Race the Time

By Vidya Gopaul

This novel, RACE THE TIME that I have written is first of a kind. Its about a man who while trying to locate his birth father ended up marrying his own sister because his father was the same father of the girl he was marrying. It so happened because his father deserted his mother when she was pregnant and married to another woman who then gave birth to a baby girl. Since the man lived in one country and the girl lived in another country when they met they did not know that they had the same father. Eventually, on their wedding day they found out that both had the same father. But it was too late because many unethical acts had been committed between them.

What inspired me to write this novel is that such true story has taken place in many occasions in this country and in many others, and has been kept in the background. The families who have been affected by it have been devastated morally. Moreover, the idea of writing this book also came to my mind while I participated in a bioethical course in my undergraduate programs at university.

I believe that such true story will keep occurring as long as there will be divorces, family break-ups, unwanted pregnancies, sex freedom, artificial insemination and many other methods of artificially conceiving babies.

I also believe that once this novel is in the market, many people will become aware of such story and perhaps will educate them. As a result, it may help prevent further occurrence of similar incidents.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 13, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503582866

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Vidya Gopaul.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Any feedback can be sent to author’s email address: [e-mail]

Rev. date: 07/10/2015

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Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

CHAPTER ONE

B ACK IN TORONTO, WHEN HE was growing up, he always had the idea of searching for his real father. His mother used to say to him, Son, where are you going to find your father in such a big and complicated world? At that time, if he really wanted to look for his father, he could not have done it because of two major reasons. First, he did not have money to hire a private investigator; and second, he did not have any picture of him. His mother threw away all his pictures when she found out that she was pregnant and that he deserted her.

Bobby Moligan’s idea of locating his father was strictly for curiosity in the beginning. He was never bothered by the society whether he did not know his birth father. Sometimes his friends would just superficially ask him about his real father on an ongoing conversation, and that was it. He was just curious to know how his father looked like, what he was doing, if he was married and had children, and in what condition was he living if he was alive. One day his mother, Anita Moligan, joked with him, Are you trying to find your father in case he may have lot of fortune? He laughed and said to her in a pleasant voice, Maybe. Who knows, he may be a king by now. Both laughed.

If it were his mother, she would not have approved him to search for his father. If he did, he would have brought back all her old and painful memories. When she was dating Bobby’s father, she had very good times with him. Even though she was married to another man, she was still, deep in her heart, loving him very much. Her son was bad enough to remind her of his father. If he did really find him, it would have been worse.

In her personal life, she always wanted to marry the first man she would fall in love with, who was Bobby’s father. But she never married him, and that was the greatest disappointment she ever had to face in her life. She had several other disappointments in her life, but failing to marry the man she really wanted in her life was the worst of all. She not only had the dream of marrying the first man she would fall in love with but to also have a white wedding. A white wedding was a dream of herself and her mother. She was the only daughter her parents had.

The day Anita found out that Bobby’s father had deserted her, she was on the verge of mental breakdown. All her dreams were shattered. She did not know what to do. She felt very lost in her life. She had nothing to look forward to. She trusted him so much that she thought one day both of them would have a happy family. She was very much disgusted with her life, and she felt that it was not worth staying alive anymore. If it were not for her best friend, Monica Thompson, she would have committed suicide in no time. Then shortly after Bobby’s father had disappeared, she found out that she was pregnant. Therefore, after giving much thought to it and with a lot of moral support from her friends and relatives, she decided to face the facts of life, at least for the sake of Bobby’s life.

In the middle of the year of 1972, Bobby Moligan received his degree in medicine. Since he was a brilliant person and also was always among the top students, he had no difficulty in getting a job as an MD in Shunny Brookes Hospital in Toronto. Afterward, when he had saved enough money, he decided to hire a very well-known private investigator, Toby Jones, to locate his birth father. The difficulty with that case was not where to find his father but to imagine or sketch how he looked like because Bobby Moligan did not have a picture of him. His mother threw all the pictures of his father when she found out that he walked out on her.

It was not until the middle of 1974 that he actually started on that case. One Monday, in the month of June of that year, Bobby left his work little earlier than usual to go to Toby Jones’s office to see him for the first time since he briefly had talked to him about the case on the phone. His office was located in downtown Toronto, just at the corner of Dundas Street and University Avenue, on the third floor. Bobby reached Toby’s office just when the latter was coming out the door. Since both of them had only talked on the telephone and had never really met, they did not know each other. Therefore, Toby Jones continued on his walk toward the second floor to get some confidential papers, and Bobby entered his office. The secretary then asked him, May I help you, sir?

