Chapter 10: The Child in the Photograph
I couldn't stop## Chapter 10: The Child in the Photograph
I couldn't stop looking at the photograph.
The little girl was standing in front of a white wooden fence, wearing a yellow dress. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, and one hand rested against the fence.
She looked exactly like me.
Not vaguely looking at the photograph.
The little girl was standing in front of a white wooden fence, wearing a yellow dress. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders, and one hand rested against the fence.
She looked exactly like me.
Not vaguely similar.
Exactly.
The same small nose. The same wide-set eyes. Even the tiny mark beneath her left eyebrow.
I touched my similar.
Exactly.
The same small nose. The same wide-set eyes. Even the tiny mark beneath her left eyebrow.
I touched my own eyebrow.
"Who is she?""
Margaret pulled out the chair opposite me.
"Her name was Lily.""
Thomas shook his head.
"That's own eyebrow.
"Who is she?""
Margaret pulled out the chair opposite me.
"Her name was Lily.""
Thomas shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
Margaret turned toward him.
"Is it? You should know better than anyone what happened after Evelyn disappeared.""
"She didn't disappear. She died.""
"That's what Edward wanted everyone to believe.""
I looked between them.
"Stop talking around me. Who was Lily?""
Margaret removed another photograph from her handbag.
This one showed my mother holding impossible.""
Margaret turned toward him.
"Is it? You should know better than anyone what happened after Evelyn disappeared.""
"She didn't disappear. She died.""
"That's what Edward wanted everyone to believe.""
I looked between them.
"Stop talking around me. Who was Lily?""
Margaret removed another photograph from her handbag.
This one showed my mother holding two babies.
Twins.
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"Those are me?""
Margaret nodded.
"Your mother gave birth to two girls. You were the younger one. Lily was born eleven minutes before you.""
Thomas grabbed the photograph.
His hands were trembling.
"Where did this come from?""
"From the hospital records.""
"Those records were sealed.""
"Not all of them.""
I stared at the photograph.
My mother was smiling. Her hair two babies.
Twins.
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"Those are me?""
Margaret nodded.
"Your mother gave birth to two girls. You were the younger one. Lily was born eleven minutes before you.""
Thomas grabbed the photograph.
His hands were trembling.
"Where did this come from?""
"From the hospital records.""
"Those records were sealed.""
"Not all of them.""
I stared at the photograph.
My mother was smiling. Her hair was messy, and she looked exhausted, but there was an expression on her face I had never seen in any other picture.
Complete happiness.
She was holding two tiny babies against her chest.
"Why did nobody tell me?""
Margaret's expression softened.
"Because your grandfather believed separating you was the only way to protect you.""
"Protect me from what?""
"From the people who wanted control of both children.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Did you know was messy, and she looked exhausted, but there was an expression on her face I had never seen in any other picture.
Complete happiness.
She was holding two tiny babies against her chest.
"Why did nobody tell me?""
Margaret's expression softened.
"Because your grandfather believed separating you was the only way to protect you.""
"Protect me from what?""
"From the people who wanted control of both children.""
I looked at Thomas.
"Did you know?""
He shook his head.
"No, sweetheart. I swear I didn't.""
"You're my father, aren't you?""
He opened his mouth.
No words came out.
Margaret laughed quietly.
"That's the problem with secrets. Eventually, even the people who tell them forget which ones are true.""
?""
He shook his head.
"No, sweetheart. I swear I didn't.""
"You're my father, aren't you?""
He opened his mouth.
No words came out.
Margaret laughed quietly.
"That's the problem with secrets. Eventually, even the people who tell them forget which ones are true.""
Thomas stood.
"Enough. You're not going to manipulate her.""
Margaret remained seated.
"Then tell her why you never questioned the fact that Evelyn supposedly gave birth to one child.""
Thomas's face went pale.
I turned toward him.
"Did you know Mom had twins?""
"No.""
"How can I believe you?""
He looked at me with tears in his eyes.
"Because I spent sixteen years believing I had lost one daughter. I cannot describe what it feels like toThomas stood.
"Enough. You're not going to manipulate her.""
Margaret remained seated.
"Then tell her why you never questioned the fact that Evelyn supposedly gave birth to one child.""
Thomas's face went pale.
I turned toward him.
"Did you know Mom had twins?""
"No.""
"How can I believe you?""
He looked at me with tears in his eyes.
"Because I spent sixteen years believing I had lost one daughter. I cannot describe what it feels like to discover there might have been another.""
I wanted to believe him.
