Suddenly tears streamed down Denis’s face. He couldn’t hold them back as his gaze remained fixed on the photograph.
‘Mr Fox, the children with you aren’t yours…and they aren’t mine either. In fact, I am their CITIZEN!’
Dennis handed Jordan the picture of him with Kira and stood up, tearfully making his way to the window.
‘Oh my God… Where have you been all these days… Kira told me that her parents DIED… She didn’t tell me anything about you. What happened to you? Why didn’t you come to her funeral?’
‘I’ve been such a bad father, Mr Fox,’ Denis cried. ‘I did what no father should do to his child.’
‘After my wife died, I raised my daughter alone. I gave her everything…love, money and education. I wanted her to live the life I imagined, but she lost her way and lost her way because of her addiction.’
‘I wanted to send Kira to rehab and even threatened to disinherit her. But she refused and things went downhill after that. She started coming home late and every night I would see a random bloke giving her a lift home. My name and reputation were being ruined, so I kicked her out. She was furious and before she left she told me I was the worst father ever and asked me not to look for her. I thought she would come back as soon as the money ran out, but she never came back. I can’t forgive myself for not trying to help my child. I abandoned her, and now she’s gone for good.’
‘But how did you find me? And how did you know the children weren’t mine?’ Jordan interrupted Denis, curiously trying to put the puzzle together.
‘I didn’t even know that my daughter was married, had children and died until I recently met Amy, her best friend in Chicago… She told me about you and the babies and I flew here immediately to meet you,’ Denis said.
‘When she was pregnant, Kyra met with her friend and told her about her fears. She told Amy that she was afraid you’d leave her if you found out the babies weren’t yours.’
‘Oh my God…so those are her ex-boyfriend Sean’s kids?’ Jordan was stunned.
‘I’m not sure about that because my daughter told Amy that she dated and broke up with three other men around the same time she married you. Kira herself didn’t know who the father was. We still don’t know the real father and we don’t want to know,’ Denis lamented.
‘All I can say is that I am happy that my grandchildren have a man they can call ‘daddy’. Mr Fox, only you can love and raise them well. I’m sorry I lied to you about being their father. I don’t know what went through my head. I was afraid you wouldn’t let me raise them, and I knew I would never get custody of them unless you gave them up. That’s why I offered you the money. I’m so sorry. It’s my fault and I have no tears left to cry. I’m getting old and I just want to be involved in my grandchildren’s lives. I haven’t been a good father, but I want to be a good grandfather.’
Jordan said nothing more and hugged Denis. It was the least he could do to comfort the grief-stricken old man who couldn’t forgive himself for abandoning his daughter when she needed him most.
Over time, Denis began to visit Jordan and the children often, and at one point even decided to move in with them. He treated Jordan as his son and was happy to be involved in raising his grandchildren.
What can we learn from this story?
- A real parent is not only the one who gives birth to children, but also the one who raises them with love and care. When Jordan found out that he was not the biological father of his triplets, he decided to set the record straight by giving them to Denis, who claimed to be their birth father. But then Jordan changed his mind and told Denis that a real father is someone who raises his children, not just someone who gives birth to them.
- Don’t make hasty decisions that could make you regret them for the rest of your life. When Denis couldn’t cope with his daughter’s addiction, he advised her to go to rehab. When she refused, he kicked her out of the house, knowing he would never get the chance to see her again.
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