*In England*
Monika and Howie walked hand in hand towards the huge house in front of them, Henry and Stella following behind them. Knocking on the door they waited for someone to answer. A younger boy answered the door and seeing Stella ran forward. "Nanna," he yelled climbing into her arms.
"Joseph, there are some people I'd like you to meet," she said carrying him into the house as everyone followed confused. Sitting down on the couch as a couple about Howie and Monika's age walked into the room. "Everyone please take a seat. I have a something I need to tell you all. Almost seven years ago my granddaughter gave me a great-grandson. Respecting the wishes of my husband I agreed to help him give our great-grandchild to someone else to raise. Unlike my husband I wanted my great-grandchild in my life so instead of letting strangers I asked my sister's grandson and his wife to care for him and tell him the truth about his parents. Monika, Howard I would like you to meet your son, Joseph Allen Dorough," as she said this Joey got down off his great-grandmother's lap and walked to Monika.
"Momma?" he asked as he reached out to her. Crying she took him into hers and cradled him against her chest. Moments later she pulled away as Joey crawled into his father's lap. "I don't get it Nanna, you knew all this time?"
"Yes dear but I didn't want to go against my husband no more than I wanted my great-grandson raised by strangers. It was the only thing I could think of to do in order to keep him close. Please forgive me for not telling you sooner..."
"Shhh Nanna, I understand. I would forgive you the world for anything. You have always cared for me no matter what I did and you sought to take care of my son. And to you," she said turning to her new found relatives, "thank you for raising my son for me. I know this isn't going to be easy but you are welcome to visit as often as you like and we will be sure to visit you as well."
*Two years later*
Joseph had gotten used to his new life in the United States with his real parents. He was a bright young boy who had been told the truth from the very beginning and somehow managed to understand it all, probably the only one who did. Grabbing hold of his parents hands they boarded a plane heading to England to visit Nanna and Pa. It had only been a few months since they'd last been together but Monika and Howie wanted to see them one more time before she couldn't travel anymore, the doctors telling her that it would be better for her to remain home instead of traveling once she was in the second trimester. As they sat on the plane, Joey talking endlessly about how excited he was about seeing Nanna and Pa again and about his parents giving him a brother or sister soon, Nika leaned her head against Howie's shoulder and thought back to how her dreams had finally come through two years ago. She'd found her son, made peace with her grandparents, reunited with Howie and then six months later they'd married in a beautiful ceremony held on a cliff overlooking the English countryside. The future was hers again.
THE END