Side by Side (page 2 of 4)

A Major Revelation

Missi spent summer days playing on her parents' three-acre plot in rural Erie County and swimming in the backyard pool. She helped Doug tend the family garden, sneaking green snakes into the house to make Sandy scream. She wore elaborate feathered costumes for her ballet recitals at Long's School of Dance.

Missi sang in school musicals, marched in the color guard and whirled through the air as a cheerleader for Harbor Creek Senior High School. She went on to Gannon University, where she was a deejay for the college radio station.

Over the years, there were moments when Missi would peek in Sandy's hope chest, pull out the adoption sheets and read the few details about her birth parents. But she never felt any great sense of loss or longing for idealized parents who for some mysterious reason had to give her up.

Along the way, Missi grew accustomed to questions from people who'd learned she was adopted. So she wasn't at all hesitant about answering her boss that June afternoon.

"Do you ever have a desire to meet your real parents?" Laurie asked.

"Not really," Missi said. "It's not that I don't want to. It's just that I haven't gotten around to it. And I don't feel like I'm missing anything. My parents are wonderful." She continued talking, telling her boss the few details she knew about her biological parents, and making a little self-deprecating joke, saying that her birth father "was probably some kind of loser because he collected beer cans."

"Well, not everyone who collects beer cans is a loser," Laurie said.

Missi laughed and was about to leave the office when Laurie asked another question.

"When were you born?"

"April 14, 1981." Then, sensing she'd taken up enough of her boss's time, Missi said goodbye and headed home.

The next day, Laurie accompanied Missi on her morning sales calls and then invited her to lunch at Jr's on the Bay, a signature spot on the downtown Erie waterfront with a view of Presque Isle Bay. Lunch hour was ending, and they had a quiet table with privacy. Each ordered a coconut shrimp salad and waited.

"There's something I have to tell you," Laurie said. "And it's major."

Missi shifted in her seat. "Oh, my God," she said. "I'm getting fired."

"No, no, no," Laurie replied. "It's about our talk yesterday."

"Yeah?" Missi said.

Laurie continued. "If I had a hunch about who your biological parents were, would you want to know?"

"Well, yeah," Missi replied.

"Are you sure about that? You said yesterday you weren't in any big hurry to find out. It might not be who I suspect. You might be disappointed. So are you in?" Laurie asked.

Missi thought for a minute to consider what her boss was dangling before her. She'd never been that curious before -- then she began to wonder who it might be. Some friend of Laurie's? "I'm in. Tell me," Missi said.

Laurie paused. "I think it might be me and my husband."

• • Breakthroughs
• Family Life
• • Survival Stories
• • Children's Health
• • Unbelievable

• The Accidental Family
• How seven boys became brothers.
• 
• Linked for Life
• When we were kids, my brother felt like a burden to me. Now I realize he's a gift.
• 
• Full House
• How a church choir concert changed one family forever.
• 

“ Remember that the homes you visit during the holidays may not be childproofed. Keep an eye out for danger spots. ”

• See All Tips

• Be Inspired
• 10 Celebrities Who Give Back
• 7 Amazing Stories, $700,000 to Charity
• Virginia Cervasio: Making It Matter
• PLUS:
• Quiz: What's Your Celebrity Cause IQ?

All my husband wanted was to pay for some batteries, but none of the clerks in the electronics store seemed interested in helping him. "I've got an idea," I said, and pulled a tape measure out of my purse. I stepped over to one of the giant plasma-screen TVs and started to measure it.Faster than you can say high definition, a young man came running over. "May I help you?" he asked breathlessly. "Yes," I said. "I'd like to buy these batteries."

-- Tasia Dale