Chapter 6: The Second Test
Linda placed the folder on the kitchen table.
She didn’t throw it down.
She didn’t act dramatic.
That somehow made it worse.
She looked like someone who had been waiting years for this moment.
Emily moved toward her.
“Mom, please don’t do this.””
Linda turned.
“I stayed quiet because I thought you would tell him.””
“I was going to.””
“When?””
Emily had no answer.
I looked between them.
“Someone needs to explain what’s happening.””
Linda opened the folder.
Inside were medical records.
Test results.
Dates.
Notes.
I didn’t touch them.
Not yet.
“What is this?””
Linda looked at me.
“The reason I never trusted the first DNA test.””
Emily’s voice became sharper.
“Mom, stop acting like you know everything.””
Linda looked hurt.
“Do I?””
The question silenced her.
I pulled out a chair.
“Everyone sits down.””
For once, nobody argued.
Linda placed the papers in front of me.
“The first test was done through a private clinic.””
I looked at Emily.
“You knew?””
She nodded.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I was afraid you would think I didn’t trust you.””
I looked at the papers.
“Did you trust me?””
She didn’t answer.
That hurt more than any argument.
Linda pointed at the document.
“The clinic reported an error.””
I looked closer.
“What kind of error?””
“The sample identification was questioned.””
I felt my chest tighten.
“Meaning?””
Linda swallowed.
“Meaning the results could not be considered completely reliable.””
Emily interrupted.
“But another test confirmed it.””
Linda looked at her.
“Yes.””
“And that one said Daniel was the father.””
“Yes.””
I looked at Linda.
“Then what is the problem?””
Her expression became serious.
“The second test was done after the first one.””
“So?””
Linda leaned forward.
“The second test was requested by Jacob.””
The room froze.
I looked at Emily.
She looked away.
“You knew?””
“I found out later.””
“When?””
“After you left for work one day.””
I stood.
“You’re telling me Jacob took a DNA test?””
Emily nodded.
“But why?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because he thought the first test might have been wrong.””
I looked at the papers again.
My mind was spinning.
“So what did his test say?””
Nobody spoke.
That silence was enough.
“Tell me.””
Linda looked at Emily.
Emily whispered:
“It matched.””
I felt the room tilt.
“No.””
Emily started crying.
“Daniel—”
“No.””
I stepped back.
“You told me I was the father.””
“I believed you were.””
The words cut deep.
“You believed?””
She stood.
“I swear to you, I didn’t know.””
I looked at Linda.
“You knew?””
Linda shook her head.
“I suspected something was wrong.””
“And you said nothing?””
“I wanted the truth to come out.””
I laughed.
“By letting me raise a child while everyone around me had doubts?””
Nobody answered.
Because there was no answer.
I walked away from the table.
My hands were shaking.
I looked toward the staircase.
Upstairs was the nursery.
The room I built.
The room where I imagined my son taking his first steps.
Now I didn’t even know what to call him.
Emily followed me.
“Daniel.””
I stopped.
“I need space.””
“Please listen.””
I turned around.
“Did you ever love me?””
The question surprised her.
She started crying immediately.
“Yes.””
“Then why did you let me be the last person to know the truth?””
She had no answer.
The next morning, I woke up to a message from an unknown number.
My heart sank before I even opened it.
There was only one sentence.
*You need to know why the DNA results changed. Meet me before Emily finds out I contacted you.*
At the bottom was a name.
Dr. Aaron Mitchell.
The doctor who performed the test.
And below that was a photo.
A photo of Emily.
Standing outside the clinic.
May you like
With someone I never expected to see.
My own brother.
