That last bit was a minor detail Kat had apparently forgotten to mention when she was slumming in Persuasion.

Shee-/it/! Matt said at the revelation, the foam from his beer still clinging to his upper lip. You're yankin' our chain, right?

Riley leaned back in his chair and studied Aidan as he continued the story.

Nope. Phyllis had been socking away thirty years of bingo winnings into stocks and bonds. When she died, Mom got about two-thirds of the money and all the parakeets.

Matt's eyes were as big as drink coasters. Exactly how many millions He switched gears in the middle of his question. How many parakeets we talkin'?

Aidan laughed. Well, Uncle Matt, we're talking more than three million dollars and exactly thirty-six parakeets at the time of her death.

Matt nodded numbly, as if trying to process that information. Better than the other way around, I guess, he said.

Riley didn't want to turn today into an interrogation about Kat, but his mind was burning with thousands of questions, many of which Aidan could surely answer. He told himself to be patient, to let the information come out when Aidan was ready.

Thank God Matt wasn't burdened by any such decency.

So, did your mom ever marry? Did she date a lot?

Aidan took a sip of his Coke and shook his head, seemingly unbothered by such a blunt question from his brand-new uncle. She never married and didn't date all that much, though she had a few boyfriends over the years. She was famous for saying,?The air is rare,' which Phyllis once explained to me meant that most men were assholes.

Matt nodded. I like this Phyllis.

Aidan smiled sadly. I do, too.

Riley couldn't stand it anymore. He leaned forward on his elbows and looked into his son's eyes.

Where's your mom this weekend? Riley knew his question sounded like the abrupt change of subject it was, but Aidan didn't seem to mind.

She left me a message that she's back in town, probably at her place.

Riley tried not to let on how relieved he was to hear that. He knew where Kat lived, and he knew he was headed there as soon as they got Aidan back to the dorm. Riley had to see her. He couldn't come and go from this city without talking to her, finding out why she ran off like she did last week. It was his turn for a surprise visit.

So, Matt said, obviously wanting to move the conversation away from Kat.

Did your dad tell about our road trip?

Aidan frowned, shaking his head. You mean your drive from West Virginia yesterday?

Matt laughed. Nope. I'm talking about last year, when we first found out about you. Just before she died, your mama's mamaBettyAnntold your dad that you and your mom were living in Patterson, California. Or that's what your dad thought she said. So that's where we went looking.

Aidan cocked his head and Riley watched the comprehension spread over his son's face. Aidan let out a surprised laugh. Phyllis' house is at the corner of Patterson and California.

Yep, Matt said. And if it weren't for that little misunderstanding, we would have found you a lot sooner.

Damn! Aidan's eyes sparkled. So you went out west to look for us? He addressed the question to Riley, but Matt was in cop mode and couldn't be stopped.

You bet. I did all kinds of public-record searches and made some calls, but I couldn't find any trace of you or your mom, in California or anywhere else. Neither did the P.I. we hired.

You really hired a private detective? Aidan seemed incredulous.

Sure did, Matt went on. After he came up with squat, we decided to go see for ourselves. Your dad here Matt angled his thumb at Riley. He took an unpaid leave of absence from his practice to look for you. Matt chuckled. I flew out to help him on weekends and when I could get time off. We never found you, but we got to see a lot of the country, that's for damn sure.

Aidan's expression suddenly went serious and he turned to Riley. I had no idea you did all that, Aidan said, obviously trying to hide the emotion he was feeling. Thank you.

Riley nodded. I just wish I would have done a better job.

Don't listen to him, Matt said. He followed every lead he got, and he got quite a few. It's amazing how many people said they'd seen a woman of your mom's description with a boy in tow over the years. How many states did we end up going to, again?

Riley would never forget. Seventeen.

Aidan's mouth dropped open. You drove all those places?

Riley nodded.

Shit, Aidan whispered. After a long moment of silence, he started to laugh.

Matt laughed, too. Yeah. You were probably sittin' around thinking your daddy didn't give a damn about you, right about the time he was staying at that health hazard of a motel in Montana, the one where the heater vent smelled like dead weasel. What town was that, again?

Helena, Riley said, carefully gauging Aidan's reaction to all this.

Right, Matt said. We put close to fifteen thousand miles on that old truck.

Hey, Aidan, Riley said, knowing he needed to stop Matt before he began reminiscing about what they'd ordered for lunch in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. All Matt's saying is, we tried our best to find you, and I was madder than hell that I had to come home empty-handed.

Aidan nodded.

I'd do it all over again, too.

Yeah. Aidan scooted his chair back. I'm going to run to the men's room.

Catch you in a minute.

Riley watched his grown son stroll through the cavernous old warehouse restaurant, shoulders square and straight as he moved. This was a hell of a lot for a kid to be taking in all at once.

Is he all right? This has got to be a total mind fuck, Matt said, taking a sip of his beer.

For all of us.

Don't do it, Bro. Matt's expression went hard. Don't go see her.

Riley shrugged. I have no choice.

Sure you do. We all have a choice.

All right, so I choose to talk with her.

Matt rolled his eyes.

Kat and I are nothing but one big ball of unfinished business and half-truths, and I'm not leaving here until we deal with some of it!

Matt shook his head. Remember that day I said you were too closed up and should talk about things more?

Sure.

I liked you better that way.

They sat in silence until Aidan came back.

He looked calm, and smiled at both Matt and Riley. This has been an amazing day. I mean, in some ways it feels like a dream, but I look at you guys and I know it's very real. It's just going to take some getting used to, I guess.

Riley smiled back. The important thing is we've made a start.

Aidan nodded, pulled out a pen from his pocket, and clicked it open. Got a piece of paper?

Riley didn't, but he handed Aidan one of the extra bar napkins on the tabletop and watched him scrawl some numbers on it. Aidan shoved it back toward Riley when he was done.

It's Mom's address and phone number.

Riley felt his pulse skitter. Uh, thanks, he managed. But I already have it.

Aidan grinned. Cool.

Hey, before you put that thing away Matt pointed at Aidan's pen. Is there any chance you might be able to get me a number for Nola D'Agliano?

Aidan let out a boisterous laugh and Riley heard the echo of Big Daddy in the cadence of it. It's D'Agostino.

Matt nodded. No wonder I couldn't find her.

Oh, man, Aidan said, shaking his head.

What? Matt sat up straighter. Not a good idea? I just wanted to ask her out for coffee or something.

Aidan snatched another napkin from the table and began writing on the back of it. No, no, it's fine, he said. I was just thinking that you're exactly Nola's type. He finished with the last few digits and handed the napkin to Matt with a sheepish grin.

Oh yeah? Matt waited for more details, but Aidan seemed to enjoy teasing him. Come on, man; aren't you going to help out your old uncle here?