But I had learned that wanting something didn't make it true.
Margaret opened her handbag again.
She placed a hospital discharge document on the table.
It listed two newborn girls.
Maya Evelyn Reed discover there might have been another.""
I wanted to believe him.
But I had learned that wanting something didn't make it true.
Margaret opened her handbag again.
She placed a hospital discharge document on the table.
It listed two newborn girls.
Maya Evelyn Reed.
Lily Evelyn Reed.
Both born on the same date.
Beside Lily's name was a handwritten notation.
*Released to authorized family representative.*
"Who took her?"" I whispered.
Margaret looked toward Thomas.
"Your grandfather.""
I shook my head.
"No. Grandpa wouldn't take a baby away from her mother.""
"Your.
Lily Evelyn Reed.
Both born on the same date.
Beside Lily's name was a handwritten notation.
*Released to authorized family representative.*
"Who took her?"" I whispered.
Margaret looked toward Thomas.
"Your grandfather.""
I shook my head.
"No. Grandpa wouldn't take a baby away from her mother.""
"Your grandfather was desperate. He believed Evelyn's life was in danger. He arranged for Lily to be taken to a private clinic outside the state.""
Thomas snatched the document.
"Where?""
Margaret shrugged.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"Perhaps. But I know someone who does.""
She reached into her handbag and placed a business card on the table.
A name was printed across it.
DR. ALAN WHITMORE grandfather was desperate. He believed Evelyn's life was in danger. He arranged for Lily to be taken to a private clinic outside the state.""
Thomas snatched the document.
"Where?""
Margaret shrugged.
"I don't know.""
"You're lying.""
"Perhaps. But I know someone who does.""
She reached into her handbag and placed a business card on the table.
A name was printed across it.
DR. ALAN WHITMORE.
A retired pediatrician.
"He delivered the twins," Margaret explained.
"He also signed the documents that transferred Lily into another family's care.""
I stared at the card.
"Why are you telling me this now?""
Margaret leaned back.
"Because Edward is dead. Bennett is becoming difficult to control. And.
A retired pediatrician.
"He delivered the twins," Margaret explained.
"He also signed the documents that transferred Lily into another family's care.""
I stared at the card.
"Why are you telling me this now?""
Margaret leaned back.
"Because Edward is dead. Bennett is becoming difficult to control. And the estate is about to undergo an investigation.""
There it was.
The real reason.
She wasn't helping me.
She was trying to save herself.
"What do you want?"" I asked.
Margaret smiled.
"An agreement. You withdraw the claims against the company, and I give you everything I know about your sister the estate is about to undergo an investigation.""
There it was.
The real reason.
She wasn't helping me.
She was trying to save herself.
"What do you want?"" I asked.
Margaret smiled.
"An agreement. You withdraw the claims against the company, and I give you everything I know about your sister.""
Thomas stepped between us.
"She isn't signing anything.""
Margaret stood.
"Then you may never find Lily.""
I looked at her.
"Did you know my mother?""
Margaret's expression changed.
"Of course.""
"Did you love her?""
For a moment, she looked almost human.
Then she answered.""
Thomas stepped between us.
"She isn't signing anything.""
Margaret stood.
"Then you may never find Lily.""
I looked at her.
"Did you know my mother?""
Margaret's expression changed.
"Of course.""
"Did you love her?""
For a moment, she looked almost human.
Then she answered.
"I loved my family.""
"That wasn't my question.""
Her jaw tightened.
"Your mother was stubborn. She believed she could change the world simply because she had discovered something terrible. She didn't understand the consequences.""
"Did you order her death?""
Margaret picked up her handbag.
"I think you.
"I loved my family.""
"That wasn't my question.""
Her jaw tightened.
"Your mother was stubborn. She believed she could change the world simply because she had discovered something terrible. She didn't understand the consequences.""
"Did you order her death?""
Margaret picked up her handbag.
"I think you should ask your grandfather's attorney.""
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she turned around.
"One more thing, Maya. If you find Lily, don't assume she knows anything about you.""
Then she disappeared into the street.
We returned to the house with the photographs and hospital records.
Mr. should ask your grandfather's attorney.""
She walked toward the door.
Before leaving, she turned around.
"One more thing, Maya. If you find Lily, don't assume she knows anything about you.""
Then she disappeared into the street.
We returned to the house with the photographs and hospital records.
Mr. Bennett was waiting in the library.
He looked relieved when he saw us.
"Thank goodness. I've been trying to reach you.""
