“My life was very different before you and I met. It’s not so much I lied as I just put that part of my life behind me and started fresh. I didn’t want people to judge me for things I had no control over. After all, I was just a child. I had no control over my birth.”
“The thing is, Bridget, I’m not ‘people.’ We made vows to one another and I believe honesty and trust were part of those vows. Did you have so little trust in me that you couldn’t be honest? Then, as far as I’m concerned, our marriage was based on a lie.”
“You and I both know, if you and your family had known the truth about my birth and my life, we would never even be having this discussion, because you would never have looked at me twice.”
“That’s your opinion. But, I should have at least been given a chance to know the real you, not this persona you created for the world to see. Can’t you see, Bridget, that is the reason you have never really opened up to anyone, including me? You can’t live a life based on lies and expect to be free. It’s no secret that your friend Jade and I have never gotten along, but the one thing I can say about Jade is that she is upfront with who she is. There’s no surprises with her. But you walk around acting as though you’re the poster child for integrity, when nothing could be further from the truth.”
“I’m trying my best to tell you the truth now, but you won’t listen...you won’t give me a chance to explain.”
“Bridget, it’s just that I’ve altered my life for you—for us. My relationship with David is so strained now that the two of you don’t seem to get along, but I’ve not interfered with that, even though you’ve been tight-lipped about that as well. That’s the problem Bridget, everything, and I do mean everything, is a tightly guarded secret with you. But, this can’t be one of those things. I want to know what is going on with Jasmine and Jacob and under the circumstances, I think you owe me that much. I want a DNA test done and quite frankly, it doesn’t matter whether you agree or not. You knew who and what I was when you married me. I’m a lawyer; I deal in the facts, and the fact is two black parents made one black child and one white child and that just doesn’t add up.”
Bridget had convinced herself to tell Stephen everything, but the mere mention of David’s name caused an automatic shutdown. She raced from the bedroom and ran into the bathroom slamming the door. She already knew what the DNA test would reveal, because as Stephen had put it, two black parents, one black child and one white, just didn’t add up. David had to be the twins’ father.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE TEST
“Dr. McKenzie, this is Bridget Martin. I need to see you regard- ing...a personal matter...related to the birth of my twins.”
Dr. McKenzie was surprised it had taken her this long to call. You would have to be blind not to see that a black couple had given birth to a white child. Bridget and the twins had visited Dr. McKenzie’s office shortly after both babies came home from the hospital and it was obvious that something was amiss. There was no doubt about the fact that little five-pound two-ounce Jacob Martin was white, right down to the blond hair. Yes, Jacob had clearly been conceived with the assistance of a white father. And, judging from the looks of mocha-complexioned Stephen Martin, he wasn’t that father.
“Of course, Bridget, I can see you today at two p.m. Is that too early?”
“No, it’s eleven now. I’ll be there; two on the dot. Thank you.”
Bridget wasn’t sure what she would say to Dr. McKenzie when she got to her office, but she had to have some of her questions answered.
Bridget was so anxious to meet with Dr. McKenzie she actually got there fifteen minutes early. The doctor, fully aware of how dire Bridget’s circumstances were, had cleared her calendar for the day.
“Hi, I’m here to see Dr. McKenzie. I’m a little early. I had a two o’clock appointment.”
“That’s fine. I’ll let Dr. McKenzie know that you’re here.”
“Dr. McKenzie, Mrs. Martin is here to see you.”
“Show her right in.”
Bridget didn’t disrobe and go to her usual examination room since she wasn’t technically here for medical reasons. Instead, she met with Dr. McKenzie in her office.
“Hi, Bridget. How nice to see you. I was hoping you would bring the babies. I would love to see them.”
“I’m fine physically. It’s just that everybody is so surprised at Jacob’s appearance...including Stephen. So surprised, in fact, that he has pretty much demanded that I have a DNA test done on the babies. I have a few questions for you. I probably could have spoken to Jasmine and Jacob’s pediatrician, but I feel so much more comfortable with you. I just hate to take up your time.”
“Don’t worry about that at all. It’s no problem. What can I help you with?”
“I’m sure you’re maintaining your professionalism by not mentioning it, but I’m guessing it’s just as obvious to you as it is to everyone else that has seen both myself and Stephen and our twins, that Jacob looks nothing at all like either of us. So, I give you permission to speak freely with me about the...difference between Jacob and his sister. My first question, I guess, is whether a DNA test is safe for Jasmine and Jacob at this point?”
“It is absolutely safe. It used to be done with needles, but now it’s as simple as a cotton swab in the mouth. I can give you the address for a DNA testing center, and they’ll test both you, your husband, the two babies and anyone else you would like tested.”
“Anyone else?” Bridget asked.
“Excuse my candor, Bridget, but do you have any reason to believe that anyone other than Stephen could be the father?”
Bridget couldn’t hold it in any longer. She broke down. She told her about her and Stephen, how they met, and that David (the man that raped her) had been her boss and still was her husband’s boss. Dr. McKenzie was the only person she had ever told about that night. It had been the first time she had forced herself to even think about it. Until now she had tried her best to block it out, to no avail.
