Confronting Grief
At home, Tina opened a baby book containing pictures of Liam and confronted her grief head-on. Shawn’s suspicions were heightened by the picture’s exact matching of her birthmark, not to mention the horrifying consequences. She couldn’t remain motionless. Should she wait? Resolved, Tina contacted Detective Harris, a private investigator, to see if Shawn might be her biological son.
“I need to know if my son is still alive,” she said, gripping her phone too firmly. “I think my friend’s adopted son might be my own.” After describing how strikingly identical the birthmarks were, Harris decided to take the case.
“But there’s one thing,” Tina said, taking a deep breath. “Megan cannot be aware of this. Not quite yet. Not until we are positive. I… Detective Harris, I understand how absurd this all sounds, but I must know.”
Seeking Answers
“Ms. Collins, discretion is part of the job,” he reassured her.
The café was full, but Tina’s attention was fixed on the door. She had invited Megan to learn more about her adoption journey. Tina wasn’t concerned that her friend was running late. When Megan arrived, she immediately took Tina’s hands.
“I apologize profusely for always bugging you to see Shawn. Are you able to pardon me?” she asked.
“Of course,” Tina answered, concealing her genuine emotions behind a half-smile. “Describe the adoption to me.”
“I’m not sure,” Megan hesitated. “I don’t want to upset you.”
Tina persisted. “I’ll try, because our friendship means a lot to me,” she stated, leaning forward to show her interest.
Megan reluctantly began to speak, briefly discussing the adoption. After a few minutes, Tina directly asked how she found Shawn.
“Through an agency… It was a private adoption,” Megan answered hesitantly.
Uncovering the Truth
Tina pushed for information about Shawn’s past, but Megan maintained it was private. Suspicious, Tina confessed, “I think Shawn might be my son,” while showing a picture of Liam’s birthmark.
“It’s just a birthmark, Tina. Thousands of people have them,” Megan countered, her tone softening. “You’re in mourning. I apologize. You’re not thinking clearly.”
“It isn’t just grief, Megan!” Tina snapped. “I knew the moment I held him. The birthmark proves it. You see it too. Just admit it.”
“This is crazy, Tina. My son is Shawn,” Megan insisted, standing up. “I formally adopted him.”
Tina grabbed her friend’s arm. “Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t see it’s exactly the same as Liam’s!”
“They are not the same!” Megan pulled away. “You’re out of your mind!”
The Search Intensifies
The café manager stepped in as Megan stormed out, calling Tina insane. Despite being blocked on social media, Tina tagged her ex-husband Mark in Shawn’s pictures. Mark, hurt and wanting to move on, told her to stop.
Megan refused to take Tina’s calls. Detective Harris finally called with a lead: a nurse named Hayley from the hospital where Tina gave birth had helped facilitate the adoption. Tina was shocked, remembering Hayley’s presence during the birth.
“That witch stole my baby,” Tina said, abruptly ending the call. She immediately looked up a lawyer’s address.
Legal Battle Begins
After explaining her suspicions to the attorney, Tina heard, “It’s a complicated case.” The lawyer discussed the challenges of private adoption and the need for DNA testing.
“Let’s do it,” Tina urged, but the attorney warned of the challenges ahead.
Despite the obstacles, Tina was determined to fight for her son. As she left the attorney’s office, she couldn’t give up—not now, not while there was a chance Shawn might be her son.
A Desperate Move
At the hospital, Tina demanded to speak to Nurse Hayley, only to learn she no longer worked there. Disheartened, Tina walked to her car, waiting for a sign. Her phone rang—Detective Harris had alarming news.
“We’ve got a problem. A big one,” he said. “Megan’s leaving, fast.”
Tina rushed to the courthouse, but bureaucracy slowed her down. She abandoned the legal process and hurried to the airport, heart pounding at the thought of losing Shawn forever.
Confrontation at the Airport
At the airport, Tina begged security for help, but they were no help. She spotted Megan and ran toward her, crying, “You can’t take him! I know about the nurse and the private adoption.”
Megan looked scared. “Tina, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Megan, he’s my son. I know it,” Tina pleaded, her voice breaking. Megan held Shawn tightly, insisting he was her son.
The Truth Unfolds
Tina never took her eyes off Shawn. “Megan, I love him. I’ve loved him unconditionally.”
Megan’s expression softened, tears streaming down her face. “All I wanted was for him to have a happy life. I was so alone, and he had no one.”
“Shared custody?” Megan asked hopefully. Tina nodded, though not sincerely.
The DNA test confirmed Shawn was Tina’s biological son. At Tina’s house, Megan admitted, “I knew too. I was blinded by fear.”
Tina muttered, “Meg…”
“I’m really sorry, Tina,” Megan cried. “I never meant to hurt you.”
Tina knew better than anyone the kind of destruction that could occur. She hugged her friend, understanding they were both victims.
A New Beginning
A thorough investigation was initiated, but they had other matters to address. “Did you bring the shared custody papers?” Tina asked as she prepared to sign at the airport.
Liam would grow up with two mothers, a family redefined by love and resilience—not just for Shawn, but for themselves as well.
