Chapter 4 - THE LETTER SENT AFTER THE NICU
The DNA report came from frozen genetic material Alex had provided during fertility testing years earlier.
Elena had obtained proper consent through the clinic and her attorney.
It had not been guesswork.
It had not been manipulation.
The children were his.
Legally unconfirmed at the time.
Biologically certain.
Alex read Elena’s second letter.
Alex,
They were born early.
Mateo weighs three pounds, one ounce.
Lucas weighs two pounds, fourteen ounces.
Grace is the smallest.
Sofia is breathing without assistance tonight.
I don't know whether your mother gives you these letters.
I don't know whether you truly want nothing to do with them.
But I need to know that I tried.
There were dried water stains on the page.
Alex imagined Elena writing from a NICU waiting room.
Alone.
His chest tightened until breathing hurt.
Beatrice stood across the room.
“I couldn't tell you.”
“You could.”
“I didn't know how.”
“You had five years.”
“Every year made the first lie worse.”
Alex looked at her.
“That is the closest thing to truth you've said.”
He took the entire file.
Beatrice reached for it.
“Those are family documents.”
“No.”
His voice turned cold.
“They are evidence of the family you stole from me.”
He left.
That evening he called Elena.
“I found the photographs.”
Silence.
“And the DNA report.”
More silence.
“Elena…”
“Did she keep the yellow blanket picture?”
Alex looked through the stack.
One photograph showed four infants, one wrapped in pale yellow.
“Yes.”
“That was Grace.”
Her voice cracked.
“She had surgery two days later.”
Alex gripped the table.
“What surgery?”
“Her heart.”
He closed his eyes.
“Was she okay?”
“She is now.”
“What else happened?”
Elena exhaled slowly.
“Alex, if you want the truth, you need to understand that discovering them today doesn't make you their father tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“No. You don't yet.”
“I want to.”
That answer softened something.
Barely.
She agreed to meet the next morning with her attorney.
Before hanging up, she said one more thing.
“Bring the second page of the DNA report.”
Alex checked.
There was a second page.
At the bottom appeared a line he had overlooked.
COPY SENT TO:
Beatrice Vance.
Arthur Crane, Esq.
Alexander Vance.
Alex froze.
May you like
Arthur Crane had been his divorce lawyer.
If Arthur received the DNA report too, then Beatrice had not acted entirely alone.
