Part 50

Bobbie heard a knock at the door. She went and opened it, and was surprised to see Zander.

"Hi," he said. "I came to ask you something, if you have a minute."

"Me?" she asked.

"Yes, you," he said. "Carly isn't here, is she?"

"No," Bobbie said. "But come in, Zander. You want to talk about something you don't want her to hear about?"

"It's not so much that," he said. "I'll talk to her about it later. For a different view."

"OK," Bobbie said. She motioned to him to sit down and wondered what it could possibly be.

"You know about my father issues," he said.

"Yes. Cameron is a real bear."

"Well, I guess I should say, my paternity issues, then."

"Paternity issues?"

"Carly didn't tell you?"

Bobbie looked perplexed.

"She's more trustworthy than I expected her to be," he went on. "Well, it's this. My mother told me just recently that she thought somebody else was my father. And we did a blood test and it came out that somebody else was."

Bobbie frowned, thinking. "Now I know why she was asking me about Carly and myself."

"She did?"

"The second time she was here, I think. Asked me how I got along with Carly, and what our relationship was like. I remember her talking about whether it would be different if it was the father instead of the mother. I think we agreed that men were different," she smiled a little.

"Maybe," Zander said. "But maybe not. The bigger difference is you gave her for adoption, right? And her adopted parents knew they were adopting. Well here, Dad didn't know he was getting a – a – fake, and my actual father didn't know he was one at all. Now they both know the truth."

"Who is this actual biological father?"

"Dr. Hayward."

"Oh! Of course. It comes together now, why he was there when you were in the hospital."

"The heart condition was in his family."

"I see."

"He's been good to me, and great about everything. He said he understood Dad was my father the way that counts. I sort of dismissed it as much as I could. Then today something happened that got me wondering. One thing, what way counts? You can grow up with anybody once you're born. But you have to be born."

"Sure," Bobbie said. "In the most fundamental way, Dr. Hayward's way is the one that counts."

"It's been in my head and I accepted it, I thought, but today it really hit me. I lost my temper at Dad and David just stopped me. Calmed me down. And the other night, after I had talked to Dad and told him what he'd have to do to see Ginny, I was riled up until David came up and talked to me."

"Maybe he can understand your temper better. It can be a physical thing."

"That's exactly it. That's what it is that was hitting me. Physically, he's my father. He's my father, not Dad."

"That's so confusing for you. Especially when you didn't know."

"Yeah. I feel all at sea now. Then those two times I mentioned, I felt – it's strange, I can't think of a work for it. Safe."

"I think that's normal, for a kid with their parents, so I'm sorry you don't already know that feeling."

"You think Carly never knew it either?"

"Carly knew she was adopted. She looked for her birth mother on purpose. You just got this out of the blue. And I knew I was giving her up for adoption. Dr. Hayward, if he'd had a choice, might not have chosen to give you up."

"By the time he knew anything at all, it was already too late. That's why I'm so grateful to Carly."

Bobbie looked at him compassionately. "I met Virginia Benson," she went on. "She was a kind woman. The three of us, she, Carly and I could have been together. Carly could have called her Mom, which she did, and me Mother, which she does. Virginia would have liked that, too. Your case is harder, I bet."

"This is where men are different. Carly wouldn't take punches at either of you. You and Virginia wouldn't throw punches at each other. Or talk to each other on purpose to upset the other."

"No," Bobbie smiled. "I doubt that. But with Carly and I it was tough at first. She had issues about me giving her up. And it sounds like you don't have that."

"And I guess Carly and Virginia got on all right."

"Not perfectly. Better than you and your dad, that's for sure."

"You see, I understand why Dad would be resentful, I really do. Still, I want to know all about David."

"That's natural. Adoptees often look for their birth parents. They're curious. Well, there's something in it, for a lot of people at least. You're pretty much like an adoptee. Half of one."

"They have the fact their parents really wanted them. Really wanted a child."

"I'm sure you're Dad wanted you, in that way."

"He thought I was his, though."

"Yes."

"Do you feel funny, I mean, does Carly bother you? Seem like a stranger?"

"She used to. It'll never be the same as if I had raised her, but she's not completely a stranger. I see things of myself, or my family, in her. Not just physical things, either."

"You liked Virginia, though. I could be obnoxious to David. I'm pretty sure he doesn't think much of Dad. Not that that's unusual."

"You can't be obnoxious to David. That's impossible. Trust me on that."

"Thanks. I will. I think you're the only one I know who can even guess what it might be like."

"Whatever I can do to help, just ask."

"Thanks, Bobbie. What do you think of the grandfather issue? I don't even know if David wants to be a grandfather. He just is. I've taken my stand with Dad, and Carly and I agree on it, so it's OK. I think we have to tell Ginny all about it when she's old enough. I don't guess it'll be a real big deal to her she has these two grandfathers, but it could be hard for her to get there's one she doesn't get to see. I hope he manages to turn into a human being before she's old enough to have to understand that. But I don't know."

"She'll still be a child, so you won't need much explanation, and you're thinking of it already, so you'll know exactly what you want to say. She'll have to get there's no grandfather on her mom's side, too. So having two on your side is OK. There's nothing exclusive, either. You don't have to pick one."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm glad about that. Dad can see her when he improves, and David can do as much as he wants, Dad or no Dad. Though I guess if Dad thinks David's on it then it could affect his approach. He'll take it in the worst light, I'm sure. He did all the work, Hayward did none of the work, which he always points out. He'd see that as him getting the shaft."

"He ought to understand there can be more than one grandfather and that his problem has to do with him, not with Dr. Hayward."

"That's the type of thing he has a hard time with, I think, but you're right. He'll always right."

"I hate those type people!"

"Me too, mainly because, the problem I have is Dad usually is right. He's not right in the right way. I don't know what I'm talking about, but somehow he's wrong even when he's right."

"Trust your gut," she said. "And you'll do all right."