Chapter 12: The Baby They Switched
I couldn't process the words.
A twin.
I had spent thirty-two years believing I was an only child.
My mother had never mentioned another pregnancy.
Thomas had never hinted at a missing sibling.
And now someone was suggesting that the hospital records from my birth contained evidence of another baby.
Detective Miller immediately contacted the hospital.
Richard asked for a copy of the archived maternity file.
Patricia stood silently beside the fireplace.
For once, she had nothing to say.
I turned toward her.
“Did you know?””
She looked away.
“Sarah, this isn't the time.””
“Did you know I had a twin?””
She pressed her lips together.
That was answer enough.
I stepped toward her.
“You knew?””
Patricia finally spoke.
“Your mother made a decision.””
“What decision?””
“She believed one baby would have a better chance of surviving.””
My chest tightened.
“What are you talking about?””
Patricia looked at Richard.
He nodded reluctantly.
Then she continued.
“You and another little girl were born on the same night. There were complications. The doctors told your mother that one baby might not survive.””
I shook my head.
“Where was my father?””
“Richard was already missing. Thomas was helping your mother.””
“And the other baby?””
Patricia looked down.
“She was taken to another family.””
I felt dizzy.
“Which family?””
Nobody answered.
Detective Miller interrupted.
“We need to establish whether this information is accurate. Until then, nobody should make assumptions.””
Richard agreed to accompany us to the hospital.
I insisted on coming.
On the drive, I called Rebecca.
She listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she said, “Sarah, even if you have a biological twin, that doesn't change your parental rights over Lily. We need to keep the issues separate.””
“I know.””
“And don't let anyone pressure you into signing anything.””
“I won't.””
When we arrived at the hospital, a records administrator was waiting.
Her name was Dr. Helen Foster.
She led us into a private consultation room.
“I've located the original maternity register,” she explained.
“It was archived after a records discrepancy was identified several years ago.””
She placed an old folder on the table.
The pages were yellowed.
One entry showed two female infants born to Margaret Wilson.
Twin A: Sarah Margaret Wilson.
Twin B: Baby girl, temporary identification number 4172.
I stared at the page.
“Why wasn't the second child registered?””
Dr. Foster folded her hands.
“The records indicate that the second infant was transferred to another hospital under an emergency placement arrangement.””
“Who authorized it?””
She turned to the next page.
Margaret Wilson.
Thomas Wilson.
And a witness.
Martin Cole.
I felt sick.
“Why would Martin sign a hospital document?””
Dr. Foster looked uncomfortable.
“That is something the investigators will need to examine.””
Richard leaned forward.
“Was there a genetic test?””
“Yes. Both babies were tested shortly after birth. The original results were included in the file.””
She opened another envelope.
Inside were two laboratory reports.
The first confirmed my identity.
The second contained an unfamiliar name.
Grace.
I stared at the paper.
“Grace Brooks?””
Dr. Foster nodded.
“That's the name entered into the later adoption record.””
I felt my heart stop.
“Grace Brooks is Emily's daughter?””
The doctor hesitated.
“According to the records, Grace Brooks was born six years ago.””
“But this document is dated thirty-two years ago!””
She checked the page again.
Then her expression changed.
“I'm sorry. There's another page.””
She removed a folded sheet.
It contained an amended birth record.
The name Grace had been added years after the original entry.
And the date had been altered.
Rebecca's voice echoed in my head.
Don't let anyone pressure you into signing anything.
I looked at Richard.
“Who is Grace?””
He seemed equally confused.
Then the records administrator opened the final attachment.
It was a photograph of a newborn baby.
The same baby from the photograph Daniel had carried through the airport.
Only this time, the hospital bracelet was visible.
It read:
*BABY GIRL WILSON — TWIN B.*
I covered my mouth.
The child had been registered under a different name.
And someone had spent decades making sure nobody connected the two identities.
Dr. Foster pointed to a note attached to the photograph.
“There's an additional record from a genetic laboratory. It was requested six months ago.””
I examined the date.
The same month Daniel had begun preparing Lily's travel arrangements.
The report identified three biological relationships.
Me.
Lily.
And an unnamed female relative.
But the final page contained something more shocking.
A note from the laboratory director:
The submitted sample does not match the presumed maternal lineage. Further testing is strongly recommended.
I looked at the doctor.
“What does that mean?””
She spoke carefully.
“It means the person who submitted the sample may not be Lily's biological mother.””
The room fell silent.
I shook my head.
“That's impossible. I gave birth to Lily.””
Dr. Foster nodded.
“I'm not disputing that. But the genetic evidence raises a question about the identity of the biological parents.””
Richard slowly sat down.
Patricia began crying.
I looked at her.
“What did you do?””
She covered her face.
“I was trying to keep the family together.””
“WHAT DID YOU DO?””
She finally looked at me.
“Your mother told Thomas that one of the babies had died. But the other baby was taken away. Years later, when Daniel discovered the old records, he began investigating.””
I couldn't breathe.
“Which baby was I?””
Patricia looked toward Richard.
He answered quietly.
“Sarah, the hospital record suggests that you may have been raised as the wrong twin.””
My knees weakened.
Then my phone rang.
It was Emily.
I answered.
“Sarah, please tell me you're sitting down.””
“What's happened?””
Her voice trembled.
“Grace is missing.””
I gripped the phone.
“What?””
“Someone came to the facility and removed her using emergency medical authorization.””
“Who?””
Emily began sobbing.
“Your mother.””
I looked at Patricia.
She was staring at the floor.
Then Emily whispered the words that destroyed the last piece of certainty I had left.
“Sarah, I just received a DNA report. Grace isn't my biological daughter.””
I closed my eyes.
“Then whose daughter is she?””
Emily took a shaking breath.
“She's yours.””
And before I could speak, another message arrived from an unknown number.
It contained a photograph of Lily standing beside a little girl who looked exactly like her.
The message underneath said:
You have spent seven years protecting the wrong secret. Ask your mother which baby she took home.
I looked at Richard.
He had gone completely pale.
May you like
Because he recognized the little girl.
And he knew exactly where she was going next.
