“Mel, we don’t have to do this now if you don’t want, if you want to call Tate or wait,” Dwight said and Jordan nodded.
“No, I’ve wondered about this for twenty some years and at least this is one step closer to the truth. I need an answer—a yes or a no; either way, I’ll know.”
“Alright,” he said taking the envelope Jordan held. He carefully opened it and took out the sealed results. “I think you should do it,” he said holding it out for her.
She nodded, giving him a slight smile as she took the letter and stared at it. She turned towards the windows afraid they’d see the disappointment if it said she wasn’t and slid her nail underneath the seal, breaking it to withdraw the piece of paper. She glanced at the top portion and saw the comparison of the samples. It took her a minute to work up the courage to glance below them to read the full results.
Oh my god.Mel gasped unable to stop it. Her eyes blurred and she heard the slight whimper that came from her throat.She felt two strong arms pulling her into a hug and she knew it was Jordan.
“Mel, it’s okay baby. I know you wanted it to be true…”
“It is,” she said turning to face them as the tears glistened in her eyes. “It’s positive.”
“What?” Dwight said taking the piece of paper from her outstretched hand. He read through it and smiled brightly. “Mel.”
“I…god,” she laughed trying to wrap her mind around it. “You’re my father.”
“I couldn’t be prouder to know it Mel,” he said as she took a step towards him. “You are so amazing, and mine.”
“Guess that makes you my father-in-law,” Jordan stated shaking his hand.
“I guess it does, which means if you hurt her, you’ll have me to deal with. For now, there’s a couple things I think we need,” Dwight said smiling at her. “First, think you could give your father a hug?”
She nodded and gladly accepted the warmth of his hold. He’d hugged her before but this…it felt completely right.
“Next, you’ve met Lori but how would you like to meet your brothers?” he asked.
“Oh my god, do they know that we took the test?” she stated.
“I told Lori and I’m sure the boys won’t mind finding out they have such an amazing older sister,” he assured her.
“I think I’d like that,” she admitted as Jordan rubbed her back.
“Why don’t I see if we can’t get everyone together for dinner tonight?” Jordan suggested. “I’m sure Mom and Dad won’t mind if we throw an impromptu dinner party there; unless it’s too soon for you Mel.”
“We’d be able to get it all done at once,” she stated.
“We’ll be there, if you can arrange it,” Dwight told him.
“If I know Mom she’ll get it done in an instant,” he said stepping away to give them a few moments. “Mom, think you could round everyone up for dinner tonight? Mel and I have something to tell you all. No…Mom, we’re not having a baby. Yes include Tate, as well as five or six other places, Dwight and his family are joining us.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” she told him hanging up with a sigh of disappointment.
He saw Dwight and Mel heading towards him and gave them a smile. “Mom will get it set up; why don’t we head home, and you can take it easy before we go? Unless you’d rather hang out with Dwight?”
“I’m sure we’ll have plenty of time for that later,” she said. “There’s someone else I need to see right now.”
“Tate?” the two men guessed, and she nodded with a smile.
“Okay, we’ll stop by the site and see Tate,” Jordan told her holding onto his wonder if she’d ever not have to tell Tate everything instantly. He hugged her to his side as they crossed through the campus, loving her far too much to put into voice his slight concerns about how much she relied on Tate rather than just him.
In this instance though, he couldn’t truly begrudge her the need to talk it out with Tate. He’d been beside her for ten long years as she struggled alone to deal with her mother’s abandonment of her, her inability to truly love her incredible daughter, and wonder why the man who fathered her wasn’t around to protect her. “You okay with this?”
“Finding out who my father is, let alone it turning out to be someone I admire? Yeah, I’m totally okay with this Jordan.”
“I guess we know where your brains come from now,” he teased kissing her temple as they neared the site. They heard the catcalls from the men, and he happily kissed her properly.
“What do we owe this pleasure to?” Tate asked, studying her carefully. “Mel, is he?”
