Chapter 11
The DNA results arrived at 9:12 the next morning.
Olivia brought them herself.
Grace stood beside me.
Lily was outside with Clara, drawing chalk suns on the patio.
I opened the envelope.
Probability of paternity: 99.9999 percent.
I read it once.
Then again.
Then my vision blurred.
Grace sat down hard.
Not because she doubted.
Because proof still hurts when it confirms stolen years.
“She’s mine,” I whispered.
Grace looked at me through tears.
“She always was.”
I walked outside.
Lily looked up from her chalk.
“Did the rude stick say something?”
I laughed and cried at the same time.
“Yes.”
“What?”
I crouched.
“It said I’m your daddy.”
She looked at Grace.
Grace nodded.
Lily studied me carefully.
“Do I have to call you Daddy?”
My heart cracked.
“No. You call me whatever feels right.”
She looked relieved.
“Can I call you Nathan sometimes?”
“Yes.”
“And Daddy sometimes?”
“If you want.”
She nodded and went back to drawing.
Then she added a tall stick figure beside her and Grace.
It had messy hair and a crooked tie.
“Is that me?” I asked.
She shrugged.
“Maybe.”
I looked at Grace.
She covered her mouth, crying silently.
The moment lasted six minutes.
Then Olivia’s phone rang.
Her face changed as she listened.
“What?” I asked.
She lowered the phone.
“Charles filed an emergency petition claiming Grace is exploiting Lily and that you are psychologically compromised.”
Grace stood.
“No.”
Olivia continued.
“He is requesting temporary custody oversight through Victoria’s family trust.”
I felt something dark move through me.
“He has no relation to Lily.”
“He is arguing financial guardianship through your engagement documents.”
I looked at Grace.
She was shaking.
Lily noticed.
“Mommy?”
I stood.
“No one is taking her.”
Grace’s voice was raw.
“You don’t know what he can do.”
I looked toward the main house.
May you like
Then back at my daughter.
“Then I learn fast.”
