There had to be a problem with this. At home, Tina faced her sadness head-on by opening a baby book that contained images of Liam. The fact that Shawn’s birthmark exactly matched the image added to her suspicions, not to mention the terrifying outcomes. She could not stay still, so should she wait? Satisfied, Tina contacted private investigator Detective Harris to inquire about the possibility that Shawn was her biological son. She gripped her phone too tightly and whispered, “I need to know if my son is still alive.”
“I believe that the adopted son of my friend could be my own.” Harris chose to take the case after describing how strikingly similar the birthmarks were.Tina drew a long breath and replied, “But there’s one thing.” “Megan can’t know about this. Not quite yet. Not until we have a positive outcome. I… Detective Harris: I know this is all ridiculous, but I have to know.
He calmed her, saying, “Ms. Collins, discretion is part of the job.”Although there were many people in the café, Tina’s gaze was fixated on the door. She’d sent Megan an invitation, hoping to learn more about her adoption experience. The fact that her friend was running late didn’t worry Tina. Megan quickly grabbed Tina’s hands after taking a seat. “I really apologize for persistently bothering you to see Shawn. Could you please forgive me? She asked. Tina said, “Of course,” hiding a half-smile that belied her true feelings.
“I regret how I responded. I should be happy for you. Tell me about the adoption.”I’m not sure, Tina. Megan said, avoiding eye contact, “I don’t want to upset you.” Tina went on. She bowed forward to show her excitement and said, “I’ll try, because our friendship means a lot to me.” Megan pouted a little and started talking about the adoption. It need some time. “There’s tons of paperwork, and most of the time, you’re just waiting to get that call,” Tina’s friend said, eliciting her agreement. After a short while, Tina questioned Megan directly about how she found Shawn because her friend had not given her any more information.
“By means of an organization… She gave a hesitating response, “It was a private adoption.Tina pressed for details about his past, but Megan insisted it was confidential. “Why are you asking all these questions?” she scowled. “I think Shawn might be my son,” Tina admitted to Megan, holding up a photo of Liam that bore Shawn’s birthmark. It’s a birthmark, Tina. “They are possessed by thousands of people,” Megan shot out, her voice growing hushed. “I understand that you’ve experienced a lot. I’m sorry.
You’re grieving. I should have been more tactful.”Megan, it’s not just sadness!” Tina grew irate. The instant I held him, I knew. The birthmark confirms this. You can see it too. Just admit it. “Tina, this is ridiculous. Shawn is my son. I formally adopted him, Megan said, shaking her head as she rose up. Tina stood up also and took hold of her friend’s arm. “Look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t realize it’s identical to Liam’s!””They are not equivalent!” Megan snapped away from him.
“You have lost your mind!” The manager of the café intervened due to the disturbance. Although Tina insisted on giving the manager the birthmark photos, Megan called her crazy and sobbed as she left the café. Tina was so certain of her supposition that she proceeded to tag her ex-husband Mark in Shawn photos that she found on Megan’s social media accounts prior to them being removed. Mark told her to stop because it hurt too much. He desired to put Tina and their past behind him. Their marriage had ended due to Liam’s passing, and he was prepared to move on.
Other individuals asked Megan to stop, but she refused to answer her calls. Why did no one back her? At last, Detective Harris called with a lead: the adoption was facilitated by a nurse named Hayley from the hospital where Tina gave birth. Upon discovering this, Tina was taken aback, recalling Hayley’s presence in the delivery room. Tina quickly broke off communication with the detective, saying, “That witch stole my baby.” She had other things to do, so she immediately looked up the location of a lawyer.
The lawyer wrapped up Tina’s account of why she believed Shawn to be her biological son by talking about the coincidences and their meeting with Megan. “This is a challenging case,” the lawyer said. The attorney continued by talking about the difficulties involved with private adoption and the need for DNA testing. “Let’s execute it. “Let’s get the DNA test,” Tina replied, wanting to jump out of her chair. But the lawyer did
Give a heads-up about the difficulties in obtaining consent for the test and the potential for a protracted process.Despite this, Tina was determined to defend her son since she believed that something questionable had actually happened at the hospital. Tina made her way to her car after leaving the lawyer’s office, contemplating how challenging it would be to get the truth about Shawn. She could not give up, though. Not now, not when there was even a slim chance Shawn was her son. “Nurse Hayley,” Tina quietly said. “She would be absolutely certain.”
