A Nephew is Closer to His Uncle Than a Son

Take him away forever! Harriet snapped, her voice sharp.
What about the formalities? James retorted in the same tone.

Had you asked me what to do, you wouldnt have broken anything, Harriet shot back.

Id have asked if Id had to, James huffed. But nothing depends on you.

Then dont tell me how to act.

Youve got no conscience, Harriet muttered, hurt. Fine, think about the boy!

And I do think about him, dont I? James shouted. I think about him more than you do!

Im not just thinking, Im supporting and raising him!

Keep threatening to quit your job, then! Harriet snarled.

Ill quit the moment I find something, James said.

First find something, then open your mouth, he replied, his voice steady.

Harriet paused, listening to his irritated sigh, then went on.

Charlie feels left out because youre always with Jack, she said calmly. When youre with them both, I even notice you give Jack more attention!

Hes older, theres more to talk about, and the boys already forming his own ideas, James replied. We have to think about what hell become.

Does your own son still matter to you? Harriet asked.

Hes still a child. By law he needs his mothers care more than his fathers, James said. So tend to Charlie while hes small. As for me

Ill spend time with my nephew, Harriet finished for him. Did you hear? My nephew! And youre ignoring your own son!

No ones spitting on anyone, James grumbled. I give time to everyone. Charlie has a dad whos always there, and my sister raises her son with my mum, not with a man. Two women arent what a twelveyearold needs.

So should I stay cold while my nephews two mothers ruin his mind? Will he ever grow into a man?

James, should I call my mother over so you finally notice Charlie? Harriet snapped.

Youre both out! James roared. All I needed was your mother.

What about Charlie? Harriet pressed.

Hell stay with me. Youve got nothing to give him, James said with a sneer. Did you think Id fund you with child support? Youll pay me yourself! At least get a job so you dont sit idle!

Harriet swallowed his insult; she had nothing left. Her ambitions had dissolved during the marriage, and she never finished her degree. Shed taken a maternity break and never returned to the university.

James continued packing in silence.

Did you buy all those toys for Jack? Harriet asked, breaking the quiet. I thought Charlie would get something too.

He already has enough, James shrugged. Jack has no one else to rely on but his uncle.

Both mothers were useless; the nephew would be lost with them. Harriet had nothing clever to say, so she simply moved to help James.

A card slipped from a stack, and she picked it up automatically, opened it, and read the text. Her eyes widened, and the card fell to the floor.

James, what does dear son mean?

Who asked you to stick your nose where it doesnt belong? James snarled, pushing Harriet away. Stop meddling!

Ill step back, Harriet muttered, but what does it mean?

Good grief, can you be any tighterlipped? A sensible woman would have guessed by now!

Harriet could have been Jamess second wife, but fate had destined her to be his first. The woman foretold as his first wife never wanted the title. She lived with James in a rented flat for a year, then vanished without a trace. Her parents claimed ignorance, and no friend could guess where shed gone.

James mourned brieflyif at all. As the saying goes, Better to jump off a broken cart than stay stuck. He carried on, finding a strange pleasure in his freedom.

A year later, Victoria reappeared, this time with a baby in her arms. Rumours spread that she had given birth to Jamess child. Some whispered shed press James for alimony or even force a marriage.

Instead, Victoria left the infant on the doorstep of Jamess mother and sister, with a tearful note explaining she had no money, no strength, and was battling postpartum depression plus a serious illness. She begged them not to abandon the child, her nephew and grandson.

James was summoned for clarification.

I have no idea where it came from, he shrugged. Maybe she just dropped it off. Well test it, then decide.

The test proved the baby was Jamess son. The conversation turned serious.

Where do I put a child? Ive just started my businesscontracts, negotiations, deals! James protested. I cant afford a whole staff.

What do you suggest? Hand the child to a home? Anna, Jamess aunt, asked.

Were the only ones who know hes ours, plus Victoria. And Victoria wont be back in town. James answered.

No, we cant send him to a childrens home! Lena, Jamess sister, shouted. Id never give my own child away.

She was twenty, had become pregnant, then suffered a miscarriage and a diagnosis that meant she could never have children. The subject was painful for her.

Dont do it, Anna warned. If you send him away, retribution will followno business, no happiness, no life.

James slammed his fist on the table. If you all think youre so righteous, then lets do this: Lena registers the child, Ill find the money, well sort everything out. Well all raise him together, and Ill help as a good uncle.

Help how? Lena asked.

Support him! James shouted.

What if you marry? Anna inquired.

Nothing changes, James shrugged. Ill keep helping my sister with her nephew. Everything will be fine.

James always paid his obligations honestly, but he rarely showed up. For three years he was absent, answering that he was busy with work and personal life. Their families met at a wedding, leaving a sour taste, but James fed them enough answers to satisfy curiosity.

The mother and sister were busy looking after the nephew, while Harriet was pregnant and studying.

When his son Charlie was born, James began to change. He watched his little boy grow, yet the shouting drove him mad, and his thoughts drifted back to Jack.

Jacks already spoken his mind! he muttered, visiting his sister and mother to improve relations with his nephew.

Fatherly feelings, awakened by Charlies birth, spilled over onto Jack because Jack responded more. Charlie, meanwhile, lingered on the sidelines. This went on for eight years.

Charlie wasnt completely ignored; he got his share of attention, but James leaned more toward Jack. Four years is a long stretch for children, and activities suitable for a twelveyearold arent right for an eightyearold. James had already exhausted what he could do with Jack, making Charlie seem uninteresting.

Harriet saw her son pushed to the background in favor of the nephew. Anger, jealousy, irritation, and resentment swirled, but she could do nothing. She became financially dependent on James. When she tried to look for work, only lowpaid, unskilled jobs were offeredhardly fitting for the wife of a businessman accustomed to comfort.

I cant be a cleaner or dishwasher! she protested, managing only a few sharp comments, hoping James would remember their son and give him equal attention.

Is this your son? Harriet finally asked, stunned. Why is your sister raising him?

Yes, Jack is my son. Lena isnt his mother, but she raises him like one.

And Jack knows hes not her biological child, James added bitterly. What more do you want?

Harriet pressed her forehead, covered her mouth, inhaled deeply, her gestures showing confusion and distress.

James, what if we take Jack in? Let the brothers live together. Ill try to be his mother, and if he refuses, at least his father will always be near. You wont have to split between sons.

Ready to adopt my child? James asked, suspicious.

Why not? Id even adopt him, Harriet replied, halfjoking, halfserious. She wasnt sure she could take a strangers child, but hoped that having both boys together would make James divide his time fairly.

After a week of thought, James agreed. He officially recognized Jack as his son, and Harriet adopted him as promised.

Treat her well, Anna advised James. Shes a saint; another woman would have sent you to the devil. James looked at Harriet anew, his eyes full of genuine love and gratitude.

Jack eventually began calling Harriet Mum, though it took a year. Their family settled into an ordinary, happy life.

The whole tale teaches that true family is built not on blood alone but on the willingness to share love, responsibility, and respect. When people choose compassion over ego, everyone finds a place at the table.