Title 1

Tell your Tita

Is the child my husband’s son?

Dear Tita,

After reading about Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s love child with their maid, I began to have doubts about the paternity of our yaya’s son. Years ago, my husband Tony (not his real name), and I hired Esper to be the yaya of our babygirl. She was a very good yaya and we treated her as one of the family.

One day, she cried and told me that she was pregnant. I asked her who the father was but she refused to tell me, so I figured it must have been one of the young men around. I assured her we would help her in her situation as she said the father could not marry her, and she was afraid that her parents would find out. I gave her vitamins for her health, my old maternity clothes, and even my daughter’s baby clothes.

She was so grateful for everything. When her time came, we took her to the provincial hospital where she gave birth to a cute baby boy.Tony’s widowed mother came to visit us and when she saw Mico, Esper’s baby, she offered to take the child as she was all alone and felt lonely in her big house.

After much prodding from us, Esper agreed as she also wanted to work abroad. A few years later, we heard that Esper died in an accident in Saudi. Every time Tony’s mother would come to visit us, she would bring Mico, who had become very close to us. Tony would spend hours playing with him. As Mico grew up, people would comment on how his eyes and nose resembled Tony’s but I thought nothing of it.

Last year, Tony suffered a severe stroke which left him disabled. He often asked his mother to bring Mico to visit him. I could see that he really cared for the boy. It was only when I read about Arnold’s love child with their maid that a germ of a suspicion began to form in my mind. I began wondering if Mico’s father could be my husband. I, too, noticed the close resemblance between them.

I’m dying to find out the truth but I can’t confront Tony with my suspicion because of his delicate condition. I was warned by his doctor that anything could set off another stroke which could kill him.

WONDERING WIFE

Dear Wondering Wife,

You could find out the truth through a secret DNA test. It would erase any doubt in your mind. Just be sure Tony doesn’t know about it as his health is so precarious and you might lose him altogether. Whatever the result, remember, Mico is not the one responsible. The child didn’t ask to be born. If the test should confirm your suspicion, I hope you will find it in your heart to forgive.

TITA