Chapter 7: The Baby in the Photograph
I turned the photograph over again.
The hospital bracelet was faded, but the name was still readable.
*BABY BENNETT B.*
Below it was a date.
Eight years earlier.
The same night Maya was born.
I looked at Rebecca.
"How many babies did Claire give birth to?""
My sister shook her head.
"I don't know, Marcus.""
"Don't tell me you don't know. Mom left this photograph in a box with a letter explaining that Maya wasn't the only one.""
"I swear, I never knew about another baby.""
I examined the photograph more closely.
The infant was wrapped in a pale yellow blanket. A tiny identification tag was attached to her wrist.
There was something written beneath the photograph in my mother's handwriting.
Baby B was breathing when they took her away.
I felt my knees weaken.
"Breathing?""
Rebecca nodded slowly.
"Marcus, sit down.""
I ignored her.
I pulled another envelope from the box.
Inside was a hospital discharge summary, a folded receipt, and a handwritten letter.
The discharge summary listed Claire's name.
But there was something strange.
Under the section marked NUMBER OF INFANTS, someone had originally written:
*2*
The number had been crossed out.
Beside it, someone had written:
*1*
My hands began shaking.
"Mom knew," I whispered.
Rebecca moved closer.
"She must have.""
I opened the handwritten letter.
Evelyn,
I know what you're going to say. I know I should tell Marcus everything. But Daniel says the second baby needs specialized care, and Marcus will never agree to let him take her.
He says this is temporary. He says once the treatment works, we'll bring both girls together.
Please help me keep this from Marcus until I know what to do.
There was no signature.
But I didn't need one.
I recognized Claire's handwriting from the note in Maya's backpack.
I looked at Rebecca.
"How long did Mom keep this?""
"She never told me anything about the box.""
"She knew there were two babies.""
Rebecca lowered her head.
"And she knew Claire was hiding something from you.""
I stared at the photograph again.
Two babies.
One daughter I'd raised.
Another child whose existence had apparently been erased from our family history.
I pulled out the receipt.
It was from a private neonatal clinic in North Carolina.
The payment had been made in cash.
The name beside the transaction was Daniel Reed.
At the bottom, someone had written:
Transfer completed. Infant B remains under Dr. Reed's supervision.
I felt sick.
"Where is that clinic?""
Rebecca took the receipt.
"About three hours from here.""
Before either of us could say anything else, the hospital room door opened.
Claire stood there.
Her eyes immediately fell on the blue box.
"Where did you get that?""
I slowly turned toward her.
"From my mother's house.""
She stepped inside.
"Marcus, put those papers away.""
"No.""
"Please. You don't understand what you're reading.""
"I understand that you gave birth to two babies.""
Claire stopped breathing for a moment.
Then she closed the door.
Rebecca stood up.
"Claire, what did you do?""
My wife looked at her.
"This has nothing to do with you.""
"Mom knew, didn't she?""
Claire's face crumpled.
"Your mother promised she wouldn't tell.""
I felt something cold move through me.
"She promised?""
Claire looked at me.
"Marcus, please listen.""
I held up the photograph.
"Who is this baby?""
Claire looked away.
"Her name was Lily.""
"Was?""
She started crying.
"She was Maya's twin sister.""
For several seconds, the only sound in the room was the steady beeping of Maya's monitor.
I sat down.
My daughter had a twin.
An entire person who had shared the same womb, the same birthday, and the same beginning.
And nobody had ever told me.
"Where is she?""
Claire wiped her cheeks.
"Daniel took her.""
"Why?""
"Because Lily was sick.""
"So you let another man take your newborn daughter?""
"I didn't have a choice!""
"Of course you had a choice!""
Claire flinched.
She looked toward Maya's bed.
"Keep your voice down.""
I stared at her.
"You don't get to tell me to keep my voice down anymore.""
She lowered herself into the chair.
"When the girls were born, Lily had a serious medical condition. The doctors said she would need specialized treatment. Daniel said he could get her into a program that might help.""
"Why couldn't she stay with us?""
"Because he said the treatment required her to be under his care.""
"And you believed him?""
"He showed me documents. He told me she might not survive without the program.""
I pointed to the photograph.
"Then why did you change the birth records?""
"Daniel arranged it.""
"Why?""
"Because there were questions about the clinic. He said changing the records would protect Lily's identity.""
I stared at her.
"And Maya?""
Claire covered her face.
"Daniel said Maya could help.""
My blood turned cold.
"Help how?""
"He said the twins shared the same genetic characteristics. He wanted to monitor Maya and compare her results with Lily's.""
"So he used our daughter as an experiment?""
"He said it was research!""
"Without my knowledge?""
Claire began sobbing.
"He said you would never agree.""
I felt my stomach turn.
"Was Maya sick because of that research?""
"I don't know.""
"You've been giving her something for eight months!""
"I was told it was safe!""
I looked toward Maya.
Her eyes were open.
She had heard everything.
"Mommy?""
Claire immediately reached toward her.
"Sweetheart—"
"Is Lily my sister?""
Claire froze.
Maya's voice trembled.
"Do I have a sister somewhere?""
Claire nodded.
"Yes, baby.""
Maya started crying.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
Claire covered her mouth.
I walked to the bed and held my daughter.
Then I turned toward my wife.
"Tell me where Lily is.""
Claire looked at the receipt in my hand.
And finally whispered:
"She's alive.""
May you like
Before I could ask another question, Claire added something that stopped my heart.
"She's been waiting for Maya to be well enough to meet her.""
