I blinked, not sure what to think. “What are you trying to say? What are you talking about, Steph?She refused to acknowledge the fact that this was undoubtedly our baby, even as the nurse clarified that they hadn’t yet severed the umbilical cord. It appeared as though she tried to push it away. “Look, Brent!” Her voice was getting higher, every syllable laced with panic. “She’s not… she’s not… I never did.
My world swung as I glanced down at our child. Soft curls and dark skin. It seemed as if the earth had suddenly parted from beneath me.”Steph, what the hell?” I was surprised to hear my piercing, accusing voice piercing the room. The nurse winced, and I caught sight of our families, transfixed in disbelief, out of the corner of my eye.
“It’s not my property!” With tears welling up in her eyes, Stephanie glanced at me and her voice broke. “It’s not possible. I didn’t share a bed with anyone else. Brent, you have to trust me; I’ve never— There was a dense, oppressive tension in the room as everyone left silently, leaving the three of us. I couldn’t stand the treachery, even though I should have stayed.
“Brent, hold on!” As I strode toward the door, Stephanie’s voice boomed out from behind me, broken and frantic. “Please don’t abandon me. I have never been with anyone else, I promise you. I’ve only ever loved you, guy. Her voice stopped me with its unvarnished honesty. I looked over at her. She was the person I had been in love with for years, the one who supported me through all of my hardships and heartaches. Is she actually telling the truth now?”Steph,” I replied, trying to calm down despite the internal commotion. “This is not logical. How would you describe this, exactly? “Brent, I know you don’t understand, but you have to believe me.” For the first time, I truly gazed at the child in her arms when I turned to face her again. The hair and skin still took me by surprise. But then I realized—she was using my sight. And, like me, she had a dimple on her left cheek.
I drew closer to Steph and put my hand up to stroke her cheek. “Yes, I am present. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I’m not going to let you go. We’ll work together to resolve this. With tears streaming down her face, she fell on me, and I embraced my wife and daughter tightly. I don’t know how long we continued in that manner, but ultimately Stephanie fell asleep. She had suffered from exhaustion from the lengthy hours of labor and the stress of our baby’s unexpected appearance. I said to myself softly, “I just need a minute,” as I untangled myself from them.
I’ll return immediately.With swollen and puffy eyes, Stephanie nodded as she raised her head to face me. Though I understood that she was afraid I wouldn’t return, I had to leave that room. Not with the way my thoughts were racing.Taking a deep breath, I went out into the corridor as the door clicked softly behind me, but it did not help.
It was more than oxygen I needed. I was in need of clarification, answers, and a way to make sense of the insanity that had just ripped through my life. A familiar, cutting voice screamed out to me, “Brent,” slicing through my thoughts like a scalpel.When I looked up, I saw my mother standing with her arms firmly folded across her chest, next to the window at the end of the hallway. When I realized I had messed up as a child, her stern, disapproving phrase used to send chills down my spine. I said, “Mom,” but my voice sounded robotic and soulless.
I was too tired to go through any lecture she was going to give.She wasted no time at all. “After this, Brent, you can’t stay with her. You observed the infant. That isn’t your offspring. It is not possible.She is definitely my child. I— To be honest, I wasn’t sure, so my voice trailed off. Not quite yet. And that uncertainty God, I was being eaten alive by that doubt. Mom drew nearer, her eyes getting narrower.
Brent, don’t be so innocent. You must acknowledge that Stephanie has deceived you. Although you can’t deny the reality, I know you adore her. Her remarks felt like a kick to the stomach. cheated on. My want to yell at my mother and correct her was strong, but the words stayed lodged in my throat. Because there was a tiny, bitter voice inside of me that suggested maybe she was correct.”Mum, I… I said, “I don’t know,” as I felt the ground begin to give way beneath me.
“At this moment, I’m not sure what to think.” She reached out to grasp my arm as her expression slightly softened. “Brent, you must get away from her. This is not what you deserve. It’s obvious that she is not who you thought she was. I stepped back from her and shook my head. “No, you’re not getting it. It’s not only about me in this. My wife and daughter are pictured there. I am unable to
Simply move forward.Mom looked at me like I was weak. “Brent, sometimes you have to choose poorly for your own benefit. The truth is something you deserve to know. I moved my head away from her. Indeed, I am deserving of the truth. However, I won’t make any choices until I receive it. Mom, I’m going to investigate this thoroughly. And I’ll handle anything I find out. But I’m not giving up on Stephanie till then. She let out a sigh, obviously not pleased with my answer, but she didn’t press the issue. Brent, just exercise caution. Remember not to let your feelings for her cloud your judgment.
I turned and left after that. Considering how many concerns I already had, I was unable to sit there and listen to any more of hers. I walked down to the genetics department of the hospital, each step felt more taxing than the last.My heart was thumping in my chest by the time I got to the workplace, a constant reminder of what was at risk. The physician explained the DNA test procedure in a cool, collected manner, treating it like any other standard examination. However, it was everything but ordinary for me.
They swabbed the inside of my cheek, collected my blood, and assured me that they would have the results as quickly as possible. I paced the cramped waiting room for hours on end, mentally going over everything. I couldn’t stop picturing Stephanie’s face and the way she was staring at me, pleading with me to believe her. And the child had my dimples and eyes. Those details were like a lifeline to my heart. However, I would hear my mother’s voice in my mind telling me that I was foolish for not realizing the situation.
At last, there was a call. The sound of blood roaring in my ears was so loud that I could hardly hear the doctor. Then, though, the words “The test confirms that you are the biological father” broke through the background chatter. First, relief washed over me like a wave, and then I felt a piercing shame that made my breath catch. How was I ever to question her? How could I have allowed those doubtful thoughts to germinate in my mind? However, the doctor wasn’t done.She gave an explanation of recessive genes and how a child could have features that have been passed down through generations. Scientifically speaking, it made logic, but it didn’t make my guilt for not believing Stephanie go away.
Even though the truth was now obvious, it didn’t lessen my sense of foolishness. I had allowed uncertainty to seep in and ruin the day that ought to have been the happiest of our lives. With the results clasped in my palm like a lifeline, I headed back to the hotel.Stephanie gazed up at me when I answered the door, optimism shining in her eyes that I didn’t deserve. In three swift steps, I crossed the room and extended the paper to her.She read with trembling hands, and suddenly broke down, tears of relief running down her cheeks. I muttered, “I’m sorry,” my voice full of anguish. I apologize for my doubts about you. With a dismissive gesture, she drew me in and tucked our kid in between us.
“Now we’ll be alright,” she muttered.I silently vowed to protect my family no matter what happened to us or who tried to break us up as I hugged them both. I would never again allow doubt or judgment to stand between my wife and my child.
