“Dad? Can I talk to you?”
Sebastian glanced up when he heard Kellan’s voice coming from the doorway. He was sitting on his bed, flipping through a script that was sent his way. He frankly wasn’t that interested in it, but still decided to peruse the pages just in case something managed to jump out at him. He dropped the pages down on the bed. “Sure, Kellan.” Sebastian patted the edge of the bed.
Kellan slowly walked into the room and sat down next to his father. He stared at the ground for a moment before talking. “I don’t belong.”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “What? What do you mean?”
Kellan sighed. “I don’t belong in the family.”
Sebastian resituated himself on the bed to face Kellan. “Hey. Why do you think that?”
“Because.” Kellan fidgeted his hands before continuing. “Because I’m the only one that’s different. Hayley, Xander, and Luke are all your kids. I’m the only one who’s Papa’s. I don’t fit in with the rest of them.” Kellan hung his head.
Sebastian frowned. “Where is this coming from? Did Hayley say something to you?”
“No. It’s just…it’s true. I mean, look at the family picture on the mantle. Everyone looks related, and then there’s me. I don’t look like anyone else.”
“Kellan, you know that’s not true. You look like your father. A lot like him. And you don’t have to look like each other to be a family.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t feel like it.”
“Let me show you something.” Sebastian walked over to his dresser and opened the top drawer. After some rooting around, he pulled out a slim, black book. He took his seat next to Kellan again. “This is the photo album I take with me anytime I go to shoot a movie. It’s got all the things in it that remind me of you guys, so when I’m feeling homesick and it’s too late to Skype with you all, I just pull this out and flip through it.” Sebastian opened the cover and started to flip through the pages. “Here is Papa and me in our first apartment out here in California. Here’s our wedding photos. And the rest is filled with pictures of you kids. Baby photos, Halloweens, Christmases, first days of school, everything. All of you kids. Because I don’t care that you aren’t biologically mine. You’re still my son, and I love you.”
Kellan looked at some of the pages, taking in the images. “I didn’t know you had this.”
Sebastian shrugged. “No one did. Not even your Papa. I made it a while ago and always keep it with me. I figured I’d share it with you so you know what I said is true.” He smiled.
Kellan closed the book and put it on the bed. He waited a few moments before wrapping his arms around Sebastian and pulling him into a tight hug. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, Kellan.” Sebastian squeezed his son tightly.