Chapter 2: Chapter 2
“Okay, which drawer do you use for personal stuff?” he muttered, as he didn’t remember seeing one for that in the file cabinets. It took him a moment to realize that she had probably continued his father’s tradition of keeping them locked in the bottom desk drawer—when she isn’t leaving it lying around onher desk. He knew where the key was kept, in an inrōwhich was stored inside a decorative box on one of the bookshelves beside the desk. She’d picked both of them up in Japan while she and his father were on their honeymoon.
When he was growing up, the drawer had been off-limits. As tempted as he’d been at times to find out why, he’d honored his father’s wishes. Now, he got the key, opened the drawer, and put the file away. As he did, he saw there was one with his name on it. Curious, he took it out. What he found would forever change his life.
* * * *
Theo’s hands were shaking when he closed the folder. At first he figured it would contain the normal things any parent kept in relation to their child, which it did—a photocopy of his birth certificate, since he had the original, school and medical records, his high school diploma, pictures of him growing up. Then, he saw the last paper and his eyes widened in disbelief. It was the certificate for his adoption. His first thought was it had to be a mistake, until he read it through again.
The top line was for the child’s birth name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth. The first three boxes were filled in. The last one for place of birth had probably been as well, but it was blacked out, as was his birth surname. The second line was for the names of the birth mother and father. The mother’s given name, Lilliana Nichole, was there, but her surname had been blacked out, and the place for the father’s name was blank. The space for the hospital where he’d been born and the birth certificate number had also been blacked out.
“Someone got good use out of their Sharpie,” he said with an aggravated shake of his head
The rest of the form had spaces for his new name, Theodore James Speer, his parents’ names, birthdates, and their home address at the time, but with the city and state obliterated. The date the adoption was finalized, and the signature of the probate judge and county clerk who had certified it, as well as the date they’d signed the form, were also blacked out.
My real parents, whoever they were, named me Thomas Jeffery something. Damn it to hell, why didn’t Mom and Dad tell me? Why did they mark out anything that would let me know who I was before the adoption?
His hands curled into fists as he considered the implications. “Maybe my birth parents were criminals? Or she was raped and she didn’t know who my father was and Mom and Dad didn’t want me to feel less because of that? Or she came from a rich family and they threw her out because she wasn’t married when she got pregnant? Or…who the hell knows? Mom would.”
He took out his phone to call her and then thought better of it. Not until I calm down because right now all I’d do is yell at her, I’m that pissed off.
Opening the folder again, he took out the Certificate of Adoption, turned on the printer, and made a copy. As he did, he realized the top of the form was missing. The part that would have told him where, in what city and state, the official adoption had taken place. “Meaning it probably wasn’t here,” he said under his breath.
He put the original back where he’d found it, returned the folder to the drawer, locked it, and put the key away.
“What do I do now?” he asked himself as he folded the paper and put it into his wallet. He knew the answer, but he’d wait until morning to call his mother. When I can talk without blowing up.
* * * *
As soon as he got home, he read the Certificate of Adoption again before putting it into the folder where he kept his personal information such as insurance papers, his passport, and what he’d always believed was his birth certificate. The passport isn’t legal because for sure the birth certificate is a fake. How did Dad manage that? Not that Theo intended to let anyone know. He needed the passport for the few times he had to accompany his mother on one of the larger tours.
Then, still angry, but not as badly so, he made supper. After cleaning up he forced himself to watch a movie until he was tired enough he hoped he could get some sleep. It worked, up to a point, although he tossed and turned for a while as he tried to decide how to approach his mother with what he’d discovered.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone