Chapter 2: The Man Who Knew Too Much
Dr. Patel ordered additional tests and asked that Maya remain under observation.
I stayed beside her while Nurse Nia brought a warm blanket and adjusted the bed.
Claire had been asked to wait outside temporarily.
For the first time that evening, Maya seemed able to breathe.
"Daddy?""
"Yes, princess?""
"Can I have my backpack back?""
I looked toward the clear evidence bag.
"Not right now, sweetheart. The doctors need to check what's inside.""
She nodded, but her fingers twisted the blanket.
"There's something else.""
I leaned closer.
"What is it?""
"There's a little notebook in the front pocket.""
"What notebook?""
"The one Mommy told me to write in.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"What did you write?""
"Every time she gave me the orange medicine.""
I stared at her.
"Why did you have to write that down?""
Maya looked toward the doorway.
"Mommy said it was important.""
I didn't push her further.
Instead, I asked Nia whether the notebook could be examined along with the other items.
She nodded.
"We'll make sure it stays with the belongings your daughter brought in.""
A few minutes later, Dr. Patel returned.
He explained that the medical team was concerned about Maya's symptoms and wanted to identify exactly what she'd been given. He wouldn't speculate about the cause until the tests were complete.
I appreciated that.
I didn't need another person guessing.
I needed answers.
When Dr. Patel stepped out, I finally checked my phone.
There were fourteen missed calls from Claire's number.
Then I noticed a text from my mother.
Marcus, Claire just called me. She says you're having some kind of breakdown and accusing her of hurting Maya. What's happening?
I stared at the message.
Claire had already started telling people her version.
I called my mother.
"Mom, Maya is in the hospital.""
"Oh, sweetheart. Is she okay?""
"She's being examined. But I need you to listen carefully. Claire has been giving her something without telling me, and we've found messages between her and a doctor named Daniel Reed.""
My mother went silent.
"Daniel Reed?""
"You know him?""
A long pause followed.
"I remember that name.""
"From where?""
"Claire mentioned him years ago. Before you got married. I thought he was just an old friend.""
"He's her former boyfriend.""
Another silence.
Then my mother said something unexpected.
"Marcus, when you and Claire were expecting Maya, didn't she tell you there was a complication?""
I frowned.
"She said the doctors were worried about the pregnancy.""
"That's not exactly what she told me.""
"What do you mean?""
My mother took a shaky breath.
"She said there was a doctor who helped her through a difficult situation. She made me promise not to mention it because she didn't want you worrying.""
My chest tightened.
"Mom, what situation?""
"I don't know. She wouldn't tell me.""
Before I could ask anything else, the hospital room door opened.
Claire walked in.
Her eyes were red, but her expression had changed.
She looked at Maya first.
"Sweetheart, can Mommy sit with you?""
Maya immediately moved closer to me.
Claire stopped.
For a moment, she looked genuinely hurt.
Then she turned toward me.
"Can we talk privately?""
"No.""
"Marcus, please.""
"Whatever you have to say, you can say it here.""
She glanced at Maya.
"Not in front of her.""
I stood.
"Then maybe you should have thought about that before putting her in the middle of whatever this is.""
Claire pressed her lips together.
"You don't understand what happened.""
"Then start explaining.""
She looked at the floor.
"Daniel contacted me several months ago.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"After nine years?""
"He said he had information about Maya.""
"What information?""
Claire swallowed.
"He knew something about her medical history.""
I stared at her.
"What medical history?""
She glanced toward our daughter.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Something happened when Maya was born.""
I remembered the delivery room.
The frantic nurses.
The doctor who had asked me to wait outside.
Claire telling me afterward that everything had been resolved.
"What happened when Maya was born?""
Claire shook her head.
"I can't explain it all right now.""
"Why not?""
"Because Daniel told me not to.""
I laughed once, without humor.
"You're taking instructions from your ex-boyfriend while our daughter is lying in a hospital bed?""
"He's a doctor!""
"And I'm her father!""
Maya began crying again.
Claire reached toward her.
"Baby, Mommy loves you.""
Maya pulled the blanket over her chest.
"Please don't give me any more.""
Claire froze.
I stepped between them.
"That's enough.""
Her face crumpled.
"Marcus, I never wanted her to get hurt.""
I stared at her.
"Then why did you keep giving her something she was afraid of?""
She opened her mouth.
No words came.
Then the hospital phone rang.
Dr. Patel answered it at the nurses' station.
I watched his expression change as he listened.
He looked toward our room.
Then he walked inside, holding a printed laboratory request.
"Mr. Bennett, I need to ask you something.""
"What?""
"Did you know your daughter was scheduled for an appointment at a private clinic tomorrow morning?""
I looked at Claire.
She had gone completely pale.
"What private clinic?""
Dr. Patel glanced at the paper.
"Reed Family Medical.""
The name sat between us.
I looked back at my wife.
"Claire, what were you planning to do with our daughter tomorrow?""
She began shaking her head.
But before she could answer, Dr. Patel added something that made the room go silent.
"There's another problem. The appointment was entered under Maya's name, but the authorization form was signed by someone else.""
"Who?""
He turned the paper around.
At the bottom was a signature.
May you like
My signature.
Except I had never signed it.
