**Diary Entry 19th April**
“I dont see why youre insisting on this dinner, Emily,” Mum said, placing a vase of fresh-cut roses in the centre of the table. “You and James have been at each others throats for months. Do you really think pretending everythings fine will fool anyone?”
Emily didnt answer. She polished the crystal glasseswedding gifts from her late mother-in-lawwith slow, deliberate strokes. A decade ago, those glasses had symbolised a future of happy anniversaries. Now, after fifteen years of marriage, even sharing a meal felt like an ordeal.
“Mum, Jacks fifteen. Hes not a child. But I want him to see that James and I can still be civil. Family matters.”
Mum sighed, shaking her head. At sixty-five, she was sharp as ever, her no-nonsense practicality a rock since Dad passed. “Your father used to say, A rotten bridge wont bear the weight. Forgive my bluntness, love, but your marriage is that bridge right now.”
Emily set the last glass down and turned to the window. The sunset painted the London skyline in soft golds and pinks. Somewhere out there, James was finishing work. Would he even come home? Lately, hed been distant, working late, barely speaking when he did return.
“Some things need settling, Mum. For Jacks sake.”
The door burst open as Jack charged in, shoving textbooks into his rucksack.
“Mum, Im off to Toms. Weve got physics revision.”
“Hold on,” Emily caught his sleeve. “Family dinner tonight, remember? Dads coming.”
Jack rolled his eyes. “Whats the point? Hes barely home these days. Doubt he cares.”
“Jack!” Mum snapped. “Thats no way to speak about your father. He works hard for this family.”
“Yeah, especially on weekends,” Jack muttered. “Please, Mum? Ill be back by seven.”
Emily relented. Lately, Jack had been withdrawingmaybe letting him go would ease the tension.
“Fine. But be back on time. Your father has something important to say.”
Once hed gone, Mum sighed. “Hes not blind, love. If things are over with James, dont lie to him.”
“Nothings over,” Emily whispered, blinking back tears. “Its just a rough patch. Every marriage has them.”
Before Mum could reply, the front door clicked open. James was home early. Emily wiped her eyes, forcing a smile.
“Hi,” she called, meeting him in the hall.
He gave a stiff nod, hanging up his coat. He looked exhaustedhis usual confident posture slumped, his salt-and-pepper hair unkempt. Fifteen years together, yet the man before her felt like a stranger.
“Jack home?”
“At a friends, but hell be back by seven. You wanted to talk to him?”
James avoided her gaze. “Later.”
Mum offered tea; he declined, burying himself in his phone. The silence was suffocating.
“James,” Emily finally said, “we need to talk.”
He looked up, his eyes raw with something deeper than irritationpain.
“About what?”
“Us. Whatevers happening. Youre never here, we dont speak”
“Whats left to say?” His voice was flat.
“Fifteen years, James! Does that really end like this? No explanation?”
He hesitated, then shook his head. “Wait for Jack. I need to talk to you both.”
A chill ran through her. Something irreversible loomed.
At seven, Jack returned, oblivious to the tension. “Dad! You promised to tell me about the new project!”
James managed a weak smile. “Later, son. Lets eat first.”
Dinner was agony. Mum prattled about the neighbours; Jack chattered about school. James barely touched his food, staring blankly at his plate.
“Pudding?” Emily offered as they cleared the mains. “I made your favouritetreacle tart.”
“No.” Jamess voice cut through the room. “We need to talk. Properly.”
Mum stood, but James stopped her. “Stay. This concerns you too.”
Emilys stomach twisted. His expression was steel.
“Ive thought hard about how to say this,” he began, avoiding their eyes. “But theres no easy way.” He looked straight at Jack. “I cant live a lie anymore. Your son isnt mine, Emily.”
Silence. Jack gaped. Mum gasped.
“What?” Emily choked out.
“I know everything. Your meetings with David before we married. He told me last week. Said he couldnt keep it secret any longer.”
“David?” Emilys voice shook. “I havent seen him in years!”
“Stop lying.” James slammed a fist on the table, rattling the china. “He showed me the letters, the photos. You met while I was in Manchesterright before the wedding. The dates add up.”
Jack shot up, white-faced. “Youre not my dad?”
“James, this is madness!” Emily cried. “Jack is yours! I never cheated!”
“Why would David lie? He said hes always regretted letting you go. Now hes divorcedwants you back. And his son.”
