Chapter 3 - THE MAN RYAN CALLED FIRST
Ryan had found Daniel’s number online.
He called before midnight.
Daniel answered.
Ryan asked one question.
“Did you sleep with my wife?”
Daniel was silent too long.
That silence became gasoline.
Then Daniel said:
“No.”
Ryan did not believe him.
“Is Noah your son?”
Daniel answered:
“I don’t know.”
That was the worst possible answer.
Because Daniel truly did not know what Ryan had been told.
He had never slept with Emily.
But they had kissed.
Once.
That was the truth Emily had not told Ryan.
At Daniel’s apartment after the funeral, their hug became a kiss.
Short.
Then longer.
Then Emily stopped.
No sex.
But enough intimacy that Daniel understood how explosive the timing looked.
He did not know whether Emily had told Ryan the whole story.
So when Ryan demanded:
Is Noah yours?
Daniel panicked and said:
I don’t know.
Now Ryan was certain.
The next morning, Emily returned to the kitchen.
Ryan was there with a printed email.
Daniel had forwarded an old message Emily sent years ago:
I THINK ABOUT WHAT WOULD’VE HAPPENED IF I STAYED.
Ryan read it aloud.
Emily closed her eyes.
“You told him that after we were married?”
“Yes.”
“After you were pregnant?”
“No. Before.”
“When?”
“Two weeks before.”
Ryan laughed.
Then stopped.
“Did you marry me because Daniel left?”
“No.”
“Did you love him more?”
Emily’s face crumpled.
“That isn’t fair.”
“So yes.”
“No.”
“Then answer.”
She could not.
Love was not an ordered list.
Daniel had been first love.
Ryan had been home.
Different.
Ryan wanted a ranking.
Emily would not give him one.
Then Claire brought Noah back because daycare needed an updated medical form.
Ryan had forgotten Claire still had him.
Noah ran inside.
“Daddy!”
Ryan froze.
Noah wrapped his arms around his waist.
Ryan did not hug him immediately.
Emily saw it.
So did Noah.
The child pulled back.
“Daddy?”
Ryan forced his arms around him.
Too late.
Noah had felt the hesitation.
Emily’s fury returned.
She took Noah to the kitchen.
Ryan followed.
“We’re doing the test.”
Emily said:
“Not today.”
Claire stepped between them.
“Not in front of him.”
Ryan stared at her.
Then lowered his voice.
“You knew?”
Claire’s face changed.
Another silence.
Emily turned.
“Claire?”
Claire had known about Daniel.
Not the kiss.
The meetings.
Ryan laughed.
“Everybody knew except me.”
Claire said:
“She was confused.”
“No. She was married.”
Emily whispered:
“Stop.”
Ryan looked at Noah drawing at the table.
Then said:
“Fine.”
Calm now.
Too calm.
“I’ll file through court.”
Emily stared.
“You’d take this to court?”
“If I have to.”
There it was.
The paternity question was no longer private.
It was becoming a weapon.
Then Claire pulled Emily aside.
“There’s something you need to know before anyone tests.”
Emily frowned.
“What?”
Claire swallowed.
“When Noah was born, Mom did a test.”
Emily went completely still.
“What test?”
Claire looked toward Ryan.
May you like
Then whispered:
“A paternity test.”
