Second Chance

Family Issues

 

        Can this get any weirder? These past few days have been so confusing. I can barely keep up and I never expected something like this to happen. It can’t be true, it’s not likely. Xavier and Samantha would have told Madeline about all of this. That is if they didn’t want to keep any secrets yet. I need answers. 

"No Samantha Meyer is her mother."

“Liam, you don’t understand. Samantha adopted Maddie from my wife, her sister. My wife had Maddie and decided not to keep the baby, so Samantha adopted her when she married Xavier. They decided to make Meyer Maddie’s last name. Samantha Meyer is Maddie’s aunt.”

“Why didn’t she keep the baby?” I asked. So many questions. 

“She didn’t keep the baby because she got pregnant at 16, and her parents wouldn't allow it. They said she would have to have an abortion or give it up for adoption. She chose adoption, obviously."

"So, who's the father?"

"We don't know."

“What do you mean you don’t know????” I exclaimed. I am getting really annoyed and losing my patience with these people. There’s always something. 

"I need to talk to your wife." 

        Ray grabbed my arm so tight, I could see the color difference in both of my arms. I stumbled backward a little so thankfully he grabbed my arm for balance. My blue veins popping out of my left arm, so red it looks like a tomato. What was his problem? All I wanted to do was just talk to her and get some answers. She's the best person to go to. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure he's a little uncomfortable about me talking to her. Like I said before, she's our best asset. 

“Look, I don’t know if you’re supposed to know about any of this. I understand that you want to know about the father, but she won’t even tell me who it is. All she said was how they met in highschool. No name no nothing.”

“I just found out my best friend’s mom is really her aunt. I think I deserve to know who the real father is, and I think you do to.” An idea pops into my head, giving me a sense of relief. Maybe I can ask Doctor Davis to find out who Maddie’s dad is based on her DNA. Out of nowhere I get an excruciating headache, and to the left of me is Maddie, with this pleading look on her face, like she wants me to find out what happened. Doctor Davis has to know something or can figure it out from those confusing DNA pictures. 

“Doctor Davis?”

“Yes Liam?”

“Can you analyze Maddie’s DNA and figure out who her father is from that?”

“Yes, but it wouldn’t be likely that I could.” 

“What do you mean?”

“Unless you can tell me where her body is, I might be able to figure something out.”

        Shit, I hadn’t thought about that part. The only place I can think of is Greenwood Cemetery where she’s buried. I highly doubt that she would be allowed to exhume her body and figure anything out, since she has been dead for 10 years. Even if she did find something it probably wouldn't lead to anything. 

“The only place that comes to mind is Greenwood Cemetery.” 

“I wouldn’t be allowed to exhume up her body.” Go figure. 

“Did you say Greenwood Cemetery?” Detective Ray asks, once again frightened by this news. 

“Yeah. What now?” 

“That’s where my wife’s mom was buried.”

“Detective, what is your wife’s name?” I ask. 

“Madeline Olivia McNeel.” 

        You have got to be kidding me. Wait, this means that Ray’s wife set Samantha up, that’s why there was an S there,not an M. She knew I would think of my friend Maddie, not her. But the one thing that I can’t get out of my head is this: why write the note in the first place? It’s like she wants me to find out what happened to her. Then again, maybe she does.

“She named her daughter after herself?”

“Yeah.” 

“Why?”

“Not to sure. She just said she really liked her name and wanted to share it with someone she loved.”

“Loved enough to give away. Did your wife say anything about where the father might live?” I hope he didn't notice my give away comment. If he did he didn't say anything though. 

“Are you going to stalk him or something? I am a detective you know.” He laughs to himself. 

I smile. "Believe me, I’m well aware sir. Do you want to know who the father of you’re step-daughter is?” 

“It would be nice for some closure.” 

“Then it looks like we have some research to do.”

“I hate to break this to you two, but it takes a lot of research to find a person. How are you planning on doing this?” Doctor Davis asks.

        I’m glad Maddie’s gone. I don’t know how she would be able to take all of this in.  Maddie always knew her parents- aunt and uncle quite frankly- to be the picture perfect parents. She never would have guessed about them having a secret that they managed to keep for so long. I look at Detective Ray, knowing that it won’t be easy getting anything out of his wife. We’re gonna have to go to the next best person. 

I pulled out my phone and called Samantha Meyer.