“Can I get you something? Water, maybe?”
&
nbsp; Still no answer. He leaned toward her.
“Look,” he said, his voice low, “there’s nothing personal in this.”
“How could there be? You’re a lawyer.”
Caleb winced. All the lawyer jokes in the world were in those three coldly delivered words.
“What I mean is, this has nothing to do with—with anything but Thomas Caldwell’s rights.”
“He has none.”
“So you claim.”
“So I know, Mr. Wilde, as you will, too, after today.”
“Look, I’m simply trying to tell you that—”
“Do us both a favor. Don’t tell me anything.”
The doctor looked up, her gaze sweeping from Sage to Caleb and back again.
“Well,” she said brightly, “everything seems to be in order. Sage? I just want to go over some of the fine points again.”
“I understand the fine points.” Sage’s voice was husky. “Please, let’s get this over with.”
“This will only take a minute, I promise. First of all, I want to be sure you are aware that it will take approximately five days to get the results. Confirmation of paternity, based on today’s test and the DNA samples of one David Caldwell, such DNA having been properly collected by—”
“Yes. I mean, I’m aware of that.”
“Good. As for the procedure itself—there are two standard methods. I’ll know precisely which method is preferable once I’ve examined you. Either is 99.99 percent accurate. Do you understand that, too?”
Sage opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
“Sage? Is that clear?”
She nodded. “Yes,” she whispered.
“There’s some discomfort. Nothing insurmountable but—”
“I know that, too.”
She was trembling again. Her voice was scratchy. Caleb felt his hands fisting.
“Either has a small risk for mother and child. Are you sure you understand that as well, Ms. Dalton?”
Caleb watched Sage. She’d gone from trembling to shaking.
“The risk for the baby. It’s very small, isn’t it? I mean, when you’ve—when you’ve done this test before, have the babies—have the babies—”
“To hell with this,” Caleb said, his voice sharp and clear.
“Mr. Wilde.” The doctor looked at him. “I just want to be sure Ms. Dalton comprehends the—”
“She comprehends. So do I. And that’s why there’s not going to be any test.”