What were you looking for?”
“Well, I’m needing to get some full-time protection for my two younger ones here and some night-time protection for my older one.” my aunt explained.
“Mooom!” Brad whined when he heard this last part.
“OH hush Brad. I’m sure this is nothing that Scott has heard before.” Brad was told by his mom after she had looked at the salesperson’s name badge.
“She’s right. I’ve heard it all before. And to be honest you don’t have anything to be ashamed about. Lots of kids your age have this problem.” We were told as we were led deeper into the store.
“So what kind of protection were you interested in?”
“Well, for David and Ian here I was needing something that would protect well during the day but not be very noticeable under their school clothes as well as some thicker disposables for use at night.”
“OK, I can certainly show you items along that line. Are they going to be going out for any sports at school or afterwards.”
“I’m not sure yet, but probably so.”
“OK. And your older son?”
“We’re just needing something at night.”
“What does he currently use now. So I can figure out what product would be best suited for his needs?”
“He’s using either Abenas X-Plus or Molicare Super plus.”
“Alright. And were you wanting something in a tape on or a pull-up style?” Scott asked Brad.
“Uh..I’m not really sure. I mean I’ve tried GoodNites in the past and they haven’t worked out at all.” Brad explained with some embarrassment.
“I can understand that. We get a lot of people making the same claim. If you’d like to try a pull-on style, we just came out with an updated version of our pull-on style diaper. It’s practically undetectable under Pjs, or whatever style of sleepwear you use and it protects just as well as the Abenas or Molicares you currently use.”
“If it protects like the X-plus or Super plus how could it be hard to see under Pjs?”
“They use a new super absorbent biopolymer for the pad.”
“I still find it hard to believe.”
“Brad.” his mom said in warning when she heard this remark.
“No it’s OK. A lot of people find it hard to believe when I tell them that. Why don’t you go over to that mannequin over by the pull-ups display and pull down the bottoms it has on.” Scott suggested. With a shrug, Brad walked over and did what was suggested. I started chuckling a bit when I saw the look Brad’s face when he found himself staring at a pair of the Pull-ups. Without really realizing he was doing it he picked up a pair of the pants that were laying on a table to the right of the mannequin and started inspecting them.
“If you want we do have those in a 6 count trial pack if you’d like to give them a try before making a larger purchase of them.” Scott told my aunt as we left Brad to his examination.
“OK, Well, give those a try.”
“Now for you two young gentlemen.” David and I were told as we stopped in front of a display of diapers in several styles and designs.
“To your left are our school diapers. These are very absorbent and very hard to detect under most articles clothing. They come in several designs and styles.” we were told. I wasn’t too surprised to see David head over to one sporting some rather childish designs on them. With a small smile of my own, I headed towards some that were just a solid color, or the designs on them were geared more to older kids. My aunt and Scott spent the next thirty minutes going over the benefits of each style of diaper displayed along with some plastic pants, and body shirts to go with them. Brad seemed more than a little relieved when he saw that all we were going to be walking out of the store with was one bag containing the body shirts and plastic pants David and I had picked up. My aunt had arranged to have the rest delivered to the house.
“Mrs. Miller, Your father in law called why you were out and requested that you bring Ian over to his office right away.” we were told not a minute after walking back into the house.
“OK. Thank you Anita. Is my mom still here?”
“No ma’am. She left about ten minutes ago. If you’d like, I can watch David and Brad while you take Ian to his appointment.”
“Thanks, Anita. That would be gracious of you.” my aunt said before turning to me.
“C’mon Ian. Let’s get you upstairs and changed before we head out. I’m sure your grandfather doesn’t want to be gassed out by your smelly diapers.” I was told with a slight chuckle. Of course I failed to see the humor of that comment.
“What do you think they want with me?” I asked nervously thirty minutes later as we entered my grandfather’s outer office.
