Chapter 7: The Mother Who Wasn't His Mother
Daniel read the sentence again.
Then he looked at Patricia.
"Tell me she's lying.""
Patricia didn't move.
"Mom. Tell me.""
She pressed one hand against her chest.
"Daniel, I raised you. I fed you. I stayed awake when you were sick. Does any of that mean nothing?""
He stared at her.
"That's not what I asked.""
Emily slowly closed her folder.
"Patricia adopted you when you were six months old. Michael was your biological father, but your birth mother was someone else.""
Daniel's knees seemed to weaken.
"Who?""
Emily glanced at Patricia.
"Her name was Laura Bennett.""
Patricia immediately shook her head.
"That woman abandoned him.""
Emily's expression hardened.
"That's not what happened.""
Vanessa stood beside the sofa, holding the documents against her chest.
"Can somebody please explain what is happening?""
Emily nodded.
"Laura was a young woman who worked for Michael's company. She and Michael had a relationship before he married Patricia. When Laura became pregnant, Michael promised to support her and their child.""
Daniel looked at his mother.
"Why did you tell me Dad and you had me?""
Patricia began crying.
"Because I couldn't have children. Michael wanted a family, and when he brought you home, I loved you immediately.""
"Where was Laura?""
Patricia looked away.
Emily answered.
"She was told that Michael had arranged a closed adoption. She believed you were being raised by another family who would give you a better life.""
Daniel shook his head.
"You're saying she didn't abandon me?""
"No. She believed she was making a sacrifice for your future.""
Patricia suddenly raised her voice.
"She signed the papers! She gave him up!""
Emily opened another document.
"She signed under circumstances she later challenged. Michael's correspondence shows that he promised her the adoption would be temporary until he could arrange a proper agreement. He never fulfilled that promise.""
Daniel sat down heavily.
For years, he had told me stories about Patricia's devotion.
He had described her as the woman who sacrificed everything for him.
Now he was discovering that the family history he had been raised with was built on secrets.
"Where is Laura?"" he whispered.
Emily hesitated.
"She died five years ago.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Did she know about me?""
"Yes.""
"Did she ever try to contact me?""
Emily nodded.
"Several times.""
Patricia immediately interrupted.
"Those letters were nonsense. She wanted money.""
Emily pulled a small bundle of envelopes from her folder.
"These are copies of the letters she sent to Michael. He kept every one.""
Daniel took the first envelope.
His name was written across the front in careful handwriting.
To my son, Daniel.
He opened it with trembling fingers.
"Dear Daniel," he read quietly.
"I don't know if you will ever see this. I hope you are happy. I hope the people raising you love you as much as I do. I think about your first birthday, your first steps, and the little fingers you wrapped around mine before I had to let you go.""
His voice broke.
He couldn't continue.
Vanessa sat beside him.
For a moment, she seemed ready to comfort him.
Then she remembered the lies he had told her.
She withdrew her hand.
I watched Daniel fold the letter.
It was strange seeing the man who had once dismissed my tears now struggling to hold himself together.
Patricia approached him.
"Daniel, I was your mother. I gave you everything.""
He looked up.
"Then why did you hide her letters?""
"Because I was afraid you'd leave me.""
"Why did you tell me she abandoned me?""
Patricia's lips trembled.
"Because I wanted you to love me.""
Daniel stood.
"You made me hate a woman who wanted to know her own son.""
Patricia slapped him.
The sound echoed through the living room.
Nobody moved.
"After everything I did for you," she shouted, "you choose a stranger over me?""
Daniel slowly touched his cheek.
"She wasn't a stranger. She was my mother.""
Patricia looked toward me.
"This is all because of Sarah. She came here to destroy us!""
I shook my head.
"No, Patricia. Your family was already built on lies. I just happened to walk into the room when they finally started falling apart.""
She pointed toward the exit.
"Get out!""
I smiled faintly.
"Gladly.""
I took Ethan and Noah's hands.
But before I reached the doorway, Daniel called after me.
"Sarah, wait.""
I stopped.
He looked at my sons.
"Can I at least talk to them?""
"No.""
His expression crumpled.
"They're three years old. They deserve to know who I am.""
I turned around.
"They deserve to grow up without adults making promises they can't keep.""
Daniel looked down.
Then he asked something I hadn't expected.
"Did you ever find out who their biological father was?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who?""
I took a breath.
"His name is James Carter. He adopted them legally, and he has been their father in every way that matters since before they could walk.""
Daniel looked stunned.
"You're married?""
"Yes.""
I had barely finished speaking when my phone rang.
It was James.
I answered.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
His voice came through clearly.
"Sarah, I'm outside. The boys left their favorite stuffed animals in my car, and I figured they'd want them.""
I looked toward the front windows.
A familiar black SUV was parked outside.
James stepped out carrying two little stuffed bears.
Then he noticed the crowd inside.
"Everything okay?""
May you like
I smiled.
"Everything is about to be.""
