Aunt Jean turned back, her eyes narrowed. “Changed your mind?”
“Hazel, Angel… just a reminder – you have two days to move out. Or I’m changing the locks”
“Where are we supposed to go?” Hazel shrieked,
“Not my problem. Go live with your real father.”
They left, fuming, their faces bruised and battered.
I doubled over, laughing.
Two days later, I received a letter from their lawyer. I forwarded it to my own lawyer, telling him to handle it.
A few days later, my lawyer said they wanted to meet. They were trying to settle out of court.
They must have realized they didn’t have a case. Dad was dead. There was no way to prove the baby was his. And as for “family” claiming inheritance rights? My grandparents were dead. All that was left were their bones. How were they going to do a paternity test?
I met them at my lawyer’s office.
baby… he’s your father’s,” Angel said, placing a hand on her stomach.
“Proof?” I asked, my voice flat.
Their lawyer produced a document. “This is our paternity test report”
Angel smiled smugly. “Your father and I lived together. There were bound to be hairs, maybe some beard clippings… Enough for a DNA test.”
Aunt Jean was beaming. “It’s a boy! Your brother! You’re already getting half the inheritance, Cecilia! You’re making
a profit!”
I studied the report, then started laughing.
“I’d be too embarrassed to admit I’d done something like this, Angel. But you’re actually proud enough to show off a fake paternity test?”
Angel’s face turned white. “What… what are you talking about?”
“My father had a vasectomy, Angel. Didn’t he tell you?” I pulled out Dad’s medical records.
Twenty years ago, Mom had been paranoid, convinced Dad was cheating. She’d wake up crying every night. He’d gotten a vasectomy to reassure her.
Angel’s face turned ashen.
Reborn, My Family Tried to Bury Me, Sol Burned h All Down!
Her lawyer, however, remained calm. Vasectomies can be reversed.”
Reversals require surgery, right? Do you have proof he had the procedure?”
They exchanged glances. They didn’t have anything.
He loved my mother. He wouldn’t have reversed it.” I said, my voice laced with sarcasm. “But you, Angel… you managed to get pregnant by a man who’d had a vasectomy? Impressive! Or maybe… maybe this baby Isn’t my brother after all. It could be.. someone else’s. After all, everyone knows you were his mistress.”
“You little bitch!” Angel screamed, jumping to her feet. “Your father and I were truly in love! I was the one he loved first! Your mother was the mistress!”
She’d crossed a line.
I stood up, my voice shaking with anger. “You think I don’t know your little game, Angel? You dumped him when he was broke! Then, after my grandfather gave him his first investment, after he became successful you suddenly reappeared, claiming to be his true love! Without my mother, he would have been nothing! Nothing!”
Reborn, My Family Tried to Dary Me. So I Burned it All Down!
