The Paper on the Table
Chapter 02 - The Paper on the Table
Claire waited until the boys were asleep before opening the document.
It was not a lawsuit.
It was a laboratory report.
A DNA comparison.
Claire read the conclusion twice.
Probability of biological relationship: 99.98%.
Her hands began to shake.
Adrian sat across from her in the hotel lobby where she had reluctantly agreed to meet him.
“Where did you get this?”
“My father.”
Claire stared at him.
Victor Cole had been the last person she expected to hear about.
Adrian continued.
“He died three weeks ago. His attorney gave me a sealed box. Your letters were inside.”
Claire’s breath caught.
“Letters?”
“Eleven of them.”
She had written those letters after Adrian disappeared.
Every one had been returned unopened.
At least, that was what Victor had told her.
Adrian slid one across the table.
Claire recognized her handwriting immediately.
I’m pregnant. Please call me.
She covered her mouth.
“He told me you moved to Europe,” Adrian said. “He said you wanted nothing to do with me.”
Claire looked up.
“Your father told me you knew about the pregnancy and wanted me gone.”
Neither spoke.
Nine years of resentment collapsed in less than a minute.
Adrian looked toward the elevator where the twins were sleeping upstairs.
“Are they mine?”
Claire’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
The word changed both of them.
Adrian looked down, trying to control his breathing.
Then he asked the question Claire had feared since the restaurant.
“Why didn’t you ever find me?”
May you like
She stared at him.
“I did.”
