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“What did you say?” I asked.
Danielle stood up, straightening her skirt before she walked toward me. Then she knelt down beside the chair, her hands-on mine.
“I said, I'm pregnant,” she looked at me earnestly. “And it's yours.”
I looked her in the eye, my mind spinning with thought and feeling. “H - how can you be sure it's mine? I mean, I obviously wasn't –”
I bit back my words and looked over at my parents, to see if this came as a surprise to either of them. It hadn't. They watched, carefully, but neither one looked shocked to hear the news. Danielle had already told them, but did she mention the fact cheated on me? Or her night with Adam?
Knowing she'd gotten around a little bit cast doubt, at least in my mind, that the child she was carrying was actually mind.
“Because you're the only man I've been with,” she said finally.
“Do you really expect me to believe that?” I asked, gaping at her. “You spent the night with my half-brother and came over here the next day to rub it in my face.”
“I didn't spend the night with him. Ask him yourself,” she said. “We met up that morning. I texted him and asked him if I could come along with him because I'd wanted to see you.”
“Which perfectly explains why you were kissing him.” My entire body tensed up. “Because nothing says I'm sorry like sticking your tongue into my brother's mouth with me watching.
She was pregnant. The words hit me hard. Sure, it might not be my child, but it might be. It could be.
“I only did that to make you jealous,” she said as tears welled in her eyes. “It was stupid of me, and I acted like a child – but it was the pregnancy hormones are making me act crazy. I realize that now.”
“How far along are you?”
“Three, almost four months now,” she said. “Which would put the time of conception right around your birthday. Do you remember that night, Malcolm?”
I did. How could I forget? We'd spent the night on the yacht, making love out on the Pacific Ocean with the moon shining down on us. Back when we were happy, back when I loved her. It had felt like an eternity ago though, and so much had changed.
“And what about Tyler?” I asked. “The mystery man you've been texting for months now.”
“We've never met, Malcolm. I swear to you, it was all online and through text. He's in New York City,” she said. “And that was stupid. I have no defense for it. You were just working so much, and I felt neglected. It was selfish of me, but I've never slept with anyone besides you. I swear it.”
She sobbed, resting her head in my lap. I stared over at my parents, not sure if this was something we should discuss in front of them or not. I had no words to say, and I still wasn't sure I trusted her.
Danielle continued, “I love you, Malcolm,” she said. “I want us to be a family. Like we were always meant to be.”
Problem was, I didn't love her. Not anymore. Even if what she'd said was true, she'd had an emotional affair. She fell for another man. She'd talked about their futures together, about her leaving me – with some of my money – and setting up a life together with him.
Whether she actually fucked him or not was immaterial at that point – she'd formed an emotional connection with him. A strong one too, judging by her text messages.
I wanted to stand up, to leave the room and be alone for a while. I needed time to think and process it all. But, her head weighed heavy on my lap and my parents were watching me closely. They were waiting for me to respond. “I just don't know if I can believe you, Danielle,” I said at last.
“When the baby is born, if you have any doubt, you can get a paternity test,” she said, wiping her eyes and looking up at me. “And I know it'll be yours, Malcolm. Because I know I haven't been with anyone else but you.”
If sh
e was lying, it would be one hell of a performance. I was numb, completely numb. My stomach was in knots. This should have been a happy time, a moment of celebration. Instead of popping the champagne though, I felt nothing. Absolutely nothing.
I looked over at my mother helplessly, but it was my dad who spoke up first.
“Malcolm, I think you need to listen to her,” he said. “If she's willing to prove paternity, why would she lie? It's a lie that would be easily disproved.”
I didn't have an answer to that. Not unless she figured I wouldn't actually go through with a paternity test.
Dad continued. “And, since this is your child, you'd automatically qualify for your inheritance,” he said. “And you could get started on raising your family.”
Danielle looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. “We could be a family, Malcolm,” she said brightly. “You, me, and our baby. Just like we always talked about. Dreamed about.”
