My hands are still shaking from what I saw
Tina’s life unravels when she notices a birthmark on her best friend Megan’s adopted son that’s identical to the one her deceased son had. As she struggles to understand this impossible coincidence, Tina uncovers a harrowing truth.
Tina struggled to feel happy for her best friend Megan, who was showing off her adopted son, Shawn. “He’s perfect, Meg,” she managed to say, even though she was still mourning her own son’s death and dealing with a recent divorce.
Still, Megan glowed with happiness as she showed Shawn to her best friend in the world, pointing out his cute features.
When Tina held the baby, though, she was shocked to feel an unexpected warmth and familiarity.
Something caught her attention. It was a distinctive birthmark on the baby that looked exactly like the one her late son had. Unable to contain her emotions, Tina started sobbing with the baby still in her arms.
Megan rushed to comfort her.
“Tina, are you okay?” she asked, patting her shoulder.
“No,” Tina replied weakly.
Her friend tried to console her, admitting that they should’ve waited some more before Tina met Shawn. But Tina was honestly not listening as new thoughts raced in her head.
Could Shawn really be her Liam?
“I need some air,” Tina said, suddenly needing to escape. She handed Shawn back and left her friend’s house, knowing her thoughts were crazy.
Her baby had been declared dead at the hospital. This had to be a coincidence.
At home, Tina faced her grief directly by opening a baby book with Liam’s photos. The birthmark on the picture matched Shawn’s exactly, only worsening her suspicions and the horrible implications.
Should she wait or…no, she couldn’t stay still.
Determined, Tina contacted a private investigator, Detective Harris, to find out if Shawn could be her biological son.
“I need to know if my son is still alive,” she told him, her hands holding her phone too roughly. “I think my friend’s adopted son might be my own.”
She recounted the striking similarity of the birthmarks, and Harris agreed to take the case.
“There’s one thing, though,” Tina added, gulping. “Megan can’t know about this.
Not yet. Not until we know for sure. I… I know how crazy this all sounds, Detective Harris, but I need to know.”
“Discretion is part of the job, Ms.
Collins,” he assured her.
***
The café was bustling with people, but Tina was focused on the door. She had invited Megan over, hoping to learn more about the adoption process she went through to get her baby. Her friend arrived late, but Tina wasn’t worried.
Megan sat down and immediately grabbed Tina’s hands.
“I’m so sorry about nagging you to come and meet Shawn… Can you forgive me?” she asked.
“Of course,” Tina replied, hiding her true feelings behind a half-smile. “I’m sorry I reacted that way. I should be happy for you.
Tell me about the adoption.”
“I don’t know, Tina. I don’t want to upset you,” Megan said, avoiding eye contact.
Tina pressed on. “Our friendship means a lot to me, so I’ll try,” she said, leaning forward to show her eagerness.
The story doesn’t end here — it continues on the next page.
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