After Four Daughters, My Husband Finally Got the Son He'd Been Begging For – But When He Held Our Newborn Boy for the First Time, His Words Made My Stomach Drop

"Aaron?"

"That birthmark," Aaron said. "The one on your back. Where did you get it?"

Silence. Then Michael exhaled.

"Is the baby there?"

"You need to come over."

I looked at Aaron. "Tell him yes."

Aaron swallowed.

"Yes."

Another silence.

Then Michael said, "You need to come over. Both of you."

"Your father was my father too."

****

An hour later, Diana stayed with the children while Aaron and I sat across from Michael at his kitchen table.

He looked at Aaron.

"Our father had the same mark."

Aaron went completely still.

"How long have you known?"

"What did you say?"

Michael's eyes dropped to the table.

"Your father was my father too."

I was the first one to speak.

"Your father knew too."

"How long have you known?"

"Since I was seventeen."