Chapter 14: The Brother I Never Knew
I laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because my mind refused to accept another secret.
"My brother?""
My father nodded slowly.
"Your mother had another child.""
I stepped away from him.
"No. I would've known.""
"She was pregnant before you were born.""
I stared at him.
"Then where is he?""
My father looked toward Dr. Morris.
The nurse lowered her eyes.
"Your mother believed he had been adopted.""
I felt my stomach tighten.
"Believed?""
Dr. Morris nodded.
"Rebecca arranged the adoption. She told your mother the baby had been placed with a family in New Hampshire.""
My father shook his head.
"Your mother never trusted her. She spent years searching for him.""
I looked at the hospital records.
There was a second file attached to the back.
A birth certificate.
The baby's name was listed as Daniel Carter.
Date of birth: twenty-six years earlier.
I stared at the date.
Three years before I was born.
"Why did Mom never tell me?""
My father took my hands.
"Because she didn't know where he was.""
"Did you know?""
He shook his head.
"No. I found out about Daniel only after your mother died. I searched for him, but every adoption record had been sealed.""
James examined the paperwork.
"There's a second signature here.""
He pointed to the adoption authorization.
Rebecca Carter.
And beside it was the name of the adoptive father.
*Edward Whitmore.*
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"Edward adopted my brother?""
Dr. Morris nodded.
"That's what the document indicates.""
Olivia covered her mouth.
"Then Marcus and Nia...""
James finished the sentence.
"They may be half-brothers.""
Nobody spoke.
I looked at Marcus's name in my phone.
For eighteen months, I had believed I was building a future with the man I loved.
Now I was wondering whether he was my brother.
I called him.
He answered immediately.
"Nia?""
"Where are you?""
"At the police station. They've been questioning Dad.""
"Did you know Edward adopted a boy named Daniel Carter?""
Silence.
Then Marcus said, "Yes.""
My knees weakened.
"You knew?""
"I found the adoption papers in his office last week.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I didn't know whether the records were real.""
"Who is Daniel?""
"I don't know.""
I closed my eyes.
"Marcus, what was your mother's maiden name?""
He hesitated.
"Rebecca.""
My heart stopped.
"Your mother?""
"No. My biological mother.""
I couldn't speak.
Marcus continued.
"Edward adopted me when I was two. Mom raised me. I was always told my birth mother had died.""
I gripped the phone.
"What's your birth name?""
Another pause.
"Daniel Carter.""
The world went silent.
Olivia caught my arm.
My father closed his eyes.
Marcus spoke again.
"Nia, are you still there?""
I couldn't answer.
He whispered, "I think we're related.""
I ended the call.
For a long moment, I simply stared at the phone.
Then my father pulled me into his arms.
"Oh, sweetheart.""
I cried against his chest.
The man I had planned to marry was my brother.
The woman who had destroyed my wedding dress had raised him.
The man who had planned to kill my mother had adopted him.
And my mother had spent the final years of her life trying to find the child she had lost.
I looked at James.
"How do we prove it?""
He placed the adoption papers on the table.
"We need a DNA test.""
Dr. Morris nodded.
"I can help arrange a legally documented test.""
I looked at the birth certificate.
Daniel Carter.
My brother.
I had to know.
Three days later, Marcus and I sat in separate chairs at a private medical laboratory.
Neither of us spoke much.
He looked exhausted.
"I never knew," he said.
I stared at the floor.
"Neither did I.""
"I loved you, Nia.""
I looked at him.
"I loved you too.""
He lowered his head.
"I don't know how to live with that.""
"Neither do I.""
He wiped his eyes.
"I should have told you everything about my father.""
"Yes.""
"I should have told you about the photograph.""
"Yes.""
He nodded.
"I don't expect you to forgive me.""
I looked at him.
"I don't know whether I can.""
A technician entered.
She collected the samples and explained that the results would be available within forty-eight hours.
When we left, Marcus stopped beside the elevator.
"Can I ask you something?""
"What?""
"Do you think Mom knew?""
I thought about Vanessa.
Her fear.
Her desperation.
The way she had destroyed my dress.
"I think she knew enough to be afraid.""
Marcus nodded.
"She raised me. Whatever she did, she was the only mother I knew.""
I understood that.
But understanding didn't erase the damage.
"Marcus, I need you to understand something.""
He looked at me.
"We can't go back to what we were.""
His eyes filled.
"I know.""
We parted without embracing.
Two days later, James called.
The results were ready.
I arrived at his office with my father and Olivia.
Marcus was already there.
James placed a sealed envelope on the desk.
Neither of us reached for it.
Finally, Marcus opened it.
He read the first page.
Then he looked at me.
His lips trembled.
"You're my sister.""
I closed my eyes.
The test confirmed that we shared both biological parents.
Marcus and I were full siblings.
I began crying.
My father covered his face.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then James cleared his throat.
"There's another result.""
I looked up.
"What?""
He placed a second document on the desk.
It was a DNA comparison using a preserved sample from my mother.
The result confirmed that Daniel was her biological son.
But something else appeared in the accompanying genetic report.
A notation concerning another maternal match.
James frowned.
"That's unusual.""
My father leaned forward.
"What?""
James looked at the document.
"There's a second child listed in the original hospital records.""
I felt my blood run cold.
"Another child?""
He nodded.
"Your mother gave birth to twins.""
I stared at him.
"Twins?""
He turned the paper toward us.
Two birth registrations.
Two children.
One named Daniel.
The other listed under a temporary hospital identification number.
I looked at my father.
"Who was the second baby?""
He stared at the document.
Then his face changed.
He pointed to the date and the handwritten note beside the identification number.
It read:
*Female infant transferred to private guardianship.*
I felt dizzy.
"Where did she go?""
James checked the attached authorization.
Then he looked at me.
"The transfer was approved by Rebecca Carter.""
My phone began ringing.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A woman's voice spoke.
"Nia, my name is Rebecca.""
I couldn't move.
"I know you've been looking for me.""
I swallowed.
"Where is my sister?""
The woman laughed softly.
Then she said something I would never forget.
"You're asking the wrong question, sweetheart.""
May you like
She paused.
"You're the second twin.""
