Chapter 4: The Woman in the Photograph
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Maya stood halfway down the staircase, clutching the photograph with both hands. Vanessa stared at her as though my daughter had just revealed something far more dangerous than the secret pregnancy arrangement.
I held out my hand.
“Come here, sweetheart.””
Maya descended slowly and placed the photograph in my palm.
The woman standing beside Vanessa appeared to be in her early thirties. She had dark hair pulled into a loose ponytail, one hand resting on her enormous pregnant stomach. Her other hand held a white envelope.
Vanessa stood beside her, smiling.
Not the exhausted, fragile smile she had shown me throughout her supposed pregnancy.
This was a genuine smile.
A smile I hadn't seen in months.
I turned the photograph over.
Four words, written in Maya's careful handwriting:
THAT'S THE REAL MOTHER.
“Where did you find this?”” I asked.
“In Vanessa's bedroom. It was inside a book.””
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Give me that.””
I moved the photograph behind my back.
“No.””
“Marcus, that photograph is private.””
“Who is she?””
Vanessa looked toward Daniel's name on her phone.
“Her name is Claire.””
“Claire what?””
“Claire Bennett.””
“Why was she at a pregnancy clinic with you?””
Vanessa rubbed her forehead.
“Because she was helping me.””
“Helping you do what?””
She looked at Maya.
“Can you please send her upstairs?””
“No.””
“Marcus!””
“She's heard enough lies to last a lifetime. She stays.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Fine. You want the truth? Claire was carrying a baby for us.””
I stared at her.
“For us?””
“Yes.””
“Were you using a surrogate?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Something like that.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Something like that isn't an answer.””
She walked toward the kitchen counter and poured herself a glass of water.
Her hands were shaking.
“Claire agreed to carry the baby. We had an arrangement. Daniel helped organize everything.””
“Then why did you pretend you were pregnant?””
“Because I wanted you to feel connected to the baby.””
I stared at her.
“You could have told me.””
“You would have asked questions.””
“Of course I would have asked questions! It's my child!””
Vanessa slammed the glass down.
“That's exactly why I couldn't tell you!””
Maya stepped closer to me.
I felt her small fingers wrap around my hand.
I lowered my voice.
“Whose egg was used?””
Vanessa looked away.
“Mine.””
“And whose sperm?””
She didn't answer.
I felt the room tilt.
“Vanessa.””
She closed her eyes.
“Daniel arranged everything.””
I stared at her.
“Did you use my sperm?””
Her silence lasted only two seconds.
But those two seconds changed everything.
“Marcus,” she whispered, “I wanted a baby with you.””
“That isn't what I asked.””
She looked at me.
“No.””
I stepped backward.
“No?””
“The clinic had complications. We had to change the arrangement.””
“What complications?””
She began crying.
“The original donor wasn't available.””
“Donor?””
I repeated the word because I couldn't believe I had heard it correctly.
“You used someone else's sperm?””
“It was supposed to be temporary.””
“Temporary?””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“Claire was supposed to give birth, and we were supposed to raise the baby. Daniel said we could resolve the paperwork afterward.””
I stared at her.
“Resolve what paperwork?””
She looked down.
“The parentage documents.””
I felt Maya squeeze my hand.
“Dad, does that mean the baby wouldn't be yours?””
I couldn't answer immediately.
Vanessa looked irritated.
“Don't confuse her.””
I turned toward my wife.
“You've done enough confusing.””
My phone vibrated.
Robert Hayes was calling back.
I answered immediately.
“Robert?””
“Marcus, I've reviewed the email you sent. I need you to listen carefully. Don't sign anything.
Don't transfer money. And don't let anyone take Maya out of the house.””
“There's a woman named Claire Bennett. Apparently, she's carrying a baby for Vanessa.””
Silence.
Then Robert asked, “Did you authorize any fertility treatment?””
“No.””
“Did you sign any consent forms?””
“No.””
“Did you provide any medical samples?””
“No.””
“Good. We need to establish exactly what happened.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Can you find out who legally arranged this?””
“I can try. But I need the documents.””
Vanessa suddenly reached for my phone.
I turned away.
“I'm speaking to my lawyer.””
She froze.
Robert heard her.
“Is that Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
“Marcus, put me on speaker.””
I did.
Robert's voice filled the kitchen.
“Vanessa, I'm advising Marcus to preserve all relevant documents and avoid signing anything connected to the alleged pregnancy arrangement.””
Vanessa's face turned red.
“You have no right to interfere.””
“I'm representing Marcus.””
“Then tell him he's making a mistake.””
Robert remained calm.
“That's a matter for my client to decide.””
Vanessa grabbed her phone and walked toward the hallway.
“I need to call Daniel.””
I watched her disappear.
Then Robert spoke again.
“Marcus, there's something else.””
“What?””
“The email you sent me mentions a payment to D. Brooks Consulting. Do you know whether that company is connected to Daniel personally?””
“I don't know.””
“Find out. And don't confront him until we've established the facts.””
I looked at the photograph.
“Robert, what if the child is already born?””
“Then we need to establish the child's legal status and protect everyone involved, including the woman who carried the baby.””
After the call, I sat down.
Maya climbed onto the chair beside me.
“Dad?””
“Yeah?””
“Are you going to leave Vanessa?””
I looked at her.
She wasn't asking whether I still loved my wife.
She was asking whether I would make her live with someone who had frightened her.
I placed my arm around her.
“Whatever happens between Vanessa and me, you're safe. I promise.””
She nodded.
Then she said something that made my stomach tighten.
“There's another thing.””
“What is it?””
“Claire came here.””
“When?””
“Last Thursday.””
I stared at her.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“Vanessa said she was a friend.””
“What happened?””
Maya looked toward the hallway.
“They argued in the kitchen. Claire was crying.””
“What did she say?””
Maya swallowed.
“She said she didn't want to give Vanessa the baby anymore.””
I felt my pulse quicken.
“And Vanessa?””
“She said Claire had already been paid.””
I looked at the photograph again.
“Did you hear anything else?””
Maya nodded.
“Claire said, 'You promised me he wouldn't know.''”
I felt cold.
Before I could ask another question, a loud crash came from upstairs.
Vanessa.
I rushed toward the staircase.
Her bedroom door was open.
Drawers had been pulled out. Clothes were scattered across the floor. Her handbag lay upside down beside the bed.
She was searching frantically through a stack of papers.
When she saw me, she stopped.
“Where is the photograph?””
I held it up.
“Right here.””
Her face went white.
Then she whispered:
“Marcus, you need to understand something. Claire wasn't just carrying a baby for us.””
“What do you mean?””
May you like
Vanessa looked toward the window.
“She was supposed to disappear after the birth.””
