Chapter 2 - The Test Connor Hid
IVF took over their lives.
Kirsten injected hormones before hospital shifts, attended appointments between surgeries, and tried to remain hopeful while her body became exhausted.
Connor complained about the cost.
He complained about the schedule.
Most of all, he complained that Kirsten had become emotionally distant.
“You barely look at me anymore,” he said one night.
“I worked thirteen hours today, and I have another injection in ten minutes.”
“That’s what I mean. Everything is about the hospital or the treatment.”
“The treatment is for us.”
Connor laughed without humor.
“No. It’s for you.”
Despite everything, the doctors retrieved seven eggs. Five were mature. Three developed normally after fertilization.
The clinic transferred one embryo.
For eleven days, Kirsten allowed herself to imagine a future.
Then the test came back negative.
The second transfer failed six months later.
One embryo remained frozen at Northstar.
By then, Kirsten and Connor barely spoke without arguing.
Melinda became a constant presence.
She accompanied Kirsten to appointments when Connor was unavailable. She delivered meals, answered late-night phone calls, and assured Kirsten that one remaining embryo could still become the child she wanted.
But Melinda also began spending time with Connor.
At first, there were reasonable explanations.
She needed his signature on a document.
She wanted to discuss Kirsten’s emotional state.
She had information about payment plans.
Then Kirsten noticed messages disappearing from Connor’s phone.
She noticed Melinda wearing perfume Connor had once said he liked.
One evening, Kirsten returned home early after a canceled surgery and found them sitting together in the kitchen.
They were not touching.
They did not have to be.
Melinda stood too quickly.
“I was just checking on him.”
“Why?”
“He’s struggling too, Kirsten.”
Connor pushed back his chair.
“Not everything is suspicious.”
“I didn’t say it was.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Melinda picked up her purse.
“I should go.”
Kirsten watched her leave.
Connor poured himself another drink.
“You treat me like a criminal every time someone shows me kindness.”
“She is my best friend.”
“Maybe that’s why she understands how impossible you’ve become.”
The following morning, Connor left his laptop open on the dining-room table.
Kirsten had no intention of searching it.
Then an email notification appeared.
RE: MALE FACTOR DIAGNOSIS AND DONOR CONSENT
Kirsten opened the message.
The air seemed to vanish from the room.
Connor’s original fertility analysis had not been normal.
It had shown severe non-obstructive azoospermia, a condition in which no usable sperm had been found.
The doctor had recommended donor sperm.
Attached to the email was a consent form authorizing the use of an anonymous donor for their embryos.
Connor’s signature appeared at the bottom.
So did Kirsten’s.
Except Kirsten had never seen the document.
She read it three times.
The embryos they had created were genetically hers, but Connor was not their biological father.
He had known from the beginning.
He had allowed her to believe that her body was the problem. He had watched her cry after failed treatments while hiding the truth about his diagnosis.
And someone had forged her signature.
Kirsten printed the email and waited for him to come home.
Connor walked through the door shortly after seven.
She placed the papers on the kitchen counter.
“What is this?”
He stopped.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
Then he removed his jacket.
“You went through my computer?”
“Is that your answer?”
“It was private.”
“It concerns embryos created from my eggs.”
Connor looked toward the hallway.
“The clinic said donor sperm gave us the best chance.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I knew how you would look at me.”
“How am I looking at you now?”
“Exactly like that.”
Kirsten could barely recognize him.
“You let me believe I had failed you.”
“You did have fertility problems.”
“So did you.”
“I didn’t want anyone knowing.”
“I was your wife.”
Connor’s eyes became cold.
“I was trying to protect our marriage.”
“No. You were protecting your pride.”
She showed him the forged signature.
“Did you sign my name?”
“No.”
“Then who did?”
He looked away for half a second.
That was enough.
“Melinda,” Kirsten whispered.
Connor said nothing.
May you like
The silence answered her.
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