Forty

Heather

I cupped my mouth, and tears streamed down my eyes after reading the paternity test result Olga had given me.

"It's… It's 99.9% accurate," I managed to choke out. "So Dunstan is wrong. He doesn't own any of my kids. They are all fathered by Ivik." I smiled widely, but tears still continued to flow down my face. The truth finally lifted off my shoulders, removing the confusion and doubt that had plagued me for so long.

"I told you, girl. Everything's going to be alright," Olga said, patting my shoulder. And then we both gazed at the triplets, who were playing board games on the living room floor, their laughter filling the room. Toby also joined them, although they still didn't know that he was their uncle, despite the fact that he was just their age.

"So when are you telling them that Ivik is their real father?" Olga inquired.

I exhaled heavily. "If not for Dunstan, maybe I had