Texting your mom after your at-home DNA results show the...

Conversation

1. Mom I need to tell you something urgent.
2. What happened? You're freaking me out.
3. My at-home DNA just matched Mark as my father.
4. Mark as in our neighbor Mark?
5. Yes — he literally RSVPed to Sunday brunch today.
6. Jess stop, that doesn't mean anything by itself.
7. The report says 'paternal match 99.8 percent' next to his name.
8. I don't know how that could be.
9. Why did you tell me my dad died when he might be alive?
10. Because I thought I was protecting you from chaos.
11. Protecting me from what, Mom?
12. From a man who would have destroyed our lives.
13. Then why did Mark baby-sit every summer?
14. Because he was always there, not because he was father.
15. He texted me 'can't wait to meet my daughter' this morning.
16. Delete that text and don't show him anything.
17. Why are you telling me to hide his message?
18. Because if he knows, he'll start asking questions.
19. He already asked questions to the group chat, Mom.
20. He must have been told something, I never told him.
21. I'm at the door and he's in the living room right now.
22. Get out of the house and don't go near him.
23. I can't leave, I need him to answer why.
24. Fine—he's your father, I couldn't tell you, I'm so sorry.