Who Belongs to Who?

My life started out pretty average. I, Jack Jones, was born 59 years ago, went through 12 years of schooling before joining the workforce. My mates and I went out most weekends searching for our soul mate. If you actually believe that part, I have a bridge to sell you... In reality, we just hoped to get lucky occasionally. Sometimes we did, sometimes we didn't.

Eventually, we all found someone to settle down with. Me being one of the 'average' people, my marriage lasted slightly over 5 years before Sandra found her true soul mate and disappeared with our eight month old daughter Emily, leaving the signed divorce papers on the kitchen table. When I say disappeared, I mean they vanished off the face of the Earth.

Being the average clueless male, I got blind rotten drunk and stayed that way until my boss Billy kicked in my door 3 days later, wondering why I hadn't shown up to work or called. He did try knocking, but when all he heard was me shouting abuse, he decided to act.

Having been through a divorce, Billy appointed himself as my mentor. Not only did he organize legal representation and help me through the court process, he took it on his shoulders to revive my love life. He even enlisted the help of his wife, Wendy, to set up some dates with her single friends.

Through some strange twist of fate, one of Wendy's friends turned out to be the woman I should have married the first time. We fit together perfectly. Similar likes and dislikes. Same views on fidelity and family values.

And so it came to pass that at the age of 31, I was once again down on one knee, holding a ring and asking a woman to be my betrothed. Thankfully she said yes, otherwise I would have been rather embarrassed in front of 30 of our friends at her birthday party.

We had decided that Gemma would go off the pill a couple of months before the wedding because she had already turned 34 and the ticking of her clock kept getting louder each day. After a two week honeymoon, my dick was ready to fall off. I was almost happy to get back to work so I get a rest. I did say 'almost'.

After the first year, and Gemma not yet getting pregnant, we involved the medical profession. To cut a long, painful story short, it was discovered that we would never have the joy of bringing children into this world. Not even in-vitro fertilization would help us.

It was with this in mind that Doctor Susan Jackson suggested we look into adopting or fostering a child. After carefully considering this for a least 2 and a half seconds, we agreed. Doc Susan, as she asked us to address her, helped us with all the paperwork, including references that were required.

So it came to pass that 4 months later, we had 3 siblings staying with us until their parents completed rehab. Twelve weeks after they arrived, I was holding Gemma in our bed while she cried her eyes out, having handed back those 3 darling children to parents we knew wouldn't have the childrens best interests at heart.

The next week was spent soul searching on our part. The following day we contacted our case worker and withdrew from the foster programme. Neither of us were cut out for the emotional turmoil that experience brought us. We still looked forward to adopting a child.

It took nearly another 3 years before we were blessed with not one but two children. A girl who was almost 5 and her brother who had just turned 2. Their parents had died in a car crash 9 months earlier, and because no-one really wanted two children at once, children services had trouble finding someone to take them together. Gemma and I didn't hesitate for a second when we were contacted.

Becky and David were wary at first, but they seemed to settle in over the next 3 or so weeks. It wasn't until about six months later that we knew for sure they were both happy. That was the day that Gemma and I were called Mum and Dad for the first time. Once again I held Gemma in my arms that night while she cried her eyes out. But these were happy tears.

Over the years, the kids both thrived. Of course we had the usual family problems, especially when Becky hit puberty. It seemed to me that she was 13 going on 41. Luckily Gemma and both Grandmothers knew how to handle things. Hey, I'm an average male. I really have no idea how the female mind works. So sue me!

When it came to David, between me, my Dad and Gemma's Dad, we had it covered. When the kids came to us, Becky was old enough to understand what had happened to their parents. It was the day after her 15

th

birthday that she finally asked about us adopting her and David. We had always been honest with them and told her what we knew, which wasn't much.

When she asked if we knew of any other relatives they might have, we told her we didn't think so, otherwise her and David would surely be with them. She seemed to accept that answer. After all, it wasn't like we could tell her much else.

It was nearly 6 years later when Becky brought home the love of her life for us to meet. Michael, Mick for short, was 2 years older than her and worked as a builder. It made me happy that he was a fellow tradie. It made Gemma happy that he was respectful. I don't know if part of Becky's attraction to him was because he was adopted as a child too. Not that it mattered.

18 months after we first met Mick, I was walking my daughter down the aisle, while the 'Wedding March' played over the sound system. She was absolutely stunning. It wasn't only Gemma who had tears in her eyes. David was even one of the Grooms-men.

A year later we welcomed our first grandchild, Jack Junior. I was proud as punch. It was at Jack Jr's christening that Mick brought up that he wanted to try to trace any biological family he might have using a common DNA test. Becky had already given her full support. Gemma looked to her Mother with a sly grin, then announced that all of us should support him and do the test as well.

So 10 weeks later we were seated around Becky and Mick's outdoor dining setting waiting for Mick to open the envelope that contained our results. Gemma and my parents sat on a long bench seat. Mick's parents sat with Becky and Mick on another bench seat with Jack Jr in his high chair. Gemma and I sat together on a large single seat.

Before Mick opened the envelope, Becky made the announcement that we would be welcoming a granddaughter in about 7 months or so. While we excitedly discussed names and logistics for the new arrival, Mick had opened the envelope and was sorting the paperwork into neat piles.

When he had finished, he quickly downed the rest of his beer, looked around the table and cleared his throat. This got our attention and we all looked his way, waiting patiently. He then launched into the explanation of the results.

He told Gemma's parents they were her biological parents. This made them smile. He then looked at me with a serious expression and said that he was sorry to say that I was the biological child of both my parents. He then roared with laughter, as did everyone else. He then looked to his parents and said sadly that no matter how hard he wished for it, they were not his biological parents. His Mum started to cry, so he leaned over and gave her a loving hug.

Suddenly there was a tortured wail from Becky, "NNOOooooooo!!!"

Mick said, "OOHHhh Fuck! You should have waited."

Before anyone else could say something, Mick looked at me and said, "Jack, I would like you to meet your biological daughter!"

Epilogue:

As Mick said those words, he handed me the papers that told the story. The silence that surrounded us was deafening. After all, what does one say in this situation? It was my Mother who broke the silence when she asked Becky if she could remember what her mother looked like. Becky wasn't sure, but Mum said she thought there were some old photos in an album that Becky could look through.

By this time Gemma had gotten up and was hugging Becky. I was still too stunned to move. The next thing I know is Becky, Mum and I driving to Mums house to look at old photos. In less than a hour, Becky confirmed the wedding photo of Sandra and I was her mother and me. That night it was Gemma holding me in her arms while I cried.

In the wash-up of all this, it turned out that I had the pleasure of raising my daughter AND walking her down the aisle at her wedding. After what happened with us, David did a DNA test and found a couple of cousins on his fathers side of the family. We welcomed them with open arms to our family as well. About a year later, Mick received a notification that an Aunt on his mothers side had done a DNA test and they have made contact. They will be meeting in a month.