Dear Prudence,
My parents are terrible—alcoholic, physically abusive, the works. I moved away from them decades ago to keep my children away from them. My father molested me as well as one of my sisters; my mother knew and did nothing. I just went to a family reunion because there are relatives on my father’s side of the family I love and have missed seeing. During the trip, I found out there is a good chance my father is not actually my biological father. My folks are pretty old. Should I ask my mother about this? I think I would be happier knowing he may not be my father than I would be if I were to find out, without a doubt, that he is indeed my real dad. What would you do?
—Paternal Doubts