“What do you think is inside?” I asked.

“The results,” Dru said, even though she knew what I meant. “We don’t have to guess. We don’t have to wait any longer.” She paused. “You said you didn’t want to wait anymore.”

“I don’t. But I’m scared.”

“Okay,” her voice was slow, soothing. She spoke to me in the same tone she used for Jasmine, “so let’s do this. Let’s talk this out. What are you afraid of?”

That was a good question, but it was difficult to articulate. Because there was so much. But I said, “I’m afraid I’m going to find out that Jeremy is Andre’s father.”

She nodded. “And if you find that out, what will you do?”

Another great question. “Well, I would do what my mother said, never make a decision when I’m angry.”

“You’ve told me that before. That’s good Mama advice.”

“Except I won’t be angry. If those are the results, I’ll be so sad. The saddest I’ve ever been in my life.”

“That’s not true.” She shook her head. “Nothing was sadder than your dad passing away.”

This was why she was my best friend. Dru was helping me put this into perspective.

Leaning onto the desk, Dru said, “Look, when you open this envelope, whatever is inside is between you and me. You can do whatever you want, either way. You know you will never have any judgment from me.”

“I know that.”

“I just don’t want that to play into your decision. I just don’t want you to be afraid.”

I stared at the envelope. Sitting here like this was ridiculous. I’d tortured myself during the wait and now that what I’d been waiting for was here, I was doing the same.

It was time.

As if she knew the conclusion I’d just come to, Dru picked up the envelope, then handed it to me. I still waited a moment, but then, I took it from Dru and held it only for a second or so before I ripped it open.

It was a single sheet of paper that began with lots of words. Headings that said: Method, Results and then four columns filled with dozens of numbers. But I wasn’t interested in any of that. My eyes scanned the paper in search of the bottom line. And that’s where I found it. Right at the bottom. I took a breath and read aloud:

“In conclusion, based on our analysis, the alleged father X cannot be excluded as the biological father of the tested child. Based on the analysis of STR listed above, the probability of paternity is....” I paused, swallowed, but the lump stayed stubborn and stayed in place. And I spoke aloud my greatest fear. “The probably of paternity is ninety-nine point nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine, nine....”