Mum said the son isn’t mine.
“I want a DNA test!”
John stood in the doorway, clearly showing he wasn’t joking.
Mary was doing the dishes and thought she misheard because of the running water.
She turned off the tap and asked her husband again.
“What did you say?”
“I want a DNA test for our child.”
“Why?” Mary asked, drying her hands.
“Because I think our son isn’t mine.”
What a revelation… Their son, Timothy, was already four. John might not be the perfect dad, but he always treated Tim warmly, spending time with him, buying him toys, and sometimes watching him alone when Mary needed to go out.
Never once had he doubted his fatherhood. There wasn’t even a reason to. Mary and John got married six years ago, and a year later, she found out she was pregnant.
That whole year they were happy, and Mary definitely hadn’t been with anyone else. So, why now?
“Can I ask why you think that?” Mary asked.
John smirked and then looked at her coldly.
“There! You’re already trying to convince me otherwise! If you had nothing to hide, you wouldn’t be worried!”
It seemed like madness.
Mary and John didn’t share some fairytale romance, but she believed that was all fiction. What even is love? If you feel comfortable with someone, respect each other, and you’re faithful, isn’t that love?
But never in their years of marriage had John humiliated her like this. They had respect and trust, yet now he was openly accusing her of this!
“I’m not trying to convince you otherwise,” Mary said as calmly as possible. “I’m just curious why, four years after Timmy was born, you suddenly think he’s not your son?”
“Well, he doesn’t even look like me!” John said, as if it was undeniable proof. “I’m blonde, and everyone in my family is fair, but Timmy has dark hair and brown eyes!”
“And what about me with my dark hair and brown eyes?” Mary asked. “He’s the spitting image of my dad, you know that!”
“I don’t see it,” John shot back, even though just six months ago, he was amazed at how much Timmy resembled his grandfather. “But I do see how he looks like your colleague!”
“Which one?” Mary asked out of curiosity.
“Who, who?!” John retorted mockingly. “That Mark!”
Mary couldn’t hold back a laugh. Before she got pregnant, she worked at a furniture store as a manager, and there was a mover named Mark. Timmy didn’t look anything like him, except maybe the dark hair.
“John, this is ridiculous,” Mary shook her head. “You know I’ve never cheated on you!”
“My mum and sister also told me you’d deny it! Whether you like it or not, I’m getting the test done!”
Ah, now it was clear…
Mary was one of those people everyone liked. Kind, easy to talk to, and always ready to help. But she also had a strong backbone that didn’t let others walk all over her. If something bothered her, she’d say it. And she wasn’t one to flatter.
Mary’s relationship with her mother-in-law didn’t start well. Initially, John’s mum seemed like a pleasant woman. She’d always prepare meals when they visited and compliment Mary, telling her how lucky her son was to have such a smart and pretty wife. Mary felt lucky with her mother-in-law since she often heard horror stories from others.
But soon it was clear that this lovely woman, who smiled at her at the table, spoke nastily about her behind her back. Called her dumb, a lousy homemaker, and downright unattractive. The last one stung because Mary was objectively quite pretty.
Naturally, Mary didn’t turn a blind eye. Next visit, she laid it all out in the open, asking her mother-in-law to make up her mind about her.
That’s when the woman’s true colors showed. But Mary solved it simply – she stopped associating with her. John would visit, and sometimes take their son, but Mary never invited her to their home.
John’s sister was a chip off the old block. She loved gossiping and slandering everyone. Everything was always someone else’s fault. Her husband left (though he found out she was having an affair), she got fired (caught stealing), and no electricity at home (not paying bills for half a year). Initially, Mary tried to get along, but listening to her complaints and agreeing didn’t sit right with her conscience. And truth rarely goes down well.
Now it turned out that his beloved mum and sister had been whispering in John’s ear. Seemingly, they’ve been planting seeds for a while and finally saw results.
Mary decided to give John a chance to come to his senses. She sat at the table and asked him to do the same.
“John, you know your relatives don’t exactly like me. They’ve filled your head with nonsense that could ruin our marriage.”
“If you have nothing to hide,” John said, as if he couldn’t hear her, “then we’ll do the test.”
“Fine,” Mary relented, “but on one condition.”
“And that would be?” John smirked.
“When the test shows the child is yours (as it will), you pack your bags, move in with your mum, and we get a divorce.”
“Why?” John frowned.
“Because I won’t live with a man who doesn’t trust me without any reason. If your mum’s opinion matters more to you, go ahead! But if you start thinking for yourself, you’ll realise I’d never betray you.”
John thought for a moment. Mary hoped he might come to his senses and stop getting caught up in nonsense. But clearly, they had him well manipulated because a couple of minutes later, John said, “We’re doing the test. No more discussion.”
“Alright,” Mary nodded.
Maybe John was convinced their son wasn’t his. Perhaps he just didn’t take Mary’s words seriously. But the next day, they collected DNA samples from John and Tim.
The test took a week. During that time, they didn’t speak, and Mary noticed John was cold towards Tim too.
She was eagerly waiting for the results, ready to shove them in John’s face. Mary had made up her mind. If it was John himself suddenly doubting her fidelity, she might have handled it. But no, everything was fine until he listened to his mum. What next? Maybe the mother-in-law would come up with more to drive them apart and taint her in-laws. Mary wouldn’t stand for that.
When the results came via email, Mary called John. She opened the test and didn’t even look – she already knew the outcome. She just turned the phone screen towards him.
He examined it closely for a while, then smiled.
“Timmy’s mine after all! What a relief! Let’s throw a party!”
“Of course, let’s,” Mary agreed. “Not about your fatherhood – that was certain when I got pregnant. But to commemorate our divorce.”
“What divorce?” John was confused. “Are you serious, Mary? Sure, I doubted! Do you know how many men raise children that aren’t theirs?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t want to,” Mary cut him off. “But I do know I won’t live with someone who doesn’t think for himself. Who’s ready to hurt someone close just because someone said something. Who avoided their own son for a week over a hunch. Leave, John.”
John tried to mend things for a long time. Even apologized and promised not to listen to his family again.
But Mary was firm. Seemingly trivial, yet it revealed the true nature of the man she lived with and had a child with.
Mary felt sorry for whoever John might end up with. She’d clearly have a tough time dealing with the malicious gossip from his family. Perhaps John learned something and would be wiser. Although, people rarely change…
