Chapter 7: The DNA Test
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
“A DNA test?”” I finally asked.
Claire's voice was barely above a whisper.
“Yes.””
“What kind?””
“I don't know. Emily wouldn't explain.””
“Did she say whose DNA was tested?””
“No.””
I looked toward the guest room.
Isaiah was asleep.
Nine years old.
Small enough to believe every adult who told him they loved him.
Old enough to understand when he was being treated differently.
“Claire,” I said, “why didn't you tell Malcolm?””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“The night after the funeral.””
“And?””
“Tasha answered his phone.””
My stomach tightened.
“What did she say?””
“She told me Malcolm was sleeping and that I shouldn't upset him.””
“That sounds like her.””
Claire was silent.
Then she said, “There was something else.””
“What?””
“Emily had been asking me strange questions for weeks.””
“What questions?””
“About Isaiah's birth certificate. About Malcolm's blood type. About Tasha.””
I stood.
“Why Tasha?””
“I don't know.””
“Claire, please think.””
“I remember Emily saying she was afraid Isaiah's father wasn't who everyone thought.””
The kitchen suddenly felt airless.
“Are you saying Emily thought Malcolm wasn't Isaiah's biological father?””
“I don't know what she thought.””
“But she ordered a DNA test.””
“Yes.””
“And she put it in that folder.””
“Yes.””
I looked at the bank statements scattered across the table.
Forty-eight thousand dollars.
Forged signatures.
A beneficiary change.
A black folder.
A DNA test.
None of it felt accidental anymore.
“Do you know where the folder went?””
“No.””
“Did Tasha take it home?””
“I saw her put it in her car.””
“Which car?””
“Her old silver SUV.””
“Tasha doesn't have that anymore.””
“She sold it?””
“Last year.””
Claire inhaled sharply.
“Then maybe she didn't sell it.””
I stared at the phone.
“What do you mean?””
“She told me someone bought it for cash.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
A floorboard creaked behind me.
I turned.
Isaiah stood in the hallway.
His eyes were swollen with sleep.
“Grandma?””
I immediately lowered the phone.
“What's wrong, sweetheart?””
“Who was that?””
“Your Aunt Claire.””
He looked at me.
“What was she talking about?””
I couldn't tell him.
Not yet.
He walked toward the kitchen.
“Was it about Mom?””
I knelt.
“Yes.””
“Is she in trouble?””
“No.””
“Then why do you look scared?””
Children notice what adults think they're hiding.
I pulled him into a hug.
“Your mom loved you very much.””
“I know.””
“She wanted to make sure you were taken care of.””
He pulled back.
“Did she leave me something?””
I hesitated.
“Yes.””
His eyes brightened.
“What?””
“A letter.””
“Can I read it?””
“Someday.””
“Why not now?””
“Because there are things in it that adults need to understand first.””
He looked disappointed.
Then he whispered, “Is Dad going to be okay?””
I touched his cheek.
“I hope so.””
He nodded.
Then he returned to the guest room.
I waited until his door closed.
Claire was still on the phone.
“Evelyn?””
“Yes.””
“I think you need to know something about that DNA test.””
“What?””
“Emily didn't mail it.””
“Then what happened?””
“She was waiting for someone to collect it.””
“Who?””
“I don't know.””
Claire paused.
“But the envelope had a name written on it.””
“Whose?””
Her voice dropped.
“Malcolm's.””
I stared at the bank papers.
“That doesn't make sense.””
“I know.””
“Why would Emily test Malcolm?””
“I don't think she was testing Malcolm.””
My heart began racing.
“Then who?””
“I couldn't see the whole name.””
“Claire.””
“It started with an S.””
The kitchen clock ticked loudly.
S.
There was only one person in the family whose name began with S.
Tasha's brother.
Sean.
A man I hadn't seen since Emily's funeral.
A man who had disappeared from Charlotte shortly afterward.
I called Malcolm.
He answered immediately.
“Mom?””
“Did Emily ever mention your brother-in-law Sean?””
Silence.
Then Malcolm said,
“Why are you asking about him?””
“Because Claire says the DNA envelope had a name beginning with S.””
His breathing changed.
“Mom…”
“What?””
“I haven't told you the worst part.””
I gripped the counter.
“What worst part?””
“Sean wasn't just Tasha's brother.””
“What was he?””
May you like
Malcolm's voice broke.
“He was Emily's boyfriend before she met me.””
