His carer was the one who suggested a letter, as it's through her responding to my sister that it all kicked off. She tried to get him to speak to my sister on the phone and he wouldn't speak directly as he was on the verge of tears, but he said hello from the background. He also talked about me quite a bit with his carer, as he'd just found out about my diagnosis through my sister's letter. Still regards me as 'a real clever lad', apparently. Fuck knows why.
Essentially, he's a bit reluctant, but his carer has told him he
has to see us, so I'm a bit stumped as to the next step. Obviously it will involve a visit at some stage, and my little sister is definitely coming along, but until we get some kind of further response from his side it's difficult to know what to do and when to visit. I'd feel uncomfortable just turning up, but I think he's terrified himself. There's a lot of guilt and 'complication' in our relationships anyhow. I know that's the case in many families, but this one is especially dysfunctional.
This will be the third or fourth time we've been reunited and it's always been difficult as he's such a macho guy that he can't even open bithday present in the same room as somebody lest he show some emotion. I'm not even lying.
You're right though - even if he's a drooling mess, then it'll bring some degree of closure. I hope.