I am not too popular in the car of my ex-wife's new husband. My sister avoids to look at me, but her face shows her anger, I can see it in the mirror of the car. The little Jasmine is peevish, but it is understandable, she is impatient to sit silent in the kid's seat between me and Savannah. She is squeeking, squelling, and trying to get a conversation about eating sweets, or better to say, she is trying to blackmail us to give her sweets. Her so-called parent don't give a damn. Sylvia is weeping, she is busy wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. But her eyes are dry, and only the rubbing makes them red. Graham Harris' face is indifferent. Well, I am also not in the mood of making some happy chatting.
Not even Pascal Hillard. He is glaring us for a moment, when the whole bunch march to the examination room. Graham Harris explains everything to him. The doctor agrees to take samples and making the DNA test. Just like on tv, he pulls out test tubes, and delves one on the little Jasmine's mouth. The girl protests, Savannah has to hold down her. She doesn't really like that. Well, Jasmine starts to cry. Very loud. Beyond loud. Unbearably loud. Without tears. Just like her mother. I can't stand them. Neither of them. Now I don't really understand my old self, who was wanting them so badly a half day ago. Jasmine becomes so loud, that doctor Hillard asks us to bring her out from the examination room. Savannah is the one, who holds her hand, and shows her out. The crying stops as soon as the door of the room is closed.
"Do you see, how much she needs you?" Sylvia asks me in teary voice.
I can't answer, because doctor Hillard is getting sample from my mouth.
"She is so fragile, and tender. She really needs you! You are her biological father, and she miss you." My ex-wife pleads. "Move here, please! For Jasmine's sake!"
"I refuse. "
"I only ask you to be at her side. She needs her father."
"My lifestyle is not suitable for her."
"Why are you unable to change your so-called lifestyle for your child?"
"My life, my choice. It would be different, when we would have been together since she was born. But we have never met before."
"If you don't want to live with us, just bring her with you for weekends, or a holiday sometimes. You will get to love her in an instant, when you are getting know her."
"No. I definitely won't move here, or take her with me, even when she is really my child. Not even once."
The air freeze around me in instant.
"Why?" The two other man ask me in unison.
Both of them is shocked by my words. This town is very family-centered on the surface. But in the depth, it is the most abusive and violent community on the world. I feel the pressure to say something. Anything, that is acceptable for everyone. Even it is a lie.
"My girlfriend's name is also Jasmine, and she doesn't really likes kids."
"Bullshit! You don't even have a girlfriend!" My ex-wife screams.
"I have one." I simply state the lie again, in calm voice.
"Why would you be with such a cruel woman?" Sylvia asks, and buries back her face to the handkerchief, pretending some heartbreaking crying.
"Have I ever asked you why did you fall in love with an old man? My girlfriend is at least young, almost being a child herself. It is too cruel to impose another child on her."
Our argument is interrupted by Pascal Hillard. He informs us about the tests, and the results are ready in six weeks. Graham Harris is the only one, who thanks him his efforts, and we all leave his examination room. It is also Graham Harris, who pays for the DNA test at the assistant. With cash, not card. I see the ridiculous amount of banknotes, he gives to the woman, and I don't plan to interrupt him: he is rich enough to pay. Moreover, this whole situation is his responsibility. He wouldn't have to seduce my wife, but he did it. He wouldn't have to accept Jasmine from the beginning, but he did it. He wouldn't have to inform anyone that the child of Sylvia is probably mine. He also did it. So I have no problem with him paying for the consequences.
"Jasmine is your child, so you have to take the responsibility." Sylvia says sternly, as soon as we leave the building.
"No, I haven't. You dispensed me from this responsibility at the very moment, you said your baby wasn't mine."
Both of us watching the other with red face. Our blood pressure would make a monitor to run out of the scale. We both angry and stubborn. Moreover neither of us want that little, unmannerly child. That girl is playing on the small playground opposite the doctor's office, with my sister, as I see in the corner of my eyes. Both of them are happy. Savannah will be a good mother.
"Let's talk it over at dinner!" Graham Harris offers us some leeway from this uncomfortable situation. "Please accept the hospitality of our home for the night, maybe you will have second thoughts after a good sleep." He smiles at me.
His smile is very suspicious. He and Sylvia are sure planning something. I have a certain feeling, that I don't want to know about their plan, due to it is sure detrimental for me.
"Sorry, but there are a lot of work on the farm, so I have to travel home today. I can't stay here."
My refusal makes the Harris couple, and Savannah indignant. All of them wants to persuade me to stay a single night at their place. To escape I tell them I want to talk with the doctor, wave them good-bye, and go back to the waiting room.
The assistant looks at me with suspicious eyes, but I tell her, that my case is not important, I wait for the end of the consultation hours of the doctor. She asks me to take a seat, and I obey her. She is far more nice, than my relatives. I sit down to wait patiently, and in a minute I feel my eyelashes goes to heavy. I close them for a moment. Just for a moment.
"Hey Moore'" Pascal Hillard wakes me up a moment later. He holds my wrist, and counts my pulse. After a while he examines my eyes. "You should have been really tired."
"Sorry, I just sleep for a minute."
"A minute? It is past seven o'clock." He smiles at me. "What's your problem?"
"Nothing medical, really! I just wanted to get rid of my ex-wife and her companion, so I came back here. Thanks for your help, but I have to reach the train..." I jump up, and want to run. His words stop me.
"You have already missed the last train from here."
I stare at him dumbfounded.
"Maybe you could travel from the next town, but it is a big detour."
"Well, it seems I have to stay in the motel for tonight. The faraway train stop is a bit uncomfortable." I smile at the doctor.
"Sorry, but the motel is probably full with the people, who came for a conference. Have you seen the advertisement?"
"Damn..." I didn't see any advertisement, just a few molino here or there. I would have had to read them.
"Let me have a thank for the summer, and come to my house for tonight." The doctor offers me some help. "My kids surely caused some inconvenience during the summer."
"No, they didn't. Really didn't." I try to be polite, but I am still tired. "I would like to take your offer, if you have a spare bed."
"Ivo and Yvonne spend the night at the Carpenters, so you could choose beds." He smiles at me.
Pascal Hillard shows me out of his office, to his car. It is a big, durable car, in the need of cleaning outside. The inside is clean, and neat.
"I use this car to treat patients in the countryside, so it is a bit dusty from the roads." He apologize.
"We also live in the countryside, deep in the forest, so I know everything about the roads." I smile at him. "About the earlier..."
"It is not my business." He replies in a neutral voice. "But if you want to talk about it, my ears is all yours."
Pascal Hillard is a good listener, so I get myself on that I tell him everything about my former marriage, the divorce, the little Jasmine, and the life among the hills. While I spill my heart's content to the doctor, we arrive to his house. Pascal Hillard don't get off the car, patiently waits for me to finish.
"Since I don't really know, whether I am the girl's father or not. So I am unable to change my life for the sake of her."
"What would you do if she is really your daughter?"
"I don't know. I think, there isn't any good solution."
He is thinking for a while, then clears his throat.