Color Me Grey

by Michelle Janine Robinson

  “Okay, but I’m taking Jasmine with me. I don’t trust her.”

  Stephen’s words cut through Bridget like a knife. She had to wonder how they got to this place where he could actually have so little trust in her. The basic truth was, she really hadn’t done anything wrong. For so long now she had been blaming herself for what had happened with David. But the reality was, David had raped her; and her husband, the man who should have trusted her, had abandoned her when she needed him the most. She couldn’t think of anything that could be more painful.

  Jade did sit with Stephen in the kitchen and “talk.” However, nothing she said to Stephen could be construed as anything that might help Bridget’s situation.

  “I know Bridget much better than you do, Stephen. Despite what you may think, the only thing to do when she gets like this is to humor her. I agree with you; you do need to put plans in place to protect your daughter, but you also need to tread very softly with Bridget. She can be very volatile. She makes bad decisions—she’s been doing that as long as I’ve known her. And, right now she has your daughter.”

  “That’s the whole point. I need to get Jasmine away from her.”

  Jade needed time to work through what her next move was going to be and she didn’t want Stephen saddled down with a baby while she was doing that. So she did what she did best.

  “I tell you what. You can come stay with me. That would put Bridget at ease and calm her down, and I will be there to help with the baby when need be. And, you can figure out what your next move is. Doesn’t that make sense? I mean, think about it, Stephen. You’re a busy New York City attorney. Do you really have the time to care for a brand-new baby? You need to be logical about this. I know you don’t particularly care for me, but what other options do you have?”

  Stephen was wary of Jade, but she was right. Jade knew Bridget better than anyone, and if she said he needed to be careful of Bridget right now, then she was probably right. And, it would be good to have someone there to take care of Jasmine. He wanted to spend as much time with his daughter away from Jacob and Bridget as possible. He would stay with Jade until he found his own place and a nanny. Until then he would put things into place that would ensure he got custody of his daughter. The other upside to staying with Jade was that he could find out things about Bridget that she would never tell him herself; things that probably only Jade would know. Then, he could really fight her in court for custody of his daughter.

  “Okay. You’re right. But, are you sure you have enough room?”

  “More than enough.”

  “I’ll pack some things and meet you at your place in an hour or so.”

  “In the meantime, Stephen, I’ll go talk to Bridget and try to calm her down.”

  Jade left the kitchen feeling very proud of herself. The divide between the “happy” couple was widening by leaps and bounds.

  “Bridget, I’ve spoken to Stephen and he has agreed to stay with me for a while until he can sort this whole thing out. My advice to you is don’t tell him a thing about what happened between you and David. That is not going to help things one bit.”

  “Jade, what are you talking about? I have to tell him. You heard him. He thinks I was having an affair. If I don’t tell him David raped me, he will go on believing that I cheated on him. Besides, I’m sick of keeping this secret. It’s eating me up inside.”

  Suddenly, all the conversations she and Stephen had had about Jade dawned on her. Stephen had made no secret that he didn’t like Jade, so why would he now decide to go and stay with her?

  “Why is he staying with you? I would expect him to go to David, or even his parents in Georgia, before staying with you.”

  “Yeah, I know he doesn’t like me.”

  “No, no, that’s not what I mean.”

  “You don’t have to spare my feelings, Bridget. I’ve known all along that Stephen doesn’t care for me very much. But, he wants to know all there is to know about you, and that’s probably why he is going to come to my house. He’s probably hoping that he can pump me for information about you. Not that I ever would. But he doesn’t know that. Also, he wants to start spending some time with Jasmine. I guess he figures I’m Jasmine’s godmother and there would be no one better than me to watch her when he brings her to spend time with him.”

  “How long does he plan on staying that he feels he will need help?”

  “However long it is, he’s got to work for a living and I guess he figures help from someone he’s not particularly fond of is better than no help at all. But, what are you worried about? This is a good thing. I’ll be there with him, working on getting him back into your arms and your bed. And, before you know it, he’ll be back home with you, Jasmine and Jacob.”

  “He’s never going to accept Jacob. Especially if I don’t tell him how Jacob came to be.”

  “You’d be surprised what a man in love will do,” Jade commented.

  “I just hope he still loves me.”

  While Stephen packed his things, Jade went outside and got into the car she had borrowed from Big Rob.

  Stephen left the apartment without so much as a sideways glance in Bridget’s direction, leaving Jasmine in her room. He wasn’t even sure he could stand to be in Bridget’s presence. That’s how disgusted he was with the turn of events.

  While Stephen and Bridget parted ways, David was sitting in his office, contemplating things he already knew the answers to. After all, he had been there in the hospital along with everyone else. It was abundantly clear that Stephen was not the father of Bridget’s twins; and David knew Bridget well enough to know that there was only one other person that could be.

  “Bridget, we need to talk. I...”

  Before David could finish the rest of his sentence, Bridget had hung up the phone. She had been through enough of a ringer lately. The last thing she needed was to have any association with the very person who had caused it all.

  David called and left messages all day. He was relentless. Finally, Bridget took the phone off the hook, hoping that would mean the end to his calls. Unfortunately, that just made it worse. Just a half hour after she took the phone off the hook, there was a knock at the door.

