Contents
Chapter 61
Overview
Veronica processes the DNA proof that Teddy is her son and suspects Naomi faked Jeremy’s prior paternity test. She finds Naomi smashing Teddy’s birthday gift and informs Jeremy. They agree Naomi must leave the party, and Veronica resolves to involve the police after Teddy’s birthday to reclaim her child.
Summary
Veronica reels from the DNA confirmation that Teddy is actually her missing son, Dominic. Joy and fury mix with confusion about Jeremy’s earlier positive paternity test; she concludes Naomi must have manipulated that result, since Clay is Teddy’s biological father.
Needing to speak to Jeremy, Veronica first checks on Teddy and finds him safe in the backyard bouncy house. Searching the house, she discovers Naomi in the downstairs office smashing Teddy’s new robot car—the gift Veronica bought—using one of Teddy’s rocks as a hammer.
Shaken and furious, Veronica goes upstairs and finds Jeremy on a call. Instead of revealing the full truth yet, she reports that Naomi destroyed Teddy’s present. Jeremy reacts with anger and blames himself for allowing Naomi to stay at the party.
Veronica agrees Naomi must be removed immediately. Privately, she resolves to contact the police with the DNA evidence after the party so as not to ruin Teddy’s birthday. Veronica anticipates that the truth about Naomi’s actions will soon be exposed and is determined to reclaim Dominic.
Who Appears
- Veronica (Ronnie)Narrator; learns Teddy is her son, suspects Naomi faked Jeremy’s test, catches Naomi smashing Teddy’s gift, decides Naomi must leave and plans to call police.
- NaomiSecretly destroys Teddy’s robot car gift with a rock; suspected of tricking Jeremy with a false paternity result.
- JeremyFound upstairs; angered by Naomi’s sabotage; agrees Naomi should leave; unaware yet that Teddy isn’t his biological son.
- Teddy (Dominic)Child in the bouncy house; DNA-confirmed as Veronica’s son; birthday gift is destroyed by Naomi.