Hayden had made several trips home to Toronto to spend time with Kristen.
The two were even planning to begin a lamaze class when he returned permanently.
Principal photography was wrapping up and Hayden couldn't have been happier. He was anxiously awaiting the time off to be at home preparing for the baby.
Kristen and Hayden had decided to talk over the paternity test with Dr. Bader to discuss the options for such a test during pregnancy.
Hayden had arranged to stay in Toronto over a long weekend to go to Kristen's doctor's appointment.
Kristen had already told Dr. Bader of the circumstances when she originally started going for visits, so the request for formal proof in the form of a paternity test wasn't a surprise to Dr. Bader.
She was very understanding. "The procedure is called an amniocentesis," she explained. "A sample of amniotic fluid will be taken with the use of a needle and an ultrasound scan. The DNA will then be tested from the amniotic fluid. We will get a DNA sample from Hayden by buccal swab from the mouth."
"Okay, so I'm not going to be pricked with any needles," Hayden confirmed nervously eyeing some of the sharp instruments present in the office.
Kristen stifled a giggle while Dr. Bader explained that his portion of the test would not require the use of needles.
Hayden looked at Kristen and she confirmed with Dr. Bader. "I would like to set up an appointment to have the paternity test....preferably as soon as possible."
Kristen and the doctor confirmed the details and decided to have the test procedure performed the following week. Hayden would be back permanently by then and would have his portion of the test.
Hayden and Kristen left the doctor's office soonafter.
"Are you sure you're okay with all of this?" Hayden asked.
Kristen smiled and nodded.
"I mean, I know this has to be strange....having someone doubt what you say, and I feel terrible about all of it," Hayden said quietly.
Kristen stopped, "please don't feel bad alright? I feel bad enough for everyone....looking at the situation objectively, of course people will have doubts. I would have had questions about it myself if Mark and I had been intimate more than once..."
Hayden stopped. "Wait a minute....this isn't my business anyway....but....are you saying that you were with Mark only one time?"
Kristen looked down at the ground, "yes, that's what I am saying. Mark and I began dating right after you and I broke up. We slept together one time - one time after we'd been dating a week....and the truth is, it just didn't seem right to me."
Hayden was silent, waiting for her to continue.
"I suppose that's not a huge surprise given my past. It's astonishing that I can even have a normal sex life," Kristen said referring to the years of abuse she had suffered at the hands of her father.
"It took me such a long time to get close to you, remember?" she asked.
Hayden nodded. They had dated five months before the subject of sex even came up between them. He had wanted to be supportive of her and never wanted to push her into anything.
"I had finally gotten to a point where I felt safe with you....I guess somehow when I developed feelings for Mark, I thought I could feel that same way with him, but it just never happened. I could never connect with him on that level. He tried to be understanding about it, but I know it always bothered him."
"So, when did this happen then?" Hayden asked, trying to put it together in his mind.
"I slept with Mark in January, right after we broke up," Kristen explained.
"We slept together in March...." Hayden trailed off.
It was just as she had originally said, competely. There was no possible way Mark could have been the father.
"I feel like an ass," Hayden said, looking at the sky.
"Why?" Kristen asked.
"...for making you go through all of this, making you feel like people are accusing you of being a liar."
"It's just words, Hayden. I can't prove any of this to you...I can't prove to you that I only slept with Mark once. I know that. That's why I wanted this test....I want to prove this to you and your family."
Hayden shook his head.
Next week, they would go and have the test. Dr. Bader said the results would come in within 14 business days....but Hayden didn't even care. In his heart, he already knew the answer.