Chapter 7: The Woman Who Knew My Daughter
I stared at my name in the ledger until the letters seemed to move.
*Mother: Claire Mercer.*
The date beside it was impossible.
Seven years ago.
Lily was six.
I was pregnant with her seven years ago.
But I had never told anyone in the Mercer family about my pregnancy until after my first ultrasound.
Daniel took the ledger from my hands.
“This isn't possible.””
Eleanor didn't look away from the page.
“It is.””
“How?””
“I don't know.””
“You said you found the records six months ago.””
“I found some of them.””
“Not this?””
“No.””
I grabbed Daniel's arm.
“Take me to St. Aldwyn's.””
His eyes widened.
“No.””
“They have Lily.””
“That's why you're staying here.””
“You're not going alone.””
“I don't know what they'll do if they see you.””
“They already know my name. They already know I'm Lily's mother.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You don't understand.””
“Then make me understand.””
He looked toward the ledger.
“They didn't just predict Lily. They knew something about you before you ever met me.””
My throat tightened.
“What are you talking about?””
Eleanor reached into her bag and removed another photograph.
She handed it to me.
It showed a hospital room.
A woman sat on a bed, holding a newborn baby.
I stared at the woman's face.
It was me.
My hands began to tremble.
“That isn't possible.””
Daniel took the photograph.
“When was this taken?””
Eleanor turned it over.
“Seven years ago.””
I stared at the image.
The woman looked exactly like me.
Same dark hair.
Same scar above my eyebrow.
Same wedding ring.
But I had never seen that photograph.
And I had never remembered being in that room.
Daniel whispered, “Claire…”
I backed away.
“No.””
“You don't remember this?””
“No.””
Eleanor studied me.
“Have you ever had memory gaps?””
I wanted to dismiss her.
Instead, an image flashed through my mind.
White curtains.
A woman's voice.
A newborn crying.
And someone saying:
“Don't let her see the child.””
I pressed my fingers against my temple.
“Stop.””
Daniel caught my shoulders.
“What do you remember?””
“A hospital.””
“Which hospital?””
“I don't know.””
“Who was there?””
“I don't know.””
Then another memory surfaced.
A man's hand.
A gold bird pin.
A woman's perfume.
And a voice whispering:
“Claire, if you want your baby safe, you have to trust us.””
I looked at Eleanor.
“You knew.””
She shook her head.
“I knew there had been an incident.””
“What incident?””
“Your daughter's birth.””
Daniel stepped back.
“What did you just say?””
Eleanor looked at him.
“The hospital records were altered.””
My chest tightened.
“What was altered?””
“Your discharge date. Lily's birth registration. The name of the attending physician.””
Daniel's face went white.
“Why?””
Eleanor hesitated.
“Because someone wanted Lily's birth to disappear.””
I grabbed the ledger.
“Then why does it say my name?””
“Because they wanted you attached to her.””
“Why?””
“So if anyone ever found the records, they would believe you were part of the arrangement.””
Daniel stared at Eleanor.
“Who would do that?””
She looked at him.
“The same people who put Anna on that list.””
A loud knock came from upstairs.
We froze.
Another knock.
Three times.
Daniel motioned for us to stay downstairs.
He climbed the stairs.
I heard the front door open.
Then his voice.
“Who are you?””
A man's voice answered.
“I'm here for Claire.””
My heart stopped.
Daniel's voice became sharp.
“Leave.””
“Tell her to come outside.””
“No.””
The man laughed.
“I brought something she should see.””
There was a pause.
Then a small voice came through the doorway.
“Mommy?””
I nearly screamed.
“Lily!””
I ran upstairs.
Daniel turned toward me.
“Claire, don't—”
But I was already at the door.
A woman stood on the porch.
She was holding Lily's pink backpack.
No Lily.
Just the backpack.
The woman smiled.
“You remember me.””
I stared at her.
I didn't.
But my body did.
My stomach turned.
“You were at the hospital.””
Her smile widened.
“Yes.””
Daniel stepped in front of me.
“Where is my daughter?””
“She is safe.””
“Where?””
“At the school.””
“What school?””
The woman's eyes moved to me.
“St. Aldwyn's.””
Daniel lunged forward, but the woman stepped backward.
“You have until midnight.””
“For what?””
“The ledger.””
Daniel held it up.
“You want this?””
“No.””
She looked directly at me.
“We want Claire.””
My blood went cold.
“What do you want from me?””
The woman smiled.
“Your memory.””
Then she walked away.
Daniel stood frozen.
Eleanor came onto the porch.
She watched the woman disappear down the driveway.
Then she whispered:
“That was Dr. Mara Voss.””
Daniel turned.
May you like
“Who?””
“The doctor who delivered Lily.””
