Standing On The Porch
He stood on the porch, gazing out as the evening light settled over the peaceful neighborhood. Inside, his five adopted children were busy preparing for dinner, their laughter echoing through the house.
Their mother, who had gone out for groceries, was still nowhere to be found. His eyes fell on the phone she had left behind, the screen showing unread text messages. A wave of disbelief washed over him. How could she betray him and their children like this?
Future Filled With Love
Michael Jaquavius Cole had always envisioned a future filled with love and a large family. Growing up, he dreamt of finding his soulmate and raising as many children as he could, eager to create the family bond he longed for.
However, at an age when most children were still carefree, disaster struck. Michael quickly learned that life wasn't always kind, and dreams could be shattered in an instant. It was a harsh reminder that nothing worth having comes without its struggles.
Life With Pride
Mike, a typical thirty-six-year-old from Virginia, looked back on his life with pride. He had accomplished so much, especially considering he’d achieved it all before hitting his thirties.
Despite a difficult beginning, Mike had managed to find stability—landing a steady job and marrying someone who meant everything to him. But little did he know, everything he’d worked so hard for was about to unravel.
During His College Years
Mike first encountered Marissa during his college years, when she was a year ahead of him. From the moment they met, her intelligence and radiant smile captured his heart, leaving him hoping she would one day be his.
Determined to win her over, Mike went all out – from sending flowers and inviting her to movies to organizing date nights and peaceful park strolls. His persistence paid off when Marissa finally agreed to give him a chance, and four years later, they stood together at the altar, ready to start their forever.
Starting A Family
Mike and Marissa’s challenges began when they tried to start a family. Like many couples, they dreamed of a lively household filled with children after marriage.
However, their journey took an unexpected turn when they struggled with infertility. Despite their vows to always support one another, this hurdle tested their bond in ways they hadn’t anticipated.
Confirm Suspicions
The couple’s first step was to visit a trusted doctor to confirm their suspicions. Their world came crashing down when the doctor confirmed that Mike was unable to have children.
However, the doctor reassured them that this diagnosis didn’t mean Mike couldn’t become a father. She suggested a solution she believed could work for them, but little did they know, it would ultimately lead to the unraveling of their relationship.
Deep In Conversation
Mike and Marissa sat together, deep in conversation, weighing their options for handling the situation. Having spent his childhood bouncing between foster homes, Mike suggested becoming a foster parent, driven by his desire to offer stability to a child in need.
With firsthand experience of the pain that comes from lacking a consistent, loving guardian, Mike felt he could provide the care and support he never had. Little did he know, challenges lay ahead that would test his resolve in ways he never anticipated.
Taking It Further
Marissa always listened attentively when they talked, but this time, she took it further by suggesting they consider adoption. She spoke about it with conviction, sharing her thoughts and feelings on the matter.
The more she discussed it, the more Mike found himself connecting with her idea. To Marissa, adoption seemed like a more permanent solution, though she wasn’t dismissing the idea of fostering. What Mike didn’t realize, however, was that she had already made up her mind.
Several Adoption
Marissa recommended several adoption and foster care agencies in their state, and soon, the loving couple had welcomed two incredible children into their home as foster parents.
Mike initially believed they would take some time to adjust and settle into their new roles as parents. Everything was progressing smoothly until Marissa proposed yet another idea.
Expand Her Family
Marissa’s desire to expand her family led her to consider adoption. She had come across two children that seemed almost destined to be hers, as they bore a striking resemblance to her brothers upstate.
The resemblance was so remarkable that it consumed her thoughts for days. She couldn’t sleep, eagerly showing Mike photos of the boys and sharing her deep longing to bring them into their home. Yet, there was something she chose not to reveal, keeping it hidden in her heart.
The Resemblance Is Uncanny
Mike took a look at the three boys. The first, Jody, had just turned fifteen. His little brothers, Aiden and Lester, were twelve and nine, respectively. But the fact that they were already grown wasn't what threw Mike off.
The kids bore such a striking resemblance to Marissa that Mike had to sit in bed and turn on the lights to study the photos better. The problem was slowly rearing its head.
Who Are They?
The fact that the three brothers looked like Marissa struck Mike as odd. He'd known her throughout college. In all those years, he'd known her as a childless woman looking to start a family with him.
He considered the brothers possibly being her nephews but remembered that all her brothers and cousins were almost two decades younger than her. What was happening?
Their Daughters
Marissa didn't seem that shaken about the matter. If anything, this made her want to adopt the boys even more. She even brought their foster daughters, Lisa and Milo, into the fold, asking them if they wished to have brothers in the house.
The two little sisters nodded eagerly. They, too, were quick to pick up on the fact that their foster mom shared some features with the boys. These included the shape of her eyes and nose. There was something Marissa wasn't telling them.
The Key To Happiness
Mike decided not to worry too much about the matter. Even he had a few people around the state that could be confused for him.
