“That’s because your father cut him off twenty years ago, right after your parents got married.” Richard slid a photograph across the table.
An older man with kind eyes and a warm smile stood in front of a modest house, the type you’d see in a small American town where flags hung from porches and kids rode bikes in the street.
“James didn’t approve of some of your father’s choices,” Richard continued. “Specifically his financial choices. Your father had a gambling problem in his twenties. James tried to help, tried to get him treatment, but your father resented the interference. When James refused to give him more money to cover his debts, your father cut him out completely.”
“My father has a gambling problem?”
“Had,” Richard corrected. “As far as we know, he addressed it years ago. But the damage to their relationship was done. James never saw his son again after the falling out. Never met your mother. Never knew you existed until six months ago.”
“How did he find out about me?” I asked.
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