Page 128 of Julian

“What happened?” Elijah asked. “You were only in there for a few minutes.”

“She told me she wants a paternity test,” he said. “I don’t understandwhy.”

“So you’re upset she wants the paternity test? You don’t want it?”

“I believe that she told the truth about what happened between us,” Julian said. “I believe TJ is my son. I don’t need a paternity test to prove that, and I just don’t understand why she’s insisting on one. It doesn’t make any sense. I want it to make sense. To understand why she wants this.”

“And she hasn’t explained her reasoning?” Elijah asked.

Julian shook his head. “She just kept saying she wants it.”

“Why is it a big deal that she wants the test?”

Julian sat in silence for a minute, trying to get a handle on his frustration. “I guess I thought we were getting closer. To me, that means that we shouldn’t need the paternity test. Her wanting this test makes it seem like she doesn’t feel the same way.”

He leaned forward and braced his elbows on his knees as he dragged his fingers through his hair. Julian knew he was overreacting. He knew he was being unreasonable.

“So your reaction has more to do with what having the test done represents between the two of you than actually having the test done.”

“Yeah.” Julian sighed heavily. “I guess so.”

“I think you need to just let her get the test done,” Elijah advised. “Given what you’ve told me, she’s probably dealing with some uncertainty right now. The marriage was only supposed to last until after the baby was born, right? So maybe she’s just trying to protect her son. If you go on to have another family, she’ll want to make sure that legally, you’ve taken responsibility for TJ.”

Something inside Julian recoiled at Elijah’s words. He didn’t want another family. He wanted the one he already had.

“I need to apologize and get this sorted out,” he said.

“Yes, you do,” Elijah agreed. “Let me pray with you before you go back and talk to her.”

Julian hadn’t even thought about praying regarding the situation. He still needed to get used to that being an option for him.

Bowing his head, he felt Elijah’s hand on his back.

“Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today asking for wisdom for Julian as he and Kiara make this decision about the test. I pray that you will be with them both as they talk, that their communication will be clear so that there is no misunderstanding. In Jesus’ name.”

Julian lifted his head and glanced over at Elijah. “Thank you.”

Elijah smiled. “You’re welcome.”

Pushing to his feet, Julian ran a hand through his hair to make sure it wasn’t standing up in all directions. He felt strangely nervous about approaching Kiara, but Elijah was right. They needed to talk this through, and he needed to apologize.

When he returned to the room, Kiara was back in her bed, the baby sleeping in the curve of her arm. She looked up and watched him approach her with wary eyes.

He pulled a chair over to the bed. Lowering himself into it, he let out a sigh.

Looking at her, he tried to smile reassuringly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have reacted the way I did to you saying you still wanted to go ahead with the paternity test. I want you to know that I believe you that TJ is mine. I don’t need the test to tell me that. However, if it’s what you want… if it’s what youneed, I’ll make arrangements for it.”

He was still hoping that she’d agree that they didn’t need it, but she didn’t. This time, however, he managed to keep his emotions under control.

“Can we go ahead and fill out the birth certificate information, though?” Julian asked. “Or do we have to wait for the results?”

Kiara stared at him for a long moment, then she nodded. “The nurse said it would be easier if we had it completed before we left the hospital, even though they can’t insist that we do it.”

Julian got up and went to the table. He sat down in front of the papers he’d left there earlier. But before he did anything else, he made a phone call to his lawyer to have him arrange for someone to come to the hospital and take the samples for the test.

“Hopefully, we’ll get someone here this afternoon,” Julian said as he hung up. “But let’s get this filled out.”

It didn’t take too long, and in the process, he discovered some new information.