Chapter 10: The Daughter Who Called Another Woman Mom
"She's been living with Grant's sister for twelve years.""
My father's words seemed to echo around the underground room.
I looked at the photograph again.
A little girl stood beside my mother, wearing a yellow dress and holding a stuffed rabbit. Her dark hair fell over her shoulders. Her eyes were gray, exactly like mine.
She looked about five years old.
I touched the photograph.
"What's her name?""
"Sophia," my father whispered.
I looked at him.
"Where is she?""
"Boston. With Victoria.""
Grant's sister.
Victoria Whitmore had always been polite to me. She was the only member of Grant's family who had occasionally called to ask how I was feeling after my fertility treatments.
She had sent flowers after my fourth failed IVF cycle.
She had hugged me at Christmas and told me that everything would work out.
I remembered one particular evening when she had shown me photographs of a little girl she described as her goddaughter.
I had admired the child's beautiful eyes.
Victoria had smiled and said, "She's the light of my life.""
That little girl had been my daughter.
I turned toward Grant.
"Did you know?""
His face was pale.
"Claire, I swear I didn't.""
"You expect me to believe that?""
"I knew my sister had adopted a child. I didn't know the child was yours.""
I stared at him.
"You never wondered why your sister adopted a baby the same year we lost our first embryo?""
He lowered his eyes.
"I didn't know.""
I turned back to my father.
"How could this happen?""
Robert struggled to sit upright.
"After your first IVF cycle, one embryo was placed into storage. Evelyn discovered the records. She arranged for a private surrogate and transferred the embryo without your permission.""
"Who authorized it?""
"Edward Whitmore and Evelyn.""
"Why Victoria?""
"She couldn't have children. Evelyn told her the embryo came from an anonymous donor.""
I looked at the photograph.
"Does Victoria know?""
My father shook his head.
"Not the truth.""
I felt something tighten in my chest.
Victoria had raised my daughter for twelve years.
She had watched her take her first steps.
She had heard her first words.
She had kissed her scraped knees and tucked her into bed.
I had missed every birthday.
Every school performance.
Every childhood illness.
And now I was supposed to walk into her home and explain that the little girl she loved was biologically mine.
I wiped my cheeks.
"I want to see her.""
Daniel nodded.
"We'll arrange a meeting with the authorities.""
"Today.""
"Claire, we need to be careful. There are custody and legal questions.""
"I've been careful for twelve years.""
My voice broke.
"I'm done waiting.""
My father reached for my hand.
"There's something else.""
I looked at him.
"Sophia was not the only embryo Evelyn transferred.""
My stomach dropped.
"How many?""
"Three.""
I stared at him.
"Three children?""
"Three successful transfers. One was Alexander. One was Sophia. The third...""
He stopped.
"What?""
"We never discovered the recipient.""
Thomas stepped forward.
"I found the original transfer ledger.""
He placed a document on the table.
Three entries appeared.
The first listed an anonymous surrogate.
The second listed Victoria Whitmore.
The third contained a hospital code and a recipient name that had been blacked out.
Daniel examined it.
"This hospital code belongs to a private maternity clinic in New York.""
Grant looked at the document.
"I know that clinic.""
Everyone turned toward him.
"How?""
He hesitated.
"Madison received prenatal care there before she moved to Boston.""
I felt a chill.
"Are you saying the third embryo might be connected to Madison?""
Grant shook his head.
"I don't know.""
Daniel took out his phone.
"I'll have the investigators request the original records.""
I looked at the photograph again.
Sophia.
My daughter.
I had spent twelve years believing my body had failed me.
Now I discovered that while I was grieving my inability to become a mother, my children had been growing up in other people's homes.
A federal investigator approached us.
"Ms. Hayes, we need your statement.""
I nodded.
Before leaving, I turned toward Grant.
"You're coming with me.""
He looked surprised.
"Why?""
"Because I want you to hear what your sister has to say.""
Victoria lived in a beautiful house outside Boston.
When she opened the door, she was wearing a pale blue sweater and holding a mug of coffee.
Her smile disappeared when she saw me.
"Claire?""
Then she noticed the investigators behind me.
"What's going on?""
I looked past her.
A piano stood in the living room. Children's drawings covered the refrigerator. A pink backpack rested beside the staircase.
I heard laughter upstairs.
A little girl's laughter.
My heart began pounding.
"Is Sophia home?""
Victoria's expression changed.
"Why are you asking?""
I held up the photograph.
She stared at it.
Then her face went white.
"Where did you get that?""
"From my father.""
She looked toward Grant.
"What is this?""
Grant stepped forward.
"Victoria, we need to talk.""
She backed away.
"No. Somebody explain what's happening.""
I took a breath.
"Sophia was created from one of my embryos.""
Victoria stared at me.
"What?""
"My husband and I underwent IVF. One of the embryos was transferred without my knowledge or consent. Your mother arranged it.""
Victoria shook her head.
"That's impossible.""
"I wish it were.""
She looked at the photograph again.
Then at me.
"Are you saying Sophia is your biological daughter?""
I nodded.
Victoria's mug slipped from her fingers.
It shattered against the floor.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then she whispered, "No.""
A small voice came from the staircase.
"Aunt Vicky?""
A little girl appeared at the top of the stairs.
She wore a yellow sweatshirt and held a stuffed rabbit.
My heart stopped.
She looked exactly like the photograph.
Victoria turned.
"Sweetheart, go back upstairs.""
The girl frowned.
"Why are there police officers?""
I stepped forward.
"Hello, Sophia.""
She looked at me.
"Do I know you?""
I couldn't speak.
Victoria quickly moved between us.
"Claire, please don't.""
I looked at her.
"I don't want to hurt her.""
Victoria's eyes filled with tears.
"She's my daughter.""
I nodded.
"I know.""
"Then don't take her away.""
The words broke something inside me.
I looked at the little girl.
She was watching us with frightened eyes.
I crouched slightly.
"Hi, sweetheart. My name is Claire.""
Sophia tilted her head.
"Why are you crying?""
I smiled through my tears.
"Because I've wanted to meet you for a very long time.""
Victoria covered her mouth.
Then Sophia looked at the photograph in my hand.
"That's me.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
She studied it.
Then she asked the question I had dreaded.
"Why does that lady look like me?""
I looked at Victoria.
She closed her eyes.
Before anyone could answer, Sophia walked down two steps.
"Aunt Vicky?""
Victoria turned.
"Yes, sweetheart?""
"Are you still my mom?""
Victoria dropped to her knees.
"Always.""
I felt tears run down my face.
Because that was the truth I had to accept.
Biology could establish who had created Sophia.
It couldn't erase twelve years of bedtime stories, scraped knees, and whispered reassurances.
I wasn't going to take her away that afternoon.
I wanted her to know the truth.
I wanted her to have the chance to decide what I would become in her life.
Then Victoria said something that changed everything.
"Claire, there's something Evelyn never told me.""
I looked up.
"What?""
Victoria reached into a cabinet and removed a sealed envelope.
"She gave me this when Sophia was born. She told me never to open it unless the Hayes family came looking for the child.""
I took it.
The handwriting belonged to Evelyn.
May you like
Inside was a single sentence.
*If Claire ever finds Sophia, tell her that the third child is the one who can destroy us all.*
