Chapter 10: The Second Child
Richard held the photograph between two fingers.
Marcus didn't take it.
“Put that away.””
Richard's expression barely changed.
“You deserve to know.””
“I said put it away.””
Maya stepped around Marcus.
“No.””
Marcus turned.
“Maya.””
“I need to see it.””
Richard handed her the photograph.
She stared at it.
Two newborn babies lay side by side in a hospital nursery.
One wore a bracelet marked *BABY GIRL REED*.
The other wore a bracelet marked *BABY GIRL R.*
Maya looked up.
“Who is the other baby?””
Richard looked toward Tiana.
Her face had gone completely white.
“Tiana.””
She shook her head.
“No.””
Richard nodded slowly.
“Yes.””
Denise began crying.
Marcus looked at her.
“Tell me.””
Denise covered her mouth.
Richard answered for her.
“Tiana is Rochelle's biological daughter.””
Tiana stared at him.
“No.””
Richard continued.
“Rochelle gave birth to twins.””
Maya's eyes widened.
“Twins?””
Richard nodded.
“Two girls.””
Jordan looked at Tiana.
“Then why did everyone think she was Calvin’s daughter?””
“Because Calvin believed one of them was his,” Richard said.
Tiana shook her head.
“That's not possible.””
“It is.””
Richard looked at Marcus.
“Rochelle knew the truth. She knew both children belonged to me.””
Marcus stared at him.
“Then why didn't she tell anyone?””
“Because she was afraid.””
“Of you?””
Richard looked down.
“Of what Father would do if he discovered the truth.””
Maya slowly lowered the photograph.
“Why did you let Mom raise me?””
Richard’s eyes softened.
“Because I thought it would keep you alive.””
Maya's voice broke.
“You thought?””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“You disappeared.””
“Yes.””
“You let me grow up believing Marcus was my father.””
“I know.””
“You let him believe it too.””
Richard looked at Marcus.
“That was the only way.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“You don't get to call that protection.””
Richard accepted the accusation.
“No.””
Tiana wiped her tears.
“Where was I?””
Richard looked at her.
“Rochelle took you with her.””
“Where?””
“She left you with someone she trusted.””
“Who?””
Richard hesitated.
“Calvin.””
Tiana's eyes widened.
“He raised me?””
“No.””
Richard shook his head.
“He searched for you.””
Tiana stared.
“Then who raised me?””
Denise finally spoke.
“Your foster family.””
Tiana turned toward her.
“You knew?””
“I knew where you were.””
“You watched me?””
“From a distance.””
Tiana's face twisted with anger.
“You let me believe I was unwanted.””
“I thought keeping you hidden would keep you safe.””
“You lied to everyone!””
“I know.””
Marcus looked around the room.
Every secret seemed to have another secret underneath it.
“What happened to Rochelle?””
Richard's expression changed.
“She survived.””
Maya stopped.
“What?””
Richard nodded.
“She survived the hospital.””
Denise began crying harder.
Marcus looked at her.
“You said she disappeared.””
“She did.””
“Where?””
Richard answered.
“She left the country.””
Maya stared.
“Why?””
“Because Father threatened to expose everything. He told Rochelle that if she came back, both girls would disappear.””
Tiana whispered, “Where is she now?””
Richard looked at Maya.
“She’s alive.””
Maya covered her mouth.
Marcus stared at him.
“Where?””
Richard reached into his jacket again.
This time he pulled out a folded letter.
“She asked me to give you this when you finally knew the truth.””
He handed it to Maya.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
The handwriting was delicate.
*Maya and Tiana,*
Maya stopped reading.
Her tears fell onto the paper.
“She knew our names.””
Richard nodded.
Maya continued.
*If you are reading this, then the lies are finally over. I never abandoned either of you. I left because I believed distance was the only way to keep you alive.*
Tiana moved closer.
“Keep reading.””
Maya swallowed.
**Marcus, I am sorry. You deserved the truth years ago. Your father forced me to choose between telling you and protecting my children.
I chose the children. I have regretted the silence every day.**
Marcus looked away.
Maya continued.
*Richard made mistakes. Denise made mistakes. I made mistakes. But none of those mistakes were your fault.*
She looked at Tiana.
Then read the final lines.
*Tiana, you were never unwanted. Maya, you were never stolen. You were both loved before you ever took your first breath.*
Maya broke down.
Tiana wrapped her arms around her.
For the first time that night, the two sisters held each other without suspicion.
Marcus stood nearby.
His face was wet with tears.
Jordan approached him.
“Dad.””
Marcus looked at him.
Jordan hesitated.
“I'm sorry I yelled at you.””
Marcus shook his head.
“You were telling the truth.””
“I know.””
Marcus looked toward Tiana.
“I should've believed you.””
Jordan nodded.
“You can fix that now.””
Marcus put an arm around his son.
Across the room, Calvin stood silently.
Marcus looked at him.
“You spent ten years blaming me.””
Calvin nodded.
“I did.””
“You were wrong.””
“Yes.””
“Then why help us tonight?””
Calvin looked toward Tiana.
“Because she deserved to know who she was.””
Richard stepped forward.
“And because I contacted him.””
Marcus looked between them.
“You two planned this?””
“No,” Calvin said.
“I found the footage. Richard found the records. Tiana was caught in the middle.””
Marcus exhaled.
“All of you nearly destroyed my family.””
Richard looked down.
“We were trying to expose the man who started it.””
Marcus stared.
“My father.””
Richard nodded.
“He wasn't protecting the family. He was protecting his reputation.””
Maya folded Rochelle's letter.
“What happens now?””
Marcus looked at her.
“Now, nobody hides anything.””
Denise nodded through her tears.
“I agree.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You'll have to earn forgiveness.””
“I know.””
He turned toward Tiana.
“And you.””
Tiana looked up.
“I know.””
Marcus's expression softened.
“You should never have been put in that position.””
Tiana began crying again.
Maya reached for her hand.
Jordan stood beside them.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Maya's phone buzzed.
Everyone froze.
She looked down.
A new message.
Unknown number.
*LOOK OUTSIDE.*
Marcus immediately moved toward the windows.
Below, the city continued glowing.
Then Maya saw someone standing across the street on the rooftop of a neighboring building.
A woman.
Long coat.
Gray hair.
Holding a phone.
Maya stopped breathing.
She raised her own phone.
The woman lifted hers.
A message appeared.
*I'M SORRY IT TOOK ME TWENTY-TWO YEARS.*
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“Mom?””
Everyone turned.
She pointed toward the window.
Denise looked.
Her knees nearly gave out.
“Rochelle…”
Tiana rushed to the glass.
“That's her?””
Richard nodded.
“Yes.””
Marcus stood beside Maya.
For the first time in twenty-two years, he looked at the woman whose disappearance had shaped all their lives.
Rochelle raised one hand.
Then she turned and walked away from the rooftop edge.
Maya looked at Marcus.
“What do we do?””
Marcus looked at his children.
Then at Denise.
Then toward the door.
“We tell the truth.””
May you like
He opened it.
And this time, nobody tried to stop him.
