My husband Mark and I adopted Sam, who is three years old, after years of having trouble getting pregnant. But our happiness didn’t last long. Mark begged to return Sam after a shocking discovery in the bathroom, which broke our dream of a perfect family.
The adoption process had been very hard, with a lot of papers and interviews. When I saw Sam’s picture, I fell in love with his ocean-blue eyes and charming smile. His mother had left him, and right away I felt like I knew him.
Mark was unsure but willing to help. He looked at Sam’s picture and said, “He looks like a great kid.” “Those eyes are something else.”
Our social worker at the agency put us in touch with Sam’s. Sam was very focused as he built a tower out of blocks. He gave me a red block as I knelt next to him. That small act sealed our friendship.
Sam held a toy elephant in his arms on the quiet ride home. Mark told him he could bathe him at home. A short time later, though, he jumped out of the bathroom, looking ghost-white. His voice was yelled, “We must return him!”
I didn’t understand his fear. “Why?” I tried hard to keep my voice steady as I pressed.
Sam was still in most of his clothes and sitting in the bathroom, looking lost. As I helped him take off his clothes, I saw that he had the same scar on his left foot as Mark.
I talked to Mark that night. “The birthmark… it’s the same as yours.” His forced laughs and dismissal made me even more suspicious.
There will be DNA tests on Mark’s hair and Sam’s cheek swab. The results proved what I thought would happen: Mark was Sam’s real father. He admitted to having a one-night stand while drunk, feeling ashamed and begging for forgiveness.
But the harm was already done. Our marriage fell apart, so I asked for a divorce and full custody of Sam. Mark didn’t fight it.
Today, Sam is a great young man. I’ve made a new life where love isn’t easy and is always a choice. Mark still emails me sometimes. I promised Sam I would never leave him, no matter what.
