He slowed his step and almost froze when the thin white sheet over the body was lifted for identification. Jordan’s heart dropped and tears came to his eyes. Kira’s lifeless body lay motionless, and as it was later discovered, she had been in a drug overdose at the time of the accident.
Jordan’s world changed after that. He felt numb, weak, and afraid to raise his children alone. He felt guilty for being the only one left alive, and at one point his tears stopped with anger. Jordan couldn’t forgive Kira for leaving him with such a huge responsibility on his shoulders. He couldn’t accept her loss and move on with his life, but he forced himself to do so after seeing his children.
They were the only reason he continued to live. He vowed to himself that he would do anything to make sure his children had a good life. After that, Jordan never dated another woman because he still loved Kyra. He still wore their wedding ring and believed she wasn’t going anywhere.
He became a mother and father to his three young sons and devoted his life to them. Jordan tossed between work and his children and hardly found time for himself. He forgot what a good night’s sleep was like. He stopped socialising with his friends and began to live his life thinking more about his children than himself.
But now, now that he knew he wasn’t their real father, he began to doubt whether he could ever see them the same way again, and whether he really wanted to spend his time and energy raising them.
‘I can’t do this anymore…I just can’t,’ Jordan stammered, pushing his chair, the legs of which scraped across the wooden floor, waking the babies. A strange thought occurred to him as he slammed the door shut and left, not even saying his usual ‘Thank you and have a good day!’ to his neighbour Mrs. Wills when she came to watch the kids.
Jordan couldn’t settle down all that night in the pub. When he got home after his shift, he went straight to his room to find Denis’s card. He didn’t even stop to look at his babies or cuddle with them like he usually did.
A few minutes later, Jordan came out of his room and saw the three little ones gesturing to him and babbling ‘Yes-Da’s’ in their baby language, asking him to carry them.
Jordan’s heart fell to the ground. ‘How could I… How could I even think about leaving you guys? I can’t live without you guys… You’re my everything… God, how could I even think about leaving them?’ – he cried, his eyes fixed on the call that had already been connected to Denis.
‘Hello? Hello… is anyone there?’ – came through the receiver in the faint voice of an elderly man.
‘Mr Roberts, it’s me, Jordan.’
‘I’ve been waiting for your call, Mr Fox. I’m so happy you called me…finally! So, what have you decided? When should I meet you with the cheque and pick up the little ones?’
‘I’m sorry, Mr Roberts…but I can’t take you up on your offer. A father is the one who raises his children, not necessarily the one who gives birth to them. I may not be their real father, but they are still my children. I can’t imagine life without them,’ Jordan said sternly and politely.
‘Mr Fox… wait a minute… please. Look, we can talk about this again, okay? You don’t understand…I want my children. I can’t live without them.’
‘I’m sorry, Mr Roberts. Even I can’t live without them. They are my world. And I don’t want your money. You can’t trade love for money.’
‘I’ll tell my children about you when they’re big. They’ll decide for themselves who they want to choose. But I can’t send them to you because I love them and am their FATHER! Goodbye!’
Denis was discouraged. ‘Okay, if that’s what you decide. But let’s meet tomorrow at a café… or maybe at your place? You decide.’
‘I’m sorry, Mr Roberts, but I’m busy tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll be able to…’
‘Don’t you want to know the whole truth, Mr Fox? I’ve only told you part of it. There’s something else you don’t know yet.’
Jordan agreed, catching his breath, surprised at the strangeness of Denis’s question. He took the night shift the next evening and waited impatiently for him to meet him at his house.
Denis showed up a couple of hours later with several boxes. ‘Just new jumpers, nappies and blankets for the babies!’ – he laughed, hanging his overcoat on a rack and making himself comfortable. Denis’s gaze fell on the empty cot, and he realised that Jordan had hidden his children somewhere far away, away from his gaze and understanding.
Jordan hated the silence around him. He couldn’t wait to find out the ‘truth’ this man was bragging about, and after a few seconds of staring at each other, he broke the silence.
‘So… what’s the matter? You said there was still something I should know.’
Denis smiled grimly, unzipped his jacket and pulled out an old photograph. He kept looking at it, and Jordan thought it was odd.
‘Mr Roberts… what’s this? Look, I don’t have time, and I’d appreciate it if you’d make this quick.’