We Adopted a 3-Year-Old Boy – When My Husband Went to Bathe Him for the First Time, He Shouted, ‘We Must Return Him!’
After years of infertility, we adopted Sam, a sweet 3-year-old with ocean-blue eyes. But when my husband tried to bathe him, he rushed out, shouting, “We must return him!” His panic was confusing until I noticed a distinctive mark on Sam’s foot.
I never imagined adoption would unravel my marriage, but some blessings come with unexpected pain.
On our drive to the agency, I noticed Mark’s nervousness, even as he tried to hide it. The adoption process had been long and exhausting, handled mostly by me while Mark focused on his business. After months of paperwork, we found Sam, abandoned by his mother, with a look in his eyes that tugged at my heart.
When we finally met Sam at the agency, I felt an instant connection. On the way home, he clutched a stuffed elephant, and Mark offered to give him a bath while I arranged his things. But moments later, Mark rushed out, pale, shouting, “We must return him!” He claimed he couldn’t bond with Sam, but I couldn’t understand why.
As I bathed Sam, I noticed something that made my heart stop—a birthmark on his foot exactly like Mark’s. The realization hit me hard.
The next day, I sent hair from Mark’s brush and a swab from Sam’s cheek for testing. The results confirmed it: Mark was Sam’s biological father.
Mark admitted it, confessing a drunken encounter at a conference. I confronted him, and though he apologized, I knew the truth. I consulted a lawyer, who confirmed that as Sam’s legal adoptive mother, I had parental rights, regardless of Mark’s paternity. I decided to file for divorce and seek full custody of Sam.
The divorce was swift. Sam adjusted well, and though he occasionally asked about his father, I reassured him with love.
Years later, Sam is a remarkable young man. Mark visits him, but keeps his distance. When asked if I regret my decision, I shake my head. Sam is my son—biological ties aside. Love is a choice, and I chose him, now and always.
