Chapter 10 - The Result
The laboratory called that afternoon.
Jonathan received the report first.
He did not tell Ethan over the phone.
He drove to the estate.
That told Ethan everything.
Rosa stood near the piano with Lily.
Ethan entered holding the sealed envelope.
Rosa looked at it.
“Is that it?”
“Yes.”
Lily continued arranging toy animals on the carpet.
She had no idea three adults were about to officially define her identity.
Rosa crossed her arms.
“Open it.”
Ethan hesitated.
“You should.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you need to see it.”
He opened the envelope.
His eyes moved down the page.
Probability of paternity.
99.9998 percent.
Ethan read the number twice.
Then a third time.
Rosa did not ask.
She saw the answer in his face.
Ethan slowly looked toward Lily.
The child was making Button argue with a stuffed bear.
Something that might have been laughter escaped him.
Then his eyes filled with tears.
Jonathan quietly left the room.
Rosa remained still.
Ethan walked toward Lily.
He crouched beside her.
“Hey.”
She looked up.
“Hey, Ethan.”
He smiled through the tears.
“Remember when you asked if I was your daddy?”
Lily nodded.
“Well.”
He took a breath.
“The doctor checked.”
Her eyes widened.
“And?”
“And I am.”
Lily considered this news with surprising seriousness.
Then she asked,
“Can I still call you Ethan?”
Rosa burst out laughing.
Ethan covered his face.
“Yes.”
Lily smiled.
“But maybe sometimes Daddy?”
Ethan lowered his hands.
“I would like that.”
She threw both arms around his neck.
Ethan froze.
Then held her.
There were no photographers.
No board members.
No lawyers.
No speeches.
Just a three-year-old child hugging the father she had never known.
Rosa turned toward the window.
She wiped her eyes.
Ethan saw.
When Lily returned to her stuffed animals, he approached Rosa.
“I’m sorry.”
Rosa shook her head.
“For what?”
“For all of it.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I should have.”
“How?”
“I don’t know.”
“That isn’t fair.”
“Neither were the last three years.”
Rosa looked at him.
“No.”
“They weren’t.”
Ethan took the laboratory report.
“I want to put my name on her birth certificate.”
Rosa’s expression changed.
“Eventually.”
He frowned.
“Eventually?”
“I need to know you understand what this means.”
“I’m her father.”
“Yes.”
“But being legally recognized isn’t the difficult part.”
“What is?”
“Tuesday mornings when she refuses to put on shoes.”
“Stomach viruses.”
“Preschool meetings.”
“Nightmares.”
“Tantrums.”
“Questions.”
“Bad days.”
“Ordinary days.”
Ethan nodded.
“I want those too.”
Rosa searched his face.
“Don’t promise something because you feel guilty.”
“I’m not.”
“Then prove it.”
He nodded again.
“I will.”
Lily suddenly called from across the room.
“Daddy?”
Ethan turned instantly.
Rosa watched his expression.
That single word had reached somewhere money never could.
Lily pointed at the piano.
“Play Grandma’s song.”
Ethan sat beside her.
Rosa remained near the window.
May you like
Father and daughter placed their hands on the keys.
And for the first time in twenty years, “Morning Light” filled the Caldwell estate from beginning to end.
