Chapter 9 - The DNA Test
Garrett did not ask again for two weeks.
Then Sally called.
“Lily wants to know why you looked at her.”
He swallowed.
“What did you tell her?”
“That you might be her biological father.”
“What did she say?”
“Can he come to the aquarium?”
Garrett laughed through tears.
Of course.
They met at the Maritime Aquarium.
Public.
Leland nearby initially.
Sally never left Lily alone with him.
Fair.
Garrett knelt.
“Hi.”
Lily stared.
“You have my eyes.”
He smiled.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
Then:
“Are you my daddy?”
Garrett looked at Sally.
She nodded slightly.
“I might be.”
“Mom says we need a test.”
“Yes.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Just a cheek swab.”
“Do you cry?”
“I’ll try not to.”
She laughed.
That sound wrecked him.
The legal DNA test occurred through approved lab.
Probability:
99.999 percent.
Garrett Milford was Lily’s father.
No twist.
No secret rich father.
No confusion.
Then family court.
Garrett voluntarily filed paternity acknowledgment.
Sally requested:
Retroactive support only to extent legally available.
Current support.
Medical contribution.
No immediate custody.
Supervised introductory visitation.
Garrett agreed.
His attorney asked:
“You could request more.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because she doesn’t know me.”
Good.
Then child support calculation.
Garrett’s income:
$82,000.
Sally currently:
$37,000 from temporary logistics work.
Support ordered.
Health insurance through Garrett’s employer.
Arrears limited by state law and circumstances.
He paid.
No complaint.
Then Lily’s first supervised visit without Sally in room.
Aquarium education center.
Two hours.
She made him hold a stuffed shark.
At end:
“Can you come next Saturday?”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Mom too?”
Garrett looked at supervisor.
“This is your time with Dad.”
Lily frowned.
“I want Mom.”
So Sally sat nearby next time.
Not family reunion.
Child comfort.
Then Cindy learned.
She called Garrett.
“You did a DNA test?”
“Yes.”
“You’re letting Sally trap you.”
Garrett hung up.
Cindy called again.
He blocked.
First time in thirty five years.
Then Cindy sent a letter:
I protected you.
Garrett did not open.
He gave it to Marcus Bell.
Marcus said:
“Your mother’s civil case is about to become much worse.”
Why?
Garrett’s corrected bank affidavit.
Hallway video.
Original pregnancy letter.
Transfer timing.
Cindy’s later harassment records.
And one more discovery.
The preschool franchise had been purchased in part using a cashier’s check directly traceable to the stolen $420,000.
Sally could assert a constructive trust over part of the property.
May you like
Meaning:
The building Cindy called hers might actually contain Sally’s money in its walls.
