Never did I envision my husband, my child\u2019s father, doubting our baby\u2019s identity. However, I sat on our gray sofa holding our little boy as my husband and his parents flung accusations like knives.<\/p>\n
First, a look. Our mother-in-law Patricia grimaced when she saw Ethan in the hospital. He doesn\u2019t look like a Collins,\u201d she muttered to my husband, Mark, while they thought I was sleeping. I tried not to hear, but her remarks wounded more than my C-section sutures.<\/p>\n
At first, Mark ignored it. We joked at how rapidly newborns change, how Ethan had my nose and Mark\u2019s chin. Once planted, Patricia watered it with her poisonous assumptions whenever she could.<\/p>\n
Ad
\n\u201cYou know, Mark had blue eyes as a baby,\u201d she pointed out while raising Ethan to the light. Strange that Ethan\u2019s are so dark, huh?<\/p>\n
Mark came home late from work one night when Ethan was three months old. Fed the baby on the sofa, my hair unclean, tiredness weighed me down. He didn\u2019t kiss me hello. He stood with arms crossed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to talk,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
I knew then what was coming.<\/p>\n
Mom and Dad believe\u2026 It\u2019s better to test DNA. To cleanse the air.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo clear the air?\u201d My voice was raspy with incredulity. \u201cYou think I cheated?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark moved uneasily. \u201cNo way, Emma. But they\u2019re concerned. I simply want to end it. For everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n
My heart dropped into my gut. For everyone. Not me. Not for Ethan. For his parents\u2019 comfort.<\/p>\n
After a lengthy moment, I murmured, \u201cFine,\u201d squeezing my lips to not cry. Want a test? Your exam is coming. I want something in return.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark frowned. \u201cYou mean what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I agree to this \u2014 this insult \u2014 then you agree to let me handle things my way if it comes back the way I know it will,\u201d I continued, shivering but firm. \u201cAnd you agree, right now, in front of your parents, to cut off anyone who doubts me after this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark paused. Behind him, his mother bristled, arms crossed, eyes icy.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if I don\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n
I looked into his eyes, our baby\u2019s calm breathing warming my chest. \u201cYou can leave. Your group may depart. Do not return.\u201d<\/p>\n
The hush was thick. Mark\u2019s stare stopped Patricia\u2019s outcry. He knew I wasn\u2019t lying. He knew I never cheated and that Ethan was his son\u2014his exact copy if he could see beyond his mother\u2019s poison.<\/p>\n
Mark responded, \u201cFine,\u201d running his fingers through his hair. \u201cWe\u2019ll test. If it returns as you claim, that\u2019s all. No more conversation. No more claims.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia looked like she ate a lemon. \u201cThis is ridiculous,\u201d she huffed. \u201cIf you have nothing to hide\u201c<\/p>\n
I snapped, \u201cOh, I have nothing to hide.\u201d \u201cYour hatred for me and constant meddling seem to do. It finishes when the test returns. Or your son or grandchild will never return.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark flinched but didn\u2019t protest.<\/p>\n
Tests were done two days later. A nurse swabbed Ethan\u2019s little lips while he sobbed in my arms. Mark grimaced. That night, I rocked Ethan and whispered incomprehensible apologies.<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t sleep throughout the results wait. Mark did\u2014on the sofa. I hated having him in our bed while he questioned me and our baby.<\/p>\n
Mark read the findings first. The paper shook as he kneeled before me. \u201cEmma. So sorry. Never should have\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t apologize to me,\u201d I responded coldly. Ethan was taken from his cot and placed on my lap. Please apologize to your kid. Later, to yourself. Because you lost something irretrievable.\u201d<\/p>\n
But I continued. Tests were just half the fight. I was starting my strategy.<\/p>\n
Mark knelt, clutching the document that validated his previous suspicions. His eyes were red, but I felt neither sorrow or tenderness. A frigid emptiness replaced faith.<\/p>\n
