Chapter 5 - Dana Learns
Garrett told Dana that evening.
She called me the next morning.
Her voice sounded hollow.
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Rowan?”
“Yes.”
“Your mother?”
“Yes.”
“She knew?”
“Yes.”
Dana laughed once.
Then cried.
Garrett and Dana had been separated when he and Rowan slept together.
So technically:
No adultery during cohabiting marriage.
Emotion does not care about technical labels.
Dana had believed their separation contained no serious relationship.
Garrett had told her:
“I dated a little.”
He never said Rowan.
Never said pregnancy.
Never said child.
Their son Owen had spent five years calling Sorrel cousin.
He was biologically Sorrel’s half-brother.
Dana said:
“I feel like an idiot.”
“You’re not.”
“Everyone else knew.”
“I didn’t.”
“Your mother.”
“Yes.”
“Rowan.”
“Yes.”
“Garrett.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did she know when she brought Sorrel around us?”
“Rowan?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
That hurt Dana too.
No easy innocent party.
Rowan had made a choice.
I loved her.
Still needed to admit that.
Dana asked:
“Are you doing a test?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Because Sorrel is five and I already know who his father is.”
Silence.
Then she understood.
“You.”
“Yes.”
“Biology.”
“I know what you mean.”
Meredith had advised:
Do not use a child’s genetics to satisfy adult rage unless there is a reason and plan.
There were reasons.
Medical history.
Truth.
Future identity.
But not:
tonight.
Dana said:
“Owen can’t know yet.”
“I agree.”
“Thank you.”
“No family gossip.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Your mother is telling people you’re trying to destroy Garrett’s marriage.”
Of course.
I called Eudora.
She answered:
“You finally call.”
“Stop discussing paternity.”
“I’m defending our family.”
“No.”
“I’m your mother.”
“That has never meant you speak for me.”
Then:
“Where is the DNA report?”
Silence.
“Mom.”
“In my safe-deposit box.”
“Why?”
“Garrett asked me to keep it.”
“Why not destroy?”
She sounded offended.
“Because you never destroy important documents.”
Even lies need filing systems.
“Send it to Meredith.”
“No.”
That surprised me.
“It is Garrett’s private medical information too.”
She was not completely wrong.
The report contained genetic identification.
But Rowan’s copy might be part of her estate papers.
We needed counsel.
I said:
“Fine. Do not destroy it.”
“I would never.”
I believed that.
Then:
“You called my son not blood.”
Eudora’s voice broke slightly.
“You chose not to know.”
“That does not explain what you did.”
“I was angry.”
“At a five-year-old?”
“At you.”
There.
Again.
Adults using children to deliver messages.
I hung up.
No victory.
May you like
Just clearer ugliness.
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