I wanted to drive to Nora’s house immediately.
Instead, I called her.
“How is she?”
“Good. She’s asking when Auntie Claire
is coming over again.”
I closed my eyes.
“Tell her soon.”
A week later, the independent test results arrived.
This time, there was no ambiguity about the biological relationship.
Ellie was my daughter.
I stared at the report until the words blurred.
Then I called Nora.
She answered on the first ring.
“Claire?”
My voice shook.
“It’s confirmed.”
Silence.
Then I heard her inhale sharply.
“Oh, Claire…”
Neither of us spoke for several seconds.
Finally, she whispered, “Come over.”
When I arrived, Tom opened the door.
He looked as though he hadn’t slept properly in days.
“She’s in the kitchen drawing,” he said softly.
“Does she know?”
He shook his head.
“We’re waiting until we can explain everything in a way she can understand.”
