Chapter 4 - Michael’s birth certificate
Michael had always believed Jessica was his biological mother.
His birth certificate listed:
Mother:
Jessica Hayes.
Father:
Harold Hayes.
Nothing unusual.
Jessica married Harold at twenty-two.
Michael was born two years later.
At least that was the story.
Harold died eleven years before the banquet.
Cancer.
Michael had adored him.
No reason to suspect anything.
Then our attorney explained something basic.
An adopted child’s amended birth certificate can list adoptive parents as mother and father.
The original record may be sealed.
Michael stared.
“Adopted?”
“We don’t know.”
The attorney was careful.
“An amended certificate can exist for several reasons. We need records.”
Jessica refused to discuss it.
She said:
“My son was born to me in every way that matters.”
Not:
I gave birth to him.
Interesting.
Michael noticed too.
“Did you give birth to me?”
Jessica answered:
“I raised you.”
“Did you give birth to me?”
Her face hardened.
“This is a grotesque conversation.”
“Answer.”
She walked out.
May you like
That was the first real crack.
────────────────────
