James looked around the apartment at a loss. Nothing seemed to have changed, things were in their places. Only there was unusual silence and perfect order.
James shuddered. He pulled an envelope from his pocket and stared at it.
“Who cares what it says now.” – Thought James. – “It doesn’t matter now.”
His musings were interrupted by a phone call.
– Son, did you get the result of the test yet? – My mother spoke impatiently. – What is it?
– I got it. But I haven’t opened the envelope yet.
– How? – Mom was surprised. – Although I already know. She is not your daughter.
– You always know everything,” James grumbled.
There was a long pause.
– What is it? Don’t keep me waiting. – Her mother shouted into the phone.
James stared blankly out the window. A leaf fell out of his hands and onto the floor. His mother’s screams came out of the phone. He could not understand the words. James turned the phone off automatically.
When his daughter was born five years ago, James had been overwhelmed with happiness and pride. He admired everything about her. The way she slept, how she smacked her lips, how she crinkled her tiny nose whimsically. Princess!
My daughter had pretty brown eyes and dark, almost black hair. James was a blue-eyed blond, and his wife was a brunette. James was very happy that he now had two girls he loved.
– You know, Denis, my daughter doesn’t look like you at all,” my mother often whispered, “Not one bit. She doesn’t have anything of yours. She’s not our type, she’s not our type.
– So what,” said James, “she’s like her mother. It makes no difference.
Mom pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow.
You know, water cuts stones, too. In time, James began to look closely at his daughter. Observed her gestures and facial expressions, her gait. Suspicions crept into his heart.
After four years, he was already fully convinced that this was not his daughter. Irritation and distrust of his wife was very difficult to hide. The family was beginning to break up.
– James,” his wife was perplexed, “what is the matter with you? I feel that you don’t love me. And your daughter, what has she done to you? Why do you take it out on her? It is unbearable.
James slammed the door and went to his mother. She gave him tea, and they had a long discussion about the situation.
– We can’t go on like this,” my mother wailed, “You should have a paternity test. Don’t make a fool of yourself. I had a baby and gave it to you. And you grow up and feed it.
– Mom, I don’t know how to tell her,” muttered James, “There’ll be a scandal, tears. I can’t stand tears.
– You have to go through with it, – Mom insisted, – Once you have to endure it. But after the divorce, you won’t have to pay alimony. She’ll just sit on your neck and dangle her legs around your neck.
After a year of this kind of talk, James made up his mind. There was no scandal. The wife stood there for a long time, looking at her husband with her eyes slightly dilated with horror. Then silently, without a word she gathered her things.
– Tomorrow we’ll meet and do the test,” she whispered, “And we’ll stay with my parents.
– We’re going to my grandmother’s house. – The daughter was happy and clapped her hands. – Dad, are you coming with us?
– No, kitten, Daddy will stay home. He has a lot of work, – sighed his wife.
– If it’s my daughter, come back. We’ll live like before,” shouted James to them.
The next days passed like a fog. James couldn’t find himself waiting. His wife did not call. James tried to dial her number, but his hand stopped halfway through. The empty apartment, without his daughter’s joyful cries, without the smell of cooked food, crushed and irritated him.
“Why did I do all this?” – He chastised himself. – “Couples live, raise other people’s children. It’s dreary at home without my daughter. How could I trust my wife, though? She cheated me. But it’s too bad without them. We should meet, talk.”
The wife did not come for the test results. James was very surprised.
“So not my child, she was ashamed.” – He pondered on the way home. – “Maybe she’s just late. She’s so unorganized. I should call her.”
His wife answered right away.
– James, don’t call me again. I filed for divorce. You’ll only see the child through the court.
– So I’m right! – James exclaimed. – You’re afraid to look me in the eye.
The wife didn’t answer anything, she hung up.
James bent down and picked up a piece of paper from the floor. He read it out loud again.
– The probability of paternity is 99.9999%.
He absently picked up the phone and dialed his wife.
– I’m the father,” he murmured guiltily, “Come back, let’s start all over again. We were all good together.
– No, James.
– Why not? The test showed that I am the father. – The boy was perplexed.
– James. You didn’t pass the test. Paternity test.
