“What happened?” he said.
I put the folder on the kitchen table.
He read it slowly.
I watched his face move through confusion, then a careful stillness that meant he was controlling something.
“Where did you get this?” he asked.
“A lawyer.
She said Marcus came to her six weeks ago.
He was trying to figure out how to tell me.”
“Tell you what, exactly?” Joel looked up.
“Because this document says the embryo’s biological origin may differ from what was disclosed.
That could mean a lot of things.”
“There’s another page.”
He turned to it.
Read the four words in the donor relationship field.
His jaw tightened.
He set the paper down flat on the table with both hands, the way you set something down when you need a moment before you speak.
“Is this confirmed?” he said.
“The lawyer seemed certain.
She said Penelope made the decision without Marcus.”
