I wasn’t ready to confirm every piece of that sentence yet, but for once the possibility of family felt like an opening rather than a trap.

PART 12

The DNA results arrived nine days after Oliver’s birth.

By then I had been discharged to a small furnished apartment Leila helped me arrange near the hospital.

Oliver was home with me after his doctors confirmed he was ready to leave their care.

I had follow-up appointments scheduled, a growing collection of tiny bottles, and more fatigue than I had thought a person could hold.

The testing laboratory’s report showed that the genetic relationship between Warren and me was consistent with father and daughter.