What Blood Reveals

Summary

Before my wife went into labor, a nurse handed me a stack of consent forms.

Buried among them was an optional prenatal paternity screening offered through St. Briar Medical Center's new genetic-services program.

I'd barely started signing when my mother-in-law, Margaret, charged at me and slapped me across the face.

"You monster! My daughter is risking her life to give you a child, and you want a DNA test?"

Before I could explain, the hospital-room door flew open.

Vanessa pressed a pair of medical scissors against her neck, her eyes bloodshot.