  “Bridget, I know you’re in there. Open up the door right now. We have to talk.”

  She was so embarrassed that he might say something that her neighbors would hear, she decided to open the door.

  “David, haven’t you done enough? What do you want from me, now?”

  “Nothing. I want to see my son and daughter.”

  “What? What are you saying? Have you lost your mind? What the hell are you talking about?”

  “Bridget, you and I both know you’re a terrible liar. It’s written all over your face. Jasmine and Jacob are mine, aren’t they? They’re my son and daughter.”

  “No, they are not.”

  “You’re lying!”

  “I am not. And, what if they were? You have no right to them. You know what you did. You have no right to be here. No right to come anywhere near my babies. And, if you don’t get out, I’m going to call the police.”

  Suddenly a smile crossed David’s lips. It was the most disturbing look she had ever seen on David’s face. It frightened her so, it sent chills through her.

  “David, you must be drunk or high or something. I’m not going to tell you again, just get out. Get out of my apartment right now!”

  “Or else what?” he said.

  This was a side of David Bridget had never seen and she didn’t like it one bit.

  “You don’t belong here. I can make you leave.”

  “And then what, Bridget? I’ll petition for a paternity test to prove those are my babies, then I’ll tell the court how we met. And I’ll not only get to see Jasmine and Jacob, I will have complete custody of them. Is that what you want? All I’m asking you is that I see them. I’m not trying to make trouble for you. I just want to see my son and daughter. Stephen doesn’t even have to know. I just want an opportunity to spend some
time with them.”

  “What makes you think they’re yours? After all, I’m just a whore, right? Their father could be any number of men, right?”

  “Bridget, I never, ever treated you like a whore and you know that.”

  “The sad thing is, David, you’re treating me like one right now and you don’t even know it. The truth is, David, Stephen already knows.”

  All of the color drained from David’s face.

  “Don’t worry, though. Your reputation with him is completely intact. He doesn’t know you are the father. He just thinks, like you, that I’m a whore that was fucking around on the side.”

  “Bridget, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s too late for sorry, David. I’m going to lose him. The only man I’ve ever loved and I’m going to lose him, thanks to you.”

  Despite that he and Bridget were never more than friends and he had never made his feelings for her known, he was somehow wounded by Bridget mentioning that Stephen was the only man that she had ever loved. Somewhere in his mind he had hoped that Bridget had some small measure of feelings for him that went beyond mere friendship. But, her comment dashed all hopes for him and just made him all the more intent on securing his rights to his offspring.

  “Be that as it may, Bridget, I will see my son and daughter, whether it’s with your permission or without. I don’t really care what Stephen knows or doesn’t know. I want an opportunity to be a father and Stephen has nothing to do with that.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong, David. Stephen has everything to do with that. You see, I wasn’t lying to you completely. Jasmine and Jacob are not your children; only Jacob is, and that does affect Stephen, because he is Jasmine’s father. No matter how this situation plays itself out, it will affect all three of us; you, me and Stephen. But, I won’t let you see him, David. I won’t let you turn Jacob into what you have become. I want more for Jacob than that.”

  “Look who’s sitting up on their high horse! Have you forgotten where you came from? When I met you, you were so far down in the gutter you could barely reach up; now you’re judging me. Well, you can play that card if you want to, but I will see my son, with or without your permission!”

  “I may have been working the streets and I may not have had much money, but David I never hurt anyone, not like you.”

  “So we’re back to that again. How can I take something from you that you were willingly giving away?”

  The moment he said it, he saw the hurt it inflicted.

  “Get out,” she yelled. “Get out right now. You may try to take Jacob from me, but for now you’re in my home and I want you out!”

  “I’ll see you in court,” David said as he left.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  THE INVESTIGATION

  “Michael, it’s me, David. I’ve got some work for you.”

  “Is it a new client?” Michael asked.

  “No, it’s personal. But, first, you and I need to talk. A lot’s been going on and I haven’t told anyone about any of it. We’ve got to tread very softly on this one. It could mean my reputation, the reputation of the firm and my livelihood, but more to the point it could irreversibly affect my son. So, you’ve got to be impartial on this one and just bring me the facts. Then I can proceed with whatever it is I have to do.”

  “First, I want you to contact this place called the DNA Diagnostics Center. It’s somewhere in Ohio. I believe the director’s name is something like Bard or Baird, something like that. Normally, if this were client-related I would have one of my paralegals research this, but I can’t risk anyone asking questions about why. Okay?”

  “You know I got your back. But, what’s this all about? Your son? What the fuck is goin’ on?”

  “Get that information for me first and I promise you I’ll fill you in on all the rest. Okay?”

  “Okay. I’ll take care of it right away.”

  “Say, David,” Michael said before they hung up. “You gonna be okay?”

  “Man, I hope so. I really hope so.”

  It took Michael less than twenty-four hours for him to gather the information David requested. He contacted the director, a Dr. Michael Baird, directly. With his credentials as an investigator he was able to get a quick meeting and get more extensive info on the very unusual subject David had asked him to research. He called David the next day, anxious to share with him what he had found.

