few months af

their public displays of affection grating

more. I ended up at a downtown L.

mpany, just a quiet cor

Is tha

younger sister, stood there,

cues. She was smart, a tech prodigy already making wave

ened. About her work, about a ridiculous rea

hat felt like an eternity, I wasn't thi

sisted on driving me home in my own car, desp

rly sideswiped a parked car, and then got

I found myself laughi

es, hikes in Griffith Park, late-night coding sessi

right, warm, genuine. She didn't play

ling parts of me I

and Dad a

hink. Dad clapped me on the sho

for dinner. We'd love to meet the young woma

red her

t. A family dinner, with O

. "A toast," he announced. "To Etha

tate plans. Your mother and I have decided that the family assets, includ

ening, suddenly straightened. A

mmed her

than isn't even your real son! He's

hat followed

. Mom gasped, her han

ned a dangerou

oice dangerously low. "

adopted one! I heard you and

hair scraping loudl

e like ice. "You are mistaken.

ng over all of us, lingeri

re the one who