Dr. McKenzie got up from behind her desk and did her best to console Bridget.
“Although, I must be honest, it’s been several months and there is no evidence of the rape, my opinion is that you should report this man; no matter who he is. But, I can’t make that decision for you. You have to decide whether or not you’re going to take this to the police or not.”
“No,” Bridget balked, still afraid of the police. “I don’t want to go to the police. Him and I don’t even see each other anymore and I just want to put it behind me, but what if he is the father of my babies? What will I do? Stephen will probably leave me.”
“You may not want to go to the police, but you may need to consider telling your husband about this. Otherwise, and this may sound harsh, you may lose your husband.”
Bridget just sat there shaking her head back and forth and muttering, “I can’t, I just can’t tell him.”
“I tell you what, I’ll set up the appointment for you at the DNA testing center for a week from now. That will give you an opportunity to think about this before you make any decisions. And, if you like, I can have the testing center forward the results to my office. Both you and Stephen can come here when the results are in. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Bridget left Dr. McKenzie’s office, dazed and confused, unsure of what she should do next, but sure she would have to do something.
She and Stephen barely spoke to each other the entire week before the test date. The two operated on autopilot, going through the motions of life, but doing nothing more than was absolutely necessary. Bridget couldn’t help but love Jasmine and Jacob, no matter what, however, Stephen seemed withdrawn and unable to interact with either of the babies. It was torturing Bridget to watch him ignore them both. She consoled herself with the thought that no matter what, she would soon know the truth. In the meantime, she had decided that with or without Stephen, she was going to be a good mother to her son and daughter.
It had been exactly one week and t
hree days when Dr. McKenzie called to say that the results of the DNA tests were in. She refused to give the results over the phone and instead told Bridget that they would have to come to her office to get the results. As far as Bridget was concerned, that couldn’t be good.
“Dr. McKenzie called today. The testing center forwarded her the results of the DNA tests and she would like to see us both tomorrow at three o’clock.”
“Tomorrow at three it is, but I can’t imagine that she would be summoning us to her office to tell her that these are both our babies.”
“Stephen, you don’t know that.”
The next day Stephen left from his office and met Bridget at Dr. McKenzie’s office. When he got to the doctor’s office, Bridget was already there.
“Is she ready to see us?” he asked.
It was hard to believe that this was once the kind, playful, loving man that she had fallen in love with, and he with her. Bridget couldn’t help but think that it seemed as though he hated her.
Dr. McKenzie walked out of her office and into the waiting area.
“Come on in.”
Stephen and Bridget both sat down and waited to hear the worst.
“As you know the testing center did DNA tests on both you, Bridget; you, Stephen; and both Jasmine and Jacob. Normally the results only take a day or two and I had even asked the center to put a rush on it and to send me the results immediately. However, when I got the results back, it was so surprising I asked them to run the results again, just to make sure. They ran the tests again and the results were conclusive.”
“I don’t understand,” Bridget queried.
“Yes, Dr. McKenzie, what were the results?” Stephen asked.
“What has taken place here is so rare that it actually has changed the protocol for the testing of fraternal twins in paternity tests, especially as it relates to child support and child custody decisions. I need you to listen carefully until I’m done explaining it, and then both of you can ask whatever questions you need to ask. Is that acceptable to you both?”
“Yes,” they both answered in unison.
“There is a phenomenon in medical literature that is known as heteropaternal superfecundation. In essence, fraternal twins are formed when two separate eggs are fertilized by two sperm. There is a small window of time when eggs are able to be fertilized during ovulation. Sperm cells can live inside a woman’s body for four to five days and once ovulation occurs, the egg is viable for twelve to forty- eight hours before it starts to fragment, which means the fertile period can stretch anywhere between five to seven days. Until recently, the incidences of such a medical phenomenon while in existence was much rarer. However, with the rate of the number of twins being born each year increasing and the accuracy of DNA testing increasing, more and more incidences are being detected.”
“What is it that you’re trying to tell us doctor?” Stephen asked.
“Jacob and Jasmine were formed by two separate eggs that were fertilized by two sperm,” Dr. McKenzie supplied. “Contact with the sperm of more than one individual during Bridget’s fertile time period has produced fraternal twins with...two different fathers.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Stephen asked.
“Yes, Mr. Martin.”
“Oh, my God,” Bridget cried.
“So, I was right. Jacob isn’t my son.”
“But, Jasmine is your daughter. Stephen, she is yours. Right, doctor?”
“Yes, Bridget, the DNA test revealed that Jasmine is indeed both you and Stephen’s daughter. However, Jacob is your son, Bridget, but not yours, Stephen.”
“So that means you’ve been fucking around behind my back; making you the liar I said you were. Nothing has changed here. You obviously had an affair and this is the end result.”
“No, Stephen. That’s not it, at all. Please just let me explain!”
“There is nothing to fucking explain. You’re nothing more than a two-bit whore!”
