Chapter 7: The Woman in the Photograph
The words on the document didn't make sense.
*She is Maya's biological mother.*
I read them again.
Then a third time.
“No,” I whispered.
Evelyn took the document from my hands.
Tasha stared at me.
“Maya…”
I shook my head.
“My mother is Nia.””
Evelyn's expression was careful.
“Your mother raised you.””
“That isn't what I said.””
“I know.””
“My mother gave birth to me.””
Evelyn didn't answer.
That silence was worse than an argument.
I backed away from the desk.
“No.””
Tasha reached for me.
I pulled away.
“Don't.””
She stopped.
I couldn't think.
My whole childhood was suddenly a collection of photographs with missing pieces.
My first day of school.
Mom holding my hand.
Marcus standing behind us.
Family vacations.
Christmas mornings.
Every birthday.
Every time someone said, You look just like your mother.
Which mother?
The phone on the desk rang again.
I jumped.
Evelyn answered.
“Brooks & Associates.””
She listened.
Then looked at me.
“Yes. She's here.””
She held the phone toward me.
“This is for you.””
I stared at it.
“I don't want it.””
“You should.””
My hands shook as I took the receiver.
“Hello?””
A woman's breathing came through the line.
Then the voice returned.
“Maya.””
My knees almost gave out.
“Who are you?””
“My name is Elena.””
I closed my eyes.
The name meant nothing.
“Why are you calling me?””
“Because today is your seventeenth birthday.””
“How do you know?””
“Because I've remembered every birthday.””
My throat tightened.
“Where are you?””
“Not far from you.””
“Why haven't I ever seen you?””
A long pause.
“Because your mother made me disappear.””
I looked at Tasha.
She heard enough from my expression to know this was serious.
“What mother?””
“Elena said quietly, “Nia.””
My stomach turned.
“That isn't possible.””
“It is.””
“You're lying.””
“I wish I were.””
I gripped the receiver harder.
“Then prove it.””
There was silence.
Then Elena said,
“Ask Nia about the hospital on Franklin Street.””
My blood ran cold.
“Why?””
“Because that's where you were born.””
I frowned.
“I was born at St. Mary's.””
“No.””
Her voice cracked.
“You were born at Franklin Women's Hospital.””
I looked at Evelyn.
She was already searching through the files.
“Why does my birth certificate say St. Mary's?””
“Because Nia changed it.””
My heart stopped.
“Why?””
“Because she wanted everyone to believe you were hers.””
Tasha covered her mouth.
I could hear Elena crying.
Then she said the words that shattered whatever remained of my certainty.
“I was seventeen when I had you.””
I couldn't speak.
“I couldn't raise you,” Elena continued.
“Your grandmother knew. She tried to help me. But Nia had already decided you would become her daughter.””
“Why?””
“Because she couldn't have children.””
My fingers went numb.
“That doesn't explain everything.””
“No.””
Elena's voice became softer.
“There was more.””
“What?””
“She wasn't supposed to marry Marcus.””
I looked at Tasha.
“What does Marcus have to do with you?””
“He was your biological father's best friend.””
The room went silent.
My heart seemed to stop beating.
“My father?””
Elena hesitated.
“His name was Daniel Reyes.””
I knew that name.
I had seen it once.
Years ago.
A photograph tucked inside an old box in our attic.
A young man with dark hair standing beside my grandmother.
I had asked Mom who he was.
She had taken the photograph away.
She'd told me it was someone from before her marriage.
I thought I'd forgotten.
I hadn't.
“Where is he?”” I whispered.
Elena began crying.
“He died before you were born.””
Tasha looked at me.
“How?””
Elena didn't answer.
Instead, she said,
“Your grandmother believed Marcus had something to do with it.””
Evelyn suddenly looked up from the files.
“Maya.””
She held up a photocopy.
“This is your original birth record.””
I walked toward her.
There it was.
*Mother: Elena Reyes.*
*Father: Daniel Reyes.*
I stared at the page.
My entire identity had been rewritten.
Not metaphorically.
Literally.
“Why did Grandma allow it?””
“She didn't,” Elena said through the phone.
“She fought it.””
“Then why did Nia get me?””
“Because your grandmother died.””
My eyes filled with tears.
Elena continued.
“Nia had already convinced everyone that she was your legal mother. Marcus supported her. By the time your grandmother could challenge them, she was sick.””
I looked at Evelyn.
“Is that true?””
Evelyn nodded.
“She left extensive notes about a custody dispute.””
I felt dizzy.
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
“Because the case was sealed.””
“Why?””
Elena answered.
“Because Marcus threatened to expose something about your father.””
“What?””
“He said Daniel was involved in something illegal.””
“What kind of something?””
“I never found out.””
Evelyn suddenly turned pale.
She had found another document.
“What?””
She placed it on the desk.
“This isn't about Daniel.””
I looked down.
It was a police report.
The date was nine years before.
The year my grandmother died.
The report listed Marcus as a witness.
And Daniel Reyes as the subject of an investigation.
But the final page contained a handwritten note from my grandmother.
I read it aloud.
*Marcus lied. Daniel was never the target.*
I looked at Evelyn.
“Then who was?””
She turned the page.
The answer was written in my grandmother's handwriting.
*The money was.*
Tasha frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Evelyn read the next line.
“Daniel discovered that someone was moving money from the family trusts.””
My heart sank.
“Before I was born?””
“Yes.””
“And my father found out?””
“Yes.””
“What happened to him?””
Evelyn looked at the police report.
“He confronted Marcus.””
Tasha whispered,
“And then he died.””
No one answered.
The phone suddenly clicked.
Elena was still there.
Her voice was barely audible.
“Maya, you need to leave that office.””
“Why?””
“Because Marcus knows I called.””
I looked toward the windows.
Rain streaked the glass.
“Where are you?””
“I'm outside.””
I froze.
“What?””
“I've been waiting across the street.””
Tasha rushed to the window.
“There are too many cars.””
I looked down.
A dark SUV was parked across the street.
Its headlights were off.
Someone was sitting inside.
Then Elena said,
“Maya, don't look at the SUV.””
My heart pounded.
“Why?””
“Because that's not me.””
The call went dead.
May you like
A second later, Evelyn's office lights went out.
And someone began pounding on the front door.
