Chapter 7: The Blood Test
The room became so quiet that I could hear the clock above the kitchen door ticking.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Elena stared at Miriam.
"You think Daniel might be my biological father?""
Miriam shook her head.
"I don't know.""
"But you said—"
"I said there was a possibility.""
I looked at the birth certificate again.
My name wasn't printed anywhere.
Thomas's was.
But beneath his name, someone had written a note about disputed paternity.
I looked at Miriam.
"Why would my name be involved?""
She lowered her eyes.
"Because the night Thomas died, you were with me.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"You came to the hospital.""
"I came after the accident.""
"No.""
Her voice trembled.
"You came before.""
I stared at her.
"I don't remember.""
"You were drunk.""
"I wasn't drunk.""
"You'd been drinking.""
"I had two beers.""
"Daniel, you were angry.""
"About what?""
She looked at Elena.
"About Thomas.""
I felt something cold move through my chest.
"Why was I angry with him?""
Miriam's eyes filled with tears.
"Because I told you I was pregnant.""
Elena whispered, "With me?""
Miriam nodded.
"And I thought Thomas was the father.""
I sat down.
The memory came back in fragments.
A hospital corridor.
Rain against windows.
Miriam crying.
Thomas shouting at me.
A door slamming.
Then nothing.
"I don't remember that night.""
"You weren't supposed to.""
I looked at her.
"What does that mean?""
"After Thomas died, I was afraid.""
"Afraid of me?""
"No.""
She swallowed.
"Afraid of what the truth would do to all of us.""
Elena stepped closer.
"Mom, stop protecting us.""
Miriam looked at her daughter.
"You deserve the truth.""
She took a breath.
"Thomas and I were together. But we had separated shortly before you were conceived.""
I stared at her.
"Then?""
"I came to Daniel.""
My heart stopped.
"Why?""
"Because I loved you.""
I shook my head.
"No.""
"You were always there for me.""
"But Thomas?""
"He was gone.""
Elena looked between us.
"So Dad could actually be my biological father?""
Miriam nodded.
"Yes.""
Nobody spoke.
Then Claire said quietly, "We need the DNA test.""
I looked at Elena.
She nodded.
"Today.""
We drove to a private laboratory.
Neither of us spoke during the journey.
At the clinic, a technician took samples from both of us.
A cotton swab against my cheek.
Then hers.
Simple.
Almost painfully ordinary.
The technician placed the samples into separate envelopes.
"Results should be available within a few hours.""
Elena stared at the envelopes.
"Could we wait here?""
The technician smiled sympathetically.
"Unfortunately, no.""
Outside, we sat on a bench beneath a row of maple trees.
Elena looked at me.
"Are you scared?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"Because I've spent twenty years believing I was your father in every way except biology.""
She looked down.
"And now?""
"Now I'm afraid biology might change how you see me.""
She shook her head.
"It won't.""
"You don't know that.""
"I do.""
She turned toward me.
"You taught me to ride a bike.""
I smiled faintly.
"You crashed into a mailbox.""
"You pushed me.""
"You refused to let go.""
"I was terrified.""
"So was I.""
She laughed through her tears.
"You stayed up all night when I had the flu.""
"You were miserable.""
"You paid my college tuition.""
"You earned that degree.""
"You were there when I got my heart broken.""
"I wanted to punch that kid.""
She smiled.
"You almost did.""
"Almost.""
The smile faded.
"Dad?""
"Yeah?""
"What if you are?""
"What if I'm what?""
"My biological father.""
I looked at her.
"Then I'll be the luckiest man alive.""
Her eyes filled.
"Why?""
"Because I'd get to say I was your father twice.""
She leaned against my shoulder.
For the first time since this nightmare began, neither of us needed to explain anything.
Then my phone rang.
Claire.
I answered.
"Where are you?""
"At the courthouse.""
My stomach tightened.
"Why?""
"I found something.""
"What?""
"The trust documents were altered.""
"By Robert?""
"No.""
I looked at Elena.
"Then who?""
Claire hesitated.
"Mark.""
I frowned.
"How?""
"He had access through a lawyer.""
"Which lawyer?""
Claire gave me the name.
I recognized it.
"That's Miriam's attorney.""
Silence.
I stood.
"What?""
"Daniel, there's more.""
"What?""
"The original trust never named you as protector.""
I froze.
"Then who?""
Claire's voice became very quiet.
"Elena.""
I looked at my daughter.
"What do you mean?""
"The original document gave Elena complete control over the trust at twenty-seven.""
"So why did everyone keep saying I controlled it?""
"Because someone created a fake amendment.""
"Who?""
"I don't know.""
My phone buzzed.
A message.
*Your test results are ready.*
I stared at the screen.
Elena saw my expression.
"Is it the lab?""
I nodded.
She stood.
"Let's go.""
We returned to the clinic.
The technician handed me an envelope.
"Would you like to open it here?""
I couldn't answer.
Elena took my hand.
"Together.""
I opened it.
My eyes moved across the page.
Probability of paternity:
*99.9998%.*
I couldn't breathe.
Elena stared at the result.
Then at me.
"Dad...""
I laughed.
A broken, disbelieving laugh.
"I knew it.""
She started crying.
I pulled her into my arms.
She held me tighter.
For twenty years, I had been her father without knowing what blood said.
Now blood had finally caught up with the truth.
But beneath the paternity result was another page.
I almost missed it.
A laboratory note.
*Secondary sample comparison requested.*
I frowned.
"What is this?""
The technician looked confused.
"We didn't request a secondary comparison.""
I turned the page over.
There was another name.
Not Thomas.
Not Robert.
Not Mark.
A woman's name.
Miriam Hale.
Elena's eyes widened.
"Why did they test Mom?""
I looked at the technician.
"Who ordered this?""
He checked the computer.
Then his face changed.
"Sir...""
"What?""
"The request came from your wife.""
"Miriam?""
He nodded.
"She ordered the test two days ago.""
Elena's face went pale.
"Why would she test herself?""
The technician looked at the screen again.
"Because she wanted to know whether she was biologically related to the child.""
I stared at him.
"She already knows she's Elena's mother.""
He shook his head.
"Not according to this request.""
My blood ran cold.
Elena whispered, "What does that mean?""
The technician slowly printed another page.
Then handed it to me.
The result showed:
*Miriam Hale — Excluded as biological mother.*
Elena stepped backward.
"No.""
I looked at Miriam's name.
The world seemed to tilt.
"That's impossible.""
The technician shook his head.
"The sample is clear.""
Elena stared at me.
"If Mom isn't my biological mother...""
She couldn't finish.
I looked at the date on the test request.
Two days before the wedding.
Two days before everything fell apart.
Then my phone rang.
Miriam.
I answered.
"Where are you?""
Her voice was barely a whisper.
"Daniel, you have the results.""
"Yes.""
Silence.
"Then you know.""
"Know what?""
She began crying.
"The woman who gave birth to Elena...""
May you like
Her voice broke.
"...wasn't me.""
