Suddenly, an elderly woman with a baby blocked her path.<\/p>\n
While holding her crying infant, the mom said, \u201cAre you Nancy?\u201d<\/p>\n
She was unfamiliar to Nancy. Who was she?<\/p>\n
\u201cI am. Who are you? Nancy said.<\/p>\n
Amanda\u2019s announcement that the infant in her arms was Patrick\u2019s was too much for Nancy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnly you can look after this child now,\u201d she informed Nancy. \u201cHer mother can\u2019t support her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nancy shivered. She retreated after staring at the infant.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo way! Patrick was a caring spouse. He would never hurt me!\u201d<\/p>\n
Nancy turned and left. She never doubted Patrick.<\/p>\n
Watch out!<\/p>\n
Nancy met Patrick\u2019s old friend Mike. She was too preoccupied to notice her direction.<\/p>\n
Mike chatted with her, giving sympathy. Nancy wanted to avoid people but had to be polite. She ended the conversation quickly and went to her car.<\/p>\n
<\/ins><\/div>\n
She remembered the baby\u2019s thoughts but ignored them. When Nancy opened her car door, she was shocked. The sobbing infant was in her rear seat.<\/p>\n
Nancy looked around. Amanda was absent. \u201cHow did this baby even get here?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Nancy took off her jacket and wrapped it around the baby since it was cold.<\/p>\n
She froze when she saw the baby\u2019s neck birthmark. \u201cIt can\u2019t be,\u201d she whispered.<\/p>\n
<\/ins><\/div>\n
The birthmark matched Patrick\u2019s. Nancy didn\u2019t want her late husband\u2019s adultery suspected. But now she needed the truth. She needed to know if Patrick was cheating.<\/p>\n
Nancy drove home with the baby, took Patrick\u2019s hairbrush, and went to the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, I\u2019d like a paternity test,\u201d she told the counter receptionist.<\/p>\n
OK, ma\u2019am. A few days are typical for findings, the woman stated.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan it be done faster?\u201d Nancy asks. \u201cI\u2019ll pay more.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/ins><\/div>\n
We offer expedited service. See what I can accomplish. But it costs more.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take it,\u201d Nancy said. She sent Patrick\u2019s samples and paid for testing.<\/p>\n
As she waited for the results in the hallway, the baby started crying. Nancy smelled baby clothing. No diaper change was needed.<\/p>\n
Nancy assumed she was starving. Before the results came in, she headed to a supermarket and bought baby formula, bottles, and diapers in case she needed them.<\/p>\n
<\/ins><\/div>\n
She sat in the hallway giving the baby formula. After what felt like an age, a nurse presented the results.<\/p>\n
A woman gave her an envelope and left.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the truth, and I\u2019ll have to accept it whether I like it or not,\u201d Nancy thought as she opened the results.<\/p>\n
Her mind spun when she read, \u201cPaternity rate \u2013 99%.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nancy swallowed her emotions as she held the sleeping infant. Patrick had cheated and lied to her.<\/p>\n
<\/ins><\/div>\n
Nancy did not want to live with his adultery forever. She would find and return the baby to its mother.<\/p>\n
Nancy drove home and went through Patrick\u2019s things after calming down. She found nothing to identify his lover. Next, she searched his office drawers, files, and cabinets. But nothing.<\/p>\n
Nancy sighed. The infant slept in the living room. She took the baby monitor to Patrick\u2019s car. She looked under the seats, in the glove box, and everywhere else in the car. But she found nothing important.<\/p>\n
When she saw the GPS, Nancy slumped into the driver\u2019s seat. And suddenly it hit her. Patrick was bad at directions and always utilized the navigator. She would find her address at his mistress\u2019 place if he had visited.<\/p>\n
<\/ins><\/div>\n
Nancy navigated directly to recent destinations. The list was short and included common sites like restaurants, hardware stores, and Patrick\u2019s office. But one address caught her eye\u2014it showed more often than others\u2014and she didn\u2019t recognize it.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is it,\u201d she thought. She drove to the address with the baby.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
Nancy saw a small house when she arrived. She carried the infant to the front door and knocked.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello? Anyone home?\u201d She asked.<\/p>\n
Nancy assumed the house was empty after the tenth knock and no answer. She approached the neighbors after looking around. Start with the next-door residence and ring the bell.<\/p>\n
Amanda walked out as the door creaked, widening Nancy\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou?\u201d Nancy asks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you find me?\u201d Stuttering Amanda.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was searching for my husband.\u201d Nancy paused. His other woman. I wanted her child back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Amanda seemed strangely sad. \u201cThe neighbor woman passed away recently. She had a heart attack after hearing about your husband\u2019s accident. Miss Emma has gone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wait\u2026did you say Emma? Surprised, Nancy asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Amanda nodded. Did you know her?<\/p>\n