He also wanted to make his wife happy, and if opening up his home to the three brothers was the key to that happiness, he would gladly do it. If only he knew what he was stepping into.
Another Secret
The Cole family got in touch with the adoption agency responsible for the brothers and started the adoption process. It was long and arduous, but after a few months of ups and downs, the three boys were finally coming home.
As Mike and Marissa drove them to their house, Mike realized one thing Marissa hadn't mentioned. She and the brothers knew each other.
There Is More To It
Marissa had never mentioned meeting the boys before. She'd also acted like she didn't know them in their previous meetups.
But that drive home convinced Mike that something else was afoot. The four sang along to songs Mike never knew Marissa liked and even shared inside jokes. He should have known that his issues were only starting.
Confronting Her
As he always did when something bothered him, Mike brought up the matter as soon as they'd put the kids to bed. They lived in a modest house despite both parents being young, so the kids wouldn't hear them quarrel.
Mike told Marissa that he felt like she had met the brothers before and even knew them on a first-name basis. He expected Marissa to deny everything. But he'd soon get the shock of his life.
How Well Do You Know Her?
Marissa didn't even bother to deny what Mike was saying. She nodded her head with a grin, still acting innocent. "Of course, I know them," she said.
"How?" Mike asked, unsure of what to think. He thought he knew everything about his wife. She was the love of his life, after all. How could he not know this?
What To Believe
"What do you mean how?" Marissa asked. She reminded Mike that she'd done charity work back in college. She assured him that she met the first two brothers then while they were still babies.
Mark took in a sharp breath. Although he wanted to believe his wife, he knew things would never be the same. He'd never outlive his guilt for not believing her if she were telling the truth. But if she were lying, he'd never forgive her for hurting him this way.
A Cold Night
The two went to sleep that night without even saying goodnight. For the first time in their lives as a couple, they slept with their backs to each other.
But as dawn came, things seemed to have cooled down. Marissa, waking up with a bright smile, cuddled up to Mike and asked him how his night was. It was like they didn't have their biggest fight the previous night.
The Boys
"It was good," Mike lied. He swallowed a sigh. Maybe he was looking too much into this. He had already spent time with the brothers and loved them. They respected each other and him and even showed interest in his conversations.
They were well-behaved and intelligent, watching out for each other, their parents, and their new siblings. So why did Mike feel like something wasn't right here?
Trust The Process
From a young age, Mike had always known to trust his gut. He'd gotten so far in life by that one simple rule. If something felt wrong, then high chances were that it was wrong.
So he kept his eye open as the weeks rolled by, praying that his gut wasn't right this time. But it wasn't long before he caught something that made him lose all hope.
She's Hiding Something
Mike had come home early that day when he discovered that Marissa was hiding something from him. She was in the kitchen making the kids a snack with her phone in her ears as she cheerfully talked away.
Mike didn't think anything of it at first. But everything changed when Marissa realized he had been watching her all this while.
Personal Space
She asked him how long he had been looking at her and what he had heard. She seemed too defensive about the matter, talking about personal space before storming out of the kitchen.
Mike tried to talk to her about the matter, following her into their bedroom. When he asked who she was on the phone with, she maintained that it was her mom. Something was not right.
Another Cold Night
Marissa didn't change one bit of her story. But she spent the night with her phone glued to her face, reading through text messages and replying to some of them.
Mike, who had started the night pretending he didn't care what she was doing, was more than hurt. The next day he wouldn't go to work. One way or another, he'd get to the bottom of what was happening.
Too Much Pressure
Marissa was out of the house when Mike got hold of her phone. They had never had secrets, so he couldn't understand why she was hiding things from him now.
After hours of debating whether or not he should go through her phone, he finally gave in and opened it, rushing straight to the call log and text messages. What he would find would leave him speechless.
Her Phone
Most of the messages were from Marissa's friend, a doctor in town. The conversations were mainly about Marissa's relationship with Mike and their kids. But that wasn't all.
Deep within the sea of messages was a topic that grabbed Mike by the scruff of his neck, showing him that he had no idea what was truly going on behind his back.
Two Months
It turns out that Marissa was two months pregnant with Mike's baby. She was so startled by the occurrence that she couldn't even share it with him. She feared he'd think she went out of their marriage after starting their beautiful family.
Over the past few weeks, she'd been frequenting the doctor for checkups. Each test had come out positive, which is why she seemed so distressed. But that wasn't all.
Too Much Information
Marissa shared about their fights over the kids. Her friend had been among the individuals who accompanied her in her volunteering days back in college.
She knew the boys as much as Marissa did, given that she'd been present when they were born and was the one who introduced them to Marissa. Mike couldn't believe what he was reading. How did Merissa get pregnant when he couldn't sire any?
His Dream
Mike stood on his porch, eyes glued to the dark pink and orange horizon. He didn't want to jump to conclusions about Marissa's pregnancy.
He couldn't wait for her to return home so they could talk about everything. He would have to be delicate about how he handled the situation. If only he knew there was more to this than he thought.