His eyes, his brows—they looked so much like mine. How could he possibly be someone else's child?
But once doubt took root, it lodged itself like a thorn.
I couldn't pretend I hadn't seen what I'd seen. I got up, grabbed a pair of scissors, and while Tommy was busy attacking his birthday cake, I carefully snipped a small lock of his hair.
I sealed it in a plastic bag and tucked it against my body.
Then I cut myself a slice of cake.
Two years ago today, I'd been lying on a hospital bed, being wheeled out of the operating room.
Nelson had been standing at the door holding an enormous bouquet of roses.
His eyes were rimmed red—this man who never showed weakness.
He'd grabbed my hand, his voice shaking. "Norma, you're the hero of this family. I swear I'll never let you down."
The memory turned the cake in my mouth bitter.
We'd spent two blissful years together. His devotion to Tommy put me to shame as a mother. Every evening, the first thing he did when he got home was scoop Tommy up. On weekends, he took us to the park. When Tommy fussed in the middle of the night, Nelson was the one who jumped out of bed to soothe him.
How had such a warm, happy life fallen apart like this?
Then something hit me.
Today was Tommy's second birthday.
After a child turned two, a father could legally contest the mother for custody.
That message in his chat with Eunice echoed in my mind:
She has no house, no car, no job. Custody will be mine.
He'd planned this from the start.
Had they been counting down to this day all along?
I contacted the most reputable testing lab in Southport.
When the technician came to collect the sample, the doorbell rang while Tommy was sprawled on the couch playing with his blocks. He had sharp ears. The second he heard the sound, he scrambled down and toddled toward the door, calling out, "Daddy! Daddy!"
I scooped him up. Something in my chest twisted so hard I couldn't breathe.
"It's not Daddy."
"Mommy ordered food, okay? Mommy's going to get it. You wait right here like a good boy."
He nodded, not quite understanding, and went back to his blocks.
I clenched my jaw and texted Nelson:
Remember to bring Tommy a present when you come home. He wouldn't blow out the candles without you. He cried the whole time.
A few minutes later, he replied:
I'm not coming home tonight. Honestly, I don't know what kind of mother you are. You can't even handle one kid. I'll have my mom come pick him up later.
My suspicion from earlier hit me like a fire alarm. My fingers flew across the screen:
No need. If you're not coming back, I'll just buy Tommy a present myself. Don't bother your mom.
He didn't respond.
Even though I'd guessed what they were planning, it didn't matter whether Tommy shared my blood or not. He'd grown inside me. He was a piece of me.
Nelson was right about one thing. The house, the car—all purchased before the marriage, all in his name. He had an Ivy League PhD and a vice presidency at the hospital.
Meanwhile, I'd been kicked out by my parents right after high school. I'd barely kept myself fed for years, and every cent I'd managed to save went toward my dowry. After Tommy was born, I'd quit my job entirely to take care of him full-time.
I had nothing. I didn't stand a chance against him in court.
All I could do was pretend I knew nothing and figure out a plan.
A sudden knock came at the door. Before I could react, it swung open.
Jean Sanchez stood in the doorway. The moment she spotted me sitting on the couch, the smile slid right off her face.
"Norma, I swear I don't know who raised you to be this lazy."
"You're living in my son's house, and you can't even be bothered to answer the door when I knock?"
I stared at the woman sneering in my doorway. Just yesterday, she'd sent me a text saying she'd made braised short ribs and invited me over for dinner.
So much could change in a single day.
I walked over and lowered my voice. "Mom, I just got Tommy down for his nap. He's sound asleep. Why don't you head home?"