“I couldn’t really begin to tell you Ian. I’m sure it’s nothing to get to excited about.” From her answer I got the feeling that she had already forgotten about the feelings I had gotten earlier in the week. Of course she didn’t even know about the information I had uncovered before we had gone on vacation.
“Ian, I’m afraid I have some bad news concerning the Wues.” I was told after we had greeted each other.
“They got away again?” My aunt asked in disgust interrupting what we were being told.
“No, they didn’t skip town again. They’re dead. Apparently, some other people were looking for them as well as us and they got to them first. I’m sorry Ian.” I was told as my grandfather shook his head.
“So what’s the bad news?” I asked.
“I’m sorry?” came the confused inquiry from both my aunt and grandfather at the same time.
“I asked what the bad news was?” I replied not understanding the shocked question I had just been asked.
“I don’t think you understand Ian. Your grandfather just told you that the Wues are dead.
“I know. I just don’t understand where the bad news in that is. I mean you were still able to get the computer server out of where they were living now?” I asked.
“Well, yes.”
“And it still had all the information you needed on it to break the other cases you had told me about right?”
“Yes, it did. We were even able to use the information to freeze your father’s bank accounts while the IRS looks at them. I will say that it started a bit of a Hornet’s nest with your half-brother’s lawyers since it meant seizing your brother’s trust funds as well.”
“So, you’re telling me the Wu’s are dead, all of my late father’s accounts have been frozen and seized by the IRS along with my half-brother’s trust funds that were generated from those accounts. Is all that correct?” I asked while trying my hardest not to laugh at all this information.
“That’s about right.” I was told. On hearing this, I started laughing so hard I ended up wetting myself.
“Ian, I would hardly call this a laughing matter.” I was told crossly.
“Sure it is, if you look at it from my point of view. Besides, look at things this way, with the Wues dead there won’t be a trial for them meaning that the government just saved a lot of money.” I said chuckling some more.
“Right.” my grandfather said dryly. I guess he didn’t think this was all that funny either but he was willing to let me have my moment of release.
“Anyway, the other thing I wanted to let you know about is that we’ve finished looking into that information you gave me before you left last week.” If anything could have been said to shut me up faster, this was it. Without saying a word I was handed a file.
“Mom, could I have a few minutes alone to go over this?” I asked in a trembling voice.
“It’s OK Mary.” My grandfather told his daughter in law as he stood up to walk her out of the office. In moments it was just me and my grandfather in the room.
“I know this has to be a shock to you Ian, and I’ll do anything I can to help you.” I was told softly as I was given a light hug.
“Have you had a chance to meet him?” I asked in a nearly inaudible voice.
“Yes, I have. He looks a great deal like you. He seems very happy with his adoptive parents. The only down side to it is that we’ll be needing to place him into foster care while we get things straightened out.”
“Get what things straightened out?”
“It seems that your father and one of the other doctors at the hospital was running an illegal adoption service. We’re needing to find out how deep it goes.
“Do you feel that my brother’s parents had anything to do with it?”
“Nothing at all. We’ve already checked. Your brother was placed with them a good three months after you two were born.”
“Then don’t do anything.” I pleaded.
“Ian..”
“Taking him away from the only family he’s ever know won’t do any good. You just said that he’s happy where he is and his parents haven’t done anything wrong.”
“True, but..”
“Then please don’t punish him for something he’s got no control over. I’ve been in foster care and it’s not something I would wish on anyone. So please, just leave them be, OK?” I managed to get out before I broke down completely.
“OK, Ian. It’s against my better judgment but I’ll see what I can arrange on that point. Now lets go ahead and get you home and into bed for a little bit.” I just nodded at this. My aunt looked a bit shocked when she saw me when we came out of the office a few minutes later after my grandfather had made a few phone calls.
I barely even was aware of the ride home or of getting put down for a nap once I got there. In fact the only thing I do remember was getting woken up for dinner a few hours later.
