Chapter 55 Chapter 55
"The boys have never had professional portraits taken," she admitted, a hint of maternal wistfulness in her voice. "Just school photos and my amateur attempts."
"Then it's settled," Theodore said with diplomatic finality. "A casual family portrait, both families together. Father will be pleased."
Across town at the university café, Iris and Tony had claimed their usual corner table. The security personnel maintained a discreet presence near the entrance, their watchful eyes scanning each person who entered. Despite their efforts, Iris was acutely aware of the stares and whispers from her fellow students.
"Your coffee's getting cold," Tony observed gently, noting how she had barely touched her drink, her attention divided between her phone and the curious onlookers.
"Sorry," Iris murmured, taking a deliberate sip. "I'm still processing the photos Mom sent. Seeing all my brothers together...it's surreal."
Tony reached across the table to cover her hand with his. "Good surreal or bad surreal?"
Iris considered the question, her analytical mind carefully sorting through her complex emotions. "Good, I think. Just... unexpected. I thought I'd have to be the bridge between my families, but they seem to be building connections without me."
"That takes some of the pressure off you," Tony pointed out. "You don't have to be the sole connection point."
Before Iris could respond, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. The screen displayed "Richard Lawson," a contact that hadn't existed in her phone twenty-four hours earlier but now carried the weight of biological fatherhood.
"It's Richard," she said, a flutter of nervousness in her chest, as she answered it, "Ah, hello, umm, Richard, I mean, father.”
A moment of silence hung in the air as Richard absorbed her words. The term "father" clearly affected him deeply, though Iris couldn't see the way his weathered face softened or how his free hand gripped the edge of his desk for support.
"Iris," he finally said, his voice steady despite the emotion swelling in his chest. "I hope I'm not interrupting your classes."
"No, I'm at lunch with Tony," she replied, glancing across the table where Tony watched her with quiet attentiveness. "Is everything alright?"
Richard cleared his throat. "Yes, everything's fine. I wanted to check how you're managing with the statement release. Our security team reports significant media interest gathering near campus."
Iris looked toward the café windows where two security personnel stood scanning the passing students. "I've noticed the security detail. They're being discreet, but effective."
"Good." Richard paused, choosing his next words carefully. "I also wanted to let you know that Theodore, Victor, and Bryce visited your family this morning. I hope that wasn't overstepping."
"Mom sent photos," Iris said, a smile warming her voice. "It looks like they're getting along well. Bryce seems to have charmed my younger brothers already."
Richard chuckled, the sound surprisingly youthful coming from such a distinguished man. "Bryce has that effect on people. He's been planning activities for this weekend since dawn."
In the background, Iris could hear Dianne's voice asking a question, and Richard's muffled response as he covered the receiver. When he returned, his tone carried a hint of hesitation.
"Your mother would like to speak with you, if you have a moment."
Before Iris could respond, Dianne's voice came through the line, breathless with barely contained emotion.
"Iris? I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"Not at all," Iris assured her, though she was acutely aware of the curious glances from nearby tables. News of her identity had spread through campus like wildfire, making every conversation a potential spectacle.
"I've been working on exhibition layouts all morning," Dianne continued, excitement making her words tumble over each other. "The curator from the Westlake Gallery called, they want to move up the opening to capitalise on the timing. Would three weeks be too soon for you? I know you have finals coming up."
Iris felt a momentary panic at the compressed timeline. Her analytical mind immediately began calculating the work required against her existing commitments. "Three weeks is ambitious," she acknowledged, "but I think I can manage it."
"Only if you're comfortable," Dianne added quickly. "I don't want to add pressure during your exams."
The consideration in Dianne's voice touched Iris deeply. Despite her own excitement, her birth mother was prioritising her academic needs, a small gesture that spoke volumes about her character.
"It's actually perfect timing," Iris decided. "My design finals are portfolio work anyway. I have done six versions of the same work, so I’ll just pick some to go one way, others the other. I think there are about three that need work still. I’ve been working on it alongside my designs for the competitions, although there have been whispers that I won the Metropolitan Design Challenge through being a Lawson connection, regardless of only finding out yesterday for all of us.”
Dianne's breath caught at the mention of the Metropolitan Design Challenge. "Oh, Iris, that's absurd. You won that competition weeks before anyone, including yourself, knew about your connection to us. Your talent earned that recognition, nothing else."
Tony leaned forward, his protective instincts flaring. "Who's been saying that? Professor Winters would never tolerate that kind of speculation in the design department."
Iris sighed, stirring her coffee absently. "Just whispers I've overheard between classes. Nothing direct, but the implication is there."
Richard's voice returned to the line, a new firmness in his tone. "Iris, I'll speak with the head of the Metropolitan judging panel personally. They can release the scoring rubrics to demonstrate the merit of your win. We won't allow anyone to diminish your achievements."
The decisiveness in his voice reminded Iris of her adoptive father's approach to family problems, direct and protective. The parallel between the two men who could claim fatherhood struck her with unexpected force.
"Thank you," she said softly. "That would help."