Chapter 5: The Woman Who Knew My Name
Dad put the phone on speaker.
He didn't ask permission.
He simply set it on the kitchen island, between Mom's letter and the photograph.
A woman's unsteady breathing filled the room.
“Is she there?”” the woman asked.
Dad glanced at me.
“Yes.””
Another silence.
Then the woman whispered, “Oh, my God.””
I gripped the edge of the counter.
“Who are you?””
“I've been waiting eighteen years to hear your voice.””
My knees weakened.
Brielle stood abruptly.
“Dad, hang up.””
He didn't even look at her.
“Evelyn, I need you to tell me the truth.””
“I will.””
“Why did Claire tell you to stay away from Nia?””
Evelyn exhaled shakily.
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of you?””
“No.””
“Then of what?””
“Of what would happen when Nia discovered the truth.””
I stared at the phone.
“Can someone please tell me what the truth is?””
Evelyn went quiet.
Then she said, “Your mother loved you more than anything in the world.””
I felt tears rise again.
“Then why did she keep secrets from me?””
“Because she believed she was protecting you.””
“Everybody keeps saying that. Protecting me from what?””
Evelyn's voice cracked.
“From the people who were supposed to love you.””
Dad gripped the edge of the island.
“Evelyn, stop speaking in riddles.””
“I can't explain everything over the phone.””
“Then come here.””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because Brielle is there.””
My sister flinched.
Dad turned toward her.
“Why does everyone seem terrified of my daughter?””
Evelyn's breathing quickened.
“Which daughter?””
The question landed like a gunshot.
I looked at Brielle.
She stared at the floor, her arms wrapped tightly around herself.
Dad's face went rigid.
“What do you mean, which daughter?””
Evelyn began to cry again.
“Marcus, you need to look at the records Claire left. The original records. Not the copies you were given.””
Dad's expression changed.
“What copies?””
“Please tell me you still have the hospital paperwork from the day Nia was born.””
“I have the birth certificate.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
He glanced toward the hallway, as though the documents might be waiting somewhere beyond it.
“The hospital records were handled by the attorney.””
Evelyn made a small, devastated sound.
“Oh, Claire.””
Dad leaned closer to the phone.
“What attorney?””
But before Evelyn could answer, Brielle reached across the counter and ended the call.
The sudden silence was deafening.
Dad stared at the phone.
Then he slowly lifted his eyes toward her.
“What have you done?””
Brielle's hands shook.
“I couldn't listen to her anymore.””
“You had no right to hang up.””
“She was lying to you!””
“Then you should have let her finish.””
Brielle's face crumpled.
“You don't understand what she wants.””
Dad took his phone back.
“I'm calling her again.””
He pressed the number.
This time, the call went straight to voicemail.
He tried again.
Nothing.
I turned toward my sister.
“You knew this would happen, didn't you?””
She shook her head.
“I knew she'd try to ruin everything.””
“What is she talking about? What original records?””
“Ask Dad.””
“I am asking you!””
Brielle looked at me, her eyes bright with angry tears.
“You've spent your entire life getting everything you wanted. Mom's attention. Dad's protection.
Teachers telling you how special you are. Everyone acting like you're some kind of miracle.””
“I worked for what I have!””
“And I worked to keep you from finding out why!””
The kitchen went still.
Dad's phone remained pressed against his ear.
I could hear the faint sound of his unanswered call.
I stared at Brielle.
“What did you do?””
She looked away.
“Nothing.””
“Then why did you say you kept me from finding out?””
She pressed both hands to her temples.
“Because Mom made me promise!””
“You keep saying that. What did she make you promise?””
Brielle shook her head violently.
“Stop asking me!””
I recoiled.
Dad lowered his phone.
“Brielle, sit down.””
“No!””
“Sit. Down.””
Something in his voice finally made her obey.
She sank into the chair, trembling.
Dad pulled out the chair beside her but remained standing.
“Tell us about the records.””
Brielle stared at the kitchen island.
“Mom found out something when Nia was little.””
“What?””
“She said Evelyn had been looking for us.””
“Why?””
Brielle swallowed.
“Because Evelyn believed Nia belonged with her.””
The words seemed to echo around the room.
I shook my head.
“That makes no sense.””
“Mom said Evelyn was unstable. She said she couldn't be trusted.””
“Did you meet her?””
Brielle hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“When?””
“Three years ago.””
My chest tightened.
The year Mom died.
“Where?””
“Outside the hospital.””
Dad grabbed the back of a chair.
“You saw Evelyn the day Claire died?””
Brielle's eyes filled with tears.
“She came to see Mom. They argued.””
“About what?””
“About you.””
She looked directly at me.
“Evelyn wanted Mom to tell you everything. Mom refused.””
Dad's voice was dangerously quiet.
“And you were there?””
“I was waiting in the parking lot.””
“What happened?””
Brielle began twisting a gold ring around her finger.
“Evelyn said Mom had made a terrible mistake. She said the truth would come out whether Mom wanted it to or not.””
“And what did your mother say?””
Brielle's lips trembled.
“She told Evelyn that if she ever came near Nia again, she'd call the police.””
I felt sick.
Dad pulled the letter toward himself.
“Why didn't you tell me any of this?””
“Because Mom asked me not to.””
“Your mother was dying, and she made you responsible for a secret you didn't understand?””
“She trusted me!””
Dad's expression softened for a fraction of a second.
Then he looked at the envelope.
“Did she give you this?””
Brielle nodded.
“She told me to keep it somewhere safe.””
“Why in your handbag?””
“Because I was taking it to someone.””
“Who?””
She looked at him.
For the first time, she seemed too exhausted to lie.
“The attorney.””
Dad's face hardened.
“Which attorney?””
Brielle hesitated.
Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out a business card.
She placed it on the island.
The name printed across the top was familiar to Dad.
He stared at it for several seconds.
“Richard Hale,” he whispered.
I watched him.
“Who is he?””
Dad turned the card over.
“He handled your mother's estate.””
Brielle shook her head.
“He handled more than that.””
Dad's eyes snapped toward her.
“What does that mean?””
She swallowed.
“He told me that if I kept the records hidden, I'd be protected.””
“Protected from whom?””
Brielle looked at me.
Then at Dad.
“From losing everything.””
Dad reached for the card.
On the back, someone had written an appointment time in blue ink.
Today. Eleven thirty.
He glanced at the clock above the refrigerator.
It was 10:47 a.m.
“You were going to meet him this morning?””
Brielle nodded.
“What were you taking him?””
She looked toward the hallway.
Then she whispered, “The original birth certificate.””
Dad went completely still.
I couldn't hear my own breathing.
He stared at Brielle as if the person sitting in front of him had suddenly become a stranger.
Then he asked, “Where is it?””
Brielle closed her eyes.
May you like
And when she opened them, she looked straight at me.
“Under your graduation gown.””
