Katie always knew something was missing from her life.
When she met her brother for the first time when she was 19, she knew it was him that was missing.
Katie was shocked the day she found out. She had just come home from school, a weekend away from her new college life, and her mother and father were sitting in the living room quietly drinking coffee. Her mother looked like she had been crying.
"Who died?" Katie asked immediately, tears springing to her eyes, thinking it was her beloved grandmother or her favorite Aunt Mary.
"Sit down, sweetheart," her father said, patting the couch.
"Oh my god, someone did die!" Katie began crying now, falling into the couch, waiting to her the terrible news.
"No!" Her mother almost shouted, sending rays at her husband. "Mark, stop scaring her."
"Well, what is it?" Katie asked. "You both look horrible!"
"It's actually, well, kind of good news." Her mother said. She looked to Mark and then away.
"Go ahead honey, you tell her."
"Tell me what, mom?" Katie's eyes were still welling with tears, not convinced yet that the news she was getting was going to be good.
"Well, this is difficult really. See, before I met your father, I had a serious boyfriend in High school. I was probably about your age, Katie." She said. Pausing to take a breath she went on. "Well, one day I found out I was pregnant and I was scared to death! I just new my mother was going to kill me and Jake - he was my boyfriend - and I didn't know what to do."
"Okay," Katie said, still not sure yet where her mother's story was going.
"So, one day, my mother was cleaning my room and found my pregnancy test with the little plus sign? And when I got home from school that day, I found her in the kitchen on the phone. She stopped me before I could go to my room and I sat at the table while she was still talking.
At first, I didn't know what she was talking about or to whom she was talking to, but as I listened I figured out that she was planning on sending me to a retreat for expectant mothers. But, this place, this house, was for mothers who were going to give up their babies for adoption." She paused, a look of pain crossing her face and a look of shame when she looked to Katie and her husband.
"Okay," Katie said. "So, I have a sibling somewhere. So what happened?"
"Well, as soon as I figured out that my mom was planning on sending me to this place, I panicked! I ran to my room, locked my door, terrified that she was going to make me give up my baby! I wasn't going to let that happen! But, between my mother and father they convinced me that it was the only way to 'protect my innocence' and keep me from being labeled a tramp.
So, I didn't have a choice. I went to the house, lived there for the next 7 months and when my baby was born, a son, I handed him over to a couple from Nebraska. They couldn't have children, see, and they had been waiting for an infant for 3 years."
"Okay, so you got pregnant, had to give the baby up. But, you still grew up, got married to dad and had me." Katie thought for a few minutes. "I guess I am a little shocked to know I have a brother, but why are you telling me now?"
"Well, today, out of the blue, I got a call." Her mother said, wringing her hands together. When no one spoke she went on. "It was your brother, the baby boy I gave up for adoption 25 years ago."
Katie stared at her mother and then shifted her gaze to her father. He didn't look mad or anything, but still looked shocked. Katie assumed that today was the first time her father had heard this story. She wondered why her mother had kept it such a secret, but she was sure she had her reasons.
"So, wow." Katie finally said. "What now?"
"Well, it seems he found me through the place he was adopted. His adoptive parents died a few years ago in a car crash, and he decided it was time to look for his birth mother."
"So, can we like, meet him or something?" Katie was curious to see what her half brother looked like.
"Actually, he travels a lot for work," her mother said, finally standing and heading towards the kitchen. Katie and her father followed. "He is heading this way next week and would like to meet me - meet all of us - and get to know us."
"Don't you think this will be a little awkward?" Katie asked. "I mean did you tell him that you are married and have a kid?" Katie was beginning to feel a little jealous as she was an only child and liked that status.
"Yeah, he is excited to meet us all," her mother said. "He was an only child and looks forward to meeting you. He said he always wanted a sibling, even if its 25 years late." Katie's mother chuckled. Her father was still quite.
"Dad?" Katie asked, glancing in his direction. "How are you with all this?"
"Well, to be honest," he said, "I am a little shocked by it all, but I love your mother and even if he isn't my biological child, I will still love him as if he was."
"Oh dad," Katie said, giving him a hug. "Just remember, I will always be your little girl!"
"Of course you will, sweat heart," her mother said. "Just now there is just an addition."
