He Was Sure
However, they were not his children. He knew it for sure. Over the course of the night, he asked her about the children. As a married couple, he and his wife were delighted to have three beautiful triplets, one girl and two boys.
In spite of his wife's assertions, the man took the DNA test that would set the record straight. Once he saw the results, he packed up and left. The possibility of them being wrong never crossed his mind.
Years Later
Sixteen years had passed since signing the divorce papers and leaving. Even though he thought about her, the kids, and the life they might have had every single day, he didn't expect to see her again.
He stopped in his tracks that Sunday afternoon when he smelt a familiar scent wafting through the warm breeze. A flash of the past swept through his mind as he glanced around. It was then that he saw her for the first time. However, she wasn't the only one.
He Was Content
However, Joseph Woods was supposed to have a different experience. His high school sweetheart and he tied the knot expecting to live a happy life together.
His life was perfect: he had the wife he loved, the job of his dreams, a great house, and great friends. He would soon become a shell of what he once was.
The Big Day
After the delivery room, everything began to unfold. It had now been nine months since Joe and his wife, Sandra, became pregnant. After a long wait, the couple rushed to the hospital to meet their triplets.
It was a joy for them to discover that they would have three babies at the same time since they had always talked about having many kids. The fact that Joe's life was about to crumble was a complete surprise to him.
Going Back
Joe returned home with his wife and three babies, a proud and equally happy man. He worked hard for months to give them the best life he could.
He didn't skip anything, whether he was preparing for a promotion or moving into a bigger home. It was important to him to show his family that they meant everything to him. However, he soon learned that the world could indeed be very unfair.
Something Felt Off
A week after delivery, Joe noticed a few things that raised questions. Despite Sandra's cries for help, he helped Sandra with the babies as a good dad and supportive husband.
In addition to changing diapers and nursing the kids to sleep, he'd been enjoying everything fatherhood brought to his life. Being this close to the kids made it impossible for him not to notice something amiss.
He Had To Be Patient
Joe had been thinking about something throughout the week. From the shape of their noses to the distance between their eyes, a voice whispered that they looked nothing like him.
It was only a month old when the babies were born. There is still a long way to go before they have fully developed into themselves. In the early stages of their development, it was too early to draw any conclusions about their resemblance to their father. Those were the words Joe told himself.
An Adjustment
He pushed aside these dark thoughts and focused on the joys of parenthood. Sandra and he were enjoying their little peace as new parents during the long sleepless nights.
Joe's hostage-taking thoughts returned as the weeks ticked by and the babies grew. As time passed, it became increasingly evident that the babies had no resemblance to him at all.
It Bothered Him
Every time he was with the triplets, the dad began investigating the matter. As he surveyed their faces, he noted that their noses were more slender than his, and their eyes were too far apart.
He had full lips, but theirs were noticeably thinner. There was more to it than that. Despite having the same dark hair as his and Sandra's, their hair was reddish in tone. Is he overreacting, or is there something else going on?
Concern
The worry in Joe's heart grew with each passing day. Each of these days, he noticed an increase in the physical differences between himself and the triplets.
When he felt the world was backing him up into a corner, the dad decided to act. His hands were sweaty and his heart pounded as he confronted Sandra.
3 A.M.
It was a dark Friday night when he did so. The bedside clock read 3 a.m., and the triplets were fast asleep. He and Sandra had been caring for them since midnight and couldn't wait to get some shut-eye.
But Joe's question was eating him up inside. He sat on the side of the bed, one hand on Sandra's lap and the other on his forehead. "Sandy," he began. "I need to ask you something."
A Necessary Risk
"Anything," Sandra smiled. Even tired, she was the most beautiful being Joe had ever seen. "Make it quick, though," she chuckled. "I might drift off any time soon."
Joe squared his shoulders. He hated what he was about to do. Every bit of this experience was all he wanted it to be – well, that's if you didn't count the possibility of the triplets not being his. He knew such a question was a nuke that would do irreparable damage to his marriage. But it felt necessary.
The Question
"Are the triplets mine?" Joe asked, his voice shaky. "I've noticed a few things that have me worried." He detailed everything that had taken his interest and was surprised at how calm Sandra was.
But the moment he stopped talking, she erupted. "Are you serious?" she asked, suddenly fully awake. "You can't be serious right now!"
Leave!
With flared nostrils, wide eyes, and balled fists, she reached for the covers. "Leave!" she roared. Joe spent that night alone on the couch, wondering if he'd made a mistake. He knew he’d hit a nerve but was surprised when he discovered Sandra had snuck downstairs to cover him with a blanket while he slept.
But he also noted that she neither denied nor confirmed his question. He thought she'd forget about his question when she returned in the morning. But she was still white hot with anger.
She Doesn't Address It
She barely spoke to him. Instead, she took care of the triplets, bathing and dressing them. Afterward, she fed them, put them in the stroller, and headed for the park.
Joe let out a soft curse. Although he was worried about what he'd done, his heart pounded even faster when he considered the thought that the triplets weren't his. That could only mean one thing.
A Promiscuous Woman
In the many years that Joe had been with Sandra, he'd never known her as the promiscuous type. But like many men, he'd had a few jealous moments when seeing her with friends, although those never led to anything.
But today, for the first time, he considered the possibility of Sandra being unfaithful to him. But this thought gave birth to something that would land him in the hospital.
