Chapter 4: The Record That Shouldn't Exist
For several seconds, I couldn't understand the words.
PATIENT TRANSFERRED ALIVE.
They were printed in faded black ink on a hospital transfer record, beneath the date my father had supposedly died. The paper trembled between my fingers, and the sunlight pouring through the chapel windows made every crease painfully visible.
Alive.
Not missing.
Not presumed dead.
Alive.
My aunt Lorraine sat rigidly in a gold-trimmed chair, one hand pressed against her chest. My wedding coordinator stood frozen beside the chapel doors. Somewhere behind us, a guest whispered a prayer.
And Marcus, the man I was supposed to marry in less than ten minutes, was staring at that document as though it were a loaded weapon.
I looked at him.
"Did you know about this?""
Marcus straightened his jacket.
"Ava, this is an old medical record. You don't know what it means.""
"Then explain it.""
"It could refer to a transfer between hospitals. It doesn't prove anything about your father.""
"Why are you so determined to convince me it means nothing?""
He glanced at the guests gathering behind the open doors.
"Because you're about to make a decision that could affect the rest of your life, and you're doing it while you're emotional.""
I stared at him.
"You mean while I'm reading a document that says my dead father was transferred alive?""
"Lower your voice.""
"No.""
My own voice surprised me. I had spent most of my childhood trying to keep the peace in my family. I had learned to swallow questions, soften accusations, and apologize whenever someone older than me became uncomfortable.
But my father's name was printed on that paper.
I wasn't going to apologize for reading it.
I turned to Lorraine.
"Look at me and tell me this is fake.""
She stared at the floor.
"Aunt Lorraine.""
Her fingers twisted around a strand of pearls at her neck.
"Please don't do this here.""
"Then where should I do it? In a hospital? At a grave that might not even contain him?""
She flinched.
That reaction answered a question I hadn't yet asked.
I stepped closer.
"Was Dad buried?""
Lorraine's eyes lifted to mine.
"I arranged his funeral.""
"That wasn't my question.""
Her lips parted, but no answer came.
Behind me, Josiah shifted his weight. His oversized shoes scraped against the tile.
"My mom said you wouldn't believe her," he whispered.
I turned toward him.
"Believe whom?""
He looked down.
"Her.""
"Your mother?""
He nodded.
"She said grown-ups would try to make you think you're crazy.""
Marcus moved toward him.
"All right, that's enough. This child is clearly repeating things someone told him. We need to find his guardian.""
Josiah immediately stepped backward.
"Don't touch me!""
The boy's voice cracked through the foyer.
Marcus stopped.
I moved between them.
"Denise, please get him some water.""
Denise nodded quickly and disappeared toward the refreshment table.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"Ava, think about this. Your aunt raised you. She's been here for every important moment of your life. Are you really going to destroy your relationship with her because a stranger handed you an old piece of paper?""
I looked at the document again.
"Who signed it?""
Marcus's expression tightened.
I traced the faded signature at the bottom. Most of the ink had blurred, but the surname remained visible.
Bennett.
My family name.
"Why is there a Bennett signature on a hospital transfer record?"" I asked.
Lorraine suddenly stood.
"Because I signed it!""
The confession rang through the foyer.
Nobody moved.
She covered her mouth, as if the words had escaped before she could stop them.
I felt my knees weaken.
"You signed this?""
Lorraine looked toward the sanctuary, where our family members sat waiting among the flowers and candles.
Then she looked back at me.
"Yes.""
"Why?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"Because I was told he was alive.""
The world seemed to stop.
I gripped the paper so tightly it began to crumple.
"You were told he was alive, and you let me believe he was dead?""
"I didn't know what happened to him afterward!""
"But you knew he survived the accident.""
Lorraine shook her head violently.
"I knew he had been transferred. I knew the hospital had received him. I knew there were questions nobody would answer.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because your mother begged me not to!""
I recoiled.
"My mother?""
Lorraine pressed both hands against her face.
"She said you were too young. She said if you grew up believing your father was gone, you could have a normal life.""
I stared at her.
My mother had died when I was seventeen. Even now, I could remember the smell of her lavender lotion, the softness of her voice, the way she tucked my hair behind my ear when I was frightened.
She had never told me that my father might be alive.
I turned the record over.
On the back, someone had written a series of numbers in blue ink. Beneath them was a small printed label.
ARCHIVE STORAGE — UNIT 17.
A key with a faded hospital tag rested in my other hand.
My heartbeat quickened.
"Is this what the key opens?"" I asked.
Lorraine stared at the metal in my palm.
Her face went white.
"No.""
"Then what does it open?""
She took a shaky breath.
"That key was supposed to have been destroyed.""
The chapel doors creaked behind us as someone tried to close them.
Marcus caught the edge before they shut completely.
"Ava, I'm asking you one last time. Give me the key.""
I looked at his hand on the door.
Then at his face.
"Why?""
He didn't answer.
I turned toward Josiah.
"Where is your mother waiting?""
He hesitated.
"Outside.""
"Where outside?""
"Across the street. She said she'd wait until I gave you everything.""
I looked toward the tall windows.
Through the bright glass, I could see the church courtyard and the pavement beyond it. People moved past the entrance, carrying shopping bags and talking on their phones.
There was no way to know which one of them might be watching.
I folded the document carefully and slipped it inside my bridal bouquet.
Then I closed my hand around the key.
"I'm not getting married today.""
Marcus stared at me.
"You're making a mistake.""
"Maybe.""
I looked directly into his eyes.
"But I'm done making decisions without knowing the truth.""
As I turned toward the exit, Lorraine grabbed my wrist.
"Ava, wait.""
Her voice broke.
"There is something else you need to know about that night.""
I stopped.
She looked at Marcus.
He shook his head almost imperceptibly.
I saw it.
And so did she.
May you like
Lorraine's fingers tightened around my wrist.
"Your father wasn't the only person transferred from that hospital.""