And with that, Stephen bolted from Dr. McKenzie’s office. As Bridget rose to leave, prepared to run after him, Dr. McKenzie assessed the situation and gave the best advice she could give under the obviously volatile situation.
“Bridget, give him some time to think this all through. It’s a lot to take in. Although, I still think you should tell him. You’ve done nothing wrong here. You are the victim and the sooner you tell your husband the truth, the sooner the two of you can get past this.”
Bridget was barely listening. Between the news the doctor had given her and Stephen’s response, she was dumbfounded. It was as though she were sleepwalking.
“Oh...okay, doctor, I’ll think about it. I will. I need to get home to Jasmine and Jacob.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Dr. McKenzie asked. “You didn’t drive here, did you?”
“No...no, I took a cab. I’ll take a cab back home. Thank you doctor.”
“Bridget, please keep in touch. If there is anything you need, don’t hesitate to contact me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Bridget was anxious to get home, unsure of what her fate was, not to mention the fate of her two babies. All the way home in the cab, she kept going over possible scenarios; all of them with the worst possible conclusions. What if Stephen left her? What if David found out about Jacob? It was altogether possible. After all, he and Stephen did work very closely together and over the years, David had become more than just a mentor to Stephen; he had become his friend. For a moment Bridget thought about what might happen if she did tell Stephen what really had happened. As many times as she had gone over this possibility, she already knew what she was going to do. She couldn’t do that to Stephen. He had worked so hard to get where he was. If she told him, his career would be so dramatically altered, she didn’t think he could handle it. Her other thought was, there was the possibility that Stephen wouldn’t even believe her, then where would she be; right back where she started.
By the time Bridget got home, it was readily apparent that Stephen had already been there. He had packed up some of his things and he had left. Suddenly, the thought that Stephen might have taken Jasmine occurred to her and she raced to the twins’ room. She was relieved to find that the sitter was still there with both babies. The look on the babysitter’s face told her that she was aware that something was going on. Bridget had hired Consuelo even before the twins were born. She was wonderful with the twins and came with great credentials. However, her English wasn’t the best.
“Mrs.,” she said to Bridget. “Do not worry, the Mr., he will come back. You will see. Everything will be good.”
Bridget managed the best forced smile she could muster, knowing full well that if Consuelo, or anyone for that matter, knew the truth, they too would know that chances were pretty good Stephen would not be coming back. How would any man forgive a woman in such a situation?
“I am fine,” was all Bridget could say. “Thank you so much for watching Jasmine and Jacob today. I don’t think I will need you for the rest of the week. I’ll call you on Friday and let you know what my schedule is for next week. Is that okay?”
“Yes, Mrs., that is okay.”
Consuelo left, patting Bridget on the back as she left Jasmine and Jacob’s bedroom. As she left, she wondered if Bridget’s “friend” Jade had anything to do with this. On more than one occasion, Consuelo had seen Jade trying to cozy up to Bridget’s husband, saying things about Bridget that might cause problems for the couple. A few times she had considered saying something to Bridget, but she had learned over the years that it was never a good idea to get involved in a couple’s relationship, especially when you were employed by that couple.
The twins were sleeping soundly, so Bridget decided to lie down and take a nap herself. She learned how important it was in the hospital to get enough rest and drink enough fluids in order for her milk production to be adequate. Over the last few days, she noticed that she wasn’t producing as much milk and it was very difficult for her to feed Jas
mine and Jacob. She figured it also probably had a lot to do with the stress she was under. So she slept, as much for herself as for Jasmine and Jacob. Because she knew, now more than ever, they needed a healthy mother; not one that was near complete and utter collapse.
Bridget awakened to noises coming from the babies’ room. When she walked in, she found both Jade and Stephen there. Barely awake, she assumed that Stephen had come back home and was ready to talk about their situation. She couldn’t have been more wrong.
“Hi, Stephen. I’m so glad you came back home. Now we can sit down and talk. I want to explain—everything.”
“What could we possibly have to talk about? I don’t want to hear any more of your lies. The only reason I came back here was to get my daughter. I’ll be damned if I leave her here with a whore like you. She’s coming with me!”
“Stephen, what are you saying? No. No. Don’t say that. Just let me explain! Once I explain everything to you, you’ll see it wasn’t my fault. Please, Stephen. Don’t do this to me. Don’t do this to us.”
Jade observed her handiwork from her comfortable place in the middle anxiously awaiting her opportunity to manipulate the situation.
“Jade, please help me explain it to him. You know. You know what happened. Please, Jade!”
Like most aspects of her life, Bridget had shared with Jade what happened to her that night in David’s office.
“Bridget, you have to calm down. Just take a deep breath and calm down. I’ll talk to Stephen, but you have to calm down, okay?”
“Stephen, I know I’m your least favorite person, but as I see it, both of you need to take a step back and figure out what is best for Jasmine and Jacob. So, why don’t you and I go into the kitchen. You can have a seat and we can talk or not talk, but maybe if you sit down for a few minutes and think about what you’re going to do next, you can gain some perspective,” Jade offered.
Color Me Grey Page 20