I placed the hospital document on his desk.
"Did Grandpa have another granddaughter?""
Mr. Bennett examined it.
His expression changed.
"Where did you get this?""
"Margaret.""
He Bennett was waiting in the library.
He looked relieved when he saw us.
"Thank goodness. I've been trying to reach you.""
I placed the hospital document on his desk.
"Did Grandpa have another granddaughter?""
Mr. Bennett examined it.
His expression changed.
"Where did you get this?""
"Margaret.""
He closed his eyes.
"Of course.""
"You knew?""
He nodded slowly.
"Your grandfather told me about Lily several years ago. He said he had arranged a private adoption to protect her.""
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
I stared at him.
"You're my grandfather's lawyer. You handled closed his eyes.
"Of course.""
"You knew?""
He nodded slowly.
"Your grandfather told me about Lily several years ago. He said he had arranged a private adoption to protect her.""
"Where is she?""
"I don't know.""
I stared at him.
"You're my grandfather's lawyer. You handled his will. You helped me open the safe. You knew about all of this.""
"Yes.""
"And you didn't tell me?""
"Your grandfather made me promise not to disclose Lily's existence until you were eighteen, unless there was evidence that she was in danger.""
I stepped back.
"Another promise. his will. You helped me open the safe. You knew about all of this.""
"Yes.""
"And you didn't tell me?""
"Your grandfather made me promise not to disclose Lily's existence until you were eighteen, unless there was evidence that she was in danger.""
I stepped back.
"Another promise. Another secret.""
Mr. Bennett lowered his head.
"I understand your anger.""
"No, you don't.""
He reached into his briefcase.
"I have something that may help.""
He placed a sealed document on the desk.
It was an adoption agreement.
The adoptive parents' names had been blacked out.
But Another secret.""
Mr. Bennett lowered his head.
"I understand your anger.""
"No, you don't.""
He reached into his briefcase.
"I have something that may help.""
He placed a sealed document on the desk.
It was an adoption agreement.
The adoptive parents' names had been blacked out.
But beneath the redacted section, a handwritten note remained visible.
*Lily's new family must never be informed of her biological connection to the Hayes estate.*
I looked at Mr. Bennett.
"Who were they?""
He hesitated.
Then he turned the document around.
The adoption had been arranged through a private agency in Boston.
The agency's director was listed at the bottom.
A woman named Eleanor Whitmore.
The same surname as the doctor.
I picked up my phone.
"Find me Dr. Alan Whitmore beneath the redacted section, a handwritten note remained visible.
*Lily's new family must never be informed of her biological connection to the Hayes estate.*
I looked at Mr. Bennett.
"Who were they?""
He hesitated.
Then he turned the document around.
The adoption had been arranged through a private agency in Boston.
The agency's director was listed at the bottom.
A woman named Eleanor Whitmore.
The same surname as the doctor.
I picked up my phone.
"Find me Dr. Alan Whitmore.""
Mr. Bennett nodded.
"I'll make some calls.""
But before he could reach for his briefcase, the telephone on the desk rang.
He answered.
"Edward Hayes estate. Bennett speaking.""
His expression changed.
"What?""
He listened.
Then slowly lowered the receiver.
I stepped forward.
"What's wrong?""
He looked at me.
"Dr. Alan Whitmore died three weeks ago.""
My heart sank.
".""
Mr. Bennett nodded.
"I'll make some calls.""
But before he could reach for his briefcase, the telephone on the desk rang.
He answered.
"Edward Hayes estate. Bennett speaking.""
His expression changed.
"What?""
He listened.
Then slowly lowered the receiver.
I stepped forward.
"What's wrong?""
He looked at me.
"Dr. Alan Whitmore died three weeks ago.""
My heart sank.
"Then we can't find Lily?""
Mr. Bennett shook his head.
"No. But he left a daughter.""
He pulled a business card from his wallet.
And when I read the name, my blood ran cold.
*Eleanor Whitmore.*
The same woman who had signed Lily's adoption papers.
The same woman who might have raised my sister.
And according to Mr. Bennett, she had just contacted the estate.
She wanted to meet me.
## Chapter 11Then we can't find Lily?""
Mr. Bennett shook his head.
"No. But he left a daughter.""
He pulled a business card from his wallet.
And when I read the name, my blood ran cold.
*Eleanor Whitmore.*
The same woman who had signed Lily's adoption papers.
The same woman who might have raised my sister.
May you like
And according to Mr. Bennett, she had just contacted the estate.
She wanted to meet me.
