Chapter 5: Two Bracelets
I read the sentence three times.
ASK CLAIRE WHICH BABY ACTUALLY DIED.
When I returned to the kitchen, Claire saw the photograph and nearly collapsed.
“Where did you get that?””
“The mailbox.””
Evan took it from me.
His face hardened when he saw the woman in scrubs.
“I know her.””
Claire whispered, “Evan.””
“Who is she?””
He pointed at the photograph.
“Lydia Cross.””
Claire looked toward the floor.
Evan turned to me.
“Lydia was Rebecca’s friend. She worked nights at St. Matthew’s Hospital.””
The hospital where Claire had delivered.
A cold pressure formed behind my ribs.
“Claire said a nurse helped her leave.””
Evan looked at her.
“Was it Lydia?””
Claire nodded.
Maya paced toward the window.
“So someone has been blackmailing Mom with evidence from sixteen years ago.””
“Yes,” I said.
“But what does ‘which baby actually died’ mean?””
Nobody answered.
I looked directly at Claire.
“Was our biological daughter stillborn?””
“Yes.””
“Are you certain?””
Claire’s lips parted.
That hesitation was enough.
“Claire.””
“I never saw her afterward.””
The room went silent.
“What?””
“I was sedated.””
“You told me you held her.””
Claire began crying again.
“I lied.””
I stared at her.
“You told me she had your nose.””
“I was grieving.””
“You invented a memory?””
“I couldn’t tell you the truth!””
Maya whispered, “Then how do you know she died?””
Claire looked toward Evan.
He immediately shook his head.
“Don’t look at me. I wasn’t there.””
Claire gripped the table.
“Lydia told me.””
My anger suddenly sharpened into something colder.
One person had confirmed our biological daughter’s death.
Lydia Cross.
The same woman who helped Claire secretly leave with Rebecca’s baby.
“Where is Lydia now?””
“I don’t know.””
Evan pulled out his phone.
“I might.””
He searched for several minutes.
Then he turned the screen toward us.
An old social media profile appeared.
Lydia Cross.
Former registered nurse.
The last public post was three years old.
Evan scrolled.
“There.””
A tagged photograph showed Lydia standing outside a small lakeside house.
The location read Annapolis, Maryland.
“I’m going there.””
Claire grabbed my arm.
“No.””
I pulled away.
“Why?””
“You don’t understand Lydia.””
“Then explain.””
“She helped me when nobody else would.””
“And now someone is blackmailing you.””
“That doesn’t mean it’s her.””
Maya interrupted.
“Dad, look.””
She had been examining the photograph.
“What?””
“The babies.””
I moved closer.
Rebecca was holding one newborn.
But near Claire’s elbow, partially hidden beneath a blanket, was another infant carrier.
Two babies.
Maya zoomed in on the photograph with her phone camera.
Each carrier had a bracelet draped over the handle.
One said BENNETT.
The other showed only a few visible letters.
My surname.
HARR—
My knees weakened.
“Both babies were alive when this photograph was taken.””
Claire shook her head violently.
“No.””
Maya pointed.
“Dad, look at the carrier.””
A tiny hand was visible above the blanket.
Claire snatched the photograph.
“That proves nothing.””
“It proves you weren’t told your baby died until after this picture.””
Claire stared at it.
Her breathing changed.
“I don’t remember this photograph.””
Evan frowned.
“What?””
“I don’t remember standing there.””
“You were heavily medicated,” I said.
Claire touched the image.
“Lydia said my daughter died during delivery.””
“But here she is.””
Claire looked at me.
For the first time since this nightmare began, I saw something other than guilt in her face.
Confusion.
Then terror.
“What if Lydia lied to me too?””
Nobody spoke.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A woman’s voice whispered, “Daniel Harris?””
Every hair on my arms rose.
“Yes.””
“You don’t know me.””
“Who is this?””
“My name is Lydia Cross.””
Claire heard it.
Her face turned white.
I switched to speaker.
“Were you blackmailing my wife?””
“No.””
“Then who was?””
“I can’t explain over the phone.””
“Try.””
Lydia inhaled shakily.
“Claire thinks she took Rebecca’s baby home that night.””
I stared at Claire.
“That’s what she told me.””
“She’s wrong.””
Claire grabbed the phone.
“Lydia?””
Silence.
Then Lydia whispered, “Claire.””
“You told me my baby died.””
“I know.””
“You said Rebecca gave me Brooke.””
“I know.””
“Was that a lie?””
Another long silence.
Then Lydia said, “You left the hospital with the wrong baby.””
My blood went cold.
“What does that mean?””
Lydia started crying.
“There were two newborn girls, Daniel.””
“I know.””
“No.””
Her voice dropped.
“You don’t understand.””
“One of them died that night.””
I gripped the phone.
“Which one?””
Before Lydia could answer, someone shouted in the background.
A crash followed.
May you like
Then Lydia screamed.
The call disconnected.
