I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the same birthmark on my niece that I had once seen on my husband. My heart stopped as I stared at it, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. But instead of jumping to conclusions, I decided to take a quiet and secret step to uncover the truth—a DNA test. It was the only way I could know for sure.
It was a peaceful afternoon, the kind you only find under a tall, comforting cedar tree. The breeze was light and soothing, and there I sat with baby Sofia curled up in my arms. Even though Sofia was my sister-in-law Fiona’s child, the love I felt for her was just as strong as any mother’s love for her own.
Sofia had been a surprise. Her mother, Fiona, was part of David’s distant family, and I’d heard stories of their strained relationship. David had painted a sad picture of them—estranged, far away. So, when Fiona and Sofia moved into the neighborhood, I didn’t expect it. But once they were here, I found myself enjoying their company more than I ever thought I would.
The day was perfect, and we were enjoying a lovely picnic. Fiona laughed and jokingly said she was going to take Sofia back. But I smiled and shook my head. “No, you should clean up a little first. We’re fine here,” I insisted, holding Sofia tighter in my arms.
Fiona’s laugh was like music to my ears. We went on with our picnic, and soon, Sofia became restless. I quickly knew what needed to be done. I carefully laid her down on the picnic rug, ready to change her diaper. But as I opened it, I found that it was still perfectly clean.
I went to secure a fresh one around her waist, but then something caught my eye—the birthmark. It was right there, on her tiny back, and it looked exactly like the one I had seen on David’s back not long ago.
For a few seconds, I froze. My heart raced. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Was it possible? Could there be a connection between David and Sofia that I hadn’t known about?
I quickly dressed Sofia again and held her close, trying to process what I had just seen. As I gazed down at her innocent face, a flood of questions filled my mind. Was David somehow involved with Fiona in ways I didn’t know? Could Sofia be his daughter?
Fiona and David’s closeness suddenly made sense in a way it never had before. I didn’t say anything though; I kept the thoughts to myself, knowing I needed to observe more, to be sure before confronting anyone.
Later that night, back in the quiet of our home, I treated David the same way I always did. I didn’t let on that the discovery of the birthmark had shaken me. But as I helped him dry off after his shower, I couldn’t help but notice his back again. The birthmark was right there, the same as Sofia’s. The resemblance was undeniable. My stomach twisted with pain.
David must have noticed my discomfort, as he chuckled and said, “You should have at least warned me that the kingly treatment was only for a few seconds.” His words stung, but I couldn’t bring myself to respond. The thought of him lying to me—about something so important—was too much to bear.
I needed answers. I couldn’t keep living in the dark, wondering if David had betrayed me. That night, I made up my mind to get a DNA test. There was no turning back now.
The next day, Fiona visited again. I tried my best to act normal, though it was difficult with everything going on in my mind. I ran to pick up Sofia, feeling her warmth in my arms as I pretended everything was fine. Fiona laughed and said, “At this point, Sofia and I might as well move in.”
I smiled and responded, trying to keep the tension out of my voice, “Of course. We are all family.”
While Fiona was distracted, I took the chance to collect the DNA samples. I grabbed a bit of Sofia’s saliva and pulled a strand of hair from David’s head, despite his confusion. “Relax,” I told him, “I just helped you pull something out of your head.”
With the samples in hand, I rushed to drop them off, eager for the results. I needed the truth, and I needed it fast.
Fiona’s visits only made me more anxious. Her attempts at small talk seemed like mockery, and I could feel my anger rising every time she tried to engage me in conversation. One day, when I couldn’t take it anymore, I pretended to be sick and laid down on the couch to avoid talking. But soon enough, David and Fiona joined me, and their casual banter was like a needle to my already frayed nerves.
It wasn’t until they started talking about Sofia’s future that I completely snapped.
“Sofia is going to be two years old soon. I wonder what her first words will be,” David said, smiling as he looked down at Sofia.
“I don’t know. It could be poo-poo for all we know,” I snapped, my frustration bubbling over.
David, completely unaware of what was going on in my mind, smiled and replied, “I think it could be dada.” He puffed out his chest like a proud father.
That was the breaking point.
I jumped up, pointing a shaking finger at both of them. “That’s enough! Tell me the truth—Sofia is your child!” I shouted, my voice cracking. “Don’t even try to deny it. I saw the birthmark on your back, and Sofia’s. I know the truth!”
