Chapter 4: The Baby in the Photograph
For several seconds, I couldn't hear anything except the pounding of my own heart.
The photograph lay between Elaine and me.
My mother looked younger than I remembered her. Her dark hair fell over one shoulder, and she wore the pearl earrings I had inherited after her funeral. Patricia stood beside her in a cream-colored suit, smiling at the camera.
Between them was a newborn wrapped in a pale blue blanket.
I turned the photograph over again.
*The child Daniel was told about.*
“Who is the baby?”” I whispered.
Elaine didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she checked the street through the coffee shop window.
The black SUV was still there.
“Put the photograph away,” she said.
“Not until you tell me what this means.””
“Your mother had a relationship with Patricia long before you met Daniel. They were involved in a financial dispute concerning the Carter family's development company.””
“That doesn't explain the baby.””
“No. It doesn't.””
I leaned forward.
“Elaine, I have spent fourteen years believing I knew my family. My mother died without telling me about a multimillion-dollar trust. My husband forged my signature.
My mother-in-law apparently has been planning something involving my house. Now you're showing me a photograph of my mother holding a newborn.””
My voice cracked.
“I need answers.””
Elaine finally looked at me.
“The baby was born fourteen years before your wedding. Patricia told Daniel the child belonged to your mother.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
“My mother had another child?””
“That's what Patricia claimed.””
“Who was the father?””
Elaine lowered her eyes.
“Patricia never said.””
I stared at the photograph.
My mother had never mentioned another child. Not once.
I remembered the final months of her life. The hospital room. The smell of disinfectant. Her fingers wrapped around mine.
She had told me to be careful whom I trusted.
I had thought she was talking about men.
Perhaps she had been talking about the Carters.
“Why would Daniel care about this?”” I asked.
“Because Patricia told him the child might have a claim to something belonging to your family.””
“What?””
“That's what I never found out.””
I placed the photograph inside my purse.
“I'm going to Patricia's house.””
Elaine caught my hand.
“Don't go alone.””
“I'm not afraid of her.””
“You should be careful of anyone who has spent fourteen years hiding documents, forging signatures, and watching your movements.””
I pulled my hand away gently.
“Then I won't give them another fourteen years.””
At 11:52 a.m., I arrived at Patricia's mansion.
Her house sat behind tall iron gates in an exclusive neighborhood. Daniel had once told me it was worth nearly three million dollars.
I had helped him negotiate the refinancing when Patricia's finances became unstable.
I remembered her telling me that she considered me fortunate to have married into a family with such a beautiful home.
The irony almost made me smile.
Patricia opened the door herself.
She wore a white silk blouse and carried a cup of tea.
“Nia,” she said.
“Finally.””
I stepped inside.
“Where's Daniel?””
“He's upstairs.””
“Where's Vanessa?””
Patricia's expression hardened.
“Don't bring that woman's name into my home.””
I almost laughed.
“Interesting. I thought she was practically family.””
Patricia placed her teacup on a side table.
“You've become very disrespectful.””
“I've become very informed.””
Her eyes moved to my handbag.
“Did Elaine give you something?””
I didn't answer.
She walked toward the living room.
“Sit down. We need to discuss this before you make a terrible mistake.””
I remained standing.
“Tell me about the baby.””
Patricia stopped.
For the first time since I had known her, she looked genuinely unsettled.
“What baby?””
“The one in the photograph with my mother.””
Her mouth tightened.
“So she finally showed you.””
“Showed me what?””
Patricia sighed and sat on the sofa.
“Your mother made a lot of mistakes.””
“My mother is dead. Don't use her name to avoid answering me.””
Patricia's eyes narrowed.
“Your mother was involved with a man who already had a family. When the child was born, she wanted everyone to believe it was his.””
“Whose?””
Patricia looked at the staircase.
Then she said, “My husband.””
I froze.
Patricia's husband, Robert Carter, had died when Daniel was twenty-eight.
“You're saying my mother had an affair with Robert?””
“That's what I was told.””
“By whom?””
“Robert himself.””
I stared at her.
“Then the baby was your husband's?””
Patricia folded her hands.
“Possibly.””
“Did you know?””
“I knew enough.””
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Daniel appeared at the top of the staircase.
He looked exhausted.
“Nia, please.””
I turned toward him.
“Did you know about this baby?””
He descended slowly.
“Mom, you said you weren't going to discuss that.””
Patricia looked at him sharply.
“You told me to keep her away from the documents.””
My eyes moved between them.
“What documents?””
Daniel stopped on the last step.
“It's an old family matter.””
“Is that why you married me?””
“No.””
“Is that why your mother was at the courthouse three months before our wedding?””
Daniel looked at Patricia.
She gave him a warning glance.
I laughed bitterly.
“You two are incredible. Even now, you can't answer a simple question without checking whether the other person approves.””
Patricia stood.
“Your mother had a child who might have been Robert's. If that child had a legal claim, it could have complicated the family's inheritance.””
“Where is the child?””
Neither answered.
I took the photograph from my purse and placed it on the coffee table.
Patricia glanced at it.
Then her face changed.
“Where did you get that?””
“Why does it matter?””
“Because that photograph was supposed to have been destroyed.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Destroyed by whom?””
Patricia didn't respond.
Daniel suddenly stepped toward the photograph.
“Give me that.””
I moved it out of his reach.
“No.””
“Nia, you don't understand.””
“Then explain.””
He looked at his mother.
Patricia shook her head almost imperceptibly.
And that was when I understood something.
They weren't protecting each other.
They were protecting a secret neither one wanted to reveal first.
I took out my phone.
“I'm leaving. My attorney will contact you about the forged loan documents.””
Patricia's composure disappeared.
“You can't do that.””
“Watch me.””
“You'll destroy Daniel's future!””
I looked at her.
“He destroyed his own future when he used my signature without permission.””
Daniel reached for my arm.
“Nia, wait.””
I pulled away.
“Don't touch me.””
His voice dropped.
“There's something you need to know about the baby.””
I stopped at the doorway.
He looked at his mother, then back at me.
“The child wasn't your mother's.””
I turned slowly.
“What?””
Daniel swallowed.
“My mother lied about that.””
Patricia stood abruptly.
“Daniel!””
But he continued.
“The baby belonged to Robert and someone else. Your mother was only helping protect the child.””
My heart hammered.
“Who was the child's mother?””
Daniel looked directly at me.
Then he said a name I never expected to hear.
“Patricia.””
The room seemed to disappear around me.
May you like
Patricia's teacup slipped from her hand and shattered against the floor.
And suddenly, the photograph made a terrible kind of sense.
