Chapter 2: The Name
Marcus followed Renee into the nearly empty parking garage.
The graduation crowd had disappeared behind them, leaving only the distant sound of car doors slamming.
Aaliyah stayed near the entrance with the man in the leather jacket.
Marcus turned on Renee.
“Why is my name on a DNA test?””
Renee's lips trembled.
“Lower your voice.””
“You lied to me for eighteen years, and you're worried about my voice?””
“I didn't lie about everything.””
Marcus gave a bitter laugh.
“That isn't an answer.””
Renee looked toward Aaliyah.
“She can't hear us.””
“Good.””
Marcus held out his hand.
“Give me the envelope.””
Renee shook her head.
“Marcus, please listen to me.””
“I've been listening to you since I met you.””
His voice dropped.
“I listened when you said Aaliyah needed stability. I listened when you said her biological father wasn't around. I listened when you told me she didn't need to know every detail of the past.””
Renee closed her eyes.
“And I believed you.””
“I was trying to protect her.””
“From what?””
Renee said nothing.
Marcus stepped closer.
“From Derek?””
Her eyes snapped open.
Marcus turned toward the entrance.
The man in the black leather jacket was standing with Aaliyah, pretending not to watch them.
“Derek,” Marcus said.
Renee nodded faintly.
“You knew he was coming?””
“I knew he might.””
“Did you know he'd show up today?””
“Yes.””
Marcus stared at her.
“So this wasn't a surprise.””
“No.””
His hands curled into fists.
“You planned this?””
“No. Aaliyah wanted to meet him.””
“And you let her humiliate me in front of everyone?””
“I didn't know she'd say those things.””
Marcus looked back toward the entrance.
Aaliyah was staring at the floor now.
The graduation cap she had decorated with tiny silver stars was tucked under her arm.
She looked like a child again.
For one painful second, Marcus remembered her at five years old, sitting on his shoulders during a Fourth of July parade.
“Daddy, I can see everything!””
He had smiled up at her.
“Hold on tight.””
Marcus blinked away the memory.
Then he looked at Renee.
“Tell me what that DNA test says.””
Renee's face tightened.
“You're not going to like it.””
“I don't think I have much left to lose.””
She slowly opened her purse.
Before she could remove the envelope, Derek walked toward them.
“Renee.””
She froze.
Derek stopped beside her.
Marcus looked him up and down.
“So you're Derek.””
Derek nodded.
“I am.””
“The biological father.””
“Yes.””
Marcus laughed once.
“You finally decided to show up.””
Derek's expression hardened.
“You don't know anything about what happened.””
“I know enough.””
“You raised her because I wasn't there.””
Marcus stared at him.
“No. I raised her because she needed someone.””
Derek's jaw tightened.
“I didn't abandon her.””
“Then where were you?””
Derek looked away.
“That isn't simple.””
Marcus pointed toward Aaliyah.
“Nothing about her childhood was simple because none of you told me the truth.””
Aaliyah approached slowly.
“What truth?””
Renee immediately stepped toward her.
“Aaliyah, go wait by the car.””
“No.””
Her voice was firmer this time.
“You keep telling me to wait. I'm done waiting.””
Derek looked uncomfortable.
Marcus turned to Aaliyah.
“Your mother has a DNA test.””
Aaliyah looked at Renee.
“What?””
Renee whispered, “Aaliyah…”
“Is it about me?””
Silence.
Aaliyah's eyes widened.
“Mom?””
Renee finally pulled out the envelope.
“It is.””
Aaliyah took it.
Marcus watched her tear it open.
Her eyes scanned the first page.
Then stopped.
She looked confused.
“What does this mean?””
Derek reached for the paper.
“Give it to me.””
Aaliyah pulled it away.
“No.””
She read further.
Her breathing changed.
“Wait.””
Marcus stared at her.
“What does it say?””
Aaliyah looked at Renee.
“It says there's a ninety-nine point something percent probability…”
She couldn't finish.
Derek took a step forward.
“That's enough.””
Aaliyah shook her head.
“No. It's not.””
She looked at the bottom of the page.
Then her eyes moved to the name.
Her face went completely blank.
Marcus saw it happen.
Whatever she had expected to find, it wasn't that.
“What?”” he asked.
Aaliyah's lips parted.
“Mom…”
Renee started crying.
Aaliyah held up the paper.
“Why is Marcus listed as the tested father?””
Marcus felt his chest tighten.
Derek went pale.
And Renee whispered four words that made Marcus's entire world tilt.
“Because Derek isn't your father.””
Aaliyah stared at her.
Then she looked at Marcus.
The paper slipped from her fingers.
“No…”
Marcus couldn't move.
Aaliyah's voice broke.
“Then who is?””
Renee looked directly at Marcus.
And before she could answer, Derek stepped between them.
“Renee, don't tell him.””
Marcus turned slowly.
“Tell me what?””
Derek's face was drained of color.
“Because if you tell him,” he said, “he'll finally understand why I disappeared.””
Marcus stared at him.
“What did you do?””
Derek swallowed.
“I didn't disappear.””
May you like
He looked at Renee.
“She made me.””
