“Sorry?” My laughter was bitter and hollow. “You destroy our family, and all you can say is ‘sorry’?”
The sound of Jackson crying broke through the tension. Seeing him standing in the doorway, his small body shaking, shattered my anger, leaving behind a deep sadness.
“Come here, buddy,” I said softly, holding him close.
“Why, Mom?” he asked, his voice muffled against my shirt. “Why did you do it?”
Laura knelt beside us, reaching out, but I pulled Jackson closer. “Sometimes people make terrible mistakes,” she said, her voice breaking. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t love you both.”
“But it does mean things can’t stay the same,” I added quietly, the weight of reality settling in. I couldn’t believe my wife had cheated on me, and now I was questioning everything — even the paternity of the baby she was carrying.
Later that evening, I took Jackson out for dinner. We needed to get away, to clear our heads. As he dug into his burger, he asked, “Will you move out?”
“No,” I reassured him. “Mom and I need to figure some things out, but I’m not going anywhere.”
After dinner, we lingered, reluctant to go home. The house no longer felt like the sanctuary it once was. When we finally returned, Laura was sitting on the couch, biting her nails — a habit she had when she was stressed.
“What now?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Tell me what to do. Tell me how to make it right.”
“I think only time will tell,” I said. “But I need you to tell me the truth — is the baby mine?”
Laura closed her eyes, anxiety radiating from her. “I’m not sure,” she whispered.
Over the next few weeks, Laura decided to start therapy, saying she needed to understand why she acted out. “I didn’t think I would ever do something like this,” she admitted while making tea.
“But you did,” I replied.
Laura nodded, acknowledging the truth. “I’m going to stay until the baby is born,” I said. “Then, once we do a DNA test, we’ll figure out our next steps.”
I don’t know what the future holds, but I know I’m not ready for the results of that test. What would you do?