Chapter 11: The Woman My Mother Tried to Erase
My mother was sitting upright in a hospital bed when I arrived.
Her face was pale.
An intravenous line ran into her arm, and a heart monitor beeped steadily beside her.
Vanessa stood near the window.
She looked exhausted.
For once, she wasn't wearing expensive clothes or carefully applied makeup.
She looked like someone whose entire world had collapsed.
My mother turned toward me.
"Marcus.""
I stopped beside the bed.
"How are you feeling?""
She ignored the question.
"Did you find the records?""
"Yes.""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Then you know.""
"I know there were three babies. I know the records were altered. And I know you lied about Claire.""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"I never wanted this to happen.""
I pulled a chair closer.
"Then explain what happened.""
She looked at Vanessa.
"Can we speak privately?""
"No," I answered.
"Vanessa has been involved in this from the beginning. She can hear everything.""
Vanessa looked down.
My mother began crying.
"Everything started before you were born, Marcus.""
She explained that she had known Thomas Reed before marrying my father. Their relationship had ended badly, but she had never stopped believing that Thomas owed her something.
When she learned that Margaret Reed was pregnant, she became obsessed with the idea that Thomas would give his entire fortune to another woman and child.
Then came the hospital incident.
Eleanor had given birth to a daughter.
The baby was premature and required special care.
Meanwhile, Margaret Reed delivered a healthy baby girl.
And Elizabeth Carter died during childbirth, leaving another newborn without a mother.
My mother said she had panicked.
She claimed Dr. Samuel Carter offered to help arrange a temporary transfer.
But the arrangement became something much darker.
"Why did you take Claire?"" I asked.
Eleanor covered her face.
"Because Thomas loved her.""
I stared.
"What?""
"Margaret's baby. Claire. Thomas loved that child more than anything. I thought if I raised her, I would always have a connection to him.""
"You stole another woman's daughter because you wanted to remain connected to a man who didn't want you?""
My mother began sobbing.
"I was young. I was frightened.""
"You were an adult.""
She looked at me.
"I know.""
"Where was your biological daughter?""
She looked toward Vanessa.
"She was transferred to another family temporarily. I was told she needed specialized treatment.""
Vanessa stepped forward.
"Then who am I?""
Eleanor couldn't look at her.
"Your biological parents were Elizabeth Carter and an unidentified man.""
Vanessa staggered backward.
"No.""
My mother continued.
"I was told Elizabeth's baby had died. Dr. Carter arranged for you to be brought to my home instead.""
Vanessa grabbed the edge of the bed.
"You're telling me I'm not your daughter?""
Eleanor started crying harder.
"I raised you.""
"That's not what I asked!""
Vanessa's voice echoed through the room.
A nurse opened the door.
"Everything all right in here?""
I nodded.
"Please give us a minute.""
The nurse hesitated, then stepped outside.
Vanessa looked at our mother.
"All those years, you told me Claire stole my inheritance. You told me she wasn't really part of the family. You made me hate her.""
Eleanor whispered:
"I wanted to protect you.""
"Protect me from what? The truth?""
My mother said nothing.
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Marcus, I didn't know.""
I looked at her.
"You knew enough to file that petition.""
She lowered her head.
"I know.""
"You knew enough to humiliate Maya.""
Her eyes filled.
"I know.""
I leaned forward.
"Then don't tell me you didn't know what you were doing.""
An hour later, Patricia arrived.
She stood at the foot of the bed holding a photograph.
Eleanor immediately recognized her.
"Patricia.""
Patricia didn't answer.
Instead, she placed the photograph on the bedside table.
It showed a newborn baby wrapped in a white blanket.
On the back was a date and a name.
Rebecca.
"My daughter," Patricia said quietly.
Eleanor looked away.
Patricia continued.
"I spent thirty years wondering whether she was alive. I searched hospitals, adoption agencies, and private records. Thomas helped me whenever he could.""
She leaned forward.
"Do you know what he told me before he died?""
Eleanor remained silent.
"He said he was sorry he hadn't found all three children.""
My mother began shaking.
Patricia looked at her.
"You knew where Rebecca went.""
Eleanor whispered:
"Yes.""
The room became completely silent.
Patricia's face crumpled.
"Where is she?""
Eleanor looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
"I don't know where she is now.""
Patricia took a shaky breath.
"But you knew where she was placed?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes.""
"With whom?""
My mother finally spoke.
"With a family named Carter.""
Patricia looked confused.
"Which Carter family?""
Eleanor closed her eyes.
"Samuel Carter's brother.""
Patricia stepped backward.
"Samuel's brother?""
"Yes.""
Patricia's face turned white.
"That was my family.""
I looked at her.
"What?""
Patricia began trembling.
"Samuel had another brother. His name was David. He was married to my sister's closest friend.""
Eleanor nodded.
"That's where the baby went.""
Patricia covered her mouth.
For thirty years, she had searched for a daughter who might have been living in the same extended family she had known all along.
Then she suddenly looked at my mother.
"What's her name now?""
Eleanor didn't answer.
Patricia repeated the question.
"What is my daughter's name?""
My mother looked directly at her.
"Rebecca Carter became Rebecca Whitmore.""
Robert Whitmore, who had just entered the room, stopped in the doorway.
Everyone turned toward him.
He looked at Eleanor.
Then at Patricia.
"Rebecca Whitmore?""
Eleanor nodded.
Robert slowly removed his glasses.
"That's impossible.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
Robert looked at me.
"Because Rebecca Whitmore is my daughter.""
Nobody moved.
Patricia grabbed the chair beside her.
Robert looked as if the floor had disappeared beneath his feet.
"My wife and I adopted a baby girl thirty-two years ago," he said.
"We were told her biological mother had died.""
Patricia began crying.
"Robert...""
He looked at her.
"Patricia?""
She stepped closer.
"Your daughter is my daughter.""
Robert covered his face.
For several moments, the only sound in the room was the heart monitor.
Then he looked at Eleanor.
"You knew?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
Robert's voice broke.
"You let me raise someone else's child without knowing where she came from?""
My mother whispered:
"I thought it was best.""
Robert shook his head.
"No. You thought it was convenient.""
That evening, I received a call from Jonathan.
"Marcus, we have a problem.""
I was standing outside the hospital.
"What now?""
"Vanessa's attorney has withdrawn the inheritance petition.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because the hospital records make their original claims impossible to defend.""
I exhaled.
"Good.""
"But there's something else.""
"What?""
"Your mother has made a formal statement admitting that she participated in falsifying the original birth records.""
I looked through the hospital window.
Eleanor was sitting beside Vanessa.
"Then this is over.""
Jonathan paused.
"Not quite. She has also admitted that someone helped her alter the records.""
"Who?""
"Dr. Samuel Carter.""
"He's dead.""
"Yes. But before he died, he transferred a box of documents to a private storage facility.""
I closed my eyes.
"Where?""
Jonathan gave me the address.
Then he said:
"Marcus, one of the documents concerns your father.""
I looked at him.
"What about my father?""
Jonathan lowered his voice.
"According to the document, he wasn't simply investigating the hospital incident.""
May you like
He paused.
"He may have been the only person who knew which baby Eleanor originally gave birth to.""
