He had compared his DNA with the medical samples kept from the pregnancy.
The result was undeniable.
Adrian was their father.
I folded the paper.
“You wanted proof.”
“Yes.”
“And now you have it.”
His eyes filled with something I hadn’t expected.
Regret.
“I lost eight years.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
He looked confused.
“You lost eight years.”
I looked toward the house.
“I lost them with you.”
Then I walked away.
Page 5
Christmas dinner was uncomfortable.
No one knew where to look.
The four boys were too young to understand why every adult seemed nervous.
They were busy fighting over who got the biggest piece of roast potatoes.
Samuel asked Adrian:
“Do you have a dog?”
Adrian blinked.
“No.”
“You should get one.”
Daniel laughed.
“You don’t tell grown-ups what to do.”
Samuel shrugged.
“He asked.”
For the first time that evening, Adrian smiled.
A real smile.
