On our wedding anniversary, my husband handed me an envelope with DNA test results for our kids.
*”I know you think this is a gift, but how could you?”* Emily held the white envelope between two fingers like it might burn her. *”On our anniversary, Nicholas! Our fifteenth!”*
Nicholas stood by the window, staring at the sunlit garden. His broad shoulders tensed.
*”You have to understand me, Emily. I had a right to know.”*
Around them, traces of their celebration lingeredhalf-finished champagne, the remains of a cake with fifteen candles, a vase of lilies on the table. Their countryside home, bought five years ago, suddenly felt cold and unfamiliar despite the July heat.
*”Know what? That Andrew isnt yours?”* Emily tossed the envelope onto the table. *”This is some horrible mistake. I never cheated on you, do you hear me? Never!”*
Nicholas turned to her, anger and pain warring in his eyes.
*”Then explain these results. Explain why they say the probability of paternity is less than one percent!”*
The front door slammed. Standing in the doorway was Victoria, their fourteen-year-old daughtertall like her father, with the same deep-set grey eyes.
*”Whats going on?”* She looked from one parent to the other. *”Are you seriously arguing? On your anniversary?”*
Emily quickly snatched the envelope off the table.
*”Nothing, love. Just discussing work stuff.”*
*”On a weekend?”* Victoria narrowed her eyes, inheriting her fathers sharpness. *”Fine, dont tell me. Im going to Kates. Were seeing a film.”*
Once she left, Emily sank into a chair.
*”Wheres Andrew?”*
*”At the Parkers. They picked him up from footballhes staying the night.”* Nicholas poured himself more champagne. *”Funny, isnt it? Fifteen years of marriage, and I just found out Ive been raising another mans son for ten of them.”*
*”Hes not another mans!”* Emily shot up. *”How can you say that? Youre his fatheryou held him as a newborn, taught him to ride a bike, you”*
*”I thought he was mine!”* Nicholas slammed his glass down, spilling champagne on the tablecloth. *”Now I dont know what to think. Who is he, Emily? Whose is he?”*
*”Mine and yours. Our son. Theres been some mistake with the test.”*
*”I checked three times, Emily. Three! I didnt want to believe the first result.”*
Emily felt the ground tilt beneath her.
*”When did you start doubting? Why did you even do this test?”*
Nicholas hesitated, then exhaled heavily.
*”Victor.”*
*”Victor? Your old colleague? Whats he got to do with it?”*
*”Two weeks ago, we bumped into each other at the hardware store. Got talking. He asked about you, the kids. Then he said something that made me think.”*
Emilys hands turned icy.
*”What exactly?”*
*”He hinted you two had an affair. That you that you”* Nicholas couldnt finish.
*”What?!”* Emily leapt up. *”Me and Victor? Have you lost your mind? I couldnt stand him! You always said he tried to undermine you at work!”*
*”I know.”* Nicholas ran a hand through his hair. *”But then I started remembering Andrew looks nothing like me. Nothing like my family. And the timing fitsback when I was working out of town, away for weeks at a time”*
*”I cant believe youd trust him over me,”* Emily whispered, sinking back into the chair. *”Fifteen years of marriage, and you take his word instead of mine.”*
*”I wanted to trust you! Thats why I did the testto prove Victor wrong. But the results”* He nodded at the envelope. *”They said otherwise.”*
A heavy silence settled between them.
*”What now?”* Emily finally asked.
*”I dont know.”* Nicholas grabbed his bag. *”I need time. Ill stay with George for a few days.”*
Emily wanted to argue, but the words stuck in her throat. She just watched as her husband walked out of the home theyd built together. When the door clicked shut, she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.
*”I dont get it,”* George, Nicholass younger brother, handed him a coffee. *”Whyd you even do the test?”*
They sat in Georges small but cosy flat. Nicholas hadnt slept all night, dark circles under his eyes.
*”You didnt see the way Victor looked at me when he said itso smug. And you know Andrew looks nothing like me.”*
*”He looks like Emily,”* George shrugged. *”So? My Liam takes after Sophie more than me.”*
*”But the test results”*
*”Are you sure theyre right? Who did the analysis?”*
Nicholas pulled a crumpled business card from his pocket.
*”GeneLab. Private, but good reviews. I checked.”*
George turned the card over in his hands.
*”So what now?”*
*”I dont know,”* Nicholas rubbed his face. *”Feels like my worlds collapsed.”*
*”Have you talked to Emily? Whats she saying?”*
*”That she never cheated. That its a mistake.”*
*”Do you believe her?”*
Nicholas looked up at his brother.
*”I believed her for fifteen years. Now I dont know.”*
Emily sat across from the director of MedTest Laboratories. Shed barely slept but looked composed.
*”I need results as fast as possible,”* she said, sliding over the sample tubes. *”Ill pay extra for urgency.”*
The director, a stout woman in glasses, nodded.
*”We can do three days. But DNA paternity tests are seriousif youre doubting another labs results”*
*”Im certain theres been a mistake,”* Emily said firmly. *”My husband is Andrews father. I need to prove it.”*
Leaving the lab, Emily called her best friend, Sarah.
*”I need your help. You worked at St. Marys ten years ago, right? Remember Irene from maternity?”*
Victoria found her mother at the computer, frantically searching and scribbling notes.
*”Mum, whats going on? Wheres Dad? Hes not answering my texts.”*
Emily flinched and closed the laptop.
*”Dads at Uncle Georges. Weve had a disagreement.”*
*”About what?”* Victoria crossed her arms. *”Why did you fight?”*
Emily sighed. Victoria was too sharp for vague excuses.
*”Your father doubts hes Andrews biological dad.”*
Victoria froze, eyes wide.
*”What? How why?”*
*”He took a DNA test. It says hes not Andrews father. But its wrong, Vic. I know its wrong.”*
*”Did you”* Victorias voice cracked. *”Did you cheat on Dad?”*
*”No! Never!”* Emily grabbed her hands. *”I swear to you, Ive never betrayed your father. I love him. Always have.”*
Victoria yanked her hands free.
*”Then how is Andrew not his? DNA doesnt lie, Mum!”*
*”Tests can be wrong. Labs make mistakes. People tamper with results.”*
*”What are you saying?”*
Emily opened her notebook.
*”I think someone faked those results. Or there was a mix-up at the hospital. Or”*
*”Youre making up wild theories instead of admitting the truth!”* Victoria shouted. *”You lied to all of us! Poor Dad! Poor Andrew!”*
*”Vic, please”* Emily reached for her, but Victoria jerked away.
*”Dont touch me! I dont I dont want to talk to you!”*
She stormed out, slamming the door. Emily collapsed into the chair, tears streaming as her world crumbled.
Sarah brought Emily to a quiet café on the outskirts of town.
*”Shell be here in five,”* Sarah checked her phone. *”I didnt mention you.”*
*”Thanks,”* Emily nervously twisted a napkin.
The door opened, and a woman in her forties walked inshort hair, wary eyes. She froze when she saw Emily.
*”What is this, Sarah? Whyd you lie to me?”*
*”Please, Irene,”* Emily stood. *”I just need to ask you something.”*
