Several hours later Rosie waved Chris off as he headed for the gym for his daily workout.  As she closed the front door the phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hi Rosie, this is Hunter" a deep voice said from the other end of the line.

"Hunter! How are you? If you're after Chris, you've just missed him."

"Actually, you're the one I wanted to talk to."

"Oh, well, talk away."

"I was wondering if I could come over, there's something I need to discuss with you."

"Sure, come right over.  Chris will be gone for a couple of hours so that gives us plenty of time." 

Ten minutes later Hunter was sitting on the lounge, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand.  Rosie could tell that something was bothering him because his usually clear brown eyes were clouded with pain and there were dark circles under his eyes. 

"I'm not sure if you knew, but my father passed away 3 years after a long battle with cancer," Hunter began, placing his cup on the coffee table.  Rosie knew about this from Chris and wondered what it had to do with her, but she remained silent as Hunter stood and began to pace.  "Two days ago I received a call from the family lawyer that handled all the estate matters.  Apparently my father had written a letter to me just before he died and instructed his lawyer to give it to me after everything was finalised. Just after my father's funeral, the lawyer had a heart attack and couldn't work for several months and consequently the letter was misplaced.  It was found last week and given to me yesterday. In this letter my father describes an event that took place 30 years ago.  He was overseas on a business trip when he met a lady.  To cut a long story short, they spent a lot of time together, got to know each other really well, but then he had to leave for home."  Hunter stopped and crouched at Rosie's feet.  "He didn't hear from her for nearly 25 years, then one day out of the blue a letter arrived.  The night before he had left to fly home they had made love and as a result the lady had fallen pregnant."  Hunter grasped Rosie's hands tightly in his own. "Rosie that overseas trip took my father to Australia and the lady he met was your mother.  You are the result of their one night of passion, you're my sister." 

~<>~ 

For all of about 2 seconds Rosie's emotions ran the gauntlet from blind fury to ecstasy.  In an amazingly short space of time she settled on ecstasy and threw her arms around Hunters neck and hugged him tightly. "I'm not sure exactly what I should be saying at a time like this but would you think me horrible if I said you've just made me the happiest girl in the world?"

"Really?" Hunter replied his voice muffled as he buried his nose in her hair.

She drew back and cupped his face in her hands, blue eyes searching brown.  "Hunter, I never had a father growing up, my mum raised me on her own, and I was an only child.  When I was a little girl all I wanted was a big brother, and after all these years my wish has finally come true.  If it's possible you have made me love and respect my mum more now than ever before.  It was hard for her while I was growing up, she sacrificed a lot for me, but she must have loved our father so very much.  Obviously she didn't want to ruin the life he had with you and your mother to make things easier on herself."  Hunter reached out and brushed away a tear that Rosie didn't even feel trickle down her cheek.  She sat back and smiled gently.  "Listen to me rave on.  I may have been given my heart's desire, but how do you feel about gaining a little sister?"

"Honestly? I was very angry when I first learned about you, but now it's sunk in, I'm OK about it all.  My parents didn't have a close marriage; they were never affectionate with each other.  I guess your existence just proves that my father found affection from someone else. If I had to choose a baby sister, I couldn't choose anyone better than you."

Rosie threw her arms back around Hunters neck.  "I'm so glad you feel that way."

Hunter's arms circled her waist and they hugged each other for several minutes, each getting used to the idea that their lives had irrevocably changed.  "Do you think we should tell everyone?" he asked when they broke apart.

"I think we should keep it to ourselves for a while.  I won't even tell Chris.  Lets just get to know each other better and play it by ear."

"Ok and I won't tell Nan either.  Can I tell you something funny though?  When I first met you I felt as if I somehow knew you.  And as I look at you now, I can see similarities between you and our father.  You have his eyes."

"Really? Then you must get your brown eyes from your mum."

"I do, but I have dad's nose.  Thank goodness for small mercies that you inherited your mum's" Hunter grinned.

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