Not My Baby

5 years later

Life is great. After all that hullabaloo over me thinking I wasn't the baby's father. Things returned to better than before. It didn't happen overnight though. Stella and I had many talks.

She was upset with me. It really hurt her that I even had an inkling that should cheat on me. Looking back I realized she wouldn't cheat. She's not built that way. It was more than her. The jealousy I had with that guy at her job, Bob, was a one time fluke. She was never late coming home. Her pay was always the same so I knew she wasn't taking long lunches. She dressed the same and her attitude towards me never wavered. I had even forgot about Bob until the baby was born.

I tried to no avail to explain about the shock I experienced when JJ was born. With both of us being White its hard to believe that we could have a Black baby. That's genetically impossible for how could anyone suspend belief at that moment. If it wasn't for my father and in father in law I don't know what I would have done the first days afterward.

She was upset her parents for a while. It took some time for them to reconcile. Can you imagine going all your life thinking your one thing and finding out your something completely different. Many people would say, "it really doesn't matter, she's the same person Black or White. Not in today's political climate. There is almost a bigger racial divide than anytime since the Civil War. Not only are Blacks hated but now Mexicans and any Central American Immigrant. Back in the 20's, 30's and even 40's White Passing was important. It gave them more opportunity then their darker brethren. She wondered people would perceive her knowing she was a Black person.

Come to find out to most of her friends it didn't make a difference. And its not like we advertised it. I mean, what do you do, go around with a sign saying I'm Really Black? She did go to therapy for a little while.

Stella got a DNA test done without my knowledge a month after the baby was born. She also did a 23&me for her. The DNA test confirmed JJ, Jim Jr was indeed my child. She wanted me to have peace of mind. I didn't need it. A parent can tell if that child is his or not. At least after he settles down and gets his head together, like me. And sometimes they don't have to have your blood to be your child. As he grew he became a darker version of me, He's my pride and joy. Where I go he goes.

Stella, after getting her test results found a whole new family she didn't know she had. Come to find out her grandfather pretty much cut off all the Black looking side of the family. They hadn't been in contact with anyone outside his immediate family for decades. Even his 2 dark skin children. She found a cousin first, living just outside of Baton Rouge. That cousin lead her to some aunts, uncles and more cousins.

We went a family reunion in a little town called Donaldsville in Louisiana two months later. The town is so small the nearest hotel or Airbnb was either in Baton Rouge or New Orleans, each an hour away. It was our first black family reunion and if you never went to a Black Family Reunion you need to. Everyone was so welcoming and friendly. I learned how to play spades, not very well according to cousin Eddie. I found out that there is a 'tradition' to walk to the nearest liquor buy some hard alcohol. They had some beer but the older folks didn't like people drinking hard liquor. Church and religion play a big part in their life's. We all, well most of us went to church the next Sunday after the reunion. Church lasted a long time. Another tradition I guess is for everyone to go to the nearest buffet or IHOP. JJ loved Golden Corral. It made him feel like a big boy being able to make his own plate.

Stella spent the day with her new female cousins. She learned so much about her family that day. She found out the Black side of the family didn't want anything to do with "her" side. They felt they were uppity and embarrassed to be called Black.

I don't think the baby was put down once that day. The food was delicious. No one judged Stella over what her Grandfather or father had done. We explained we had no clue to her true heritage. They accepted her and our family as their own. JJ made many friends that day. Summer was very interesting with him staying at relatives houses and they at ours. She hasn't met her fathers brother and sister yet. Maybe one day.

We had another baby 3 years later. Got lucky with a girl named Rose after my mother. Genetics are a funny thing. She takes after my side of the family. She looks like a small version of Stella. I don't mean we got lucky because she looks White. I say lucky because I wanted a girl and she's healthy.

The family joke is going for the best two out of three to see how they look. But we're stopping at 2, which all we ever wanted.

We do get some looks because of JJ. We've been asked a couple of times by some rude and forward people if he is adopted. We now laugh and say "He isn't adopted, we are" and just laugh at the looks on peoples faces.

The End

This is a very short story, less than 1000 words. A lot of people wanted more resolution to the original. Hope you enjoyed it. Still looking for an editor.