Chapter 57: A Mother’s legacy for her dear son
"Of course, I’ve gotten over my silly feelings in that regard. I don’t hate medical Doctors, and I know it’s not right to blame them for something that they couldn’t control." Andrew smiled at the shocked, stunned faces of Maxwell’s family. Oh no. Was he not supposed to answer honestly?
"I tried to warn you." Maxwell muttered, and Andrew watched as Maxwell’s Mother’s face went through shock, and quickly into guilt.
"I am so sorry for bringing up such a terrible topic at the dinner table. Please forgive me." Andrew waved it off with a smile.
"It’s been years, Mrs. Beckett. I’ve managed my grief just fine since then. But, that is why I left Harvard and went to Cambridge to finish my schooling. I needed to get out of the country, and have a change in scenery." Andrew admitted easily, warmly, and a look of horror crossed her face.
"No, grief isn’t something you so easily get over. I shouldn’t have prodded somewhere I shouldn’t have. I...is your Father still around?" Maxwell’s soft groan from beside him and Andrew stifling laughter. How was Maxwell’s family to know that this was a sore topic for him? These were normal questions.
"Well, I would certainly hope so." Andrew answered, and there was a beat before even his Mother but her head in her hands and she groaned.
"I am making a mess of this." He heard her mutter, and Andrew laughed.
"It’s alright. How were you to know that I have a messy family? To answer what I assume was your next question, yes, my Father was never in the picture. That’s how I had to find out the hard way that I was a true alpha after I manifested. No, I do not feel comfortable disclosing who he might be, but as my Mother used to say, I do look like him." Andrew was quite comfortable with the awkward environment that permeated the room. He reached over and took a sip of his water as he felt the whole family stare at him.
Feeling Maxwell’s smaller, warm hand on his thigh did relax him slightly.
"Andrew, you don’t have to tell them any of that." Maxwell told him softly, and Andrew opened his mouth to protest, when Mr. Beckett interrupted him.
"Maxwell speaks the truth, Dr. Knox. You really don’t have to tell us anything. I know you are anxious to have us like you, but never do it at your own expense. In the future, keep in mind that it could be viewed as a weakness." Andrew blinked, stunned, and Mr. Beckett’s other sons stared at him in surprise as well.