Chapter 3: The Woman Who Knew Her Name
Maya couldn't move.
The ballroom remained bright around her, crystal chandeliers sparkling above marble tables and elegantly dressed guests, but the world seemed to have narrowed to the phone pressed against her ear.
Her mother's voice had changed.
The woman who usually reminded Maya to eat lunch and asked whether she'd made it home safely sounded frightened enough to run.
“Mom,” Maya whispered, “how do you know Evelyn Carter?””
Richard stood so abruptly that his chair scraped against the floor.
Evelyn grabbed the edge of the table.
“Put her on speaker,” Richard said.
Maya shook her head.
“I'm talking to my mother.””
“Then ask her why she knows my wife's name,” Richard replied.
Evelyn stared at him.
“Richard, please.””
He ignored her.
“Maya, tell her Richard Carter is here too.””
Maya hesitated, then spoke into the phone.
“Mom, Richard Carter is here. He's with Evelyn.””
A small, broken sound came through the speaker.
“Oh, God.””
Maya's fingers tightened around the phone.
“What's happening? Why are you acting like this?””
“Where are you right now?”” her mother asked.
“At work.””
“Are you alone?””
“No. I'm with them.””
“Get away from that table.””
Maya stared at Evelyn's tear-streaked face.
“Why?””
“Because you don't understand what those people are capable of.””
Evelyn recoiled as though the words had struck her.
Richard's expression turned cold.
“Ask her what she means,” he said.
Maya swallowed.
“Mom, these people say their baby disappeared thirty-one years ago. They say the baby wore this pendant. They say the date on their photograph is my birthday.””
Her mother's breathing grew ragged.
“Take the necklace off.””
Maya's hand instinctively covered it.
“What?””
“Take it off, Maya!””
The shout startled a nearby guest.
Maya stepped away from the table.
“No. Not until you tell me the truth.””
For a moment, there was only the faint hum of the ballroom and the soft rustle of Evelyn's sequined gown as she sank back into her chair.
Then Maya's mother spoke again.
“I was going to tell you when you were older.””
“I'm twenty-two!””
“I know.””
“You've had twenty-two years!””
“I was trying to protect you.””
“From what?”” Maya demanded.
“From my own birthday?””
Her voice cracked.
Evelyn pressed the old photograph against the table, staring at the infant's face as though she could somehow reach through the years and touch her.
Richard leaned closer to Maya's phone.
“This is Richard Carter. If you know something about our daughter, you need to tell us.””
The response was immediate.
“Don't you dare speak to me as though you're entitled to answers.””
Richard went rigid.
Evelyn's eyes widened.
The woman on the phone continued, her voice shaking with anger.
“You had thirty-one years to ask questions. Thirty-one years to find out what happened. And now you want answers because a young woman happens to be wearing a necklace?””
Richard gripped the table's edge.
“You know about the necklace.””
“I know enough.””
“Then tell us where you got it!””
“Richard,” Evelyn whispered, “stop.””
But he had already lost control of his voice.
“Was Maya our daughter?””
The question hung in the air.
Maya stared at him.
Her mother said nothing.
“Answer me!”” Richard demanded.
Finally, the woman spoke.
“I found a baby.””
Evelyn's hand flew to her mouth.
“When?”” she whispered.
Maya turned toward her.
“She says she found a baby.””
Evelyn leaned closer to the phone.
“Please. Tell me when.””
Maya repeated the question.
Her mother exhaled shakily.
“Thirty-one years ago. I found a newborn wrapped in a blanket outside the service entrance of an old medical building. She was crying. She had that necklace around her neck.””
Evelyn began sobbing.
Richard shut his eyes.
“Which building?”” he asked.
“I won't tell you that.””
“Why not?””
“Because I promised someone I wouldn't.””
“Who?”” Maya demanded.
Her mother fell silent again.
Maya's eyes burned.
“You told me you found me alone. You told me you took me to a clinic and the staff couldn't find my records.””
“I did take you to a clinic.””
“Then why didn't you tell me about the building?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of who?””
Her mother whispered something Maya couldn't understand.
“What did you say?””
“I said you were never supposed to know.””
Maya's face crumpled.
“Never supposed to know what?””
Evelyn reached toward her, but Maya stepped back.
“Don't,” Maya said.
“Please don't touch me.””
Evelyn withdrew her hand immediately.
“I'm sorry.””
“I don't know what to believe anymore.””
Richard's voice softened.
“Neither do we.””
Maya looked at him with wet eyes.
“You knew your baby disappeared, and you kept that photograph all these years. You had investigators. You had money.
You had everything. How could nobody find me?””
Richard had no answer.
Evelyn stared at the pendant.
“Because someone wanted us to believe there was nothing left to find.””
Maya looked back at the phone.
“Mom, I need you to come here.””
“No.””
“Please.””
“I can't.””
“Then tell me the truth.””
A long silence followed.
Finally, her mother said, “Look inside the lining of the jewelry box I gave you when you turned eighteen.””
Maya frowned.
“What?””
“There is something beneath the velvet. I hid it there because I couldn't bring myself to destroy it.””
“What did you hide?””
Her mother's voice broke.
“The name of the woman who handed you to me.””
Evelyn gripped Richard's wrist.
Richard stared at Maya's phone.
Maya could barely breathe.
“Who was she?””
Her mother answered with a whisper.
“Her name was Lorraine Carter.””
Evelyn went white.
Richard stumbled backward into his chair.
“No,” he said.
Maya looked between them.
“Who is Lorraine Carter?””
Evelyn's lips trembled.
“Richard's mother.””
Richard shook his head violently.
“My mother died before Maya was born.””
“Then why,” Maya whispered, “does my mother say she handed me over?””
Richard opened his mouth, but no words came.
On the phone, Maya's mother began crying.
May you like
And then she said the one thing that made Evelyn clutch the photograph as though it were the only solid thing left in the room.
“Because Lorraine told me your real parents would never be allowed to find you.””
