“Can you help me out on Thursday night or not?” she asks.
Fuck, I screw up my face.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” I eventually answer.
“Great, see you at ten.”
I smile. “Thanks, Eliza. I really appreciate it.”
It’s 6.10pm and Owen and I are sitting in waiting room of the medical centre as we wait for Cameron. Of course he’s late. He’s timed it perfectly so he doesn’t have to talk to us.
My heart is in my throat, but Owen is happy enough, playing with his car on the seat.
The door opens and I look up. Cameron’s eyes meet mine and he nods once in acknowledgment. “Hello,” he offers coldly.
“Hello.” I fake a smile and I look to Owen. “Say hello to Cameron, Owie.”
Owen glances up. “Hello, Cameron.” He smiles cheekily.
Pain crosses Cameron’s face as he sees him and forces a smile to his face. “Hello, Owen.”
He sits down opposite us in the waiting room and drops his elbows to his knees, clenching his hands in front of him.
He’s nervous.
I take out my phone and pretend to scroll through it–anything to not see him go through this. Owen drops to his knees and drives his little tuck across the floor as he makes a tractor sound. Cameron’s eyes lift and he watches him in silence. The office door opens and a man comes out in a white coat. “Cameron Stanton?” He smiles.
Cameron stands, fakes a smile, and holds his arm out. “This is Ashley,” he introduces me.
“Hi.” I gesture to Owen. “This is Owen.”
He smiles. “Hello, Owen. That’s a great car you have there.”
Owen smiles. “It’s a truck. Cars don’t have diggers on the front.”
“Oh, yes, I see now.” He chuckles.
“Please, come in.”
The three of us stand and walk awkwardly into the office. Cameron and I sit next to each other. Owen climbs onto my lap and he holds his car up to show Cameron. “It’s blue.”
Cameron smirks. “I can see that.”
“So, we are here today for DNA Paternity testing, yes?” the man asks.
“Yes,” Cameron immediately answers.
“We will need some hair and saliva sample from both of you, and then we will run it through the computer.”
“How long will it take for the results?” Cameron asks.
“We will have the results in a few hours and they will be emailed to you both tonight.”
Cameron frowns and I roll my lips as my eyes find him. He looks like he’s about to vomit.
The doctor hands Cameron a swab. “If you can just brush it around the inside of your mouth, please.”
Cameron nods and takes the swab from him.
“Here, Owen, watch what Cameron does. You’re next,” I tell him.
Owen concentrates as Cameron brushes it around the inside of his mouth and hands it to the technician.
The man smiles and passes me the swab. Owen laughs suddenly aware that everyone is watching him and he is the centre of attention.
“Owen, open your mouth, please,” Cameron says.
My eyes flick to Cameron. Don’t tell my son what to do.
Cut it out, I correct myself. This is hard.
Owen opens his mouth and chuckles loudly and I hold back tears. If only he knew the significance of this test and how it’s going to change everything for him.
“Ahh.” He giggles.
My nerves get the better of me. “Don’t be silly, Owen. I need you to do this, please.”
He lets me swipe the swab around his mouth and I hand it over, watching as the man bags it in a plastic bag.
“Now a snip of hair from you both.”
Cameron rolls his lips as he watches the floor. I watch as the technician snips a piece of hair and then pulls out a few strands and places it in the bag. He then moves on and does the same to Owen as he fiddles with his truck.
Cameron inhales deeply as he watches the man. “How accurate is this testing?” he asks.
“If it’s over a 95% match it is classed as a positive match. If it is over a 80%match it is a family match, but not necessarily a positive match to this member of that family and further testing will be required.”
I nod as nerves begin to flutter deep inside my stomach.
“Is there a chance that this is another family member’s child?” the man asks.
“No,” Cameron snaps, annoyed at the insinuation, and I shake my head immediately.
“It’s a positive match,” I whisper and Cameron frowns as he watches Owen.
“Alright then. It’s all finished. You’ll receive an email in approximately three hours from now.”