Chapter 4: The Man Who Claimed to Be My Son's Father
The photograph slipped from the woman's hand.
It landed faceup on the marble floor.
I recognized it immediately.
Leo.
My six-year-old son.
The picture had been taken in our backyard only two weeks earlier. He was sitting beneath the oak tree, wearing the blue sweater Emily had bought him shortly before she died.
But it wasn't the photograph that frightened me.
It was the handwriting on the back.
THE CHILD MUST NEVER LEARN WHO HIS REAL FATHER IS.
I looked at the woman holding it.
She was in her early fifties, with short silver hair and a dark green coat. Her expression was strained, as though she had spent the entire drive rehearsing what she intended to say.
“Who are you?”” I demanded.
She glanced at Richard Hale.
He adjusted his tie.
“Marcus, I think we should all calm down.””
“I'm not asking you.””
The woman swallowed.
“My name is Patricia Miller.””
The name meant nothing to me.
Then she looked at Leo.
“I'm sorry, sweetheart.””
Leo pressed his face against my shoulder.
I stepped between them.
“Don't speak to him.””
Richard opened his briefcase.
“Mr. Carter, there are matters concerning Leo's parentage that you have not been made aware of. I represent the interests of everyone involved.””
“You represent my wife.””
“I represent my client.””
“Then explain why your client has been secretly recording my son.””
Richard sighed.
“Those recordings were part of a therapeutic exercise.””
I laughed.
It wasn't because anything was funny.
It was because I was beginning to understand how many people had been involved in deceiving me.
Officer Bennett stepped forward.
“Mr. Hale, we need to establish why you're here and why this woman brought a photograph of the child.””
Richard closed his briefcase.
“I'm here because Mrs. Carter contacted me concerning an emergency family matter.””
Vanessa moved closer.
“Marcus, please. Let him explain.””
I looked at her.
“You've had three years to explain.””
She lowered her voice.
“Not here.””
“Why? Afraid your guests might hear the truth?””
Her eyes flickered toward the remaining guests.
Then she turned to Officer Bennett.
“I would like to make a formal statement. My husband has been behaving unpredictably, and I fear for Leo's safety.””
Officer Bennett nodded.
“You'll have that opportunity. But first, nobody is taking the child anywhere.””
Vanessa's face tightened.
Richard took a document from his briefcase.
“Actually, Officer, there is a temporary guardianship order.””
He handed it over.
I watched the officer examine it.
My stomach twisted.
“That's the same document she just showed you.””
“No,” Richard replied.
“This is the court-stamped version.””
I stepped forward.
“I never signed that.””
Richard looked at me with practiced sympathy.
“Your signature appears on the supporting affidavit.””
“It's forged.””
“That's a serious accusation.””
“So is stealing someone's child.””
Vanessa suddenly began crying.
Not quietly.
She covered her mouth and shook her head as though I had physically struck her.
“Marcus, I did everything for Leo. I tried to give him a stable home. You never appreciated what I sacrificed.””
I stared at her.
“Did you sacrifice your conscience?””
Her crying stopped.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
The coldness returned.
Then Patricia spoke.
“Mr. Carter, there is something you should know.””
Richard turned sharply.
“Patricia, I would strongly advise you not to interfere.””
She ignored him.
“I knew Emily.””
My heart tightened.
“From where?””
“We worked together.””
“Where?””
Patricia looked toward Vanessa.
“At a private fertility clinic in Evanston.””
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with Leo?””
She took a shaky breath.
“Before Emily married you, she had undergone fertility treatment. There was a complication involving an embryo donation.””
I felt Leo's small hand tighten around my neck.
I looked at her.
“Emily and I had Leo naturally.””
Patricia nodded.
“I know what you were told.””
“What are you saying?””
She glanced at Richard.
Then she whispered:
“Leo's biological father isn't the man you think he is.””
The room seemed to disappear.
I looked at Vanessa.
She was staring at Patricia with undisguised hatred.
“Stop talking,” Vanessa snapped.
Patricia shook her head.
“No. You've gone too far.””
Richard stepped between them.
“Officer, I believe we should conclude this discussion until the relevant records can be authenticated.””
I didn't move.
“Who is Leo's father?””
Nobody answered.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Tell me.””
She wiped her cheeks.
“You're his father, Marcus.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
She looked away.
Patricia took another step forward.
“Emily never told you because she was afraid of what would happen if the truth came out.””
I felt as though someone had opened a door beneath my feet.
“Afraid of what?””
Patricia reached into her coat and removed a small envelope.
It was old, yellowed at the edges, and sealed with a strip of transparent tape.
On the front, in handwriting I recognized immediately, were the words:
For Marcus, if I never get the chance to explain.
Emily's handwriting.
I hadn't seen it in three years.
My fingers trembled as I took the envelope.
“Where did you get this?””
“Emily gave it to me shortly before she died.””
I stared at her.
“Why didn't you send it to me?””
“Because Vanessa found out I had it. She threatened to destroy my career and accuse me of participating in a medical fraud.””
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
“She's lying.””
Patricia looked directly at her.
“Then why did you pay me to disappear?””
Vanessa's expression changed.
I opened the envelope.
Inside was a folded letter and a small photograph.
The photograph showed Emily holding a newborn baby.
Leo.
I unfolded the letter.
Marcus,
If you're reading this, something has happened that I desperately hoped would never happen.
There is a truth about Leo that I should have told you years ago. I was afraid, and I convinced myself that silence was protecting our family.
But someone has started asking questions about the clinic.
If Vanessa ever enters our lives, please don't trust her.
My eyes stopped.
I read the last sentence again.
Especially if she mentions the name Adrian.
I looked up.
“Who is Adrian?””
Patricia's face went pale.
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Richard slowly stepped backward.
And Daniel, standing near the staircase, whispered:
“Oh, God. She found out.””
I turned toward him.
“Found out what?””
Daniel looked at Vanessa.
Then at me.
“Adrian isn't dead.””
Before I could ask another question, my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A message appeared.
*Marcus, I'm sorry. Vanessa told you I abandoned my son. I didn't.
I'm outside your house. We need to talk about Leo.*
May you like
The message ended with a name.
*Adrian Blake.*
