After a stranger showed up at my door claiming to be the biological father of my twins, I had a DNA test.
Tom was a stay-at-home father who loved his energetic twins beyond anything else. But one day, a stranger claimed to be the twins’ biological father and demanded custody from Tom, changing the course of his life drastically.
Cabinets smeared with flour. peanut butter trailing from an open jar to the carpeting in the living room. Tom, the twins, who are six years old, was attempting to salvage supper as Kevin and Stacey were wreaking their typical adorable mayhem.
These two little tornadoes were the center of Tom’s universe.
Their small hands gripping his fingers from the beginning blurred his existence, leaving him with skinned knees, embraces at goodnight, and an unending quest for the ideal pancake. Like a badge of pride, flour sprinkled his apron, a testament to his many baking mishaps.
He laughed and sidestepped a wayward mouthful of peanut butter. “Alright, alright.” “It seems like we’re having a sandwich night with abstract art!”
The happy mayhem was abruptly stopped by the ringing of the doorbell.
“Is that mother returning home?” Curious eyes darting up, Stacey questioned.
Tom said, wiping his hands on a dish towel, “I don’t know, kiddo.” “I’m going to check.”
He was about to say something clever when he opened the door. However, the scene in front of him left him speechless.
At his doorway appeared a tall, stern-looking guy, anxiousness flowing from him like a cloud. The man’s eyes skipped over Tom and swept across the home.
“Is there anything I can do to help?” Tom questioned warily.
“Are you Tom?” inquired the man.
Tom spoke slowly, “Yes.” “Who are you?”
“My name is Michael. The man held out his hand and said, “I need to talk to you.”
Tom paused, watching the man with caution. “Are you someone I know?”
“No, but it is significant. It’s all about your kids,” Michael urged.
Tom scowled, a hint of panic mingling with bewilderment. “My kids? How do they fare?
Please give me a short while. Michael said, seeming sincere. “I swear, this is serious.”
With the twins peaking around the corner, Tom cast a sidelong glance back towards the kitchen. He reluctantly gave a nod. “All right, please enter.”
Tom said, “Kids, please go to your room.” “I’ll arrive in a moment.”
After giving each other a quick glance, the twins ran off.
There was a lot of tension in the air as Tom led Michael to the living room.
“What would you like to discuss?” Trying not to lose his cool, Tom asked.
Michael inhaled deeply.
“Your twins, Tom, are not yours. I own them. Their biological father is me.
Tom’s shocked eyes became larger. How come? That isn’t feasible! My partner and I have been together for a long time.
Six years ago, I had an affair with Monica. She personally informed me. My children are Stacey and Kevin.
Anger heated Tom’s cheeks. “You’re telling lies! I own the kids. I’ve loved and reared them. Monica would never act in such a way.
Michael’s face became stern. “I’m telling the truth. I desire custody of my children. You must give up your rights.
“Leave!” With a raised voice, Tom remarked. “You’re not going to take my kids. Go now!
Michael got up, his face expressionless. “A court summons is anticipated. After a DNA test, the children will be taken away from you.
Tom was left stunned and in shock, not believing what had just transpired, as he departed, leaving his business card on the table.
Was Monica truly unfaithful to me? He pondered. Are I not their paternal grandfather?
Tom said he was heading to the grocery store to purchase milk when Monica got back home. However, he made a sudden shift to the opposite direction as he pulled out of the driveway.
He turned and headed toward the Mercy General Hospital building, his jaw firmly set.
The smell of disinfection, which was antiseptic, soothed his rushing thoughts within. Following a little wait, a kind nurse described the DNA testing procedure.
After being informed that he need his children’s DNA samples, he sneakily sampled the insides of their cheeks while they were asleep and returned the next day with them.
After turning in the DNA samples, he thought to himself, “I can’t confront Monica before the results come out.” and left the hospital.
Tom went to the mailbox one week later with a tight knot of uneasiness in his gut. He was informed by the hospital nurse that the results of the DNA test would be available to him in a week.
He shook his hands and opened the mailbox. When he noticed an envelope inside, his heart skipped a beat.
His breath caught in his throat as he struggled with the envelope’s seal with his fingers. He tore it open and studied the blank page, the words in black and white glaring at him.
“Exceeds Paternal Exclusion by 99.99%.”
The father wasn’t him.
He felt a rush of sickness come over him, but it was soon followed by a searing rage. How was Monica able to accomplish this? Were all those years of scratched knees and bedtime tales all lies?
The universe he thought he knew was destroyed just then by a little voice.
“Papa!” Kevin rushed in, concern etched on his face. “Stacey isn’t waking up after falling!”
Everything else vanished as Tom’s heart gave way.
He ran to Stacey’s room and saw her there, immobile, her flesh scorching. He was overcome with panic as he quickly gathered her and drove her to the hospital, Kevin holding onto his hand in the passenger seat.
A doctor who checked Stacey at the hospital told Tom something that completely changed Tom’s perspective.
The next thing the doctor said struck Tom like a punch.
Sadly, the tests show that the liver is failing. Stacey will require a tissue exchange.
