Chapter 7: Jordan
The young man stood in the doorway.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
He was Black, tall, lean, and dressed in a dark hoodie beneath a denim jacket. His eyes moved across the church until they landed on Vanessa.
“Mom?””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Marcus looked from the young man to the driver's license still in his hand.
Jordan Reed.
Twenty-something.
Alive.
And apparently the man Lily had seen coming to Marcus's house.
Marcus stepped forward.
“Who are you?””
Jordan looked confused.
“Jordan.””
“I know your name.””
Jordan glanced at Vanessa.
“What’s going on?””
Vanessa whispered, “You shouldn't have come here.””
Jordan's expression changed.
“Why?””
Marcus held up the driver's license.
“Because apparently your real name is Elijah.””
Jordan went completely still.
“What did you call me?””
“Elijah.””
Jordan shook his head.
“No.””
Raymond stepped forward.
“Yes.””
Jordan stared at him.
“Who are you?””
“Your grandfather.””
Jordan laughed nervously.
“Okay. This is insane.””
Caleb approached.
Jordan looked at him.
The two men stared at each other.
Caleb's eyes filled with tears.
“You're my brother.””
Jordan backed away.
“No.””
“Look at me.””
Jordan did.
Caleb pointed toward his own face.
“We have the same eyes.””
Jordan's breathing became faster.
Marcus watched the young man carefully.
He wasn't looking at Vanessa anymore.
He was looking at everyone else.
As if trying to find the one person who might tell him the truth.
Finally, his eyes landed on Lily.
She smiled shyly.
“You come to our house.””
Jordan froze.
Marcus turned sharply.
“You've been inside my house?””
Jordan looked at Vanessa.
She whispered, “Jordan, don't.””
Marcus's voice hardened.
“Answer me.””
Jordan swallowed.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“I was looking for something.””
“What?””
“My mother.””
Vanessa's face crumpled.
Jordan pointed at her.
“She disappeared whenever I asked about my father. Every time I asked where I was born, she changed the subject.””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
“You raised him?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Jordan frowned.
“She found me.””
Marcus looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
Jordan took a breath.
“I grew up in another state. My adoptive parents told me my biological mother had died.””
Vanessa lowered her eyes.
“Then three years ago, she found me.””
“Who?””
“My biological mother.””
Marcus's eyes widened.
“You're saying Vanessa isn't your mother?””
Jordan nodded.
“No.””
Vanessa whispered, “I'm sorry.””
Jordan stared at her.
“You told me I was your son.””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?””
Vanessa couldn't answer.
Jordan turned to Raymond.
“Then who is my mother?””
Raymond's face tightened.
“She died.””
Jordan shook his head.
“That's what Vanessa told me.””
Raymond looked at Vanessa.
“You never told him.””
“Told me what?”” Jordan demanded.
Raymond hesitated.
Then he said:
“Your mother was a woman named Simone.””
Vanessa began crying.
Jordan stared.
“Who is Simone?””
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
She whispered, “My sister.””
The church erupted in whispers.
Jordan took a step backward.
“You stole me from your own sister?””
“I didn't steal you.””
“You just said she died.””
“She did.””
“How?””
Vanessa looked at Raymond.
Raymond answered.
“Because six years ago, Simone discovered the hospital records.””
Jordan frowned.
“What hospital records?””
“The records proving you were switched at birth.””
Jordan stared at him.
Raymond continued.
“Simone tried to expose Dr. Warren.””
“And?””
“She never made it home.””
Silence.
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
“Are you saying she was killed?””
Raymond didn't answer directly.
“She disappeared.””
Jordan looked at Vanessa.
“And you took me?””
Vanessa nodded through tears.
“I was afraid they would take you too.””
“Who?””
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“The people who paid Dr. Warren.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“Who paid him?””
Vanessa looked toward the altar.
“I don't know.””
Raymond snapped, “You know exactly who.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Raymond reached into his coat.
He pulled out another photograph.
He handed it to Marcus.
It showed Dr. Warren standing beside a hospital administrator.
And beside them stood a third person.
Marcus stared at the face.
He knew him.
Everyone did.
He was a respected businessman.
A major donor to the church.
And Marcus's own employer.
Marcus's phone buzzed.
A message appeared.
*You should not have opened the blue box.*
Then another.
*Come outside alone.*
Marcus looked toward the church doors.
Jordan watched him.
“What is it?””
Marcus didn't answer.
May you like
Because the final message had arrived.
*Or Lily won't make it home tonight.*
