Chapter 8: The Woman Who Took My Mother Away
Nobody spoke for nearly a minute.
Then Dad laughed.
It was a strange, broken sound.
"My biological mother?""
Vanessa nodded.
"Rachel Collins.""
Rachel immediately interrupted.
"That's impossible.""
Vanessa looked toward the phone.
"Is it?""
"Yes. I never met Elizabeth outside the hospital. I was recovering from surgery.""
"You met her afterward.""
"No, I didn't.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"You visited her at the private residence.""
Rachel's voice became sharp.
"You're lying.""
Daniel stepped between the counter and the dining table.
"Let's slow down. Vanessa, do you have evidence?""
She hesitated.
Then she opened her purse.
She removed a small photograph and placed it beside the other one.
This photograph showed two women standing outside a modest brick house.
One was Elizabeth.
The other was Rachel.
Dad picked it up.
His face changed.
"Where was this taken?""
Vanessa answered.
"Outside a house in Harrisburg.""
Rachel went silent.
Daniel looked at her.
"Do you recognize it?""
After several seconds, Rachel whispered, "Yes.""
Dad stared at the phone.
"That's your house?""
"No," Rachel replied.
"It's the house where I stayed during my recovery.""
Vanessa nodded.
"Exactly.""
Rachel sounded furious.
"That doesn't prove anything.""
"It proves you knew Elizabeth.""
"I knew her from the hospital.""
"Then explain why you were standing outside that house together.""
Rachel didn't answer.
I looked at the photograph.
The two women weren't arguing.
They were smiling.
My mother had one hand resting on Rachel's shoulder.
They looked like old friends.
"Did you know my mother?"" I asked.
Rachel's voice softened.
"Yes, sweetheart.""
My throat tightened.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I was asked not to.""
"By whom?""
Rachel hesitated.
"Your mother.""
Dad lowered the photograph.
"Why would Elizabeth ask you to keep her existence secret?""
Rachel began crying.
"Because she was afraid.""
"Of what?""
"Of losing you.""
Dad stared at her.
"She had already lost me. I buried her.""
Rachel whispered, "No, Marcus. You buried a closed casket.""
He stepped backward.
Grandma Evelyn covered her mouth.
I felt the room spinning.
"Are you saying my mother wasn't in that coffin?""
Rachel answered softly.
"That's what I was told.""
Dad grabbed his phone.
"Who was buried?""
Nobody answered.
Then Grandma spoke.
"Marcus, I think we need to tell you about the funeral.""
He turned toward her.
"What about it?""
"Your mother-in-law insisted on a closed casket. She said Elizabeth had been badly injured.""
Dad nodded slowly.
"I remember.""
"She also refused to let the funeral home release the medical identification documents.""
Dad stared at her.
"Why?""
"Because she said there had been a mistake with the hospital paperwork.""
Daniel immediately opened his briefcase.
"Do you still have the funeral home records?""
Dad shook his head.
"Vanessa handled most of the arrangements.""
Every eye turned toward her.
She looked exhausted.
"I did what I was asked to do.""
"By whom?"" Dad demanded.
"Your mother-in-law.""
"Did you ever see the body?""
Vanessa hesitated.
"No.""
Dad's face went pale.
"You arranged my wife's funeral without seeing her body?""
"I was trying to help.""
He looked away.
I couldn't bear to watch him.
For twelve years, Vanessa had sat at our dinner table, helped me with school projects, and told me stories about the woman she claimed had been like a sister to her.
And all that time, she might have known that my mother hadn't been buried at all.
"Why did you stay with Dad?"" I asked.
Vanessa looked at me.
"What?""
"If you knew my mother might be alive, why did you marry him?""
Her expression changed.
"Because I loved him.""
"Did you?""
"Yes.""
"Then why did you let him grieve for twelve years?""
She opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Dad returned to the counter.
"Rachel, I need to know where Elizabeth went.""
Rachel wiped her cheeks.
"I don't know where she is now.""
"Did you help her leave?""
"I helped her get treatment.""
"Treatment for what?""
Rachel's voice dropped.
"She had been diagnosed with a serious neurological condition. The doctors believed the stress and complications surrounding the birth had triggered it.""
Dad stared at her.
"Was she dying?""
"She might have been.""
"And you helped her disappear?""
"She begged me to help her. She said she couldn't let the hospital take the girls away from each other.""
I looked up.
"The girls?""
Rachel nodded.
"She wanted Maya and Lily to grow up knowing each other. But she was afraid that if the hospital investigation continued, both children would be taken into custody while the authorities sorted out the records.""
Daniel looked troubled.
"That's a serious allegation.""
Rachel agreed.
"I know.""
Dad's voice cracked.
"Why didn't she call me?""
Rachel looked directly at him.
"She did.""
He froze.
"What?""
"She called you the night she left.""
Dad shook his head.
"I never received a call.""
Rachel looked toward Vanessa.
"Then someone must have intercepted it.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"Stop looking at me!""
Dad turned.
"Did you intercept a call from my wife?""
"No.""
"Did you know she was alive?""
"I didn't know for certain.""
"That's not an answer.""
Vanessa started crying again.
Then Rachel said, "Marcus, I have the phone records.""
Daniel nodded.
"They're included in the documents.""
Dad opened the envelope.
He pulled out several printed pages.
The first showed hospital transfers.
The second contained medical records.
The third was a telephone log.
He ran his finger down the dates.
Then he stopped.
October 16.
11:42 p.m.
A call had been placed to his home number.
The call lasted four minutes and eighteen seconds.
Dad stared at the paper.
"I was home that night.""
Grandma nodded.
"I know.""
"Then why don't I remember answering it?""
Vanessa whispered, "Because you didn't.""
Dad looked up.
She was crying so hard she could barely speak.
"I answered it.""
The room went silent.
"What did she say?"" he asked.
Vanessa shook her head.
"She asked to speak to you.""
"And?""
"I told her you were asleep.""
Dad's expression became terrifyingly still.
"Then what?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"She asked me to tell you something.""
"What?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
"She said she was coming back for Maya.""
I felt my heart pounding.
Dad gripped the paper.
"And what did you tell her?""
Vanessa whispered, "I told her you had moved on.""
Grandma began sobbing.
Dad stared at his wife.
"You told my wife I had moved on?""
Vanessa covered her face.
"I was twenty-six. I was terrified. I thought she would come back and take everything away from me.""
"She was your friend!""
"I know!""
Dad stepped away.
Then he looked at the final page in the envelope.
It was a recent address.
Beneath it was a handwritten note from Rachel.
*Elizabeth Bennett may still be receiving treatment under the name Catherine Miller.*
Dad read it twice.
"Who is Catherine Miller?""
Rachel answered.
"Your wife's older sister.""
I looked at Grandma.
"Where is she?""
Grandma wiped her cheeks.
"At a care facility outside Philadelphia.""
Dad grabbed his keys.
"I'm going.""
But Daniel stopped him.
"Marcus, there's one more thing.""
He pointed to the bottom of the document.
A recent medical update had been attached.
May you like
The patient's condition was listed as critical.
And the date of admission was yesterday.
