Chapter 10 - The DNA ResultThe DNA report arrived the following Monday.
Emma opened it alone.
Probability of biological paternity:
99.9998%.
For ten minutes she sat motionless on the edge of her bed.
She had spent twenty-four years believing she had no father.
Now she had one.
Not an imaginary man from Miriam's unfinished stories.
Not a dead soldier or wandering musician or anonymous stranger.
Adrian Mercer.
One of the most recognizable men in Boston.
Emma laughed.
Then cried.
Then became angry at herself for both.
Adrian received the same report.
He called but did not pressure her when she didn't answer.
Instead he sent one message.
I don't know what you need from me. Tell me when you do.
Emma stared at it for an hour.
That evening she went to his home.
Adrian opened the door himself.
Neither knew what to say.
Finally Emma held up the report.
“So.”
Adrian nodded.
“So.”
“I guess we're related.”
A broken smile appeared.
“Apparently.”
Emma unexpectedly laughed.
Adrian did too.
Then the laughter disappeared.
His eyes filled.
“I missed everything.”
Emma looked away.
“My first steps. My first day of school. Graduations. Twenty-four birthdays.”
“You didn't know.”
“I should have.”
“You couldn't.”
He shook his head.
Emma saw how desperately he wanted to hug her.
And how carefully he was stopping himself.
So she stepped forward first.
It lasted only seconds.
But Adrian closed his eyes.
For twenty-four years, he had mourned a child he was told never breathed.
Now his daughter was standing in his hallway.
When they separated, Emma said:
“Don't start buying me houses.”
Adrian almost laughed.
“I wasn't going to.”
“You were thinking about it.”
“Maybe a little.”
“No houses.”
“Understood.”
“And I'm not calling you Dad yet.”
His smile softened.
“You don't owe me anything.”
Emma looked at him.
“Good.”
May you like
Then she placed Julianne's cassette on the table.
“But whoever stole twenty-four years from us owes both of us the truth.”
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