Chapter 226: A Small Child
Adir held his father’s hand, curious but also a little worried. He was excited to finally meet the grandfather he had only heard about in stories, but there was a nervous flutter in his stomach. His father didn’t look too pleased about bringing him along, and that made Adir uneasy.
He had a lot of questions—about who his grandfather was, what he was like, and why they had never visited before—but he kept them to himself. He just walked quietly, staying close to his father’s side.
As they stepped out of the elevator, his father suddenly stopped and turned to him. "You know you’re not supposed to answer any questions about where you lived, or anything like that, right?"
Adir nodded quickly.
"Good," his father said, and they continued walking down the hallway.
The closer they got to the door, the more unsure Adir began to feel. Something about the moment made him slow down. By the time they reached the entrance and his father opened the door, Adir had drifted just far enough behind that he was nearly hidden behind his father’s legs.
He heard his father call out into the room, "Father, I’ve brought Adir."
A deep voice responded from somewhere inside. "Where is he? Bring him to me."
Adir peeped out from behind his father’s legs. His small hand clutched the fabric of his father’s trousers for a moment, but then he let go and took a cautious step forward. He saw the old man seated lying in a raised bed near the window, watching him.
Adir raised his hand and gave a small wave. "Hello," he said.
Sir Robert Collins beckoned him forward with a slight tilt of his fingers. "Come here, boy. Let me see you properly."