\u201cWas\u2026Was her surname Warren?<\/p>\n
Nancy felt ashamed when Amanda nodded. \u201cCan-Can I come inside?\u201d she said. I have something to tell you. Could use some talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nancy entered through Amanda\u2019s wider door. They stayed in the living room. \u201cEmma was my classmate,\u201d Nancy recalled. \u201cShe was my friend. But I mistreated her and Patrick.<\/p>\n
20 years ago\u2026<\/p>\n
Nancy and Patrick were in the school corridor. She was at her locker when Patrick approached.<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cHey, Nancy,\u201d quietly, and she looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to tell you something,\u201d Patrick hurriedly said.<\/p>\n
Hey, she smiled. \u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in love with someone else, Nancy,\u201d he revealed. Yes, you\u2019ve been wonderful, but I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shocked, Nancy. \u201cTell me it\u2019s a joke, Patrick,\u201d she sobbed. \u201cYou\u2019re kidding!\u201d<\/p>\n
But Patrick meant it. Emma and Patrick were madly in love.<\/p>\n
Nancy cried when she got home that day.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Sweetie?\u201d Her mother recognized a school incident quickly.<\/p>\n
Nancy cried as she told her Patrick broke up with her.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to break them up!\u201d she shouted. \u201cI won\u2019t let them be together!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNancy, you won\u2019t be able to create your own happiness by destroying someone else\u2019s,\u201d her mother said. \u201cRevenge is never possible. Ignore him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nancy sought to break up Patrick and Emma for days by spreading stories, planning coincidental encounters to show off her newfound confidence, and even mailing anonymous messages to incite envy.<\/p>\n
But nothing worked. Emma was delighted with Patrick, but Nancy\u2019s plans crumbled.<\/p>\n
Nancy didn\u2019t quit. One night, she got the ideal idea to divide Emma and Patrick.<\/p>\n
Hello, Nancy\u2014how are you? When Nancy visited Patrick, this mother answered the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine, Mrs. White. Is Patrick home?<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, dear. Get him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her presence on his doorstep confused Patrick. \u201cNancy? What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand your surprise, Patrick, but\u2026\u201cI\u2019m pregnant!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Shaken and afraid, Patrick. \u201cWhat\u2026but\u2026Are you sure?<\/p>\n
Patrick let her in when she nodded. She said she was afraid to tell her parents. Nancy said her father would oppose it and compel her to abort. She begged Patrick not to tell anyone and saw how readily he fell for her deception.<\/p>\n
Responsibility characterized Patrick. Nancy knew. He clasped her hands and said, \u201cI\u2019m the father, so I\u2019ll take care of our baby. Don\u2019t worry\u2014this will stay between us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Present-day\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cI used him. Lied to him. I wasn\u2019t pregnant,\u201d Nancy told Amanda. I was hurt and couldn\u2019t bear losing him to Emma. I lied to him and changed everything. He was eager to leave Emma and become a father.<\/p>\n
\u201cLies ruin everything, dear,\u201d Amanda shrugged. \u201cWhat then? Did he never learn?<\/p>\n
\u201cHe didn\u2019t,\u201d Nancy said. I maintained the act, morning sickness, and everything. After a few months, I\u2026I couldn\u2019t continue. I told him the test was erroneous and the doctor was wrong. By then, Emma had moved. Heartbroken, she left town with her parents. I stayed with Patrick. He never returned or sought her. Just moved on. Or pretended to\u2026 Nancy spoke while holding her sleeping baby. She knew Patrick was with Emma again.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I guess it\u2019s time to correct what I couldn\u2019t back then,\u201d Nancy remarked, standing.<\/p>\n
She was leaving Amanda\u2019s house with the infant when the older woman stopped her.<\/p>\n
What will you do with the baby? Amanda asks.<\/p>\n
Nancy turned and smiled at Amanda. \u201cI will raise her as my own. Maybe that may help me ask Patrick and Emma for forgiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nancy kept her promise. She lovingly raised Catherine. Nancy told Catherine everything about her history at 16. She anticipated Catherine\u2019s hatred. And she was ready.<\/p>\n
But Catherine smiled and replied, \u201cNothing changes how I feel about you, Mom. You reared me. You saw every skinned knee, illness, and grief. Everything counts, you\u2019re my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nancy quietly cried and cuddled her daughter. Catherine\u2019s remarks comforted her and convinced her Emma and Patrick had forgiven her.<\/p>\n
Comment on this article and share it with others. It may inspire and cheer them up.<\/p>\n
Suddenly, an elderly woman with a baby blocked her path. While holding her crying infant, the mom said, \u201cAre you Nancy?\u201d She was unfamiliar to Nancy. Who was she? \u201cI am. Who are you? Nancy said. Amanda\u2019s announcement that the infant in her arms was Patrick\u2019s was too much for Nancy. \u201cOnly you can look…<\/p>\n