The next few days were hard to describe. It was like I was in another body. I knew this probably freaked everyone in my family out, but they were understanding enough to give me the space I needed while I worked out the information my grandfather had confirmed for me. To this day I wasn’t sure which upset me more, learning that I was actually two years younger than I thought or that I had a twin brother. On the second part I have to say that I was glad that he had been taken out of the situation I had found myself in before he even was in it. I guess this was just me thinking like an older brother. Even if I was only older by five minutes. I found out later that his father owned a computer service company and his mother was a Third grade teacher at Stonehenge. After doing some calling around and having a private talk with Dr. Roberts, I arranged for my “uncle’s” company to get hired to take care for the computers for my father’s medical group. Of course, to my knowledge he never found out about the behind the scene dealings that had been going on.
“Are you ready to see your see your new room, Ian?” I was asked as my family and I returned from services the Saturday evening after we returned from Florida.
“Sure let’s see what you’ve done.” I told Nana with a smile. This start a procession leading up to my room. For my part I couldn’t remember the last time I was this excited.
“Now before we open the door let me tell you that you’ve been the hardest to think of on how to design your room, but after talking with your mom and dad as well as your maternal grandfather, I think we’ve managed to come up with something you’ll be pleased with.” Nana announced to both me and the group standing behind me.
“Go on in.” I was told with a smile. With a shaking hand, I turned the knob to my bedroom door and slowly pushed it open. I was completely speechless on seeing the sight before me. Somehow Nana had managed to turn my room into a replica of room from the Imperial palace in 16th Century Japan, including a mural on the wall opposite of where my bed now was that made one think that they were looking out over Tokyo Bay. As excited as I was, I started getting a cold feeling as I started looking at some of the objects that were now in the room. The only place I had seen them before was at the house my grandfather owned just outside of Nagasaki.
“Where did you get these?” I asked shakily as I ran my hand lightly over a suit of armor I had been told had been in my grandfather’s family for fifteen generations.
“They arrived about three days before you got back why?” Nana asked worriedly at how I was reacting.
“I need to make a call now!” I said excitedly as I looked around the room.
“Ian, what is it?” my mom asked trying to snap me back to reality. I stopped trying to fumble for the cell phone my grandfather had sent me to talk to him on if I needed to when I saw an envelope propped up on the keyboard to my computer.
“No.” I whispered as I reached a trembling hand toward it.
“I was meaning to give that to you when you got home but with everything that had happened I thought it would be best to wait till things calmed down.” I heard Nana say behind me. I just nodded to this as I opened the letter and started to read.
Dear Ian,
If you are reading this letter, it means my time on this plane of existence has ended. I am sorry that I had not had more time to get to know you better than I did and even more that my attempts to get you away from my daughter had failed. I want you to know that I had always cherished the time that we did have together, and even though I never said it very often, I loved you very much and was extremely proud of all that you had accomplished in the short time that we had together. I know that these words probably will never replace me in your heart I want you to know that I would have proudly called you son.
Because of what I have learned of what my daughter and her family have put you through I have disowned them all. This makes you my only surviving heir. I therefore have transferred my entire estate over to you. I know in my heart that you’ll use it wisely and continue to keep up with the charitable work that I have strived to keep up with over the years. Your parents will find detailed instructions in the letter that I have addressed to them.
Till we meet again, all my love.
I didn’t even realize how hard I had been sobbing as I read the short letter. It did explain however the feelings that I had been having over the last couple of days. I jumped when my mom placed her hand on my shoulder to pull me into a tight hug. I must have cried myself to sleep in her arms at some point because the next thing I knew it was early the next morning.
Waking up with a start, I looked out the bedroom window and saw that the sun was barely starting to come up. Knowing what I had to do for myself I quickly started dressing in a white Kimono that I had been sent shortly after I had last seen my grandfather. Before leaving my room, I grabbed a small box that had come with the kimono and headed downstairs and into the backyard. I finished saying my last goodbyes to a man I had at one point come to think of as my father just as the sun crested above the top of our house.