Chapter 4: The Name on the Paper
I stared at the name printed at the bottom of the document.
For several seconds, the letters refused to make sense.
Then I read them again.
*JORDAN REED.*
My eighteen-year-old son.
I looked up slowly.
“What does this mean?””
Maya was crying so hard she could barely speak.
Marcus reached for the paper, but I pulled it away.
“Don't touch it.””
“Arthur, let me explain.””
“You've had ten years to explain. Start talking.””
Daniel Foster placed his briefcase on the kitchen table.
“Arthur, this document is a genetic compatibility report. It was prepared after the hospital incident ten years ago.””
I looked at the attorney.
“Why is my son's name on a document about my daughter?””
He exchanged a glance with Marcus.
That glance told me they had discussed this before.
“Because,” Daniel said carefully, “Jordan was involved in the original medical investigation.””
I turned toward Claire.
She had both hands covering her mouth.
“What investigation?””
Claire lowered her hands.
“Ten years ago, Maya suffered a severe allergic reaction. When she arrived at the hospital, the doctors needed to establish her blood type and family medical history.””
“I remember.””
“You were away at a conference. Marcus drove us there.””
“I remember that, too.””
“The hospital couldn't immediately locate some of Maya's previous medical records. They also discovered a discrepancy in the blood samples.””
I frowned.
“What discrepancy?””
Daniel opened his briefcase and removed a folder.
“The initial test suggested that Maya's blood type was incompatible with the information in her medical file.””
“That happens when records are wrong.””
“Yes. That's what everyone initially believed.””
He placed two documents on the table.
“But the subsequent testing raised another question.””
I looked at the first page.
It contained genetic information, medical identifiers, and several highlighted sections.
I didn't understand all of it.
But I understood the names.
Arthur Reed.
Claire Reed.
Maya Reed.
Jordan Reed.
My eyes stopped at the final paragraph.
The report indicated that Jordan and Maya shared a biological relationship that wasn't consistent with the family records we had provided.
I looked at Claire.
“What does this mean?””
She started crying again.
“Arthur, I swear I never wanted you to find out this way.””
“Find out what?””
She gripped the back of a chair.
“Jordan and Maya have the same biological father.””
I stared at her.
“That doesn't tell me anything I don't already know.””
Daniel cleared his throat.
“According to the testing, Jordan is not biologically related to you.””
The room became silent.
I looked at Marcus.
He couldn't meet my eyes.
Then I looked at Claire.
“Is Jordan mine?””
She shook her head.
I felt something inside me collapse.
For eighteen years, I had been the man who taught Jordan to ride a bicycle, stayed awake beside him when he had pneumonia, and carried him into the house after he fell asleep in the back seat.
I had attended every school meeting.
Every soccer game.
Every birthday.
And now a piece of paper was telling me that none of it meant what I thought it meant.
“Who?”” I whispered.
Claire closed her eyes.
“Arthur…”
“Who is their biological father?””
Marcus finally spoke.
“Me.””
The word struck harder than a physical blow.
I looked at my brother.
My younger brother.
The boy who had shared a bedroom with me when we were children.
The man who had stood beside me at my wedding.
The uncle who had held my newborn children.
“You?””
He nodded.
“I never intended for this to happen.””
I laughed.
It sounded unfamiliar.
“Which part? Sleeping with my wife? Having two children with her? Or letting me raise them while you played the loving uncle?””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Arthur, it wasn't like that.””
“Then tell me what it was like.””
Claire began speaking through her tears.
“Jordan was conceived during a period when our marriage was falling apart. You were traveling constantly. I was lonely, and Marcus was around because—”
“Stop.””
She froze.
“Don't explain your affair by describing my work schedule.””
Her face crumpled.
“I know.””
“And Maya?””
Claire looked down.
“Maya was conceived later.””
“Later?””
Marcus nodded.
“I tried to end things after Jordan was born. I did. But we made another mistake.””
I stepped away from the table.
The kitchen suddenly felt too small.
“Did my mother know?””
Marcus shook his head.
“Mom didn't know everything.””
“That's not an answer.””
“She suspected something.””
I remembered my mother treating Marcus differently whenever Claire was around.
I remembered the uncomfortable silences at family dinners.
I remembered her once telling me that I was a good father, even when the children weren't behaving like I expected.
At the time, I had thought it was a compliment.
Now I wasn't sure.
I turned back toward Daniel.
“Why does Jordan's name appear on this report?””
The attorney looked uncomfortable.
“Because he requested a second examination several months ago.””
I frowned.
“Jordan knew?””
“Not initially. But after discovering some old correspondence, he began asking questions.””
I looked toward the staircase.
“Where is he?””
Maya wiped her cheeks.
“He's upstairs.””
“Get him.””
“No,” Claire said suddenly.
Everyone turned.
She stood between me and the stairs.
“Arthur, please. Don't involve Jordan.””
I stared at her.
“You've involved him for eighteen years.””
She began shaking her head.
“He's not ready.””
I almost laughed.
“Neither was I.””
I walked past her and called my son's name.
“Jordan!””
Footsteps sounded overhead.
A moment later, he appeared at the top of the stairs.
His eyes moved from the documents to Marcus.
Then he looked at me.
“Dad?””
I swallowed.
“Come downstairs.””
He slowly descended.
When he reached the kitchen, he noticed the report.
His shoulders dropped.
“So you know.””
I nodded.
“Did you know Marcus was your biological father?””
Jordan looked at Marcus.
Then at me.
“Yes.””
The room seemed to tilt again.
“How long?””
“About three months.””
“Three months?””
Jordan nodded.
“I found an old letter in Mom's filing cabinet. It mentioned a paternity test. I asked her about it, and she told me everything.””
I stared at Claire.
“You told him before me?””
She couldn't answer.
Jordan continued.
“I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to lose you.””
I looked at him.
“Why would you think you'd lose me?””
His eyes filled.
“Because I'm not yours.””
I stepped toward him.
“Look at me.””
He did.
“You have my name. You grew up in my house. I taught you everything I know. You think a medical report can erase eighteen years?””
Jordan's lower lip trembled.
“But Marcus—”
“Marcus is the man who betrayed me. That doesn't make him your father in every way that matters.””
Jordan started crying.
I pulled him into my arms.
For the first time that evening, he didn't resist.
But as I held him, I noticed Marcus standing near the kitchen doorway.
He was watching us with an expression I couldn't understand.
Then he spoke.
“Arthur, there's something else.””
I released Jordan.
“What now?””
Marcus looked at Maya.
“Jordan isn't the only one who knows about the past.””
He turned toward Claire.
“And the reason Maya came to me wasn't because she wanted money or an explanation.””
My daughter lowered her head.
Marcus continued.
“She came because someone has been threatening to expose the truth before we could tell you.””
I stared at him.
“Who?””
Marcus reached into his jacket and removed his phone.
He showed me a message.
The sender's name was hidden.
But the words were clear.
*IF YOU TELL ARTHUR ABOUT THE CHILDREN, I'LL MAKE SURE HE FINDS OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO HIS FIRSTBORN.*
My blood ran cold.
I looked at Jordan.
Then at Maya.
“What firstborn?””
May you like
Neither child answered.
And for the first time that night, Marcus looked genuinely terrified.
