The family

Part 13

A year late, one is here, one is gone.

(James & Pierre)

Today is a special but sad day, we celebrate PJ's birthday, but also Ross's death, I looked at the picture I took of him that day, tears went down my face. It's been a year since we lost Ross and now PJ is one years old, we took him to see his brothers grave, he doesn't know what's going on, someday we'll tell him he had a twin brother. Pie said Ross will always be with us through PJ, Liz came and got PJ and took him to the car, Manny told CJ that's his uncle Ross sleeping here, CJ asked why he is sleeping in the ground, we all looked at each other.

I told CJ his uncle is in heaven like Milo, this is just a place we come to remember him, CJ said but he never saw his uncle before, Pie told him he can see his uncle PJ now, they were identical twins, so he knows what his uncle Ross looks like.

We left and headed home, I got to thinking the doctor did say they were identical twins, but the baby we buried didn't look like PJ now that I think about it. I asked Pie does he remember how Ross looked when we held him, Pie said it's in his head all of the time, he asked me why I asked him that.

I told him now that I remember our baby he didn't look like PJ, and they're supposed to be identical, Pie said the picture I have in my phone doesn't look like our PJ, and as PJ's getting older Ross looks nothing like him. I said he knew about the picture, he said yes, I left it open one day and he saw Ross, Liz asked what picture. I told her I took a picture of the baby the day he died.

Manny said maybe they mixed the baby's up, Liz said with all they do to make sure they don't that couldn't happen, we got home, and the rest of our family is here we sang happy birthday to PJ. Maria took PJ from Liz and said her grandson is so handsome, she said all of her grandsons and great-grandson is handsome too, she called CJ over as she sat down with baby PJ.

One thing I'll say the Alexanders love CJ and Manny; they have always treated them as if they were blood to them. I asked Reese and Ekim could I speak with them in private.

We went in the study, Ekim asked what's wrong he can see it on my face, I told him about the day Ross died, and now that we think about it, he didn't look anything like PJ, Reese said how could that be they were identical twins. Ekim said he only saw the baby for a few minutes he couldn't look at him, he asked me am I sure Ross didn't look like PJ, I said, I'm sure. I showed them the picture I took of him; Ekim said the baby doesn't look like our PJ, maybe they made a mistake when they said they were identical twins.

Reese told me he'll check it out, for now don't say anything to anyone else, he asked me does Pierre know, I said yes and the rest of the family in this house knows too. Ekim told Reese to get on that first thing tomorrow, right now we're here to celebrate PJ, they left the room, Falicia said she never looked at the babies, but Chadwick did, I'll ask him.

I looked at the picture of the baby again, I just stared at it, shit I was right he doesn't look like PJ at all what the fuck is going on who is this baby. Pie came into the room, he said he knows how I'm feeling today, but remember we're celebrating PJ's life. I told him I know and I'm sorry, we kissed and joined the rest of the family, baby PJ didn't know what was going on Liz took him upstairs for his nap, CJ acted as if it were his birthday, and everyone spoils him.

 Pie is right todays about PJ, but tomorrow I'll talk to Chadwick, he's the only one who saw our babies other than the doctor and his staff. While everyone was enjoying what's going on I went upstairs, I went to the nursery and took my phone out and I looked at the picture of Ross and compared it to PJ, they don't even come close to looking like each other, was that our baby, maybe they did mix our child up, but where's our son. I went back downstairs and just celebrated PJ's life.