Then at Caleb.
Then at Leah.
“What?”
Darius’s voice broke.
“Biologically.”
I could hear my heartbeat.
Nothing else.
He continued.
“And Caleb…”
“No.”
“Maya.”
“No.”
“The DNA results came back eleven weeks ago.”
I backed away.
“No.”
Simone spoke through tears.
“Caleb is biologically mine.”
Something primal erupted inside me.
“Don’t say that.”
“I’m not trying to—”
“DON’T SAY THAT!”
Caleb screamed.
“Mom!”
I turned immediately.
He was shaking.
I dropped to my knees and pulled him against me.
“I’m here.”
“Am I not your kid?”
“You are.”
“Why are they saying I’m not?”
“You are mine.”
I pressed my face into his hair.
“You are mine.
Do you hear me?
Nothing changes that.”
Over his shoulder, I looked at Darius.
“Nothing.”
The explanation took six hours.
And somehow, every answer created three more questions.
We ended up in a private conference room near the airline offices.
