Chapter 21 - BEN
His name was Benjamin Cole.
We did not learn that from the internet.
We learned it because his parents allowed the intermediary to tell us.
Mark and Julie Cole.
Northern Kentucky.
Married thirteen years.
One child.
Ben.
Eight years old.
They had used Family Pathways.
But according to them, not for an embryo.
For adoption counseling.
Julie became pregnant unexpectedly before an adoption placement happened.
That was their story.
And every medical record they possessed supported it.
Prenatal care began at seven weeks.
Ultrasound.
Delivery.
Birth certificate.
Julie gave birth to Ben.
No question.
Claire looked at Melissa.
“Then H-417B wasn't transferred to her.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Melissa slid over a form.
Julie had undergone a procedure at Voss's affiliate clinic six weeks before the positive pregnancy test.
She believed it was treatment for endometrial inflammation.
The billing code said:
INTRAUTERINE BIOLOGIC INFUSION.
I stared.
“What does that mean?”
“It can mean several things.”
“Could it hide an embryo transfer?”
“Yes.”
Claire looked sick.
“Wouldn't she know?”
“A standard embryo transfer is normally discussed and consented to.”
Normally.
That word again.
I thought of Lily's forged consent.
Noah's embryo.
Maya's shell-company records.
Normal meant very little around Judith.
Mark and Julie agreed to one thing.
A private genetic comparison.
No contact between families.
No children informed.
Not yet.
I didn't blame them.
The wait took six days.
On day three, Lily asked why Claire kept checking her phone.
“Work.”
Claire immediately corrected herself.
“No.”
Lily looked up.
Claire took a breath.
“There's an adult family issue we're waiting for information about. It doesn't change anything about you.”
Lily studied her.
“Is it secret?”
Claire looked at me.
“No.”
“Private?”
“Yes.”
Lily nodded.
Apparently eight-year-olds understood the distinction better than our parents had.
Day six.
Melissa came to our house.
That meant she didn't want to say it by phone.
She placed the report on the table.
I didn't touch it.
“Tell me.”
“Ben is genetically related to both of you.”
Claire covered her mouth.
“How?”
Melissa continued.
“The lab supports full sibling relationship with Lily, Noah, and Maya.”
Four children.
I stared at the kitchen wall.
Not because there was anything there.
Because suddenly there were too many places to look.
Claire whispered:
“Julie carried our embryo.”
“Yes.”
“And nobody told her.”
“That appears to be the case.”
I looked at Melissa.
“What do Mark and Julie want?”
“They want no contact.”
That hurt.
Unexpectedly.
Claire nodded before I did.
“Okay.”
I looked at her.
She was crying.
But she repeated it.
“Okay.”
Melissa watched us.
“They're frightened.”
“They should be.”
I understood that.
A stranger had just told them the child they conceived, carried, delivered, loved, and raised came from somebody else's embryo.
Biology had once been used to destabilize Noah's family.
I wasn't going to do that to Ben.
I asked one question.
“Do they have his accurate medical history?”
Melissa nodded.
“They agreed to receive it.”
“Then send it.”
Claire looked at me.
“That’s all?”
“No.”
I wanted more.
May you like
Of course I did.
“But that's all we're entitled to today.”
