The Big Family Secret Was Revealed to Me While Sitting in a Car In Front of My Aunt’s House.

Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive………Sir Walter Scott

The three of us, Mom, Dad, and myself, took a trip to visit my aunt, Dad’s sister. We didn’t get to see them very often. It was a pleasant visit. My cousin and I got to know each other. We stayed a few days, then packed the car to head home. The three of us piled in the car but sat there awhile. Mom and Dad exchange glances and turn to me in the backseat.

I was getting a little nervous, thinking I had done something wrong. I was ten years old and I assume they thought it would be a good age to tell me the truth. Finally, my mother started by saying they had something to tell me. My anxiety was growing.

“It’s about your dad.” This was followed by a long pause. “Your dad isn’t your real father.” Well, of course, the tears started to flow. Then He reached back to hold my hand and reassured me that that didn’t change anything. Mom said, “When your dad and I got married, he adopted you, so he is your dad now. Just not your biological dad.”

Of course, my next question would be, “Who’s my dad?”, “Where’s my dad?” I don’t remember a lot of the conversation after that. I must have been given some vague answers because I learned more details when I got older.

My father was a Merchant Marine on leave and then he was gone. I don’t know if he even knew I existed. I did learn his name as an adult, but I won’t add that to my story. I would love to have a DNA test done to find out the other half of my heritage. Wouldn’t that be interesting?

Medium feels a lot like journaling and I think it’s good therapy, too. So, fellow writers, you are also my therapist. I’m not going to pay you, though. Sorry!