Chapter 7: My Mother Was Trying to Kill Her Own Granddaughter
"She's attempting to remove Emma from the donor registry.""
The woman's words echoed through my head.
I gripped the edge of my mother's desk.
"Put me through to the attending physician.""
"I'm sorry, sir. Mrs. Caruso has requested that no information be released without her authorization.""
"Listen carefully. I'm Emma's biological father. My mother has no authority to make medical decisions for my daughter.""
There was a brief silence.
Then the woman whispered, "Mr. Caruso, your daughter is in Room 214. You need to come immediately.""
I grabbed my keys.
Before leaving, I called Elise.
"Lock every door. Don't let my mother or anyone claiming to represent her near the girls.""
"What's happened?""
"Victoria is at Emma's medical facility. She's trying to remove her from a donor program.""
Elise gasped.
"Then go, Mr. Caruso. I'll stay with Maisie and Rosie.""
I drove through the dark streets of Long Island, barely noticing the traffic lights.
My mind kept returning to the photograph.
Emma.
My daughter.
A little girl I'd never held.
A little girl who had spent months wondering where her parents were.
And my mother had known exactly where she was all along.
When I arrived at the medical facility, two security guards stood outside the entrance.
I showed them my identification.
"My daughter is here. Emma Caruso.""
One guard checked his tablet.
"Sir, there's a restriction on her file.""
"Who placed it?""
"Victoria Caruso.""
I pulled out the guardianship document.
"That restriction is being challenged. I'm her biological father, and I want to see her.""
The guard exchanged a glance with his colleague.
Then he stepped aside.
"Room 214. Third floor.""
I ran.
The hallway smelled of disinfectant and fresh coffee. A nurse hurried past carrying a stack of files.
When I reached Room 214, I stopped.
Through the glass, I saw a little girl sitting in a hospital bed.
She had dark curls.
Big brown eyes.
And a stuffed yellow duck resting against her chest.
She looked so much like Isabella that I nearly collapsed.
I opened the door.
A nurse turned.
"Sir, you can't—"
"I'm Dominic Caruso. I'm her father.""
The little girl looked at me.
"Are you my daddy?""
My heart shattered.
I walked toward her slowly.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
She studied my face.
Then she looked at the yellow duck.
"Mommy said my daddy would come.""
I dropped to my knees beside her bed.
"She did?""
Emma nodded.
"She said he was looking for me.""
I pressed my forehead against the edge of her mattress.
For months, I'd believed my wife was dead.
For months, I'd believed my family consisted of two daughters.
And all that time, my third little girl had been waiting for me.
I reached for her hand.
"I'm here now, Emma. I'm so sorry I took so long.""
She touched my cheek.
"Why are you crying?""
I tried to smile.
"Because I've missed you.""
A nurse quietly stepped away.
Then the room's door opened.
My mother walked in.
She wore a cream-colored coat, pearl earrings, and the same expensive perfume she'd worn to Isabella's funeral.
"Dominic.""
I stood immediately.
"What are you doing here?""
"Trying to protect Emma.""
"By removing her from the donor registry?""
Victoria looked toward the nurse.
"Could you give us a moment?""
"No," I said.
"She stays.""
My mother sighed.
"You're behaving irrationally.""
I laughed.
"You're standing in front of the granddaughter you stole from me, and I'm the irrational one?""
Emma looked between us.
"Grandma?""
Victoria immediately softened her expression.
"Hello, sweetheart.""
Emma hugged her stuffed duck.
"Why is Daddy angry?""
My mother glanced at me.
"Because Daddy doesn't understand what we're trying to do.""
I stepped closer.
"Tell me about the donor registry.""
Victoria's face tightened.
"Emma has a rare blood disorder. The treatment is complicated.""
"I know. I read the documents.""
"Then you know she needs a compatible donor.""
"Yes.""
My mother looked down.
"Your aunt Margaret agreed to become her guardian because we needed to protect her.""
"From whom?""
"From the scandal Isabella was creating.""
I stared at her.
"You stole a baby to protect your reputation?""
Victoria's voice sharpened.
"Your father spent forty years building this family. I wasn't going to let Isabella destroy everything because she couldn't accept how our business operated.""
I froze.
"What does our business have to do with Emma?""
My mother looked toward the window.
Then she said something unexpected.
"Your father had another family, Dominic.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"Before he married me, he had a daughter. A child nobody was supposed to know about.""
I felt the room tilt.
"Who?""
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
"Margaret's daughter.""
I stepped backward.
My aunt Margaret was my father's biological daughter?
My mother nodded.
"Your father had promised to provide for her. When he died, the inheritance arrangement became complicated. Emma's birth brought everything back.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"So you took my daughter because of an inheritance dispute?""
"Emma's existence threatened the foundation.""
"What foundation?""
Victoria didn't answer.
Then Emma began coughing.
The nurse hurried to her bedside.
"Sweetheart, lie back.""
I turned immediately.
"What's wrong?""
"She's been experiencing increased fatigue," the nurse said.
"We need to run another assessment.""
My mother reached for Emma's blanket.
"See? This is why I came.""
I pulled the blanket back.
"Don't touch her.""
The nurse examined Emma and frowned.
Then she looked at Victoria.
"Mrs. Caruso, we still need the original donor authorization.""
My mother stiffened.
"That's being handled.""
I turned toward the nurse.
"What authorization?""
She looked uncomfortable.
"Emma has a potential donor match. But the consent documents were withdrawn this afternoon.""
"By whom?""
The nurse glanced at Victoria.
My mother said nothing.
I looked at her.
"You withdrew a life-saving donor authorization?""
"Dominic, you don't understand who the donor is.""
"Who?""
She finally met my eyes.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"One of your other daughters.""