One Year Back
About a year back, Joe confronted Sandra about one of her workmates – a lawyer named Henry. The man had been too close for comfort, and Joe didn't like it.
Sandra had assured him that she would never betray him like that. Of course, Joe had believed her. But now, he raced to Sandra's laptop and opened her company’s page, finding Henry's picture. His breath hitched as he noted something heartbreaking.
The Appearance Match!
Henry's physical appearance matched those of the triplets. Or was Joe imagining it out of anger? He stepped back, his eyes smarting with tears. He turned around, reaching for his phone. There was only one way of resolving this matter now.
The dad called his doctor, asking for a DNA test. "Is Sandra okay with this?" the doctor asked, and Joe told him what was happening. "Please," he begged. "I need to know."
At The Doctor’s
The next hour saw him at the doctor's. The test was brief, and after three grueling days, the test results were available. Joe paced around the doctor's office as he opened the envelope. He didn't know what to do if the triplets weren't his. He loved them with every fiber of his being.
He also loved Sandra and would give her the world over and over again. He'd never been a religious man before, but today, he prayed vehemently for those kids to be his.
The Test Results
The doctor rubbed a hand down his face and handed him the results, and Joe's heart sank even further. He wobbled on his feet briefly before the doctor caught his fall. "I'm sorry, man," he said.
Joe's eyes flooded with tears, and his limbs turned into jelly. The triplets, those kids who were his world, weren't his. "You're not the father," the doctor said, hammering the point home.
He Confronts Her
Joe drove home as fast as he could. He dropped the test results before Sandra, demanding an explanation. But she didn't even look at them. Instead, she stared at him, her eyes big and wet with stemmed tears.
Joe turned around, heading upstairs. He started packing, and Sandra came after him, crying and pleading. "Take another test," she begged. "Those results are wrong!"
He Took Several Tests
But she had no idea that Joe had taken several tests. The results were the same. He wasn't the triplets’ dad. How could Sandra do this to him? Seeing that she wasn't getting through to him, she changed tactics. She begged Joe to stay. "Let's figure this out together," she cried. "Please, Joe. I need you. Our kids need you."
"Not my kids," Joe whispered, the weight of everything finally crashing on him. He stood there immobile for a minute, remembering how perfect life had been. With one last look, he left.
Sixteen Years
The years passed, sixteen, to be exact, and Joe, who had divorced Sandra and relocated to a different town, continued with life. Although he progressed in his career, reaching the peak and making a name for himself, he never really bounced back in his romantic life.
What Sandra had done to him was enough to end his interest in romance. He still loved her, still had vivid dreams about her and the kids she'd sworn were his. He never thought he'd see them again until that fateful day.
Orange Blossoms And Peach
The scent that had called to him was a fusion of orange blossoms and peach. It had always been Sandra's favorite. She'd worn it on their first date and on the last day he saw her. Today, it wafted into Joe's nose, pulling his gaze to the side.
There, nestled among two teenage boys and a girl, was Sandra. She went through a few documents with a worried look. Joe watched silently, speechless that he'd run into her after so long. He had no idea that his life was about to take another turn.
Tears
Watching from the side, a regretful Joe noticed that Sandra was crying. Her kids looked sad, too, and were talking to her soothingly. Joe could see now that they truly weren't his. Despite that, he was surprised to discover how much he still cared.
He wanted to know why their mom was crying and wanted to help. He wanted to assure those kids everything would be alright. But as he was still deep in thought, one of the kids, the girl, turned to him, saying something to her mom before pointing.
Caught
Joe was caught red-handed. He expected Sandra to stomp out of her seat and tear him a new one. But she looked at him with hopeful eyes, although her tears doubled. Joe found himself rushing to her aid. "Long time," he said before introducing himself to the kids.
He expected hostility but only found kindness and respect. It was then that his ex-wife slid a file to him, leaning into her seat.
Reading The Report
Joe took the file, finding several photos and documents inside. He started with the pictures, noting that each was of three teenagers, two boys and a girl. But what was interesting was that they each resembled Sandra and him! He looked at her and the triplets and turned to the documents.
"Police reports," he whispered. His brows rose as he started reading, and suddenly, everything fell into place. "Oh God," he said. "Oh, my God."
The Truth
"Switched at birth," one of the boys said, and Joe had to find a seat before he collapsed. Someone had switched his kids at birth! That's why they looked nothing like him! This meant Sandra had been faithful. Joe almost threw up, remembering how terrible he'd been to her. He'd called off their marriage!
"Sandra, I," he began. But she cut him off. "It's okay," she said. She explained how a detective had come to her house, explaining that another couple in a different city had gone through exactly what they went through. The couple hired the detective afterward, and his work had brought him to Sandra's doorstep.
A Painful Switch
Sandra explained that the parents had her and Joe's kids. She was glad Joe had shown up today of all days. Would he be willing to drive with her and the triplets to see the parents and their kids? Joe agreed to the trip, even offering to pay for a flight instead.
This was the least he could do after the horrors he'd let Sandra endure. The flight was short, and before he knew it, he sat across the table from three teenagers who looked just like him and Sandra. He'd never cried as much as he did that day.
A Sound Understanding
The four parents came to a sound understanding. The kids would be taking trips between each household every now and then so they could get to know their natural parents.
Sitting in his house with all six of his kids, Joe told them about his past with Sandra. They listened carefully, gushing about their relationship. They revealed that from what they'd gathered, he still loved her. A content and equally proud dad, Joe grinned. They weren't wrong.