Chapter 7: The Third Baby Nobody Mentioned
“Three children?””
I repeated the words slowly.
Daniel was still on the phone.
“Yes, Marcus. Three newborns. Three identification records.””
I looked at Nia.
She had stopped crying.
Instead, she was staring at the floor with an expression I couldn't read.
“What third baby?”” I demanded.
Daniel sighed.
“The hospital contacted me two weeks ago. They said their internal investigation had uncovered another discrepancy in the maternity records from that night.””
“Why didn't they contact me?””
“Because they didn't have confirmation that you were involved.””
I laughed bitterly.
“I'm apparently involved in everything now.””
“Marcus, listen. The original investigation focused on two babies. But when they reviewed the archived delivery logs, they discovered a third infant whose identification bracelet had been printed incorrectly.””
My stomach tightened.
“Was that baby switched too?””
“They don't know.””
“Then why are you telling me all this?””
“Because the third record is connected to Nia.””
I looked at my wife.
She closed her eyes.
“Daniel,” I said, “what exactly does the record say?””
There was a pause.
Then he answered.
“It lists a baby boy born forty-seven minutes after the two girls.””
I stared at the kitchen table.
Our newborn son had been born that morning.
Forty-seven minutes after what?
I checked the old birth records Nia had placed beside me.
The delivery times were written in faded ink.
One baby at 2:13 a.m.
Another at 2:19 a.m.
Then, according to Daniel, a third baby at 3:06 a.m.
I looked at Nia.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
She shook her head.
“I didn't know about the third baby.””
Daniel interrupted.
“That's not entirely true.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“What does that mean?””
“Nia received a letter from the hospital last month.””
I turned toward her.
“Last month?””
She looked up.
“Marcus—”
“Did you receive a letter about a third baby?””
Her silence answered me.
I ended the call.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then Ethan spoke.
“Dad?””
I turned.
He was standing beside Maya, holding his dinosaur blanket.
“Are they saying I might have another brother or sister?””
I knelt.
“I don't know yet.””
“Does that mean something could happen to us?””
“No.””
He looked toward Nia.
“Why does Mom keep knowing things before everyone else?””
I couldn't answer.
Maya walked to the table and picked up the old photograph.
“Is this why Mom didn't want me to hold the baby?””
Nia immediately stood.
“No, sweetheart.””
“Then why?””
“Because I was frightened.””
“Of me?””
Nia's face crumpled.
“No. Never of you.””
Maya lowered the photograph.
“You keep saying that, but you keep hiding things.””
The sentence hit harder than any accusation I could have made.
Nia sat down again.
I picked up my phone and called the hospital.
After several transfers, I reached the maternity department supervisor.
Her name was Patricia Wells.
I explained what had happened.
She listened without interrupting.
Finally, she asked me to come in the following morning with all the documents.
“Mr. Carter,” she said carefully, “there are some records that may require review by our legal and patient safety departments.””
“Why?””
“Because the discrepancies involve multiple birth registrations.””
“Three babies?””
There was a pause.
“Yes.””
I looked at Nia.
She had turned completely pale.
“Can you tell me the names?””
“Not over the phone.””
“Can you tell me whether the third baby is alive?””
Another pause.
“Yes.””
I closed my eyes.
“Where is that child?””
“I can't disclose that information until the records are verified.””
I ended the call.
The kitchen was silent.
Then Nia's phone began ringing.
She looked at the screen.
Her expression changed.
“Who is it?”” I asked.
She didn't answer.
I reached toward the phone.
She pulled it away.
“It's Daniel.””
“Answer it.””
“I don't want to.””
“Then put it on speaker.””
She hesitated before accepting the call.
Daniel's voice filled the kitchen.
“Nia, did you tell Marcus about the letter?””
I stared at her.
“Which letter?””
Daniel sighed.
“The one from the hospital.””
Nia closed her eyes.
I leaned toward the phone.
“Tell me what was in it.””
Daniel spoke slowly.
“The hospital found a discrepancy involving a third newborn. The child was registered under a temporary identification number, and the birth mother was listed as unidentified.””
I frowned.
“Unidentified?””
“Yes.””
“That's impossible. Surely someone knew who gave birth to the child.””
“They know now.””
My heart began pounding.
“Who?””
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said, “The hospital believes the third baby was connected to a woman who was admitted under an emergency registration.””
Nia suddenly stood.
“Daniel, stop.””
He continued.
“She was brought in after collapsing outside the maternity entrance. She delivered the baby shortly afterward.””
I looked at my wife.
“Why are you telling him to stop?””
Nia's eyes filled with tears.
Daniel answered before she could.
“Because the woman was listed as a visitor on Nia's original admission file.””
I stared at the phone.
“What woman?””
Daniel took a breath.
“Her name was Rebecca.””
Nia made a small sound.
It was barely audible.
But I heard it.
I turned toward her.
“Who is Rebecca?””
Nia covered her mouth.
And then, in a voice so quiet I almost missed it, she said:
“My sister.””
I felt the ground shift beneath me.
Nia had never told me she had a sister.
Not once in eight years of marriage.
I stared at her.
“You have a sister?””
She nodded.
“Had.””
“What does that mean?””
“She died.””
“When?””
Nia looked toward the hallway.
“Three days after the babies were born.””
Daniel spoke again.
“Marcus, there's something else you need to know.””
I closed my eyes.
“What now?””
“The third baby's current legal guardian is someone you know.””
I looked at Nia.
She was crying openly now.
Daniel gave me the name.
May you like
And I dropped the phone.
Because the person listed as guardian of the third baby was my own mother.
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