The silence that followed was deafening. Their shocked expressions were all the confirmation I needed. I felt the tears welling up in my eyes, and before I could stop them, they spilled down my cheeks. “Every time I ask about Sofia’s father, I get no answers. Just tell me the truth!”
But neither of them spoke. They just stared at me, their mouths agape. I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and ran out of the house.
David tried to follow me, but Fiona stopped him, and I could see his desperation as he reached for the car.
I didn’t know what I was hoping for, but I drove away, seeking refuge in a hotel. Maybe some distance would help me think. But as I sat in the hotel room, my stomach twisted, and I threw up everything I had eaten. I was sure it was a physical manifestation of the emotional turmoil I was feeling.
Then, a thought hit me like a bolt of lightning. “No,” I gasped. Could I be pregnant? The idea was horrifying, but it was the only thing that made sense at the moment. The thought of sharing a child with someone who might have deceived me was unbearable.
The next morning, I went to the pharmacy and picked up a pregnancy test. “I’d like a pregnancy kit,” I said, my voice shaking.
The cashier asked a few questions, but I just wanted to get out of there. “I’ll take any brand,” I replied quickly, my heart racing.
Back in my hotel room, I waited anxiously for the test result. When I saw the two lines, the reality of my situation hit me like a punch to the gut. I was pregnant.
David’s calls didn’t stop, but I felt trapped and alone. Running out of money, I decided to go back home, confront David and Fiona, and gather my things.
When I walked through the door, Fiona greeted me with a smile. “Carmen, I’m glad you’re back. There’s so much we need to—”
I didn’t let her finish. I brushed past her and started packing my things. David shouted at me, “Listen to me, Fiona is my sister!” But I couldn’t bring myself to care.
Even as he continued to protest, I coldly responded, “Even if she is, it’s not unheard of.”
“I swear to you, Fiona is my sister, and Sofia is my niece. Trust me!” David continued, his voice desperate. “I would never cheat on you.”
“If it looks like a rat and smells like one, what the hell am I supposed to call it?” I shot back, finishing packing.
David then suggested, “How about a DNA test?”
I didn’t flinch. “I already took one,” I replied, my voice steady.
Fiona appeared in the doorway then, her eyes wide. “Don’t even bother saying anything. I always wondered who Sofia’s father was,” I said bitterly. “I saw the birthmark. I KNOW THE TRUTH!”
The anger, the sadness, the frustration—everything came pouring out in tears. But then, Fiona did something I didn’t expect. She turned around and revealed her back, showing me the same birthmark. “I have the same birthmark,” she said quietly.
It hit me like a ton of bricks.
Fiona’s eyes grew somber. “Sofia’s father was a commissioned officer who was deployed overseas. He died there before Sofia was born. And I hate him for leaving, but I also feel guilty about it.”
David looked at me with deep sincerity. “I only treat Sofia like my own because Fiona wanted her to have a male figure in her life. She didn’t want her to be alone.”
My doubts didn’t disappear completely, but I felt an overwhelming relief at their honesty.
Still, I needed confirmation. I told them I had taken the test in secret, and Fiona accepted it calmly. “I don’t mind. As long as this misunderstanding is cleared up,” she said.
We went together to the institution to get the results. I couldn’t wait for the delivery anymore. My heart raced as I led them all to the doctor’s office.
The doctor showed us the results, and what I saw shocked me. The test had been wrong. There was no match. “It’s good to know that the first test was wrong,” David said with a relieved laugh.
Fiona added, “Even if the second test had said that David was the father, I would have insisted we do another one.”
Back home, my guilt took over. “I made you doubt, and I should have told you more about Sofia’s father,” Fiona said, hugging me tightly.
“We are family,” David added, shaking his head. “I should have been more open with you.”
We hugged for a long time, and the tension slowly melted away. Sofia’s playful cries from the next room only made me smile. I knew we would be okay.
Then, months later, after the birth of my baby boy Zack, I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw the many cars parked in front of our house. “I didn’t know your family was so excited about a new baby,” I whispered to David.
David smiled, wrapped his arm around me, and with Fiona standing behind us holding Sofia, we prepared to greet the rest of the family.