The week flew by and Katie was nervous about meeting her new brother. Well, not new, just new to her. He was flying into the airport and checking into his hotel where the rest of Katie's family was going to be meeting up with me for dinner.
She chose her outfit carefully. She wanted to look mature and not so much like a kid sister. Her jealousy was still bubbling but she was an adult after all and she wanted to act like one. On the other hand, she had grown up without a brother and could keep living without one if he turned out to be an asshole.
Katie and her family rode to the hotel is silence. They hadn't talked too much about the thing since the week before, although her mother kept asking her if she was okay. Katie was fine with it, but now as they drew closer to the hotel, butterflies began to flutter in her stomach.
Katie's father parked the car and the all got out and began to walk to the entrance. Her brother, named Brad, was meeting them in the hotel lounge. A neutral place for them all and a place where her father could put down a few rum and cokes.
They pushed through the revolving doors and followed the signs to the bar. Katie looked expectantly around, glancing at every male that looked to be 25 and made faces at a few of them.
So unattractive, she thought. I hope he isn't Brad. Eww, or him either.
"Mrs. and Mr. Jensen?" A tall blonde hair man with piercing green eyes approached, his hand outstretched. Katie's mouth dropped open, taking him in. His body was built, she could tell under his shirt, a tapered waist and thick arms. He sported a clean-shaven face and slightly spiky hair. To her, Brad looked liked he stepped out of a GQ cover shoot.
"Brad," Her mother said, holding her hand out first and then into a hug. She cried a few tears, and Brad, as well as her father, looked slightly uncomfortable. Although, given the situation, Katie would feel a little awkward too.
Katie's mother stepped back and still holding Brad's hand, introduced him to the rest of the small family. When Katie was introduced, Brad's eyes shifted slightly over her neck to the rest of her body, barely enough for anyone to catch, except Katie.
"So," Brad said. "You're my little sister." It wasn't a question, more of a statement, and Katie simply shrugged her shoulders.
"Yeah, I guess so." She replied. The four of them made their way over to a table and sat down. It didn't take too long for the group to settle into conversation.
Several hours later, they were still sitting in the bar, and the time was getting a late.
"I have to be up early for work, honey." Katie's mom said. "I think it best to head home."
"Oh, mom!" Katie exclaimed. "Brad I were just getting into a good conversation. Do we have to go now?"
"Mrs. Jensen, I mean, Jane, I can bring Katie home later if you want." He looked slightly to Katie, a slight glitter in his eye. "If that's okay with you I mean."
Katie didn't know what to make of Brad. Hell, he was hot, but he was also her brother. Although, he was looking at her all night as if he wished differently. Under the table he had been brushing his leg against hers, seemingly on accident, but as the night progressed and the drinks drank, his leg stayed pressed against hers. She didn't move hers.
"Well, I don't see why not. Let you two get to know each other without old people hanging around." Her mother chuckled.
"Mom, your not old." Katie said.
"Well, I guess that is okay with me. Just don't be out too late." Her father warned. "You need to head back to school tomorrow."
"I know dad. I promise. Besides, this will be a good chance for us to get to know each other after all these years." With it finally decided, Katie's mother and father kissed her and Brad goodbye and headed home.
"Well," Brad said awkwardly.
"Yeah, so..." Katie responded.
"How about..."
"Do you..."
They both started to talk at once, and both stopped laughing.
"This is pretty awkward," Brad said, motioning for the waiter. He ordered a drink for himself and a glass of wine for Katie.
"Yeah. A little."
"So what do you think?" Brad asked, leaning back.
"About what?"
"About me, about this situation."
"Well, to be honest with you, I was a little nervous." She said, sipping her wine.
"Why?"
"Well, first, I hoped you were nice, and cute and fun. A big brother, without really acting like one."
"So, how did I do then?" Brad asked.
"You are nice and you seem fun!"
"So, what, I'm not cute?"
Katie laughed. "You are cute. Very attractive." She blushed a little, sipping her wine again.
"Well, I had the same thoughts. You are everything I'd hoped for."
"So, what do we do from here?" Katie finished her wine, feeling the heat growing in her stomach.
"Well, I brought some pictures from me growing up. They are upstairs in my room. Do you want to go through them? You can make fun of your big brother with all the embarrassing pictures my mom took."