Tom felt his gut turn.
With a twinge of regret, he gasped out, “I should have brought her in sooner.”
The physician shook his head, though. “Symptoms frequently appear gradually. To identify the reason and locate a compatible donor, we will need to conduct certain tests.
Seemingly in retrospect, he said, “Obviously, family members are the finest candidates. You ought to think about having a compatibility test done.
Tom felt his heart pounding in his chest. He was aware of the fact that Stacey’s biological father was not him. The doctor’s advice seemed like a nasty practical joke.
He didn’t care about the unease in his stomach; he just nodded and agreed to help. He called Monica after getting tested, explaining Stacey’s status in a tense, urgent manner.
Monica’s face was furrowed with anxiety as she arrived at the hospital from work a few minutes later. Tears were running down her cheeks as she gave Tom a hug.
Monica was soon put through compatibility testing as well, and the results showed that none of them were compatible with Stacey.
The air was thick with despair. When Tom could take it no more, he admitted to Michael’s visit.
As Monica heard him talk, her face went white. She parted her lips to say something, but nothing came out.
“I… She stumbled, “Tom, I’m very sorry. “I became intimate with him, but the pregnancy wasn’t planned.” As soon as I told him I was pregnant, he left me and refused to acknowledge his children.
Tom was furious, but he suppressed it because of how urgent Stacey’s position was. They had run out of alternatives. The man claiming to be their biological father was the only one remaining to get in touch with.
“I’ll speak with Michael,” Tom stated in an emotionless voice.
However, he will ask you to Monica shook her voice.
“I’m not bothered. “I’ll do everything it takes to save my little girl,” Tom declared as he turned to leave Monica.
Tom gave Michael a quick call and then headed to his residence. He was met with a soaring brick building with immaculate grass. A well-groomed butler received him at the door, his eyes full of interest.
With a tense voice, Tom stated, “I’m here to see Michael.”
The butler’s head was cocked. “Please come with me.”
He took Tom down a series of winding halls lined with pricey paintings before coming to a stop in front of a big oak door.
Michael was sitting at a wood desk inside.
Tom said, “Mr. Lawson,” his heart pounding but his voice strong. “It’s difficult to tell you this, but my daughter Stacey is in the hospital.”
Michael’s countenance was inscrutable as he raised an eyebrow. “And why are you revealing this to me?”
Tom inhaled deeply. “She may not have much hope until she has a liver transplant from you. Please think about giving your liver to help rescue her.
Michael said nothing, his eyes unblinking. Tom’s heart was thumping loudly in his chest. He was aware of what was about to happen.
Michael eventually said, his voice cold. “There’s a condition.”
“You agree to give up full custody of Kevin and Stacey if I approve the transplant.”
Tom felt his heart skip a beat. He had no choice but to accept the condition, even if he didn’t want to.
He was informed by the doctor that Stacey’s name was on the waiting list, but they could not guarantee that a suitable donor would be located in time.
“All right,” Tom inhaled deeply. “Okay, if that’s what it takes to save Stacey. Let me sign the documentation.
Michael’s expression briefly changed from one of astonishment to a contented smile. He pulled a file out of his filing cabinet.
“Well done, Tom,” he replied in an insensitive tone. The documentation for the custody relinquishment are here. After carefully reading them, sign the dotted line to indicate your agreement.
After reading the paperwork quickly, Tom signed it. He was frantic to get Stacey back.
Michael took the paperwork from Tom and said, “Thank you, Tom.” “In an hour, I’ll be at the hospital.”
Tom went back to the hospital, the choice he had just taken weighing heavily on his heart. As he walked into Stacey’s room, Monica glanced up, her eyes red with tears.
“No! How on earth could you accept that, Tom? When Monica discovered that Tom had signed the documents, she objected.
Stacey’s existence is in jeopardy. Tom answered, grief clearly visible in his voice, “I couldn’t risk losing her.”
After an hour, Michael was nowhere to be seen. Monica paced the room while Tom tried to call him more than once, but his calls were sent straight to voicemail.
Michael finally picked up Tom’s call.
“What is your location?” With hints of desperation in his voice, Tom urged.
Michael gave a chilly laugh.
Did you honestly believe that I would give your daughter my liver? All I needed was the paperwork to make my inheritance claim.
Tom felt his heart sink. “What are you discussing?”
“I was only able to inherit money from my grandfather if I had a kid. Before Tom could answer, Michael ended the conversation, saying, “Thanks to you, I now have two.”
Tom hung up the phone, devastated beyond belief. It won’t be Stacey. Feeling a wave of anguish, he thought, “I’ve failed her.”
The doctor came over to Tom and Monica at that moment. He announced, “We found a donor.” It’s appropriate for Stacey. Now, we’re getting ready for the procedure.
Later that evening, the procedure was performed, and it went well. Tom and Monica were reassured by the physicians that Stacey would recover.
Tom realized there was a long journey ahead even as relief began to sink in. He needed to mend his damaged marriage and regain custody. Though the situation appeared challenging, Tom felt optimistic. For his children, he was prepared to take on any task.