Jack bolted to his room, slamming the door. Emily moved to follow, but Mum held her back.
“Give him space.” Then, to James: “Youd believe a stranger over the woman youve loved for fifteen years?”
“Hes not a stranger,” James said dully. “He was my best friend. Until he stole my fiancée. Now hes finishing what he started.”
Emily sank into a chair. Pieces clicked into place. David had begged her not to marry James all those years ago. Shed refused himthered been no affair. This was revenge, fifteen years delayed.
“James, listen. I did meet David once before the wedding. For coffee. He asked me not to marry you. I said no. Thats all.”
“And the letters? The photos?” He tossed a crumpled envelope on the table. “Ill never forget our night. Your handwriting, Emily.”
She scanned the page. It looked like hersbut shed never written those words.
“This is fake. David forged it!”
“Enough!” James stood, trembling. “Fifteen years raising another mans child. Im done. The divorce papers come tomorrow.”
He stormed out. The doors slam echoed in the silence.
Emily sat frozen. How had David faked her writing? Why?
“What now?” Mum whispered, hugging her. “Jacks shattered. James is blind with rage. How do we prove its a lie?”
Emily lifted her head. “A DNA test.”
The next morning, she took Jack to a private clinic. He was hollow-eyed, older overnight.
“Mum what if hes right?”
“Hes not.” She squeezed his shoulder. “Ive never doubted it.”
“But the letters”
“Fakes. Davids always been twisted. This is his revenge for me choosing your dad.”
Jack swallowed. “If if he wasnt my father would you love me less?”
Emily pulled him close. “Never. Youre my son. No test changes that.”
Results would take three days. But they needed Jamess DNA.
“How?” Mum fretted that evening. “He wont even answer calls.”
Emily grabbed his toothbrush. “Thisll do.”
The wait was torture. Jack skipped school. James vanished. On the fourth day, the email arrived.
Emily scanned the medical jargonthen froze.
Probability of paternity: 99.9%.
“Mum!” She burst into the living room, waving the paper. “Proof! James is Jacks father!”
Mum crossed herself. “Thank God. Now show James.”
But he ignored all contact. Desperate, Emily went to his office.
The secretary barred her way. “Mr. Whitmores on leave.”
“This is about his son,” Emily said coldly. “Either he comes out, or I make a scene.”
Five minutes later, James appearedunshaven, red-eyed.
“What do you want?”
Silently, she handed him the results. His face shifteddisbelief, shock, dawning horror.
“Is this real?”
“DNA doesnt lie. People do. Especially ones like David.”
James collapsed into a chair, head in hands. “Christ, what have I done?”
“You believed a lie over me,” Emily said, voice brittle. “Over your son.”
“He was so convincing. The letters And weve been so distant lately”
“Because you worked non-stop. Not because I betrayed you.”
James looked up, shattered. “Can you ever forgive me?”
“I dont know,” she said honestly. “But for Jacks sake, Ill try. He needs you.”
That evening, James came home with flowers for Emily and a new console for Jack. Their talk lasted hours. When they emerged, both had been crying.
“Its okay, Mum,” Jack said quietly. “Weve sorted it.”
Mum wiped her eyes and busied herself with supper. James faced Emily, raw with guilt.
“I was a fool. I dont deserve you. But I love you both more than life. Ill earn back your trust.”
Emily studied himthe man shed loved for fifteen years, now broken by his own doubt.
“Itll take time,” she said at last.
“I know,” he whispered, taking her hand. “But well manage. Together.”
A week later, David turned up on their doorstep, pale and nervous.
“Emily, II never meant”
James shut the door in his face. Then, turning to his family: “No one comes between us again. I swear it.”
Emily smiled faintly. The storm wasnt overrebuilding trust would take work, tears, patience. But for the first time in months, she felt the clouds lifting.
“I love you,” she said simply, pulling Jack and James close. “Youre my family. Nothing changes that.”
Jack groaned but hugged them tighter. James kissed her forehead.
“Forgive me. Ill never doubt you again.”
Outside, dawn light crept over London. And for the first time in too long, they faced it togethera family tested, but unbroken.
**Lesson learned:** Trust is fragile. Lies can unravel years in moments. But lovereal lovechooses to rebuild, even when the bridge seems rotten. Sometimes, the family you fight for is worth every splinter.
