Chapter 7: The Secret Lauren Took to Her Grave
“Tell me what you mean,” I said.
Rebecca Coleman didn't answer immediately.
I stood beside the open front door with Maya in my arms, listening to the faint sound of traffic through the phone. Behind me, Monica remained frozen in the family room, clutching the envelope that had turned my life upside down.
“Rebecca, you called me. You mentioned my wife, my daughter, and a custody case. You don't get to drop a bomb like that and disappear.””
“I know,” Rebecca whispered.
“I'm sorry.””
“Then talk.””
“I need you to understand something first. I never wanted Maya to get caught in the middle of this.””
I looked down at my daughter.
Her hair was uneven, her eyes were swollen from crying, and she had fallen quiet in the way children sometimes did when they were too frightened to ask another question.
“She's already in the middle of it,” I said.
“Whatever you know, tell me.””
Rebecca took a shaky breath.
“Lauren contacted me three weeks before she died. She was afraid someone was trying to get access to Maya's records.””
My stomach tightened.
“Access to what records?””
“Her birth records. Medical records. Everything connected to the hospital.””
I stared at the document in my hand.
“Why?””
“I didn't know at first. Lauren said there had been a mistake when Maya was born, but she wouldn't explain everything over the phone.””
“What kind of mistake?””
“I asked her the same question. She told me she needed time to verify something before she could tell you.””
My throat went dry.
“Verify what?””
Rebecca lowered her voice.
“Whether the person listed on Maya's original birth record was the person everyone believed.””
I looked at Maya.
For four years, I had never questioned that she was my biological daughter. I'd been there for the appointments, the tiny clothes, the first steps, and the nights when she'd fallen asleep with one hand wrapped around my finger.
I remembered Lauren bringing Maya home from the hospital, smiling through her exhaustion.
I remembered holding my daughter against my chest and promising her that nothing in the world would ever make me abandon her.
Now a stranger's voice was suggesting that the foundation of my family might be built on a secret.
“Are you telling me Maya isn't my daughter?”” I asked.
“No,” Rebecca said quickly.
“I'm telling you I don't know what the records will show. That's why I need you to be careful.””
“Careful about what?””
“About believing anyone who claims they already know the answer.””
I turned toward Monica.
She was watching me with wide eyes.
“Rebecca, did you give someone information about my daughter?””
“No.””
“Did you help someone file this custody case?””
“No, Darius. I swear.””
“Then why is your name on this document?””
A sharp breath came through the phone.
“You found the document?””
“Yes.””
“Then they've started using the records Lauren was trying to protect.””
I felt my heart pound.
“Who are they?””
“I can't tell you over the phone.””
“You keep saying that!””
“Because I don't know who might be listening.””
I almost laughed at the absurdity of it. My wife had cut my daughter's hair, photographs had been sent to a lawyer, and now my late wife's best friend was warning me about hidden records and unnamed people.
Nothing about my life felt real anymore.
“Rebecca, if you know something that could help protect Maya, you need to tell me now.””
“I will. But you have to promise me something.””
“What?””
“Don't let Monica destroy the envelope.””
I looked at my wife.
“Why would she destroy it?””
“Because some of those papers may be the only evidence of who contacted her.””
I glanced at the envelope in Monica's hands.
She seemed to understand that we were discussing her. Her fingers tightened around the paper.
“Rebecca, what exactly are you afraid I'll find?””
Before she could answer, another voice interrupted.
“Darius, get away from that door.””
My mother stood on the front porch.
Evelyn Brooks looked as if she'd driven straight over without taking time to compose herself. Her handbag hung from one shoulder, and her face was pale beneath the bright afternoon light.
I ended the call.
“Mom, what are you doing here?””
She looked at Maya first.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
Maya pressed her face into my neck.
Evelyn stopped moving.
The rejection seemed to hurt her, but she didn't approach.
“Darius,” she said, “we need to talk.””
“About the photographs?””
“About everything.””
“Did you know Rebecca was involved?””
My mother's eyes widened.
“Rebecca?””
I held up the document.
“Her name is on this paper. She just called me. She says Lauren was investigating Maya's birth records before she died.””
Evelyn grabbed the porch railing.
For a moment, I thought she might collapse.
Then she whispered, “Lauren told me never to let this happen.””
My chest tightened.
“Never to let what happen?””
Evelyn looked past me toward Monica.
“You were supposed to keep the records safe.””
Monica stepped forward.
“I did keep them safe!””
“Not these records,” my mother snapped.
“The original ones.””
I stared at both women.
“What original records?””
Neither answered.
I felt a surge of anger so strong that I had to lower my voice to keep Maya from hearing it.
“You are both going to stop speaking in riddles. Right now.””
Evelyn's eyes filled with tears.
“Lauren gave me a sealed envelope shortly before she died. She told me that if anyone ever tried to challenge your relationship with Maya, I was to give it to you.””
“Where is it?””
My mother looked down.
“I gave it to Rebecca.””
“When?””
“Two years ago.””
“Why?””
“Because someone had started asking questions about Lauren's medical history.””
I stared at her.
“And you never told me?””
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“Everybody keeps saying that!””
My voice echoed through the hallway.
Maya began to tremble.
I immediately held her closer.
“I'm sorry, baby.””
Evelyn covered her mouth.
“I never wanted her to be hurt.””
“But you watched Monica cut her hair.””
My mother lowered her eyes.
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because Monica told me she had to collect evidence before Monday. She said if she didn't cooperate, they would make sure Maya was taken away from all of us.””
I stared at her.
“Who are they?””
“I don't know.””
“Then how did you know about the sealed envelope?””
Evelyn's face changed.
She looked toward the street, then back at me.
“Because the person who contacted Monica knew about it too.””
My blood ran cold.
“Who?””
My mother shook her head.
“I never saw their face. I only heard their voice.””
“Did they threaten you?””
“They said if the truth came out, everyone who had ever helped Lauren would be exposed.””
I looked down at the document in my hand.
The hospital name.
The reference number.
Rebecca's signature.
Everything pointed toward something that had happened before Maya could even speak.
I was about to ask another question when Monica suddenly rushed toward the dresser.
She grabbed the envelope and pulled out a small folded sheet that had been tucked between the photographs.
Evelyn gasped.
“Monica, don't!””
Monica stared at the paper.
Then she looked at me.
“This wasn't supposed to be here.””
“What is it?””
She backed away.
“It's a list of names.””
“Whose names?””
Her eyes filled with terror.
“Everyone who knew about the original birth record.””
I reached for the paper.
Monica pulled it against her chest.
Then she whispered the one sentence that made my mother sink onto the porch step.
“Darius, your name isn't the only one they forged.””
She unfolded the paper.
And beneath the heading, *PEOPLE TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CUSTODY RECORD*, I saw the first name.
*EVELYN BROOKS.*
The second was *REBECCA COLEMAN*.
The third was a name none of us expected.
*MONICA BROOKS.*
My wife looked at the list, then at me.
“They were planning to remove me too.””
For the first time, I understood that Monica might not have been the person controlling this entire nightmare.
But she had still hurt my daughter.
And I wasn't going to let her fear become an excuse.
“Then you're going to tell me everything,” I said.
Monica nodded slowly.
“There's one more person you need to know about.””
She turned the paper over.
On the back was a handwritten name.
*DR. ANDREW WHITMORE.*
My mother's knees nearly gave way.
May you like
Because he was the doctor who had signed Maya's original birth certificate.
And the man who had told me, four years earlier, that my wife and daughter were both perfectly healthy.
