Jakob
I'm driving down the roads, just trying to focus. I hear my phone vibrate and look at it. It's Ola.
'Ola hi' I say. 'I'm sorry, just driving.'
'Dad' she says in the most heartbreaking voice I've ever heard.
'What's up?' I say, immediately worried.
'Come to the hospital' Ola says, through tears.
Ola
As Eric and Otis walk out, I see them say goodbye as Eric walks out.
Otis walks over to me. 'Hey' he says.
'Hey' I say back. 'What's up? How's Jean?' Otis winces at the emphasis of Jean.
'She's doing alright' he says. 'But she has something she wants to tell you specifically.' I go to interrupt him and say I don't want to but before I can, he anticipates my response and says. 'Before you say no, I want you to know that it's extremely important you hear this.'
I contemplate for a few seconds, but something tells me I should listen to this.
'Okay' I say. 'Let's go.'
Jean
They walk in together, and it's clear there's an anticipation in the room for when Ola finds out. There's a few awkward moments of silence before I clear my throat and Remi and Otis get the hint and quickly leave the room.
'Ola' I say.
'Jean' she says back, a little attitude in her voice that I can forgive. 'What is it?'
'Do you want to sit down?' I offer.
'No' she says bluntly. 'Can you just tell me what's so important.'
'Of course,' I say, a little taken aback at her directness. 'Well, I'll get right to it. That paternity test, the reason you and your father probably currently hate me. Well… it wasn't for Joy.'
Ola
'What do you mean?' I ask. 'Who's it for then?'
I pause before answering. 'You, dear' Jean replies.
'No' I say in disbelief. 'It can't be. You're lying.'
'I'm not lying' she says. 'Your dad told me one day that he suspected your mother may have had more than one extramarital relationship, roughly around the time she found out she was having you. I wanted to put his fears at bay, so I did one for you and I never expected the results to turn out the way they did. I'm so sorry.' She hands me a piece of paper. I study it for a bit, and it appears to confirm everything she just said. All of a sudden, the room starts spinning. I know Jean is talking but I'm not paying attention. I collapse into the chair and in all the chaos I pick up my phone and dial Dad. It rings for a minute before he picks up.
'Dad' I say as my voice breaks and the tears begin to fall.
