Betrayed: She Took My Son novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The Test

"There's a lab on Route 161 that does walk-in swabs," Philip said. "They're open until two on Saturdays."

He said it to the roof of the Audi.

Then he straightened and wiped his face with his sleeve.

"You, me and the baby," he said. "Cheek swabs. A real test, with a stranger doing it. Then none of us has to say a word."

"Philip, don't," Lacey said from the porch.

"Stay here."

"You can't do this to me."

"Stay here, Lacey."

He opened the back door of the Audi and checked the straps on the car seat.

I stood on the grass with my hands pressed flat against my skirt, because they would not stay still.

Clayton walked up beside me.

"He's his father," Clayton said, low. "You can't take that child from him in front of a crowd. Not without a paper."

"I know."

"Then ride with him. Sit with the baby. Watch."

I got in the back seat of my husband's car.

It was the first time I had been that close to my son.

He was strapped into the car seat in a green knit hat, and he turned his head toward me the minute I sat down.

He stared up at me with gray-blue eyes.

I did not move.

"Can I touch him?" I whispered.

Philip looked at me in the rearview mirror.

"He's yours," Philip said hoarsely. "I mean, if he's yours. Go ahead."

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