Chapter 2: The Name She Hid
The doors opened another foot.
Nobody spoke.
The man remained outside, his face hidden by the harsh daylight behind him.
Marcus stood in the center aisle with Lily pressed against his side.
Vanessa looked as if she wanted to run.
The stranger stepped forward.
His dress shoes crossed the threshold.
Then his face came into view.
Andre.
Vanessa’s knees nearly buckled.
Marcus caught the reaction.
He didn’t need an explanation.
He needed one answer.
“Who is he?””
Vanessa stared at the floor.
Andre looked past Marcus.
His eyes landed on Vanessa.
Then on the wedding dress.
Then on the fake pregnancy pad clutched in her hands.
His expression changed.
“You actually went through with it.””
Vanessa whispered, “Andre, please leave.””
Marcus turned sharply.
“Your name is Andre?””
Andre looked at him.
“Yes.””
Marcus stepped forward.
“Do you know my fiancée?””
Andre gave a humorless laugh.
“Fiancée?””
Vanessa flinched.
Marcus noticed.
Andre reached into his jacket and pulled out a small black leather wallet.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
He held it up.
Vanessa and Andre stood together on a beach, smiling.
She was wearing a gold wedding band.
Marcus stared at the photograph.
Then at Vanessa’s bare left hand.
His voice became dangerously quiet.
“What is that?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“It’s complicated.””
Andre laughed once.
“No. It’s actually very simple.””
He looked at Marcus.
“She’s my wife.””
A wave of whispers rolled through the church.
Lily squeezed Marcus’s hand.
Marcus didn’t look away from Vanessa.
“Are you married?””
Vanessa’s silence answered him.
Marcus closed his eyes.
For a moment, all he could hear was Lily’s breathing.
Then Vanessa spoke.
“Marcus, I can explain.””
“You told me your husband died.””
“I know.””
“You told me you were widowed.””
“I know what I said.””
Andre stepped closer.
“She told you a lot of things.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Then tell me something useful.””
Andre reached into his pocket.
He pulled out his phone.
“I got a call from my mother three months ago. She said Vanessa had been planning a wedding.””
Vanessa whispered, “Andre—”
“I came here because I wanted to hear you say it.””
Andre looked directly at her.
“Tell him.””
Vanessa’s hands began shaking.
Marcus looked down.
A white envelope lay on the floor near Vanessa’s dress.
Andre noticed it too.
He bent and picked it up.
Vanessa suddenly rushed toward him.
“No!””
Andre stepped back.
He opened the envelope.
Inside was a photograph.
His expression changed.
Marcus saw it.
“What?””
Andre looked at Vanessa.
“You never told him.””
“Told me what?”” Marcus demanded.
Vanessa’s eyes filled with tears.
Andre slowly handed Marcus the photograph.
It showed Vanessa in a hospital bed.
Beside her was Andre.
And between them was a newborn baby.
Marcus stared.
The room seemed to tilt.
His thumb moved across the photograph.
On the back, written in blue ink, were three words:
*Our son, Elijah.*
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You have a child?””
Vanessa cried silently.
Andre answered for her.
“Had.””
Marcus frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Andre’s jaw tightened.
“Elijah died six years ago.””
The church fell silent.
Lily looked between the adults.
Marcus felt his stomach drop.
Six years.
His daughter was six.
He looked at Lily.
She was staring at the photograph.
Then Lily spoke.
“He told me not to say his name.””
Marcus looked down.
“Who?””
Lily pointed at Vanessa.
“Her.””
Vanessa covered her face.
Marcus crouched beside Lily.
“What name did she tell you not to say?””
Lily whispered:
“Elijah.””
Vanessa began sobbing.
Andre’s expression hardened.
Marcus stood.
“You knew about my daughter?””
Vanessa shook her head rapidly.
“No. Not like that.””
“You knew Lily was six.””
“Yes.””
“You knew her name.””
“Yes.””
“And you named the baby in that photograph Elijah.””
Vanessa’s breathing broke.
Marcus stepped back.
“Why?””
Vanessa looked at Lily.
Then at Andre.
Then finally at Marcus.
“Because I thought God was giving me another chance.””
Andre stared at her.
“You mean another chance to replace him.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
“Then tell him the truth.””
Marcus looked at Andre.
“What truth?””
Andre’s eyes narrowed.
“That’s why she married you.””
Vanessa whispered, “Stop.””
Andre ignored her.
“She didn't want your money.””
Marcus stared.
“Then what did she want?””
Andre looked at Lily.
Then back at Marcus.
“She wanted your daughter.””
Lily’s fingers tightened around Marcus’s jacket.
Marcus froze.
Vanessa began shaking her head.
“That isn't true.””
Andre pulled another photograph from his wallet.
This one showed Lily asleep on a couch.
Marcus recognized the room.
His own house.
His voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Where did you get that?””
Andre looked at Vanessa.
“She sent it to me.””
Marcus turned toward his bride.
“Why did you take pictures of my daughter?””
Vanessa said nothing.
Marcus’s phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.
He pulled it out.
A message appeared from an unknown number.
*ASK VANESSA WHY SHE WAS AT THE CEMETERY SIX YEARS AGO.*
Below it was another message.
*AND ASK HER WHO SHE WAS HOLDING WHEN THE BABY DIED.*
Marcus looked up.
Vanessa was staring at his phone.
And she whispered a name Marcus had never heard before.
May you like
“Caleb…”
The rear church doors suddenly slammed shut.
