Page 49

NOW

August 2023

Kimberly

Phibsborough, Dublin

The air thickened with tension as Kimberly and Sally locked eyes with each other. Kimberly’s mind raced as she tried to think of something . . . anything . . . to say to Sally, to get her to leave, without ruining everything.

Sally took several deep breaths, then turned to face Zach. ‘I never wanted you to find out like this. I still can’t believe you found your way to the Murphys. But you have, and it’s clear that I have to tell you everything.’ Sally paused, as the room held on to her every word. Kimberly’s breath caught in her mouth and she felt her knees buckle. Jason caught her arm on one side, and Lily caught the other. ‘You were right about all of this, Zach. You are Robert.’ The room silenced again, in shock and confusion at Sally’s words.

‘I am Robert?’ Zach asked softly, looking over to Lily in confusion.

‘Yes. I’m so sorry you had to find out like this,’ Sally replied, eyes glistening as she watched him.

Lily took a step forward, closer to Zach. ‘Does that mean that the DNA test was wrong?’ Her voice sounded unsure.

‘It must have been faulty, Lily!’ Zach said, his voice rising with excitement. ‘I knew I was right,’ he ended triumphantly. Then he paused, his face frozen in horror. ‘But that means you . . . you took me! How could you do that to them, Mom?’ He gestured behind him to the Murphy family, who huddled together in one group. His voice went up an octave and he screamed, ‘How could you do that to me ?’

‘She wants locking up,’ Kevin exploded, moving forward, waving his cane in the air.

His words ignited them all. Jason rushed forward too, his nostrils flaring as he spat out the words, ‘You. Stole. Our. Son.’

Sally flinched, pain passing over her face, but then she looked over to Kimberly, and lifted her chin defiantly as she replied, ‘No, Jason. I didn’t steal your son.’

‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, you’ve contradicted yourself! You said Zach is Robert. So admit what you did to us. You stole my brother,’ Lily cried out.

Lily reached back and put an arm round Kimberly’s shoulder, who could only watch the drama unfold mutely. She contemplated leaving, running away from it all, but Kimberly had spent over forty years running from this moment. It was time to confront her past.

Sally looked around the room sadly, taking in each person, finally resting her eyes on Zach. ‘I did not steal anyone!’

‘You are not making any sense!’ Zach cried back desperately.

Then in one damning sentence, Sally ended everything.

‘I didn’t steal you, Zach, because it’s impossible to steal a child that is already yours!’ Sally cried.