Chapter 7: The Woman in the Photograph Was Alive
I stared at the photograph until the edges began to blur.
My mother.
The woman standing beside Lily had my mother's eyes, my mother's nose, and the same small scar above her left eyebrow that I remembered from the few childhood photographs Dad had kept in his office.
But she was supposed to be dead.
She had been dead for twenty years.
I looked at the date printed in the corner.
November 2020.
Six years ago.
"Where did you get this?"" I asked Vanessa.
She didn't answer.
"Where did you get this photograph?""
Dad picked it up.
His hands were shaking.
"That's Elizabeth.""
He said my mother's name as if he were afraid that speaking it too loudly would make the photograph disappear.
Vanessa finally spoke.
"I found it in Lily's possession.""
"You're telling me you met Lily?""
"Yes.""
"And she showed you this?""
"She didn't show me. I found it.""
Rachel's voice came through the phone.
"That's not true.""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Rachel continued.
"Lily sent me that photograph after Vanessa visited our house. She told me she had found it among documents belonging to her father.""
Dad looked at the phone.
"Rachel, are you saying my wife was alive six years ago?""
"I don't know, Marcus. I have spent years trying to understand that photograph.""
"Then why didn't you tell me?""
"Because every time I tried, someone made sure the conversation ended.""
Dad looked at Vanessa.
She backed away.
"Marcus, please. You need to understand what you're looking at.""
He held up the photograph.
"Then explain it.""
Vanessa took a deep breath.
"The woman in the photograph is Elizabeth. But I don't believe she was alive when it was taken.""
I stared at her.
"That makes no sense.""
"It could have been an old photograph.""
"Look at the date!"" I shouted.
Vanessa flinched.
Daniel Price stepped forward.
"Actually, there's another possibility.""
Everyone turned toward him.
He examined the photograph carefully.
"The date could have been added later. We need to establish where the original came from.""
Dad placed it on the counter.
"How?""
"By identifying the location and the people who were present.""
Rachel spoke.
"The hospital confirmed that the photograph was taken in one of its private consultation rooms.""
Daniel nodded.
"Then we should contact the hospital.""
Grandma Evelyn, who had been silent for several minutes, suddenly spoke.
"Don't.""
Dad turned toward the tablet.
"Why not?""
"Because I know who was working there that day.""
Grandma's face had lost its usual warmth.
"His name is Dr. Samuel Reed. He was Elizabeth's physician before she died. He also knew about the babies.""
Daniel frowned.
"Is he still alive?""
"Yes.""
"Where is he?""
Grandma hesitated.
"Retired. He lives in Pennsylvania.""
Dad immediately reached for his phone.
"I'm calling him.""
Vanessa grabbed his wrist.
"Don't!""
Dad pulled away.
"Get your hands off me.""
"Marcus, if you call him, you won't get the answer you're expecting.""
"Why?""
She looked at him.
"Because Dr. Reed knows what your wife did.""
Dad froze.
"And what exactly did she do?""
Vanessa's eyes filled.
"She didn't just arrange the babies' transfer.""
The room became silent.
"She arranged for someone to disappear.""
I felt cold all over.
"Who?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Your mother had a sister.""
Dad frowned.
"No. Elizabeth was an only child.""
"That's what she told you.""
Grandma closed her eyes.
I looked at her.
"Grandma?""
She slowly nodded.
"Elizabeth had an older sister. Her name was Catherine.""
Dad shook his head.
"Mom, you knew?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because Elizabeth asked me not to.""
Vanessa laughed without humor.
"Everyone in this family has a secret, Marcus. That's the problem.""
Grandma's expression hardened.
"Not everyone used those secrets to hurt children.""
I looked at the photograph again.
A woman who looked like my mother had been standing in a hospital six years ago.
And someone had gone to great lengths to make sure we never found out why.
"Who is Catherine?"" I asked.
Grandma took a breath.
"She was a nurse at St. Mary's. She helped your mother during the final days of her pregnancy.""
"Is she alive?""
Grandma nodded.
"She lives in Pennsylvania.""
Daniel looked up.
"Does she know about the photograph?""
"I don't know.""
Dad immediately stood.
"Then we're finding her.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"Marcus, you cannot do that.""
"Watch me.""
He walked toward the hallway.
Vanessa followed him.
"You're making a mistake!""
He turned.
"The biggest mistake I made was believing you when you said my wife died peacefully and left nothing behind.""
Vanessa's face twisted.
"Your wife didn't die peacefully!""
Dad stopped.
"What?""
Vanessa covered her mouth.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then she whispered, "You want the truth? Fine.""
She looked directly at him.
"Elizabeth was alive when I last saw her.""
Dad stared at her.
"When?""
"The night she disappeared.""
The words struck like a physical blow.
"Disappeared?""
Vanessa nodded.
"October 16. The hospital told everyone she had died, but she was gone before anyone could verify where her body had been taken.""
I felt my knees weaken.
Dad grabbed the wall.
"Where did she go?""
Vanessa looked at the photograph.
"I don't know.""
Then she added something that made Grandma begin to cry.
"But I know who helped her leave.""
Dad's voice was barely audible.
"Who?""
May you like
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Your biological mother.""
