I’d agreed because I wanted Ellie to have accurate health records.
I’d never expected anything like this.
“They completed a preliminary comparison,” Nora whispered.
She slid the report toward me.
I looked down.
My name was printed near the top.
Below it was Ellie’s.
Then came the conclusion.
The genetic findings suggested a biological parent-child relationship.
I read the words once.
Then again.
My mind refused to accept them.
“That can’t be right.”
Nora covered her mouth.
“Claire…”
“My daughter died.”
“I know what they told you.”
“I have her death certificate.”
Tears began running down Nora’s face.
“I know.”
I stood so quickly that my chair scraped against the floor.
“No. There has to be a mistake.”
I walked to the kitchen sink and gripped the edge of the counter.
Outside, someone was walking a dog.
A delivery truck stopped across the street.
The neighborhood looked exactly as it always did.