“I need to speak with Nurse Hayley,” stated Tina at the hospital’s front desk. The receptionist typed something into her computer while scowling.She answered, “I apologize, but Nurse Hayley is no longer employed here.” The receptionist tried to assist Tina, but she was unable to do so. Maybe waiting for a sign, she walked to her car and drove away.Her phone rang, and her heart skipped a beat. As soon as Tina answered the phone, Detective Harris shouted, “We’ve got a problem.” a noteworthy one.
“What’s that?” “Megan,” he said, his voice faltering. She’s moving forward. packing, draining the wallet, and booking international travel. It looks like she’s heading out of here shortly. Make contact with your lawyer. That baby won’t be around for you again until you stop her.After calling her lawyer, Tina realized she had to get to the courthouse immediately and request a special order.
She would soon join her, but she had work to do first. But Tina had not factored for the requirement to plan these gatherings. “Order for emergency custody? “You need to set up a meeting,” Doris, the clerk, remarked. “I don’t have time for scheduled visits.” My son is traveling abroad by plane. Captured without warning! Tina protested, placing her palm on the woman’s desk. Doris checked her schedule. “Two weeks until the next opening.” That was too much for Tina to accept. “Lost her trail.” Detective Harris’s message buzzed through her phone as she made her way to the airport.Tina left the tiresome court processes and rushed to the airport, her heart pounding at the prospect of losing Shawn forever.
Tina navigated the crowded airport and requested assistance from security. “My son is being stolen by that woman,” she added, on the verge of tears. The police were confused and helpless. “Please just calm down, Ma’am. One person tried to console her by saying, “We’ll work things out.” Tina was pressed for time to give them an explanation. She darted beneath them and shot at Megan. “You can’t take him!” she sobbed as she caught up to her. “I am his owner. I am aware of the private adoption as well as the hospital nurse.
Megan looked up, scared. “Tina, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, dread and uncertainty visible in her eyes. He’s my son, Megan. I am conscious of it. In addition, the birthmark” Tina spoke in a faltering tone. Megan gave Shawn a tight hug in her arms. He’s my son, Tina. She said, sounding a little wobbly, “I’m raising him.” Tina never once looked away from Shawn’s countenance. “Oh, Megan, I love him.” I have cherished him.
without conditions. The words stuck in her throat because the sharp memory of her loss was too painful for her to say aloud. Still, Megan understood. Her face contorted. Tears trickled down her cheeks, mirroring the torrent of emotions building within Tina. “A happy life for him was all I wanted.” Finally, Megan blurted, “He had no one, and I was so alone.””Shared custody?” Megan inquired, her face hopeful. Tina nodded, but it wasn’t a real nod. The DNA test confirmed that Shawn was Tina’s biological son.
Megan hung her head at Tina’s residence as they read the results. She carried her lawyer with her for peace of mind. “I knew that too,” Megan said. “Explain what you mean.” Tina exerted pressure. “I was blinded by the fear of losing him,” Megan declared. It was clear what his birthmark was.
But I convinced myself that it was just a coincidence and that you were wrong.Tina whispered, “MegMegan sobbed, “Tina, I really apologize.” “I didn’t mean to cause you pain.” Tina hugged her friend, knowing better than anyone the kind of destruction that could happen. Even though she initially thought Megan had been involved in the charade, she understood that was a falsehood. Her friend had also been duped by the agency and the dishonest nurse.
A comprehensive inquiry was started. But there were other things that worried them. “Have you brought the paperwork for shared custody?” When Tina was at last ready to sign their contract in person at the airport, she asked to see the attorney and ended her hug with her friend. The fact that Mark had left the nation was a good thing; Liam would have to grow up with two mothers. Not only would they create something amazing for Shawn, but also for themselves—a family characterized by love and tenacity.