Yes, I have an appointment with Mr. Jones. Is he in?

Yes, he is. He just stepped out for few minutes. He will be back very soon.

You mean the fellow who just went out through that door is Mr. Jones?

Yes, that’s him.

You see, I have never met him. So I did not know who he was, and therefore, I did not say anything to him.

Have a seat, please.

Thank you.

Then Bobby took a seat beside a young man. After a few minutes, he asked the man, Are you waiting for Mr. Jones?

Oh no. I am waiting for Mr. Charles Goodman, the man answered. By the way, I am Nabil Sears.

I am Bobby Moligan, Bobby said to him while shaking his hands.

Nabil Sears was a very nice, courteous, and, most of all, very friendly person. Hence, he immediately made friend with Bobby. Therefore, they started to talk about themselves, their jobs, and various other things. They then came to a point during their conversation when each of them wanted to know for what purpose they were there for.

What kind of case are you dealing with, Nabil? asked Bobby.

Well, I am trying to locate my father. I— Bobby interrupted him, Do you believe that I am here for the same reason? I too am trying to locate my father.

What happened to your father? Bobby asked Nabil.

When I was one year old, I was adopted by a couple, Nabil started to explain. They don’t know who my parents are, and neither do I up to now.

If your parents have neglected you, then why are you bothering to locate them? That will cost you a lot of money and your time unless you can spare them, Bobby told him.

I know what you mean, Nabil replied. But you see, my case is very different from many others. If I want to marry, I must find my birth parents.

What do you mean? Bobby became a little curious. I have never heard such a thing before in my life.

I know it’s very unusual for you people. Have you ever heard of Bahá’i Faith? Nabil asked him.

What’s that? Bobby said curiously.

Well, Bahá’i Faith is an independent religion for this day and age, Nabil started to explain to him. It was founded in 1844 by the divine prophet Bahá’u’lláh, the messenger of God. It teaches that all religions have come from one god. Among many principles, the essentials ones are oneness of mankind, oneness of religion, oneness of God, equality of man and woman, elimination of prejudices and racism, independent investigation of truth, and moderation between science and religion. According to one of the moral codes, anyone who wants to get married must have consent from his or her birth parents. Since I am a Báha’i and I want to get married, I must ask consent with my birth parents.

It’s very interesting, Bobby said enthusiastically. I have never heard such a marvelous religion before.

Nabil then went on to relate the Báha’i Faith to the present world. He explained, You see, Bobby, the beauty of the Báha’i Faith is that It is very much applicable to this day and age. The parental consent has never been a moral or ethical principle before in any other religion. It has been coded only in Báha’i Faith. These days people are confused. It has become a promiscuous society. There are always numerous unwanted pregnancies, and they are often adopted by different couples. One brother may be adopted by one couple in one side of the world, and his sister may be adopted by another couple in the other side of the world. And who knows, one day one brother can get married to his own sister if they are adopted by different couples and they don’t know their birth parents. It could happen, you know. That’s why Báha’i Faith has such a beautiful and relevant moral principle—that is, parental consent must be obtained before a couple is married. And I think that, in doing so, it will surely prevent one brother from getting married to his own sister and doing other unethical acts.

Bobby listened very carefully to him and was very much absorbed in what he had just explained.

I can see your point, Nabil, and the relevance of your Báha’i Faith to this present world. It’s such a beautiful religion.

Now tell me your side of the story, Bobby.

Well, in my case, it’s just for curiosity. I just want to find out who my father is, if he is still alive, and, if it is so, then in what condition. Just for curiosity, nothing else, Bobby asserted again.

I hope you will be successful, Nabil wished Bobby.

Thank you, said Bobby. He mildly smiled too.

You know, Nabil, my mother always jokes with me. She says that I am trying to locate my father in order that I can inherit his fortune.

Who knows, maybe he is actually a wealthy man by now. Don’t you wish? Nabil asked Bobby.

Oh well, everybody wishes his or her parents were as wealthy as the rest.

I guess so. But money isn’t everything in life. There is more important thing too. Don’t you think so? Nabil asked.

Of course, it’s true. But when you are rich, you always choose the pain you want to suffer. Both laughed.

