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“They’re actually starting to use it to get people out of jail,” Matt remarked.
“Yeah, that was it!” Aimee stabbed an olive on her plate. “It was a death row inmate and the DNA evidence proved he wasn’t even at the scene of the crime!”
“I don’t need a blood test,” I said softly, pushing Italian-dressing soaked lettuce around on my plate. “I just know. Besides, he can answer every question I asked him. He even knew about my birthmark!”
“The one on your shoulder?” Aimee raised her eyebrows. “Geez, Dale. That’s pretty conclusive. You’re going to make the guy submit to a blood test?”
He shrugged. “I’d just feel better if we did one.”
“He agreed to it right away,” I said. “I don’t think he’s worried about it.”
“Well there you go,” Matt said, pointing his fork at Dale. “It’s like lie detector tests. Innocent people never balk at taking them. It’s the guilty ones who hem and haw and find excuses.”
“Like I said, if he’s really the guy, I’ll shake his hand and call him Dad myself.” Dale put his olives on my plate—he hated them and knew I loved them. “I just… I don’t want Sara’s hopes dashed. She’s been through enough.”
“Aww.” I put my arm around him and rested my cheek against his shoulder for a moment. “You’re so good to me.”
He kissed the top of my head.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you!” I sat up, looking at Dale and then over at Aimee and Matt. “He’s moving here!”
“What?” Aimee exclaimed. “Oh wow! For you?”
“No. He had a job interview here that day he saw my picture in the paper.” I laughed, shaking my head. “That’s why he came back today. To finalize things.”
“You’re kidding.” Dale stared at me.
“Nope.” I shrugged. “I swear, my life is one long string of weird coincidences.”
“Right.” Aimee snorted. “It’s not fate or anything.”
“Or God’s plan,” Matt offered.
“Matt!” Aimee elbowed him. “Ix-nay on the od-gay.”
“What? It could be fate but it couldn’t be God?”
“You have to admit, it’s all pretty weird.” Aimee didn’t answer her new husband. “You’re obsessed with Tyler Vincent—and you meet Dale Diamond, who happens to be Tyler Vincent’s love child.”
“Shh!” I put my fingers to my lips. “No one’s supposed to know that.”
“Okay, okay.” Aimee lowered her voice. “But you fall in love with Dale, and he wins that Battle of the Bands and gets all super-famous.”
“Not yet.” Dale smirked. “If I was super famous we wouldn’t be able to sit in an Olive Garden without interruption.”
Aimee ignored him. “Then that goddamned photographer—by the way, Dale, you should sue him. Take him to the cleaners. I won’t buy one wedding picture from him.”
“Aimee, don’t do that!” I exclaimed. “They’re your wedding photos!”
“My mom bought a bunch. I’ll get hers when she’s dead,” she replied. “Anyway, one picture in the paper and poof! Your real dad finds you!”
“I know.” Hadn’t I just been thinking the same thing earlier? “It is weird.”
“It’s fate.” Aimee insisted. “Like meeting Matt. If you hadn’t stayed after school that day—”
“Washing desks with Dale,” I reminded her.
“Then I wouldn’t have gone home with Carrie and Wendy. And I never would have met Carrie’s brother.”
