Chapter 7: The Baby They Said Didn't Exist
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
The courthouse hallway was crowded with lawyers, reporters, and people waiting for their hearings. Shoes clicked against the marble floor. Someone laughed near the elevators.
But all I could see was the photograph on my phone.
Rebecca.
A hospital.
A newborn baby.
And a message claiming that another child had been born the night Lily arrived.
I read it again.
The original hospital records identify a second baby born that same night.
My fingers trembled.
"Amara?""
Jonathan touched my shoulder.
I turned the screen toward him.
He read the message.
His expression hardened.
"Who sent this?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't respond.""
He immediately took out his phone.
"I'm calling the investigator.""
Across the hallway, Daniel was speaking to his attorney. When he noticed my expression, he stopped.
"What's happened?""
I ignored him.
"Jonathan, I need the hospital records.""
"We'll get them through the proper legal channels.""
"I want to know whether my daughter had a twin.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"What?""
I showed him the photograph.
His face changed.
"That's my mother.""
"Yes.""
"Where did you get this?""
"Someone just sent it to me.""
He stared at the image.
Then he looked at me.
"What does the message say?""
I hesitated.
"Apparently, another baby was born the night Lily was born.""
Daniel went completely still.
"Another baby?""
"That's what it says.""
He took out his phone.
"I'm calling my mother.""
"Don't.""
"Amara, if she did something—"
"She has spent five years hiding things from both of us. I don't want another conversation where she controls what we hear.""
Jonathan stepped between us.
"Neither of you should contact Rebecca until we establish the source of this photograph.""
Daniel looked frustrated.
"She's my mother.""
"And she's potentially involved in an investigation," Jonathan replied.
Daniel lowered his phone.
For the first time since I had known him, he looked genuinely frightened.
Not angry.
Not arrogant.
Frightened.
An hour later, Jonathan arranged a meeting with a private investigator named Martin Hayes.
Martin had spent twenty-five years investigating financial fraud, missing persons, and corporate misconduct.
He arrived carrying a thick folder.
"I've seen the message," he said.
He placed several photographs on the table.
"The hospital in question is St. Mary's Medical Center. You gave birth there five years ago.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"According to the records we've obtained so far, there were two female newborns delivered within seventeen minutes of each other.""
My heart pounded.
"Two?""
"Yes.""
"One was Lily?""
"According to the records, your daughter was born at 11:42 p.m. The second baby was born at 11:59 p.m.""
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Who was the second mother?""
Martin opened the folder.
"That's where things become unusual.""
He showed me a birth register.
The second child's mother was listed as Vanessa Reed.
I stared at the name.
"Vanessa?""
Daniel, who had insisted on attending the meeting, stood abruptly.
"That's impossible.""
Martin looked at him.
"Why?""
"Vanessa wasn't pregnant.""
I turned toward him.
"Are you sure?""
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"She told me she had a medical procedure years ago. She said she couldn't have children.""
Martin slid another document across the table.
"This is a hospital admission record dated five years ago. Ms. Reed was admitted under a different surname.""
I looked at Daniel.
He appeared unable to breathe.
"She was pregnant?"" he whispered.
"Apparently.""
Martin continued.
"Both newborns were transferred to the same neonatal unit. The records show that one child was discharged with you, Ms. Carter. The other was discharged under a different guardian's name.""
I felt sick.
"Who?""
Martin turned another page.
The name was unfamiliar.
*Margaret Collins.*
"Who is Margaret Collins?"" I asked.
Martin shook his head.
"We're still investigating.""
I stared at the birth register.
Two babies.
Same hospital.
Same night.
One was my daughter.
The other had disappeared into a different family.
"Could there have been a mix-up?"" I whispered.
Martin didn't answer immediately.
"That's possible. But the records suggest deliberate interference.""
Daniel sat down.
"Why would my mother do this?""
I looked at him.
"That's what we're going to find out.""
Martin closed the folder.
"There's one more thing.""
He handed me a photocopy of a handwritten nursing note.
It was dated the night Lily was born.
The nurse had written:
Mother requested confirmation that both infants were breathing. Family representative instructed staff not to disclose second delivery to Mr. Carter.
I read the sentence twice.
"Both infants?""
Martin nodded.
"Yes.""
I looked up.
"Who was the family representative?""
Martin pointed to the bottom of the page.
There was a signature.
*Rebecca Shaw.*
Daniel covered his face.
I stood.
"I need to see her.""
Jonathan shook his head.
"Amara, not alone.""
"I don't care.""
"Then we'll arrange it properly.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Vanessa had given birth the same night as me.
Rebecca had been there.
And someone had taken a baby away.
But the question that hurt most was one I couldn't bring myself to ask.
Was that other child mine?
Or had Vanessa given birth to Daniel's second daughter while he was still married to me?
That evening, I returned home and found Lily sitting on the sofa.
She had fallen asleep while watching cartoons.
Her stuffed rabbit was tucked beneath her chin.
I carried her to bed and kissed her forehead.
"Mommy?""
Her eyes opened slightly.
"Yes, baby?""
"Are you going somewhere?""
I brushed her curls away.
"No.""
"Promise?""
I swallowed.
"Promise.""
She closed her eyes.
I stood beside her bed for a long time.
Then my phone vibrated.
A message from an unknown number.
If you want to know where the second baby went, ask Daniel what happened at St. Mary's at midnight.
I looked toward the hallway.
Daniel had been there.
The night Lily was born.
But he had told me he was in another state.
I opened my contacts.
And called him.
"Daniel," I said when he answered.
"I need you to tell me where you were the night Lily was born.""
There was a long silence.
May you like
Then he whispered:
"Amara, I was at the hospital.""
