Bill sighed. “It all happened too fast.”
“That’s no excuse!” hissed Jessica.
Finally a nurse walked in, holding my daughter in her arms. My heart clenched. But before I could reach her, Jessica stepped forward and snatched her from the nurse’s arms.
“What a beautiful baby girl,” Jessica said, rocking my daughter in her arms. Her voice was soft, but there was triumph in her eyes.
I reached for the baby, but Jessica wouldn’t hand her over.
“She needs to be fed,” the nurse said, stepping closer.
Jessica barely looked at her. “Then give her formula.”
I forced myself to sit up despite the weakness in my body. “I’m going to breastfeed her.”
Jessica pressed her lips together. “But then you’ll always take her away from me! You won’t be able to leave her with me!” Her voice became harsh and accusing.
Finally Bill stepped in. He snatched our daughter out of Jessica’s arms and handed her into my arms.
As soon as I took her in my arms, I burst into tears, overwhelmed by how much I loved her. She was mine. She was worth everything.
It had only been two weeks since the birth, but my body was still heavy. Every movement drained me. Bill took time off work to help, but I was still struggling.
Jessica, of course, was making things worse. She came almost every day, paying no attention to my exhaustion. She refused to call my daughter by her real name. “Baby Lillian,” she would say, smiling as if she had the right to do so.
“Eliza,” I corrected.
Jessica didn’t even pay attention to me. Bill never corrected her either.
One afternoon she came again uninvited. This time she held an envelope in her hand, clutching it tightly. Her eyes glittered with something unsettling. My stomach twisted.
Bill frowned, taking the envelope from Jessica’s hands. “What’s this?”
Jessica’s lips curled into a smirk. “Proof. I knew Carol wasn’t right for you. I knew she wasn’t faithful.”
My grip on Elise tightened. My heart raced. “What is this nonsense?” I demanded.
Jessica’s eyes sparkled. “Open it up. It’s a DNA test.” She pushed the envelope toward Bill.
Bill’s fingers trembled as he opened it. His eyes scanned the paper. His face darkened.
He turned to me, clenching his jaw. “You and the baby must leave here within the hour,” he said. His voice was cold. Then, without another word, he ran out.
I gasped. My legs trembled. “What!!! What did you do?!” I screamed at Jessica.
She folded her arms. “You were never worthy of my son.”
I pulled Eliza against me. “You wanted this baby so badly and now you want to throw him away?!” My voice cracked. “That test isn’t even real!”
Jessica scoffed. “You wouldn’t even let me have her because you’re breastfeeding. Bill deserves a decent wife. One who will bear me a grandchild.”
Rage exploded inside me. “You’re crazy!” I screamed.
With trembling hands, I gathered Eliza’s tiny clothes, stuffing them into my bag. My vision blurred with tears.
I gathered my things, my heart pounding in my chest. Before I left, I snatched Bill’s toothbrush.
As soon as I stepped outside, the cold air hit me. My knees buckled. I pulled Eliza against me, and sobs burst out.
My own husband-her father-had kicked us out like we were nothing. He didn’t even look at me twice.
He didn’t ask questions. He didn’t hesitate to believe Jessica. I knew the truth.
Elise was his daughter. I had never betrayed him. But none of that mattered. He chose her over us.
I made it to my mother’s house. As soon as she opened the door, she flinched. “Carol? What’s wrong?”
I snapped again. She pulled me inside and listened in horror as I told her everything. She hugged me while I cried.
Days passed. My body grew stronger. When I was strong enough, I left Eliza with my mom and went to Bill’s house.
I knocked on the door with bated breath. Bill opened, his face unreadable. “What do you want?” – He asked.
I silently held out an envelope to him. “It’s a real DNA test,” I said. “I took your toothbrush. In case you hadn’t noticed.”
His eyebrows furrowed. “So that’s where it went.” He opened the envelope. His eyes scanned the page. “99.9%,” he read aloud. His breath caught.
“Eliza is your daughter,” I said firmly.
Bill looked at me, his expression changing. “Carol, I’m so sorry,” he said. “I’m sorry I believed my mother.”
I shook my head. “No.”
His face lowered. “I thought she wasn’t mine. But now that I know she is mine, I want you both back.”
I stared at him, clenching my hands together. “You don’t deserve to be her father. You never questioned whether Jessica’s test was real. You didn’t stop for a second to think about me or Elise. I did it so you would know exactly what you lost. Because of your mother, you abandoned us.”
His voice trailed off. “Please. I’ll shut it off. Just come back.”
I took a step back. “I’m filing for divorce. I need full custody.”
“Carol…”
I turned away. “Goodbye, Bill.”
As I got in the car, I heard him call my name. But I drove away knowing that Elise and I were going to be okay.
Tell us what you think of this story and share it with your friends. Maybe it will inspire them and brighten their day.