What if shes not my daughter? I need a DNA test.
Oliver sat on the edge of the sofa, watching as his wife, Emily, cooed over their newborn daughter, and couldnt shake a troubling doubt from his mind. The thought gnawed at him relentlesslywhat if the baby wasnt his?
The previous year, Oliver had been sent on a business trip to Manchester for a month. Just a couple of weeks after his return, Emily shared what she believed was wonderful news: they were expecting a baby.
At first, Oliver was over the moon. But then, during a family get-together, Emilys sister Chloe shared an intriguing story about how shed done a DNA test on her son to reassure her partner about paternity.
“Emily,” Oliver said, “perhaps we should do a DNA test too. Just for peace of mind.”
Emilys reaction was immediateshe exploded in fury, hurling a cushion across the room. Even the neighbours knocked on the wall to complain.
“Whats so wrong with that?” Oliver argued, growing more suspicious. Her outrage seemed far too intense for such a simple request. “I just want to be sure, thats all.”
“How could you even think of something like that?” Emily fumed, picking up another pillow to throw at him. “Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?”
“I was away for a whole month,” Oliver replied with a bitter smile. “How do I know what you were up to? We do the test, I get my answer, and I wont bring it up again. When shall we go? Chloe can probably recommend a clinic.”
“In your dreams,” Emily spat, storming off into the nursery with a final slam of the door.
***************************************************
“You know, Mum,” Oliver complained later to his mother, Anne Walker, as she poured him a cup of tea in her cosy kitchen, “Im not asking for anything outrageous. Why did she fly off the handle like that?”
“Her conscience is obviously troubling her,” Anne replied knowingly. “Mark my words, shes got something to hide. In fact,” she hesitated, weighing up whether to share what was on her mind, “when you were away, there was an incident”
“What happened?” Oliver leaned forward, instantly alert.
“Dont get the wrong idea, I try not to meddle,” she continued, glancing away. “I dropped by to talk about your fathers birthday. Emily took ages to answer, though I could hear someone was in. And when she finally did, she looked a complete messand there were mens shoes in the hallway.”
“And what did she say?” Oliver demanded, anger rising.
“Something about there being a burst pipe,” Anne rolled her eyes. “She could have made up a better excuse.”
“Why didnt you tell me before?”
“Well, I never actually went inside, so I had no proof,” his mother pursed her lips. “I didnt want to cause trouble between you.”
“You should have told me!” Oliver cried, nearly knocking over his mug. “Now what am I supposed to do?”
“Make sure you get that test done,” Anne advised, hiding a hint of satisfaction. Shed never cared much for Emily. “Or do it yourself. You have every right as her father.”
************************************************
“You can relax now,” Oliver said, tossing the now-unnecessary envelope delivered by special post. “Sophie is really my daughter. As promised, I wont mention it again.”
“I dont understand,” Emily snapped, eyeing the opened letter warily. “Did you go ahead and do that bloody test without even telling me?”
“Of course,” Oliver replied offhandedly. “I fitted it in while out for a walk with Sophie. Shes mine, so it wasnt a problem.”
“There is a problem,” Emily said quietly, shaking her head. “And its a shame you dont see it.”
The next morning, Oliver left for work as usual, but when he returned that evening, the house was empty. All traces of Emily and Sophie were gone. Only a single note sat on the coffee table.
“Your lack of trust has destroyed everything we had. I wont stay with someone who thinks Im a traitor, so Im filing for divorce. I want nothing from younot your house, not your money. I just want you out of our lives.”
Oliver seethed with anger. How dare Emily leave him? And take his daughter too! He grabbed his phone and dialled her number over and over.
A mans voice answered. He listened silently to Olivers raging accusations before calmly replying, “Dont call this number again,” and hanging up.
“I knew she was cheating!” Oliver raged, hands trembling. “Barely out the door and already shacked up with another bloke! Good riddance!”
It never crossed his mind that Emily might have gone back to her parents, and that it was her brother who answered, trying not to disturb his exhausted sister. Oliver was convinced he knew the truth.
The divorce was settled swiftly and amicably. Little Sophie stayed with her mother and never saw her biological father again.
Sometimes, the need for certainty can drive us to break what is most precious. Trust, once broken, is difficult to rebuild. Its the foundation of loveand without it, were left only with regret.