Just then, Toby Jones walked in the office with two files in his right hand. His secretary immediately followed him and told him that Mr. Bobby Moligan was waiting for him. He asked her to send him in. Then she came out from the his office and told Bobby, You can go in his office now, Mr. Moligan.

Thank you, said Bobby.

He entered Mr. Jones’s office. Just as he let go the door behind him, the latter stood and walked toward Bobby.

Hello, Dr. Moligan, I am Toby Jones. He shook his hand.

Hello, Mr. Jones. Nice to meet you. I think we briefly crossed over ourselves at the outside door few minutes ago.

Oh yes! That was you! Toby Jones exclaimed. Both then sat down opposite to each other, Toby Jones on one side of his desk and Bobby Moligan on the other. The former started to talk while trying to locate the new file he created for the latter two weeks before.

So you want to locate your father, Dr. Moligan?

Call me Bobby. It’s fine.

Toby Jones also wanted to be informal and told him, Call me Toby.

After Toby found the file for Bobby, he started to ask some basic questions.

When was the last time you saw your father?

I have never seen him, answered Bobby. Even before I was born, he left my mother.

That’s a very sad story. I am sorry to hear that. Toby became a little sympathetic.

So when was the last time your mother saw him? he continued.

About more than twenty-five years ago, answered Bobby.

Does she have an idea of where he could possibly be gone or what could he be doing? Toby asked him again.

That’s the whole mystery, Toby. We don’t know if he is alive today. Nobody has the slightest idea of where he could be.

Do you have any picture of him?

No.

Does your mother have any picture of him?

No, I don’t think so. Last time, she told me she burned all his pictures just after she found out that he had destroyed all her dreams.

The telephone rang, and Toby answered it. One of his clients was inquiring about an incest case. He was very brief with her.

I don’t blame your mother for burning all the pictures of your father after what he had done to her, Toby said sympathetically. Well, I don’t have a picture of your father. I don’t know how he looks like. I don’t know if is still alive. How am I going to find him? That’s a very tough case and is one of a kind, if I’m not mistaken. After saying those words, he leaned back on his chair.

At least I know his name, Bobby said in a humorous manner. It’s Drake Carlyle. Maybe my mother can help you. She probably still remembers him despite what he did to her. Maybe she can give a rough sketch of how he looks like, and you can go from there.

Yes, but a sketch is not good enough. With a vague sketch, you may end up with the wrong person. Moreover, she will most likely remember him when he was young. Now he is older, and during such a long period of time, a person can drastically change. Toby became a little skeptical about the case. Right now, I can tell you that you are going to waste your money and time in this case. I’m very expensive, you know.

Don’t worry about the money. We’ll take one step at a time. Try everything in your power to find every single means to locate my father. Do your best, and if after that we fail, we know that we tried everything. After all, you’re the best in town, Bobby assured him.

Toby was flattered. He paused for a minute and said, Okay. It’s your money. Now let me talk to your mother, and I’ll see what I can do from there.

Bobby became very happy because Toby had accepted his case. He shook his hand and exclaimed, I know I can count on you, and I know you can do it, Toby. That’s why I came to you and not to others. Thank you very much.

Now don’t get your hopes too high. By the way, when can I talk to your mother? Do you know?

I would say most of the evenings she is free.

Then Toby opened his schedule book and found that he was free on the following Thursday evening. Well, tell your mother that I would like to see her on this Thursday evening. I will give her a call before I go to her place, all right, Bobby?

All right, said Bobby.

Both of them shook hands, and Bobby went home.

One might ask the question whether Bobby was doing the right thing in trying to locate his real father. If he did find him, what would be the consequences; and if he did not, what would be the outcome of it? If he came to know who actually his real father was, was it possible that he would jeopardize his life with someone? It seemed that his mother might have something to do with his father. Why did his curiosity for searching his real father become so important? Was he going to solve a mystery, a murder? Was he going to unite his family with that of his father if he had one or destroy them altogether? Or was he setting his own death by trying to find his real father? But no one including himself could find reasonable answers to those questions at that particular moment. It seemed that only time could answer them.

One day went by and Bobby did not have a chance to talk to her mother. Therefore, the following day he decided to talk to her. After all of them—his father, mother, and sisters—had their supper, his mother and he were sitting alone at the dinner table, sipping their coffee. She asked him, Well, did you contact the investigator you were talking about last week?

Bobby scratched his head and replied, Yes, I did. His name is Toby Jones. I hope he will not drop this case.

Why? his mother asked.

