baby blanket.
Helen asked why.
Mom said the hospital had given it back.
Years later, after Mom died, Helen found the blanket.
She had kept it.
She brought it to me.
Embroidered in one corner was a tiny B.
Benjamin.
PART 38 — AARON’S BIRTHDAY
On October seventeenth, Aaron turned forty-two.
For the first time, I celebrated his birthday knowing he was my son.
I did not organize a giant party.
I asked what he wanted.
“Dinner.”
So we had dinner.
Me.
Aaron.
Christopher.
Helen.
Natalie did not attend.
She wasn’t ready.
Nobody blamed her.
PART 39 — THE CAKE
I baked chocolate cake.
It collapsed in the center.
Aaron laughed.
“Is this genetic?”
“Unfortunately.”
Christopher said:
“Definitely.”
For a few minutes, we were simply family.
Strange family.
Damaged family.
New family.
But family.
PART 40 — NATALIE RETURNS
Nearly a year after the discovery, Natalie came to my house.
Aaron was there.
The room became tense.
