**********
Kevin met Jake, Ashley, and Adam in the waiting area. Adam was busy playing his video game. Ashley pretended to be reading a magazine, but Kevin could tell she was biting her tongue, trying not to say anything to Jake. Jake sat in the corner of the room with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Kevin looked at Jake and just wanted to give him a hug, but he knew Jake would not have any of that. "Ashley and Adam, will both of you please wait in the car? Jake and I have to talk."
"But, Dad, can't we stay too?" said Ashley, obviously wanting to be involved.
Kevin shot her a stern look.
"Okay ? okay, we're going. C'mon, Adam."
Kevin turned and watched Ashley and Adam leave the room. He then sat in the chair next to Jake. Jake was in the same position and didn't even acknowledge Kevin's presence. Kevin shook his head and sighed. "Tough week, huh?"
Jake still did not move or answer. This was going to be harder than Kevin had anticipated. "You know, Jake, I wish you would talk to me. It seems like eons since we've had a good heart-to-heart."
Jake lifted his head, sat straight up, and turned to face Kevin. His eyes were red from crying, but he still had a look of defiance on his face. "I've wanted to talk, but you've been so busy, you clearly never wanted to talk to me."
Kevin gave Jake a puzzled look and resisted the temptation to defend himself. "I know I have been busy. But whenever you came home on leave, you seemed as if you didn't want to talk about anything."
"Well, I did."
"Well then, why didn't you let me know?"
"Because every time I tried to bring something up, your cell phone would ring, or you would have some important meeting. I couldn't talk to Ashley because she would just belittle me, and I couldn't talk to Adam because he's too young to understand."
"Well, I'm here now, and I think I know what it is you want me to understand."
"Do you?" Jake said as he stood up and took a few steps forward.
"I do. The colonel showed me your discipline record. Before your mother's d-"
"Aunt!"
"What?"
Jake turned around to face Kevin. "Diane was my aunt, not my mother, and you're my uncle, not my father!"
The comment cut Kevin like a knife into his chest. He shook his head and continued. "Yes, I know Diane and I aren't your biological parents, but we adopted you and raised you as one of our own. We love you like a son."
Jake turned around again as he tried to hide his tears. He wouldn't look Kevin in the eye. "I know you love me like a son, but ?"
Kevin stood up, walked over to Jake, and placed his hands on his shoulders. "What is it, son?"
"I ? I ?"
Kevin turned Jake around. Jake resisted and walked away. Then he turned to face Kevin and finally let go. "For some reason, ever since Aunt Diane's death, I've missed my real mom and dad terribly. I feel alone. I feel lost. I remember bits and pieces of my mom and a little more of my dad. It seems that's all I have been thinking about this past year. Aunt Diane was my mother, and I loved her like my real mom. It seems like God is taking everything away from me. First my real mom and dad, Aunt Diane, and ?"
Jake stopped and looked at Kevin.
"Me?" questioned Kevin, as he moved closer to Jake. "You're afraid of losing me?"
Jake looked down and buried his head into Kevin's shoulder. Kevin wrapped his arms around Jake and squeezed. Jake began to sob. No more words needed to be said. Kevin now realized that Jake was acting out because he was terrified of losing his loved ones. Everyone Jake had loved had left him. No wonder he felt alone.
Kevin and Jake stood in the waiting room, holding each other for a few moments. Kevin decided he needed to say what had been on his mind for the last year. "You know, Jake, you will see your parents and Aunt Diane again."
Jake looked up and backed away. "Oh, don't feed me that crap again, Uncle Kevin. You know I haven't prayed for years. I've even started drinking."
"I know. I ? I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that I think you would be happier if you did, that's all."
"Not after what God has done to me."
"And what has God done to you?" As soon as Kevin said it, he knew he shouldn't have. He could tell Jake was becoming defensive again.
Jake turned around again. "God has killed everyone I love. I hate Him!"
Kevin shook his head. "I'm sorry, Jake. I didn't mean to upset you. Let's not talk about God righ-" Kevin's cell phone, hidden in his suit pocket, rang. He pulled it out and was about to answer it.
"See, there you go again, business over family."
Kevin stopped before he could answer the phone. "You're right. Whoever it is can leave me a message."
The phone stopped ringing, and Kevin said, "We don't have to talk about this now. What do you say, we go get something to eat, and all of us go to a good movie tonight? Let's forget about our problems for a while."
Jake thought that was a good idea. He looked up and gave Kevin a modest smile. "That sounds good. I've talked about my problems enough, and I haven't seen a movie in nearly a year."
Kevin put his right hand on Jake's shoulder as the two strolled out of the doors. Kevin's phone rang again. He ignored it.
"You better get that," Jake said. "Whoever it is must be desperate."
Kevin reached into his suit coat pocket and recognized the face on the other end as he placed the phone to his ear. "Mr. Konrad ? What's it been; over twenty years, hasn't it? ? What? Say that again. . ? This isn't some cruel joke is it? ? You want me to bring Jake? ? Go to Houston. ? Okay, we'll be there by tomorrow night. ? Yeah, good to talk to you too."
Kevin put away his phone and looked up at the sky. The rain had stopped, and the clouds had disappeared, revealing bright stars.
"What was that all about?" asked Jake with a puzzled look on his face.
Kevin turned slowly and looked at Jake. "That was Michael Konrad. He was the flight director of your father's flight to Mars over twenty years ago. He said you and I need meet him in Houston tomorrow night."
"Houston? Why?"
"He said they've got ?" Kevin tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat.
Jake put his hand on Kevin's shoulder. "What did they get?"
Kevin looked deep into Jake's eyes and said, "NASA received a message from your dad."
Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1) Page 11