Chapter 4: The Baby in Grandma's Arms
"That's the baby I saw Grandma holding last week.""
Sophie's little voice cut through the silence.
I looked down at her.
"Sweetheart, are you sure?""
She nodded.
"Grandma was in the kitchen. The baby was sleeping in a little white blanket. I wanted to say hello, but Grandma told me not to wake him.""
My mother grabbed the edge of the table.
"That's enough, Sophie.""
I stared at her.
"Mom, what baby is she talking about?""
Margaret shook her head.
"She's confused. She probably saw a photograph.""
"No," Sophie insisted.
"It was a real baby. He had little socks.""
Daniel snatched the phone from Claire's hand.
He enlarged the photograph.
The newborn was sleeping in a white knitted blanket, his tiny fingers curled beside his cheek. A hospital identification bracelet was visible around his wrist.
Daniel looked at Claire.
"Where is this child?""
Claire began crying again.
"Please, Daniel.""
"Where is he?""
"I can't tell you.""
My brother placed the phone on the table.
"You've spent seven months pretending to carry a child. Now you're showing me pictures of an actual newborn. I think I've earned an explanation.""
Angela stepped closer.
"Perhaps everyone should calm down.""
Daniel turned toward her.
"Stop telling me to calm down. You seem to know everything. Tell me whose baby this is.""
Angela glanced at Margaret.
My mother shook her head.
But Angela was finished protecting her.
"The child was born three weeks ago at a hospital in Plano," she said.
Daniel looked at her.
"Three weeks?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Angela took a breath.
"Claire had been discussing a private placement arrangement with a young woman. The original plan involved an adoption after delivery.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"An adoption?""
Angela nodded.
"The birth mother was considering placing the child with Claire and Daniel.""
Daniel stared at his wife.
"Was this supposed to be our baby?""
Claire nodded through her tears.
"I thought it could be.""
"Did the birth mother agree?""
"She was considering it.""
"That's not an answer.""
Angela intervened.
"The woman had not signed final consent documents. Nothing was legally finalized.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then he looked at Margaret.
"Did you know?""
My mother started crying.
"I was trying to make your dream come true.""
"My dream wasn't to steal someone else's child!""
"Nobody stole anyone!""
"Then why is there a baby in your house that nobody told me about?""
Margaret pressed a hand against her chest.
"I was helping the young woman. She needed somewhere safe to stay.""
I stepped forward.
"How long has she been staying with you?""
My mother hesitated.
"Since before the delivery.""
"Mom, how long?""
"Almost two months.""
I stared at her.
Two months.
My mother had been hosting a pregnant woman in her house while the rest of us believed Claire was expecting Daniel's child.
She'd held a baby in her arms.
She'd probably changed his diapers.
She'd probably watched him sleep.
And she'd said nothing.
"Where is the baby now?"" I asked.
"He's safe.""
"Where?""
"At my house.""
Daniel immediately reached for his car keys.
"I'm going there.""
Claire grabbed his arm.
"Daniel, wait!""
He pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
"Please. You don't understand.""
"Then come with me and explain everything.""
Claire looked at Margaret.
My mother shook her head.
"Not yet.""
Daniel stopped.
"What does that mean?""
Margaret looked toward the guests.
"Can we please finish this conversation somewhere private?""
I almost laughed.
My brother's marriage had just exploded in front of forty people, and my mother was still worried about privacy.
Daniel walked to the entrance and picked up his jacket.
"I'm leaving. Anyone who wants to tell me the truth can come with me.""
I followed.
Sophie was exhausted, so I carried her.
Behind us, I heard Claire crying.
Then I heard my mother say something that stopped me at the doorway.
"Daniel, if you take that baby, you could destroy three lives.""
He turned slowly.
"What three lives?""
Margaret didn't answer.
Daniel walked back toward her.
"Say it.""
My mother looked at Claire.
Then at Angela.
Finally, she whispered:
"There's a reason the birth mother chose our family.""
Daniel stared.
"What reason?""
Angela's face had gone pale.
She reached into her handbag and removed another document.
"This is something I wasn't supposed to disclose without authorization.""
She handed it to Daniel.
He unfolded it.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then he looked at me.
"Emily...""
"What?""
He pointed at the name under the heading marked PROPOSED ADOPTIVE FAMILY CONTACT.
I felt the room tilt.
The name wasn't Daniel Hayes.
It wasn't Claire Hayes.
It was mine.
Emily Carter.
My maiden name.
My name before I'd married Mark.
I stared at the paper.
"Why is my name on that document?""
Nobody spoke.
Daniel looked at our mother.
"Mom?""
Margaret began sobbing.
Then Claire whispered:
"Because the baby's mother asked for Emily.""
I shook my head.
"Why would she ask for me?""
My mother looked down.
"Because she knows you.""
I felt Sophie shift against my shoulder.
"Who is she, Mom?""
Margaret's lips trembled.
"She's someone from your past.""
And then she said the name.
"Rachel.""
My heart stopped.
Rachel Miller.
My best friend from college.
The woman I'd lost contact with five years earlier after she disappeared from my life without explanation.
The woman whose last message to me had been a simple sentence:
I hope one day you'll understand why I had to leave.
I looked at the photograph again.
Then I looked at my mother.
"Rachel had that baby?""
Margaret nodded.
Daniel's face tightened.
"Why would Rachel choose Emily instead of us?""
My mother didn't answer.
Instead, she looked at Sophie.
And I suddenly realized there was another secret buried beneath this one.
Because Rachel hadn't simply disappeared.
She had vanished shortly after discovering something about my family.
Something I'd never been told.
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Something that might explain why she wanted me involved with her child.
And why my mother had worked so hard to keep us apart.
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