Secrets, Spies, and Lies

Prologue

August 2nd, 1994

"You have a beautiful baby boy, Mr. and Mrs. Hendrickson."

As she took her baby boy into her arms, tears of joy and sadness streaked down Abigail Hendrickson's cheeks. She cradled him close to her chest and rocked him side to side as he snuggled into the crook of her arm. Her husband, James, leaned down and kissed her on the forehead with tears forming in his eyes.

"He's beautiful." He whispers in her ear.

"I don't know how I'll ever be able to say goodbye..." Abigail responds with tears streaming down her face.

"What is his name?" The nurse asks. "We've decided on Brian William Hendrickson." James replies, never taking his eyes off his baby son. "That's lovely," the nurse says with a smile.

As Abigail leans down to kiss Brian's head, a single tear falls on Brian's cheek. She kisses his head, her lips lingering there for a moment. She wipes away the tears on her cheeks and the single tear on Brian's cheek, then looks at her husband.

"Do you want to hold him...before we have to hand him over?" Abigail says, her voice breaking.

James nods as he slips his arms around his beautiful sleeping baby cradled in his wife's arms. James gazes into his eyes and smiles a sad smile.

"I love you." He whispers in the baby's ear.

Abigail kisses the baby's forehead one more time, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"I love you too Brian. Don't ever forget that."

The social worker walks slowly toward the Hendrickson's. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Yes," was Abigail's barely audible whisper.

The social worker nods once, then gently lifts Brian William Hendrickson, wrapped in a soft, blue blanket, still fast asleep, into her arms and leaves the room as Abigail Hendrickson leans against her husband and starts to sob.

"We did the right thing Abby." James murmurs, silent tears of his own flowing down his cheeks.