My mother believed another medically fragile child would ruin us
financially.
That explanation was monstrous to me.
But we still needed evidence.
Then Helen found the letters.
PART 24 — MOM’S BOX
After the pool party, Helen searched her attic.
She found a box of our mother’s belongings.
Inside was a letter addressed to Paul.
I cannot reproduce every word of it from memory.
But the meaning was unmistakable.
Mom believed I would not survive emotionally or financially if I came
home with a premature infant requiring continuing medical care.
She wrote that the adoptive family had resources.
She wrote:
Margaret can never know he lived.
My hands shook so badly I dropped the page.
PART 25 — THE ADOPTIVE FAMILY
Aaron’s adoptive parents had been Thomas and Elaine Cole.
By every account, they loved him deeply.
The records suggested they believed the placement was lawful.
There was no evidence they knew I had not knowingly consented.
