Off The Record
Grandfather Cradles His Newborn Grandson, Then Points At His Daughter-In-Law And Accuses Her Of Lying
Joy flooded the hospital room as John held his newborn son for the first time, but then his father made a startling accusation against Tina, John’s wife. A time for joy quickly devolved into mistrust and heartache.
Excitement was in the air in the hallway outside the hospital room. John paced while rubbing his hands together and glancing at the family members surrounding him and the closed door.
A few paces behind him, his parents, Ron and Linda, waited with a slight tension between them, their gazes focused on the entrance. Annie and Mark, Tina’s parents, were sitting on the wall-mounted bench, quietly conversing, their weary faces glowing with delight.
Linda responded, “Calm down, John,” and she smiled gently. She patted his arm as she reached out. “You’ll get to hold him soon enough.”
“I know, Mom, I just — I can’t believe he’s finally here!” John answered, a smile spreading across his face. His eyes were bright with eagerness as he glanced about. “Tina is incredible. She’s been really resilient.”
Ron observed his son and shifted, crossing his arms. He added, “We’re proud of her too,” in a level but cautious tone. He glanced at Linda, who nodded but maintained a bland look.
“Don’t worry, son,” Ron said, frowning slightly. “Just make sure you know what you’re doing now that there’s three of you.”
John gave a trembling laugh. “I think I’ve got this, Dad.” He smiled at his father, but he couldn’t read the older man’s face.
Tina’s father, Mark, laughed from the bench. He answered, “That’s right, John,” with warmth. “There is nothing like new life. It transforms everything.”
Linda did not smile, but she did nod. It’s true. Being responsible is difficult, especially when running a family business.
John hesitated as he glanced at his mother, but the nurse appeared with a smile before he could respond.
“All right,” she reported. “Now you can enter, but go with caution. She is worn out. As she held the door open, everyone quietly trickled into the dimly illuminated room.”
Tina lay leaning on the pillows as they entered, her face white but beaming with joy. She held the small bundle in her arms and drew her hair back. Immediately, John’s expression softened, and he hurried to her side while keeping his gaze on the infant.
“Oh, Tina,” he said softly as he touched the infant’s cheek. “He’s perfect.” His eyes gleamed as he gazed at her. “I don’t know how you did it.”
Tina chuckled, but her eyes betrayed how tired she was. She said, “I had help,” and grinned at him. “This is it. Hold him.”
John’s face filled with awe as he held his kid for the first time as she carefully placed him in his arms. With difficulty, he spoke the words, “I… I’m so lucky,”
Ron and Linda stepped forward. Linda murmured softly, “Let me hold him, John,” with a rare warmth in her voice. Her eyes softened as she cradled the infant in her arms and grabbed for him.
She crooned, “Sweet little boy,” her face softening. “Just beautiful.”
After a little while, she gave the infant to Annie, Tina’s mother, who started crying right away. She said, “Oh, my dear girl,” to Tina. “He is flawless. Simply ideal.”
The grandfather then had his turn. However, his eyes enlarged and became fixated as soon as he peered down at the infant.
“LIAR!” he yelled abruptly. After a quick glance at the infant, Linda scowled at her daughter-in-law.
“A DNA test is being conducted. Immediately,” she insisted.
Ron’s eyes grew gloomy. He glanced over at Tina, who was grinning weakly at him. He said, “That birthmark,” in a hurried voice.
Perplexed, Tina blinked. “What… what do you mean?”
Holding the baby out as though the little boy himself were somehow to blame, Ron straightened. “That mark,” he remarked, raising his voice. “The same one that’s on Jimmy’s boy.”
There was silence in the room. Tina glanced at him, her grin fading. She said, “I don’t understand,” in a shaky voice.
“You know exactly what I mean,” Ron angrily said, his cheeks flushed. “Avoid acting fake. The boy’s birthmark is identical to that of our neighbor’s youngster. The boy who is constantly present. You know that person from high school.”
The whole room went cold. John’s face was pale as he glanced between his father and his wife. His voice was trembling as he said, “Dad, what are you talking about?”
Ron remarked, “Look at that mark, John,” in a stern voice. “You’re telling me it’s a coincidence?”
Tina’s face turned pale as she shook her head. Whispering, “This is ridiculous,” she said. “That mark is meaningless. He is your grandchild.”
