My wife Lauren and I had been hoping to be parents for a long time. The delivery room was full of joy and nerves. Lauren grabbed my hand strongly the whole time I was having contractions. She was resolute, even though her face looked pale. Every breath she took showed how strong she was. Our family was waiting right outside, ready to make everyone happy as soon as the baby got there.
My wife Lauren and I had been hoping to be parents for a long time. The delivery room was full of joy and nerves. Lauren grabbed my hand strongly the whole time I was having contractions. She was resolute, even though her face looked pale. Every breath she took showed how strong she was. Our family was waiting right outside, ready to make everyone happy as soon as the baby got there.
I stepped up to Lauren and said, “You’re doing great, love,” after the doctor nodded at me. She looked at me with exhausted eyes and then tried one more time. Then the loud, forceful scream that changed everything happened. I felt a wave of relief and happiness go over me, and my chest was tight. I didn’t even know I was holding my breath until I let it out with a quivering gasp.
I was confused when I looked down and stopped moving. Her skin was darker than ours, and her gorgeous curls were nothing like ours. My stomach hurt.
“What’s wrong with you, Lauren?” I didn’t plan for my voice to be so loud in the room.
She shook her head in despair, and tears ran down her cheeks. “I swear, James!” This doesn’t make any sense. “I’ve never—”
They appeared astonished when our family came in via the door. Every look was full of rage. I never imagined I would blame my wife for anything, but I couldn’t stop thinking about them.
Lauren held the baby close and cried a much. “Please, James, believe me! I had never been with anyone else before you. You are the only man I have ever loved!
I should have believed her when she said she was desperate, but I just couldn’t shake the feeling. I fell toward the door. “Please let me breathe.”
“Don’t leave me, please!” She yelled at me.
I was trying to relax in the hallway when my mom came in with her arms crossed and a cold look in her eyes. “You saw that baby.” “James, don’t be blind.” You don’t own her. You let Lauren down.
I wanted to yell that she was wrong, but I wasn’t sure. “I don’t know,” I said.
“Then face the truth,” she said. “You deserve better.”
I pushed her away. “No.” My wife and daughter are in there. “I’m not going.”
I felt uneasy in my chest when I spoke it. I had to know. I went to the genetics department of the hospital and asked for a DNA test right quickly. They took a sample from my cheek and drew blood from it. They stated the results will be ready soon. Those outcomes meant a lot to me.
We couldn’t wait. I couldn’t stop thinking about Lauren’s crying face, her desperate sobbing, and how tightly she held our child, as if her love would keep her from being involved. I continued staring into the baby’s eyes. They were my eyes. There was a small dimple on her cheek that looked just like mine. Are genes to blame? Was I just hoping for the best?
I thought my heart would stop when the phone finally rang. “The test shows you are the father,” the doctor replied in a calm manner.
At first, I was thrilled, but then I felt terrible despair. How could I have doubted the woman who had always been there for me? How could I have let skepticism ruin what should have been a great time?
The doctor talked about recessive genes and how traits that have been hidden for a long time can suddenly show themselves. It made sense. My great-grandmother was of mixed race, although my family didn’t talk about it much. I forgot about some genes, and now my daughter has them, so she doesn’t look like what everyone thought she would.
I hurried back to Lauren’s room with the results of the test in my hand. Her eyes got big with worry when she saw me, as if I was going to leave for good. I gave her the paper. She shook her hands as she read. After that, she cried and clutched the baby close to her chest.
“I’m sorry,” I said softly as I crouched down next to her. “I should have believed you. I should never have doubted you.
She shook her head and pushed me closer. “It’s okay now,” she said in a soft voice. “That’s all that matters.”
I could feel the weight of the situation that almost broke us when I held both my mother and Lauren. This moment almost went away because my mom was hesitant, I was scared, and other people were quietly disapproving.
But when I kissed Lauren’s forehead and saw our kid yawn, I promised myself that I would never doubt or be far away again. I would do everything I could to keep this family safe from any storms that came our way.
Our baby was no longer a question mark; she was a miracle, a message of love, history, and strength that had been passed down via her tiny body. Then I figured out that the astounding truth was not just in the DNA results but also in the strong bond we had.
