CASCADING

CONFESSIONS CHAPTER 15

"C'mon Mr. Morris you can do it!" Steffen's physical therapist encouraged him as he walked the bar. "Only 5 more steps to go and you're there."

"Ughhh...!!" Steffen groaned as he grabbed the bars putting one foot in front the other moving to the finishing point where Beth his therapist stood.

"You can do this, we have been at this for weeks now. Put your back into it and get over here!"

Steffen had been in therapy for just over 3 weeks after the doctor told him that he damaged his knee in the car accident. It felt to Steffen that time stood still and he wasn't going to get back on his feet. He felt frustrated dealing with his recovery, the consistent calls from Annabel invading his space, and deadlines that crept up for work. The latter was easier to deal with, given that his managers and foreman understood their responsibilities, but, June, hmm... June said she needed time to process everything and Annabel was desperate. She kept on calling, showing up unannounced bringing him lunch and clinging the child to him.

Steffen didn't believe it, but what's written seemed to be true, that the child Annabel raised was indeed his or so it seemed. 'Why God, why?' He lowered his head and sighed despondently.

It was a week ago when he got a call from Doctor Cave's office asking him to pick up the DNA test. His heart beat so fast his breathing became rapid. Miriam assisted him at the office and he gripped his cane balancing on the other hand. When he opened and read the report he immediately felt weak and sat down; tears swelled in his eyes. "This can't be. How is this even right?!" He asked the doctor repeatedly hoping for a different answer.

Miriam placed her hands on his shoulders to support him, but she couldn't hold back her tears either and felt helpless seeing her grandson in such turmoil. She turned to the doctor and asked, "Is this really true? Are you sure that there wasn't a mistake somewhere?"

Doctor Cave was confused at her disbelief and confronted her. "Madam are you trying to question our ability to produce authentic reports from the analysis? The evidence is right there before you. We can assure you it hasn't been tampered with."

"How can we be so sure that the samples that where drawn from my grandson were not mixed up with another? This woman and my grandson broke up over two years and now she finally shows up claiming she had his son. Who would do that as a mother? Who would wait so long and take years before admitting to something like that?" Miriam was convinced something was not correct. "I am telling you that your report is incorrect. Why should we believe anything that you or your documents say?!"

She helped Steffen to his feet and he leaned on his cane. "Dr. Cave, please I beg of you, run the test again as I am right here, take the sample again and please do over the test. Dr. Cave was reluctant, but gave in seeing their desperation.

Later that evening after therapy, he met with June at his house for dinner and told her about the results and the retaking of the DNA test. June sat silent for a while not knowing what to say. She kept looking into her glass of wine trying to make sense of all that was happening.

Steffen reached out and took her hand in his. He too lowered his head and spoke softly, "June, I never meant to cause you pain and to worry. What is happening now is just the past trying to have its place in our relationship."

"Steffen I... I am trying to understand what all this can mean for our future. If Annabel is this forceful and relentless to being apart of your life, and with your son, ... I don't know if I can compete with that." She took a sip of her wine trying to bat down her tears.

"Compete?" Steffen repeated the word like is was hard to understand. "What are you worried about? Do you think I would leave you out and lean to her side just because she came with a child?"