Ron scowled, unimpressed. “I’m not really certain about that. A DNA test is being conducted. At this moment.”
Linda’s jaw tightened as she gazed at her kid. “John, honey, this isn’t something we can ignore.”
“Mom?” John retained Tina’s gaze while his face broke down as he glanced between his parents.
Tina said in a quiet but firm voice. “Please, John. Inform them that they are mistaken.”
Tina protested with tears, but Ron refused to give in. John, under pressure from both sides, reluctantly agreed to his demand for a DNA test.
Almost unable to look her in the eyes, he whispered, “Tina,” “if we do this, we can put it all to rest.” “Correct?”
Tina appeared stunned. “John, you can’t believe this. Following everything—”
“I require… Please, I simply want to be certain.” John’s voice broke, revealing the pain and perplexity he was trying to hide.
Ron made the decision and contacted right away to set up the exam. Tina was inconsolable and looked to John for solace, but his ambivalent expression just made her misery worse.
Silence hovered between Tina and John for the following few days.
The waiting gnawed at them both in the silence of their home, and each hour that went by seemed to weaken the tenuous relationship they had formed.
John turned inside, wondering everything he believed to be true as his thoughts raced through recollections. His father’s remarks seemed louder, sowing doubt, but Tina’s tear-streaked visage still haunted him.
Tina was unable to comprehend it. Her voice was a mix of sadness and rage as she paced the house and begged John. “John, you must believe me, please. He’s your son, I promise you!”
John would turn away, his expression hazy. “If there’s nothing to hide, then the test will clear everything up.”
With obvious desperation in her voice, she exclaimed, “You shouldn’t even need a test!” “I thought you knew me better than this.”
But every time she tried to get in touch with him, he seemed to get farther away. John put up a front of composure, but on the inside he was a storm, divided between the family he had always trusted and the woman he loved.
The findings finally came in.
With a sour grimace, Ron ripped open the package and looked at the paper, first without a reaction. A glimmer of satisfaction then slowly appeared on his face. “I was right,” he stated in a chilly tone. John took the paper from him and read it, his hand shaking as he processed the information that matched his father’s greatest fears.
“No…” John’s face was pale as he whispered. He glanced at Tina, who was stopped in disbelief, starring at him with her mouth open.
John did not own the baby.
Tina shook her head angrily and stepped toward him. “John, this must be an error! It must be, you know that! I am unable to comprehend—” She was holding his arm as if pleading, but John retreated with a look of hurt mixed with incredulity.
“Why, Tina?” His face contorted in agony, and his voice was a raw whisper. “Why would you do this to us?”
Tina broke down in tears and fell to her knees. “I didn’t… John, I promise you I did nothing. I’m not sure how. You must believe me, please.”
John shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “The proof is right there, Tina.” With a betrayed expression on his face, he turned away. His mother said, “You should leave, Tina,” as his parents stood close by, stern and harsh. “After this, you can’t stay here.”
But John, you are loved! Tina’s voice broke as she exclaimed, “I love you more than anything.”
Ron took a step forward, his face grim. “Tina, our family cannot afford to be betrayed. You must leave.”
John remained motionless as his mother gently led him away, his face displaying a mixture of uncertainty and grief. No words could have penetrated his quiet.
Moving around the house that had previously felt like home, Tina packed her belongings in solitude, her head numb. She felt as though every picture and item of furniture brought back memories of the life she had lost.
With sad and silent rage on their faces, her parents came to assist. They supported her through her silent sadness by remaining by her side without saying much.
After packing, Tina took one more glance around, her heart aching as she thought of her life here, with John and their child. How it had all fallen apart was beyond her comprehension. Unaware of the chaos around him, the infant slept soundly in her arms.
In order to escape the empty house and the memories of his broken marriage, John immersed himself into his profession in the months that followed, working long hours at the office. Despite friends’ attempts to lift his spirits, he stayed aloof, troubled by what he perceived to be an unforgivable betrayal.
Tina’s parents embraced her when she returned to live with them. Determined to create a life for both of them, she concentrated on raising her son. Even while the pain persisted, she gradually adapted to life as a single mother and started to discover strength in herself.
But the wounds were a constant reminder to them both of the love that had been given and the trust that had been shattered.
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