Chapter 5 – The DNA Results (Part 2)
Emma's hands trembled as she tightened her grip on the phone.
"Brandon, where are you?"
"I'm driving back to the hospital," he replied. "Don't tell Luke anything. He doesn't need to hear any of this."
"I won't."
She ended the call just as Dr. Collins received another message from the genetics lab. The doctor read it silently before looking back at Emma.
"The expanded DNA analysis confirms our preliminary findings. Luke is Brandon's biological son, but Brandon shares no biological markers with Madeline. That doesn't tell us who his biological parents are, only that the records surrounding his birth deserve a much closer look."
Emma nodded slowly. "Then we find the truth."
An hour later Brandon arrived at the hospital carrying the old newspaper clipping with Grace Bennett's name circled in faded ink.
He spread it across the small consultation table.
"This woman never stopped searching for her son," he said. "If anyone knows what happened that night, it's her."
Dr. Collins studied the article.
"The hospital where you were born closed years ago, but some of its archives were transferred to the state medical board. I can request copies if investigators become involved."
Brandon looked at Emma.
"I don't want revenge anymore."
"What do you want?"
"The truth."
Emma reached across the table and took his hand.
"Then we'll find it together."
Back at the Carter house, Richard sat alone in the kitchen while Madeline quietly packed an old suitcase.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I need some time."
"No."
He stood, blocking the doorway.
"You've kept secrets from me for thirty-five years. You're not walking away now."
Madeline looked exhausted.
"I never meant to hurt you."
Richard's eyes filled with disappointment.
"Whether you meant to or not... you did."
For the first time since they had married, he no longer recognized the woman standing in front of him.
Later that evening, Brandon searched public records for Grace Bennett.
After nearly an hour, he found an address just outside Franklin, Tennessee.
He stared at the screen.
"She's still alive."
Emma looked over his shoulder.
"You really think she could be your mother?"
"I don't know."
He sighed.
"But I have to ask."
They decided to drive there first thing the next morning.
Before they left the hospital, Luke woke up and smiled sleepily.
"Daddy?"
Brandon walked over immediately.
"Hey, buddy."
Luke held up his drawing of a blue dinosaur.
"I made this for you."
Brandon hugged him carefully, fighting back tears.
"It's perfect."
Luke tilted his head.
"Is Grandma still mad at me?"
Brandon glanced at Emma before answering.
"Sometimes grown-ups make terrible mistakes."
"Will she say sorry?"
He wished the answer were simple.
"I hope so."
Luke nodded, satisfied for the moment.
"I still want everybody to be friends."
Brandon kissed his son's forehead.
"So do I."
The next morning, Brandon and Emma drove toward the address they had found.
Neither of them spoke much during the hour-long trip.
As they pulled into a quiet neighborhood lined with maple trees, they found a modest white farmhouse with a wraparound porch.
A silver-haired woman was watering flowers in the front yard.
She looked up as their car stopped.
Brandon stepped out slowly.
"Mrs. Bennett?"
The woman smiled politely.
"Yes?"
He swallowed hard.
"My name is Brandon Carter."
Her smile faded.
"I think..."
He held up the old newspaper clipping.
"...we need to talk about a storm that happened thirty-five years ago."
Grace's watering can slipped from her hand and hit the ground.
Her eyes locked on Brandon's face.
She whispered, almost too softly to hear,
"...Those eyes."
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
May you like
"I've seen those eyes before."
End of Chapter 5
