James drove straight to the hotel. He was worried. The roads of Texas stretched before him, but he barely noticed the traffic or the red lights. All he could think about was Emily. Why was she in a hotel? Why didn’t she stay with her parents or friends? Why had she disappeared without a word? The diary told part of the truth, but James felt there was more. At last, he pulled up at the hotel she had mentioned. He rushed to the reception desk and asked for her room number. The receptionist gave it, and he ran to the elevator, his heart pressing against his chest with fear. When he reached her door, he knocked. No answer. He knocked again, louder this time. Still silence. Something was wrong. He turned the handle. To his surprise, the door was unlocked. Slowly, he pushed it open, and the sight before him almost froze his blood. Emily was lying on the floor, motionless. Around her were bottles—empty bottles of alcohol, scattered everywhere. The air was filled with the sour smell of drink. ...
She had told herself over and over again that morning that she would not do it. No matter how much James insisted, she was not going to any hospital for a DNA test. She was tired, weak, and still recovering from childbirth. She also felt insulted that her own husband would accuse her of cheating.
When James returned from work that evening, she was ready with her answer.
“James,” she said as he entered the room, “I am not doing any DNA test. I am not going anywhere.”
James stopped in the middle of the room. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me. I am not following you to any hospital. I will not do it.”
His eyes were fixed on her. “So you are hiding something. That explains it.”
Emily frowned. “I am not hiding anything. I just will not subject myself to this insult.”
James gave a cold laugh. “Insult? Emily, a DNA test is simple. If you are truly innocent, you should have nothing to fear. But now it’s clear to me. You slept with a black man and got pregnant. You thought you could hide it from me, but God has exposed you.”
Emily’s voice became sharper. “That is not true, James! How can you say such things? You are my husband. I have been faithful to you. I carried this child for nine months and suffered to bring him into this world, yet you stand here and accuse me?”
James walked closer to her. “If you are so sure you didn’t cheat, then come with me for a DNA test. That is the only way to prove your innocence.”
Emily turned her face away. “I said I’m not going. I will not be dragged into this.”
James stared at her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. “Alright. From today, I won’t be able to take care of this child. I will not spend my money on another man’s baby.”
Emily’s mouth dropped slightly. “What do you mean?”
“I mean exactly what I said,” James replied. “No food, no clothes, no hospital bills. Nothing. Until you agree to the DNA test, I will not provide for this child.”
Emily thought he was just speaking out of anger, but the following days proved otherwise.
The tin of baby formula in the kitchen is finished. She waited for James to bring more, but he didn’t.
“James, the baby food is finished,” she told him one morning as he prepared for work.
He didn’t even look up from tying his shoes. “Then buy it yourself.”
“I don’t have any money left,” she said quietly.
“That is not my problem,” he replied. “When you are ready for a DNA test, I will buy everything the baby needs. Until then, you are on your own.”
Two days later, the last of the baby’s clothes that still fit became dirty and worn. Emily asked James to buy new ones.
He looked at her from across the living room. “Why should I buy clothes for a child that is not mine?”
Emily’s chest was left in pain. “James, this is your son.”
He shook his head. “Not until the DNA says so.”
The baby also needed toiletries — diapers, wipes, and lotion. Emily mentioned it once, but James ignored her completely. When the time came for the baby’s first postnatal check-up, Emily asked if he could drive them to the hospital.
James glanced at her coldly. “Why should I? If that child’s real father wants him to see a doctor, he can take him.”
Emily was shocked at how serious he was. The man who used to dream about holding his first child now refused to even touch the baby.
The weeks that followed were hard for Emily. She had to call friends to borrow money for baby formula and clothes. Sometimes her friend Sarah would drive over with bags of groceries. Another friend, Linda, bought diapers and baby lotion. Emily was grateful, but each time she received help, she felt more ashamed.
At night, when the baby cried, James would roll over and face the wall. If Emily tried to speak to him, he would say the same thing: “I told you. DNA test or nothing.”
One Saturday afternoon, Emily decided to try again. She walked into the living room where James was watching TV.
“James, please,” she began softly. “We can’t go on like this. The baby needs you. I need you. We are supposed to be a family.”
James didn’t turn his head. “We were a family. Until you brought another man’s child into this house.”
Emily’s voice rose slightly. “I have told you again and again, I did not cheat! You are the father of this baby.”
James looked at her finally. “Then prove it. Let us go for a DNA test tomorrow, and I will take care of everything. But if you refuse, it means you are lying.”
Emily crossed her arms. “I have made my decision. I am not going for any test.”
James leaned back in his chair. “Then I have made my decision too. I will not provide for this child until a DNA test is done.”
Next plz
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