I was adopted as a baby. During my teens I decided I wanted to find my birth mother and wondered if I had any brothers or sisters. Searches were unsuccessful and with time my teenage angst passed and I stopped thinking about my birth mother as I was busy with career, relationships and social life.
I met my husband Adam while working in a remote mining community. We married, travelled the world and finally settled down. Our attempts at baby-making were futile and eventually after much discussion we decided to live a childless life. My sister had a bunch of babies. I was already their favourite auntie and Adam and I felt we could express our parental urges on members of our extended family. I worked as a personal assistant in the city and Adam flew in and out from his mining position in the outback — his roster was six weeks on and two weeks off.
Materially we had everything we needed, a beautiful house in a leafy suburb, luxurious holidays at five-star locations, new cars and an ever-increasing art collection. It seemed to everyone we were happy. But the truth was that I was lonely, very lonely during those six weeks and at night I was scared. I hated being by myself at night. Adam had an expensive alarm system installed and tried to convince me that it would make me feel safe. I tried lamely to agree but my fears still bubbled beneath the surface.
As the years passed I resumed the search for my birth mother and any siblings I may have had. I was not having much luck and one day after yet another dead end, I picked up my purse and car keys and decided on some retail therapy at an art gallery I had been meaning to visit for some months.
As soon as I stepped into the gallery I could feel someone looking at me. A tall, dark-haired man, casually but stylishly dressed, was behind the desk and his eyes were firmly on me.
“Do I know you?” I asked curiously.
“Not yet,” he replied with a twinkle in his eyes.
And that is how the affair with Oliver began. It wasn’t long before Oliver moved into the guest bedroom, where he lived for six weeks at a time, returning to his flat above the gallery for the two weeks that Adam was at home. Nights of fear and loneliness were over for me; I slept safely in Oliver’s arms and moved back to my marital bedroom when Adam returned home. I finally had it all.
Then one evening as Oliver and I were finishing dinner, Adam appeared in the doorway — he was home earlier than expected.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t phone, everything conspired against me today, it was a sudden change of plans, I only had an hour’s notice I was to come home, then I thought I would give you a surprise.” he said, looking at Oliver and me curiously.
“You certainly did that!” I said, trying to hide my shock. “But now that you are here, I have a surprise for you. I have been meaning to tell you all week, but it has been such a emotional rollercoaster ride for me, well, both of us really,” I said, indicating to Oliver with a wave of my shaking hand, “I have found my long lost brother.”
Oliver coughed and looked a little alarmed, then said, “No! No! Not brother! Half brother! I am your half brother.”
“Oh y-y-yes, s-s-s-sorry,” I said stuttering with nervousness and fear at the enormity of the lie Oliver and I were telling. “Adam, I would like you to meet Oliver my half brother. Oliver, this is my husband Adam…” and then I burst into tears! The lie was told and by the look on Adam’s face, it was believed.
“Adam, I was going to tell you but I only found Oliver this week and it has been, well, confusing and exhilarating all at once!” I said between sobs.
Oliver interrupted and suggested he make us all a cup of tea.
“So much has happened,” I went on, “I asked Oliver to move into the guest room while we get to know each other. He is the only blood, well, half-blood relation I have now, since my birth mother’s death. I want to see as much of him as possible.”
“I understand,” said Adam as he hugged me firmly in a familiar way. “It is a great idea that Oliver lives here for awhile.”
Oliver brought the tea, “Yes,” he said holding my hand, “Now that I have found Sis I never want to let her go. We both just want to make up for lost time.”
That was five years ago and my “brother” Oliver still lives with Adam and me. We all share an interest in art and our collection has grown beautifully. Adam and Oliver are great mates. I move into the guest bedroom when Adam flies out and back to the marital bed when he flies in. I live with both my lover and my husband. No more lonely nights. It is the perfect arrangement.
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