Chapter 7 #2
I thought about the first time I’d really fallen for her – not the initial attraction when she’d walked into my bar after taking over the clinic, all professional confidence and those incredible eyes.
But the moment, about a month into dating, when we’d been hiking, and she’d stopped dead on the trail because she’d spotted an injured bird.
She’d carefully scooped it up, talking to it in this soft, gentle voice, examining it with those capable hands.
Then she’d looked at me and said, “I know this probably seems crazy, but I can’t just leave it here. ”
We’d spent the next three hours driving to a wildlife rehab center, Chloe holding this bird in a makeshift box from my truck, whilst researching the best facility on her phone. Chloe had smiled at me and said, “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”
That was when I knew. This woman who cared so fiercely, who acted on her compassion instead of just feeling it, who saw me as someone who’d do the same – that was who I wanted to build a life with.
“Hello? Earth to Sam?” Jenna snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Your son needs your attention, and you’re off daydreaming. Focus.”
I took a deep breath, my mind shifting into the methodical planning mode that had helped me build my business. “Okay. Here’s what I’m thinking. If Leo is my son, I want to do right by him. Financial support, backdated to his birth. I’ve been researching what that looks like legally.”
Jenna’s eyes lit up.
“But I need a paternity test first,” I continued calmly.
“A paternity test?” Jenna’s voice rose in exasperation. “Sam, look at him. He’s got your eyes, your smile, your cowlick. It’s obvious he’s yours.”
“Yeah, he does look like me. But before I hand over a substantial sum of money and completely restructure my life, I need legal confirmation. My lawyer–”
“Your lawyer?” Jenna interrupted, her voice sharp. “Why do you want lawyers involved?”
I kept my tone patient, reasonable. “Because I own a business and property. Everything needs to be documented and legal so I can set up a college fund for Leo, establish proper support payments, maybe even help you find a stable place to live. Once the paternity test confirms what we both believe, I can help you build the life Leo deserves.”
I watched Jenna’s expression shift as I laid out the practical steps. Her eyes were bright with possibility now, probably calculating rental deposits and daycare costs and all the stability she’d been desperately seeking.
“You’d really do all that?” she asked softly.
“If he’s my son, then yes. I want to take care of him properly.” I paused, choosing my words carefully. “But you need to understand that Chloe is part of my life. Whatever arrangement we work out will include her.”
Jenna’s expression cooled slightly. “The girlfriend.” The way she said it made it sound like Chloe was an inconvenient obstacle.
“The woman I’m going to marry.” I met her eyes directly. “If you’re serious about what’s best for Leo, you need to understand that his father’s happiness matters too. A stable, loving home includes the woman who makes that home possible.”
Jenna was quiet for a moment, and I could see her recalculating whatever plans she’d been making.
“Fine,” she said finally. “We’ll do the paternity test. When?”
“No time like the present.” I pulled out my phone. “There’s a medical clinic in town that does testing. We can head over there right now.”
Jenna’s face went pale. “Right now? Sam, I—” She glanced at Leo, still playing on the equipment. “What does the test involve? Does he have to give blood? Will it hurt him?”
“It’s just a cheek swab. Takes about thirty seconds. They rub a cotton swab on the inside of his cheek, same for me, that’s it. No needles, no pain. He won’t even remember it happened.”
“Oh.” Some of the tension left her shoulders. “That’s… that’s not so bad.”
“We’ll have results in twenty-four hours max.”
“Twenty-four hours,” she repeated, then looked at me sharply. “You’ve really thought this through, haven’t you?”
“I needed to know my options.” I kept my voice neutral, though I could see she was processing what my level of preparation meant. That I wasn’t going to just take her word for it.
Her expression shifted to something harder to read. “What do we tell Leo? He’s four, Sam. He doesn’t understand paternity tests.”
“We tell him we’re going to see a nice doctor who wants to make sure he’s healthy and growing strong. The doctor will look in his mouth with a special stick, just like when the dentist counts his teeth. Quick, easy, then we can get ice cream after.”
Jenna studied my face for a long moment. “You’ve thought of everything.”
“I’m trying to do this right.” I stood up from the bench. “The clinic’s on Main Street. We can head over now if you’re ready.”
Leo came running back to us, breathless and worried. “Sam-Sam! Are you leaving? You just got here!”
“We’re going to get ice cream, buddy.” I smiled at his concern. “But we do need to make a quick stop first. There’s a really nice doctor who wants to meet you.”
“A doctor?” Leo’s face scrunched up with suspicion. “I’m not sick.”
I crouched down to his level. “You’re right, you’re not sick. But sometimes doctors want to make sure kids are growing big and strong, even when they feel great. This doctor just wants to look in your mouth for like two seconds. It doesn’t hurt at all. And then we’ll get ice cream.”
Leo considered this seriously. “What flavor?”
“Whatever flavor you want.”
“Okay!” He grabbed my hand with one of his and Jenna’s with the other. “Let’s go see the doctor and then ice cream!”
As we walked towards the car park, Leo swinging between us, chattering about ice cream flavors, I tried to ignore the weight settling in my chest. This time tomorrow, I’d have proof. Legal, undeniable confirmation that this little boy was my son.