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Mar. 26th, 2012 09:52 pm"I can't perform a DNA test for you." Guppy says, sighing and watching her carefully.
"Why?" Carlotta demands, placing the two hairs in front of him.
"For one thing, in worlds where we have it, it's not legal without the consent of all the parties involved." Guppy says gently. "For another, you aren't William's mum. That machine is from hundreds of years in my future, if I stick his DNA in it, it might flag up a genetic condition he didn't want to know about. Or one for your husband."
"Look." Carlotta sighs. "Now that Will's admitted he actually can't remember... I just want the truth. I know Fern got him drunk. I know I'm going to be upset if he cheated. But little William is an innocent bystander and if he is Will's, then Will has to support his upkeep. The rules have changed. Fern isn't coping. She's pretty much abandoned little William with my in-laws."
"Okay... well maybe we can match up genetic features and make an educated guess." Guppy says. "That would be something you could ethically do in your time. Have you got a photo of them both?"
Carlotta, having suspected this could be required, fishes out a photo of Will, and a photo of little William. She hands them to Guppy, who fails to hide an eyebrow raise.
"What? I know, they look nothing alike..."
"Will and Fern are cousins, right?" Guppy says.
"Yes. Why?"
"Does little William have problems with his eyesight?"
"...I think so. He's had a lot of doctor's visits. How did you know?"
Guppy hands her back the photos and points at little William's.
"His eyes are red, his skin is pale, and his hair is too. I can't say conclusively from just the photo, but he looks like he has albinism."
"He's an albino?" Carlotta looks at the photo. How did she not realise that? But then again, she's not seen an albinic person before. "But neither Fern or Will are."
"Albinism is what's called a recessive condition. It means each parent carries it but doesn't have it." Guppy says. "It's more common if the parents are related because they have common genes. Do you understand?"
Carlotta nods.
"So you're saying it isn't proof... but it means it's more likely that William is Will's son?"
"I think..." Guppy hesitates. "I think you have to talk this through with Will. Little William is, as you say, an innocent bystander, and either way he's part of your extended family. Whoever his dad is. I mean, you were brought up by lots of people who aren't your biological parents."
"You mean... accept William and accept that we don't know?"
"I can't tell you what to do. But in my time, such arrangements are not uncommon. Sit down and talk to each other. Work out how you can sort things out without the kids getting hurt."
Carlotta has to admit that might have to do.
"Why?" Carlotta demands, placing the two hairs in front of him.
"For one thing, in worlds where we have it, it's not legal without the consent of all the parties involved." Guppy says gently. "For another, you aren't William's mum. That machine is from hundreds of years in my future, if I stick his DNA in it, it might flag up a genetic condition he didn't want to know about. Or one for your husband."
"Look." Carlotta sighs. "Now that Will's admitted he actually can't remember... I just want the truth. I know Fern got him drunk. I know I'm going to be upset if he cheated. But little William is an innocent bystander and if he is Will's, then Will has to support his upkeep. The rules have changed. Fern isn't coping. She's pretty much abandoned little William with my in-laws."
"Okay... well maybe we can match up genetic features and make an educated guess." Guppy says. "That would be something you could ethically do in your time. Have you got a photo of them both?"
Carlotta, having suspected this could be required, fishes out a photo of Will, and a photo of little William. She hands them to Guppy, who fails to hide an eyebrow raise.
"What? I know, they look nothing alike..."
"Will and Fern are cousins, right?" Guppy says.
"Yes. Why?"
"Does little William have problems with his eyesight?"
"...I think so. He's had a lot of doctor's visits. How did you know?"
Guppy hands her back the photos and points at little William's.
"His eyes are red, his skin is pale, and his hair is too. I can't say conclusively from just the photo, but he looks like he has albinism."
"He's an albino?" Carlotta looks at the photo. How did she not realise that? But then again, she's not seen an albinic person before. "But neither Fern or Will are."
"Albinism is what's called a recessive condition. It means each parent carries it but doesn't have it." Guppy says. "It's more common if the parents are related because they have common genes. Do you understand?"
Carlotta nods.
"So you're saying it isn't proof... but it means it's more likely that William is Will's son?"
"I think..." Guppy hesitates. "I think you have to talk this through with Will. Little William is, as you say, an innocent bystander, and either way he's part of your extended family. Whoever his dad is. I mean, you were brought up by lots of people who aren't your biological parents."
"You mean... accept William and accept that we don't know?"
"I can't tell you what to do. But in my time, such arrangements are not uncommon. Sit down and talk to each other. Work out how you can sort things out without the kids getting hurt."
Carlotta has to admit that might have to do.
