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Dr. Talbot nodded. “It’s been a godsend—not just for paternity testing, but we can do most genetic testing that way these days, too. In the past, if something came up on the sonogram or in lab work that made us suspect a chromosomal disorder, we’d have to perform invasive procedures that were risky to the mother and baby. Now it’s quick and simple.”
“How accurate is the testing?”
“Ninety-nine-point-nine percent. Really the biggest risk is human error that can occur during the processing.”
“And how fast do results come back?”
“The lab we use quotes three to five days. But I’ve gotten results back as soon as two, depending on how busy they are.”
I took a deep breath. “Do you think we can do it today?”
“Absolutely. I can see how stressed this is making you, and stress is not good for you or your baby. Aside from causing elevated blood pressure, prolonged stress suppresses your immune system and affects sleep, both of which make you more susceptible to illness and infection. Taking care of you is taking care of your baby now, so your focus needs to be on reducing stress and eating and sleeping well. Those are the best things you can do to contribute to a healthy pregnancy.”
I nodded. “Okay. Let’s do the test today.”
“I’ll have the nurse get the samples as soon as we finish up here.” Dr. Talbot stood and walked to the sink. She washed her hands before pulling a pair of gloves from a box on the counter. “I’d like to do a quick sonogram after I examine you. Would you like the men to come back in for that?”
“I guess I should.”
She snapped on one glove then the other. “Any other questions for me?”
“I do have one. Is the potential father’s name listed on the sample or anything? Confidentiality is an issue for one of the men.”
“No, samples sent to the lab are identified by number only.”
“Okay, great.”
Dr. Talbot smiled. “So I take it the gentleman who was in here wasn’t just a Robert Valentino lookalike?”
“No, it wasn’t. It’s him.”
She nodded. “Would you like me to explain the DNA testing to them after we’re done, or do you prefer to handle that yourself?”
“It would be great if you could.”
“No problem.”
“Thank you.”
Dr. Talbot did a quick internal exam and then told the nurse to bring Robert and Owen back in. The exam room was small, but it felt claustrophobic once the two of them were in here.
Owen took my hand. “How did everything go?”
“Good.”
Not to be outdone, Robert walked around to the other side of the exam table and took my other hand. “How are you holding up?” he asked.
I glanced back and forth between them—one holding each hand—and swallowed. “I’m fine. Everything is fine.”
Dr. Talbot flicked off the lights. “Why don’t we get started?”
Everyone’s eyes were glued to the sonogram screen. We got to hear the baby’s heartbeat, and the doctor gave us a quick anatomy tour. It was surreal, but we could actually see the baby sucking its thumb.
Robert stood tall when the lights came back on. “I sucked my thumb until I was three.”
Through my peripheral vision, I saw Owen’s face fall.
Dr. Talbot must’ve noticed, too. “Eighty percent of babies suck on their fingers at some point.” She smiled politely. “Why don’t we let Devyn get dressed, and she can meet the three of us down the hall in my office to talk. Second door on the right.”