He does not have any good information other than his name to start locating my birth father—no picture of him, no physical description of him. He does not know where to begin with this case. Who knows, he may be in Europe. By the way, he is coming here this Thursday evening to get some information from you about Father.

It has been so long that I don’t remember how he would look like. I mean, it has been over twenty-five years since I saw him. At that time, he was young, and now he must have changed considerably. Therefore, my guess could be as good as anyone else’s.

Well, do your best, Mother. That’s all I’m asking.

After both drank their coffees, Bobby went to his room, and his mother started to do some of the chores.

The next day, Thursday, was rainy. Toby Jones arrived at the Moligans’ residence in his car at around eight o’clock in the evening. After he rang the doorbell twice, Bobby answered.

Oh hi, Toby. Come in, please. Give me your umbrella and your raincoat.

It looks as if this rain will never stop, said Toby while handing over his raincoat.

Yes, it sure looks that way, isn’t? Bobby agreed.

At the same time, his mother was just coming into the living room from the kitchen. Bobby then introduced her to Toby Jones. Mother, this is Mr. Toby Jones. Toby, this is my mother, Mrs. Anita Moligan, said Bobby.

Mr. Jones. Nice to meet you.

Hello, Mrs. Moligan, said Toby while reaching out to shake her hand.

Both shook hands. Then each of them had a seat in the living room. Toby was sitting on the opposite couch to both Bobby and his mother. His mother asked Mr. Jones if he would like to have a cup of coffee. He replied, Yes, please. I think I need it in this kind of weather. Immediately, she went to prepare some coffees.

In the meanwhile, Bobby and Toby were talking about their works and various other things. After quarter of an hour, she came back with a pot of coffee, three cups, three spoons, and cream and sugar. She poured the coffee in the cups and asked Toby to add sugar and cream to his own taste. After having the first sip of his coffee, he took out a pad and a pencil from shirt pocket and then started to ask her some questions.

From what Bobby has told me, you don’t have any picture of Drake Carlyle or know where he possibly might have gone. Could you give me a physical description of how he was back then? I know it’s hard to describe because it has been a long time since you have seen him for the last time. I know that you can’t be very accurate but at least try to remember something about him.

Then Mrs. Moligan started to describe Bobby’s father, I’ll try my best, Mr. Jones. Drake was about six feet tall, weighing about 170 pounds. He had a mustache and dark hair.

Did he have any kind of scar or mark or anything unusual in his body that could easily identify him? asked Toby.

Yes, she replied. He had one scar in his right arm just below his elbow. He was hurt in the war. Once in a while, he had the habit of rubbing his ears. Moreover, he just loved the French croissant. He would do anything to get it. And his favorite color was gray. That’s all I can think of Drake, Mr. Jones.

During your romance with Mr. Carlyle, Toby carried on with the investigation, had he mentioned something unusual that may help trigger a clue as to where he might have gone—that is, had he ever talked to you of moving to some places he liked if he had his choice?

Mrs. Moligan paused for few seconds to recall some of the intimate conversations she had with Drake Carlyle. He often used to say there was a good chance that he might be transferred to a city in the Western Canada. I don’t recall him mentioning any particular place he liked to go. He might have, but I don’t remember because it has been a long time.

I guess the most important question I forgot to ask you, Mrs. Moligan, is what kind of work was he doing when he was dating you?

He was working as a pilot in the army.

Did he enjoy working as a pilot?

I think he did because he had never complained to me to about it.

Had he ever mentioned anything about any other profession he would like to do, for example, teaching, coaching, or even opening his own business?

No, not that I can recall anything.

When Toby Jones asked her some very personal questions related to Drake, she started to get emotional. They started to bring back little by little all the memories of her romance with him, which she did not want to do so. At times she even became very impatient and annoyed because some of the questions were extremely personal, and she hesitated to answer them in front of Bobby or anyone else. Being very perceptive, Toby Jones noticed her behaving restlessly and emotionally during the last part of his investigation. Therefore, he stopped asking her any more questions. At about ten o’clock, he said to her, Well, I guess I have enough information to start with this case. But again, as I have said before, it is a tough case to deal with. Thank you very much for your time.

Anita thanked him and so did Bobby for coming to their house. After he went, she told Bobby, "You know there are thousands of people who can match the description of your father I just gave. Since Mr. Jones has never seen him, he can easily be mistaken. It will be extremely difficult for him to single out your father from the rest of the crowd. I don’t know how you guys are going to find him. Anyways,