Finding Dwain

The man leaned forward, rubbing the light afternoon stubble on his chin. “What is the legal age? How old does Dwain have to be for us to contact him?”

She gasped, “I… I just don’t understand why you keep asking me. You can not contact an adopted child. Period. End of subject. Now, I want you to leave. I have more important business.”

Five year old Tammy Rae rushed into the office, on abnormally short legs, holding up little arms for Grandpa to lift her. As he set her onto his lap, she excitedly showed him a book the receptionist had given her to read. “It’s about puppies. I can read it to you.” Moving her stunted little fingers under the words, “Four puppies in a box,” she read excitedly.

He shifted her on his lap to keep eye contact with the woman he often referred to as “Zelda, the witch.” He said calmly, to not frighten the little girl, “Zelda, people make mistakes. I made a mistake. I didn’t understand about dwarfism. It was an honest mistake. But you knew the baby wasn’t mine to give away. Jeff had to consent before you could take his baby.”

He looked down and said softly to Tammy Rae, “Yes, honey, I see the puppies. What color are the ribbons they’re wearing?”

Looking up he said, “You have to accept your share of the blame in this, Zelda. I was taking Dwain home when you showed up at the hospital and told me, in your experience, you were certain that I wouldn’t be able to cope with the baby’s handicap. I didn’t know you then,” he let his eyes tell her what he thought of her, “so I had no reason not to believe you when you said the state could care for him better then we could.”

Referring to the little one he held, he said, “This one and her sister Teresa could read before they were four years old. Teresa is in the fifth grade.”

The woman stiffened. “I have seen Teresa. I am fully aware of how well she is doing in school and I am also aware of the fact that neither of your granddaughters have had the physical problems that boy was born with.” She looked sharply at the young receptionist leaning to lift the little girl into her arms. “In the future, Miss Jennings, you will not come into my office when I am talking with a client.”

“I’m sorry.” The young lady smiled painfully as she carried Tammy Rae out of the office. To the man she whispered, “I’ll read to her.”

“Now, as I was saying,” Zelda motioned to the file cabinet. “You gave that baby up because you did not want to bother with future medical problems, and you did not want to pay for operations.”

He sighed. “My daughter was sixteen years old and had just given birth to twins. My wife passed away when Sara was fourteen. You told us that the most we could handle was one of those babies.”

She glared at him, “No, you knew the normal boy would be able to help you on your farm, but that little one would be nothing but trouble. So if you don’t mind, I have work to do. If, I hear of a new law that allows me to tell you the location of an adopted child, I will be in contact with you.”

He noticed a twinkle in Miss Jenning’s eyes as he scooped his little one out of her arms. He knew she was alive within, unlike the darkened soul in the inner office. Placing Tammy Rae in her little safety seat in the car, he told himself that it had been an honest mistake. He knew now that seventeen years ago, baby Dwain would have been fine in a little seat like this sitting next to his larger twin.

After fastening his seat belt he closed his eyes. Dear Lord, I know you have taken care of him for all these years. Please keep watching over Dwain and keep him safe and bring him home. Lord, we are not a whole family without him.

He looked back at the little girl, winked and waited for her to smile before saying, “We need to get Mommy’s car back to her. You know how she doesn’t like driving grandpa’s pick-up.” As the little girl yawned, he smiled; remembering Sara hoped Tammy Rae would sleep in her car seat and not miss her afternoon nap.