Patricia and Gerald, my father-in-law, stood statue-like behind him. Patricia\u2019s lips were white from pressure. She avoided looking at me. Good. She shouldn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou agreed,\u201d I remarked calmly as I rocked Ethan, who happy-gurgled oblivious to the tempest that had smashed our family\u2019s barriers. \u201cYou promised to eliminate anyone who doubted me if the test cleared the air.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark gulped hard. Emma, please. This is my mama. She was worried\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cWorried?\u201d I laughed sharply, making Ethan cringe. I soothed him by kissing his lovely hair. \u201cShe poisoned you against your wife and son. She labeled me a liar and cheater because she can\u2019t manage your life.<\/p>\n
Patricia stood up, her voice shaking with the righteous anger I\u2019d become used to. Emma, don\u2019t overreact. Simply doing what any family would. We have to confirm\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said. Regular families trust each other. Normal men don\u2019t demand wives prove they own children. You want proof? You got it. Now you\u2019ll receive something different.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark regarded me. \u201cWhat are you talking about, Emma?\u201d<\/p>\n
Feeling Ethan\u2019s faint pulse, I inhaled deeply. I want you gone. Now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia gasped. Gerald sputtered. Mark\u2019s eyes expanded. \u201cWhat? Emma, don\u2019t\u2014This is our house\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I answered gently but firmly. This is Ethan\u2019s home. His and mine. Three of you broke it. You doubted us. You embarrassed me. You will not raise my boy in a home where others believe his mother lies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark arose, angry now that his wrongdoing was exposed. Emma, be reasonable\u2014<\/p>\n
\u201cI was reasonable,\u201d I fumed. I consented to the nasty exam. I was reasonable when your mother made fun of my hair, food, and relatives. I was fair to accept her into our lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stood holding Ethan tightly. \u201cI\u2019m done being reasonable. Wish to stay in this house? Fine. But your parents depart. Today. Or you all leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patricia\u2019s voice was harsh. \u201cMark! Are you letting her do this? Your mother\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
First Mark stared at me, then Ethan, then the floor. He looked like a child lost in his own home for the first time in years. He faced Patricia and Gerald. \u201cMom. Dad. Maybe you should go.\u201d<\/p>\n
The stillness broke Patricia\u2019s immaculate veneer. Her face contorted in anger and astonishment. Gerald touched her shoulder, but she shrugged.<\/p>\n
Mark was yelled at, \u201cThis is your wife\u2019s doing.\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t expect forgiveness for this.\u201d<\/p>\n
With knife-like eyes, she faced me. \u201cYou\u2019ll regret. You think you\u2019ve won, but he\u2019ll crawl back to us and ruin it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just grinned. \u201cGoodbye, Patricia.\u201d<\/p>\n
Completed in minutes. Gerald grabbed their jackets, apologizing. Mark dreaded answering. Patricia went without looking back. After closing the door, the home seemed larger, emptier, and lighter.<\/p>\n
Mark stared at his hands from the sofa edge. He glanced up at me, whispering. \u201cEmma\u2026 So sorry. I should have defended you. For us.\u201d<\/p>\n
I nodded. \u201cYes. You should.\u201d<\/p>\n
He grabbed my hand. I let him grab it for a second before taking it back. I said, \u201cMark, I don\u2019t know if I can forgive you.\u201d \u201cThis violated my trust in them. This damaged my confidence in you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tears flooded his eyes. Give me instructions. I\u2019ll do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ethan yawned and wrapped his small fingers around my sweatshirt as I gazed down. Earn it back first. Be his rightful father. Be the spouse I deserve if you still can. If you allow them approach me or Ethan without my consent, we won\u2019t see each other again. Do you comprehend?<\/p>\n
Mark nodded, sinking. I get it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weeks later, everything changed. I ignored Patricia\u2019s calls, begs, and threats. Mark didn\u2019t either. He returned home early every night. He walked Ethan so I could sleep. He made supper. Maybe he saw our kid for the first time when he glanced at him.<\/p>\n
Rebuilding trust is hard. I lay awake wondering whether I\u2019ll ever view Mark the same way again. Every morning, when I see him serving Ethan breakfast and seeing him giggle, I believe we\u2019ll be good.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re imperfect. We\u2019re ours. This is enough.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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