GABRIELIt had been a week since the day Maddie was lost and found and my life came back to the way it was. Even now, I didn’t understand this strange bond that had grown between us. I didn’t quite know how to describe this feeling. It was like a bond, a connection that I never knew existed until now. When I found Maddie wandering near the old church, scared and alone, my first instinct was to comfort her, to make her feel safe. And as I held her tiny hand in mine, I felt this overwhelming sense of protectiveness, as if she were my own daughter? This thought scared me, but I always felt there was something more to it. Ever since I answered the phone when Kira was in the hospital in Glasgow. Her voice stirred something in me.I knew it might sound strange, given that I’ve only known Maddie for a short while, but there was something about her that just tugged at my heartstrings. Maybe it was the way she looked at me with those big, innocent eyes, or the sound of her little voice as sh

GABRIELI looked down at little Maddie, her big brown eyes staring up at me with a curious expression. She was the spitting image of her mother, Kira. I knew Kira would never agree to a DNA test for Maddie, even though I had my doubts about her true paternity. But I couldn’t let go of my need to know, to be sure that Maddie was really my daughter.I sighed,running a hand through my hair as I tried to come up with a plan. Maddie was too young to understand the complexities of DNA testing, and Kira was too protective to let me take her for a test without a fight. But I was determined to find a way to do it without causing a rift in our already fragile relationship.As Maddie played with her toys, I watched her, trying to come up with a plan. And then it hit me. I would do the DNA test without Kira or Maddie ever knowing.I played with Maddie almost all day and then I waited until she was asleep, then gently swabbed the inside of her cheek with a cotton swab. It was quick and easy, and s

GABRIELUgh, I couldn’t believe that the DNA test results were still not here. I mean, I paid good money for this test and now it is taking forever. This was so frustrating!But wait, what if there was a good reason they’re late? Maybe something unexpected came up, or they backed the lab up with other tests. I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. It was best to call the clinic and see if Chris could give me an update.“Hello, this is Dr. Chris speaking. How may I assist you?” he said as soon as he picked up.“Hi, Chris. It’s me, Gabriel. I was just wondering if there’s any update on my DNA test results. They were supposed to be here by now.” I asked worriedly.“Ah, yes. I’m sorry to hear that you haven’t received your results yet. We actually had a bit of a delay at the lab, but I can assure you we’re doing everything we can to get your results to you as soon as possible. Most likely this evening at closing time.”“Oh, I see. Do you have any idea of the exact time?” I pushed more. “Well, I

GABRIELI walked out of the office shocked and distraught. She was my daughter. My own flesh and blood. And the more I thought about it, the more my blood boiled in my veins. I took deep breaths, trying to come to terms with the news, but it was so damn hard. I couldn’t believe it. Little Maddie was my daughter. The more I said it the more I could hardly believe it. The DNA test results didn’t lie. It was like a bomb just went off in my head. I was in shock.How could Kira keep this from me? How could she deny me the chance to be a father to my own flesh and blood? It was not fair. It was not right. What was her reason for doing it?I couldn’t help but feel angry and betrayed. Kira and I were together, talked so many times, and she never once mentioned Maddie. I found out in the most horrific way. Why did she do that? Was she trying to punish me for something? And what about Maddie? She was an innocent child caught in the middle of all this. She deserved to have a father in her life

KIRA“My friend, I am here now,” Alana said and wrapped her warm arms around me. I needed that hug like I needed air to breathe. “Alana, I’m so glad you’re here. I need to talk to you about something really important,” I told her, holding her gaze. We eventually sat on the couch. It felt like the earth was shaking under my feet. “Ok, now you can tell me. What’s going on?” she said, grabbing my hands. “Gabriel brought Maddie home in the morning like nothing happened and I snapped. I yelled at him. He had no rights and that he is not the father to tell me what is best for Maddie and what is not. And that was when Gabriel made a threat. He said that my words will cost me dearly and that things won’t stay the way they are.” “What does that mean?” she asked.“I’m scared that he’s going to find out that Maddie is his daughter and file a paternity suit against me. He is capable of threatening me with a lawsuit,” I explained. “Wait, why would he do that? Maddie is five years old now. Wh