And I'm tellin' it to you straight, so you don't have to hear it any other way

Early in 1993 my Grandad died. He'd been suffering from cancer for quite some time, had undergone an operation to remove part of his tongue and eventually his time here was done. He spent quite a lot of time in the months leading up to his death in hospital. A few nights a week me and Mum would collect Grandma and visit. After returning from one such visit when it was clear that Grandad's days were numbered, there came a revelation. Me and Mum were sat in my car outside her house.
Mum: 'I've got something to tell you.' looking at the floor.
Me: 'What? Something's wrong! What?' heart thumping.
Mum: 'It's your Grandad. He's....well....he's not your Grandad.'

Liverpool 1942. The war is on. Annie Riley, a glamourous, if a little immature, young woman was lodging with her Uncle. Annie's Mum had died when she was just 7 and her Dad, being a rough-handed, hard drinking man had decided to put all of his children in an orphanage. Annie had ran away and was eventually taken in by her Grandmother who brought her up as best she could. When she died Annie remained in lodgings with her Uncle. Her Uncle, John, was a hard working, very gentle man but sadly suffered from schizophrenia and therefore Annie became the 'Mother' of the house.

Being brought up by her Grandmother had left Annie devoid of anything that could be described as 'streetwise'; she was an innocent, naive young woman so when a charismatic GI came along, showering her with the kind of attention she'd never experienced before, she was swept off her feet.
And so in April 1944 Annie gave birth to a daughter, Colette.

It must have been a very traumatic time for an un-married young lady in those days in war-torn Liverpool. She must have been shunned by many, many people. The GI stood firmly by her side throughout and proposed to Annie several times. However, the proposal came with conditions; that Annie and baby Colette would return to America once his post in Liverpool ended. Annie was torn. Uncle John had stood by her all her life since her Grandmother had died and now he needed her to stand by him. Who would look after him if she left for America? The day came when the GI had a date to return home and he asked Annie, for what would be the final time, to marry him and come with him to start a new life. She said no, she couldn't leave her beloved Uncle to fend for himself, she wanted to stay in Liverpool.

The GI returned home but kept in touch via letter. His parents did too. They'd regularly send parcels over containing beautiful outfits and other gifts for baby Colette. One day a letter arrived from the GI's parents with a request. They felt that they could give Colette a much better life in America and would Annie consider letting her come and live with her Dad permanently. Given Annie's lack of family unity as a child, the thought of losing Colette terrified her and so she stopped all correspondence with the GI and his family. They stayed in Liverpool looking after Uncle John who doted on Colette who loved him right back.

Some years later Annie met Stephen, known as Sonny to all who knew him. They married when Colette was 8 years old and went on to have a son, Billy.

Back to 1993 in the car outside Mum's. I was in tears by now. Not so much at the thought that Sonny wasn't my real Grandad, cos he kind of was anyway. I was crying for my Mum; for knowing all these years that she has a family in America that she's never met, for never knowing her Dad. And for my Grandma; for having to make such a difficult decision. I wonder what she thinks today? I wonder whether she ever regretted that decision or whether she glad she made it?

I wonder a lot. Especially about who my family are and where my heritage is...........