  “I got that information you wanted. But, I’m gonna tell you right now, I’m not givin’ you shit until you tell me what the fuck is goin’ on.”

  “Okay, okay. But just listen. Don’t tell me how badly I fucked up, or anything like that, because I’ve already done that myself ad nauseum. I’ve gotten myself into a little trouble and I’m trying to figure out what my next step needs to be. The research you compiled for me, I think it involves a kid of mine, but it’s much more involved than even that.”

  “Meet me at Fitzpatrick’s, okay? I’ll bring you the report. We’ll have a coupla cold ones and discuss what trouble you’ve gotten yourself into this time. Okay? But, you’re buyin’!”

  “No shit,” David responded. “Don’t I always?”

  David sat at the bar at Fitzpatrick’s, a pub on the Upper East Side, waiting for the “always late” Michael to arrive. He finally got there about forty-five minutes late.

  “Damn, man. Can’t you ever get anywhere on time?”

  “I’m a busy man. A mover and shaker, I can’t be confined by anything as mediocre as a clock. By the way, here’s your report. I must say, I’ve seen a lot of shit in my day, but this has got to be by far the craziest shit I’ve ever seen. Leave it to you to get yourself wrapped up in something like this. Anyway, here’s the report.”

  David took the report from Michael and read it from beginning to end:

  DNA Paternity Test Reveals Twins With Different Fathers

  Cincinnati, OH U.S.A. December 13, 2005 — DNA Diagnostics Center (DDC), a leading DNA testing company, reports several cases of twins that DNA paternity testing proved to have different fathers. Such occurrences, although rare, are being more frequently revealed via DNA testing.

  These cases underline the necessity for testing both fraternal twins in a paternity test, if any doubt at all exists about the circumstances surrounding the twins’ conception,” says Dr. Michael Baird, DDC’s laboratory director. Paternity test results are often used as a basis for child support and child custody decisions. Further, the biological father’s medical history, such as information about hereditary diseases, could be important for a child’s overall health maintenance.

  “Fraternal twins are formed when two separate eggs are fertilized by two sperms. If a woman has contact with different partners within her fertile time period and has multiple ovulations, it is possible for her to have fraternal twins or even triplets with different fathers. This phenomenon has been dubbed in medical literature as heteropaternal superfecundation.

  There is a small time window when eggs are able to be fertilized,” says Dr. Baird. Sperm cells can live inside a woman’s body for four to five days. Once ovulation occurs, the egg remains viable for twelve to forty-eight hours before it begins to disintegrate. Thus, the fertile period can span five to seven days.”

  In her article Multiple Births, Dr. Terence Zach of Creighton University states that the average birth rate of fraternal twins in the United States is about 8 per 1000 births (identical twins are 4 per 1,000 births), although the rate varies by race.

  The rate of fraternal twinning and other multiple births has been increasing since the 1970s, with the advent of assisted fertility methods, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). DDC has had a paternity test case in which the donated sperm for the IVF proved to be a mixture from two males, according to laboratory staff.

  “The frequency of twinning is quite low, and so such cases [of twins with different fathers] are even rarer,” says Dr. Baird. “Previous DNA testing methods, based on blood antigens, were able to detect some of these cases, but DNA te
sting is much more powerful and now we can begin to get more accurate statistics. More accurate paternity testing might prove it to be a long-standing but little known phenomenon.”

  “Jeez,” David said to no one in particular.

  “What the hell am I going to do?”

  “So David, you’re telling me that you got some chick knocked up and she got pregnant with twins, and one is yours and the other twin is someone else’s. Is that what you’re telling me?”

  Then, suddenly, it dawned on him.

  “Holy shit. I fuckin’ knew it.” he yelled.

  “Why don’t you tell the whole fuckin’ bar,” David said.

  “I fuckin’ knew it. All that time you’ve been tellin’ me there was nothing between you and that hot-ass secretary of yours, the two of you were doin’ the nasty. I fuckin’ knew it.”

  “We were not. You are wrong; as usual. There is nothing between me and Bridget. Nothing at all.”

  “So you’re telling me you know another woman that has twins and one of them is yours. Get real!”

  “No, that’s not what I’m telling you. The twins in question are Bridget’s babies; Jasmine and Jacob. But, we didn’t have a relationship. I mean...we...”

  “Spit it out, man. So, you didn’t have a relationship with her. So what happened, you had like a one-night stand or something?”

  Then Michael realized why David wanted all of this to be hush-hush and why he initially mentioned the possibility of his reputation being ruined.

  “Oh, David. Nah, man. You didn’t?”

  Somehow Michael had always been the consummate fuck-up in their friendship. David was suddenly aware of the shift in their roles and he wasn’t sure he liked it.

  “See, that’s what I told you about holding all that shit inside. That’s what happens when you try too fuckin’ hard to be perfect. If you had just told that girl a long time ago how you felt about her, this shit would never have happened. And, isn’t she married to one of your associates, that one you initially mentored as a first year? Oh shit, that black guy, Stephen. Oh David, no. Does he know yet?”