Chapter 8: The Third Bracelet
Darius couldn't speak.
His eyes remained fixed on Nia.
The little girl stood beside the table, holding a paper napkin in one hand.
She looked up at him innocently.
“Daddy?””
Darius forced himself to breathe.
“Come here.””
Nia walked toward him.
Simone moved at the same time.
Darius raised a hand.
“Don't.””
Simone stopped.
Nia reached her father.
Darius knelt.
“Baby, did Mama ever show you a picture of three babies?””
Nia nodded.
“Uh-huh.””
“Where?””
“In her room.””
“Who showed it to you?””
“Mama.””
“When?””
“A long time ago.””
Darius glanced at Simone.
“How long?””
Nia thought.
“Before my birthday.””
Darius swallowed.
“Did Mama tell you who the babies were?””
Nia nodded again.
“She said one was Daddy.””
Darius's chest tightened.
“And the others?””
Nia pointed toward Marcus.
“That was Uncle Marcus.””
Then she pointed at herself.
“And that was me.””
Silence.
Simone's knees nearly buckled.
Darius caught her arm.
“What did you say?””
Nia looked confused.
“That was me.””
Marcus stared at the child.
“No.””
Nia frowned.
“What?””
Marcus stepped closer.
“That's not possible.””
Darius stood.
“Why?””
Marcus looked at Simone.
She was crying now.
“Tell him,” Marcus said.
“I can't.””
“Tell him.””
Darius grabbed the edge of the table.
“Tell me what?””
Simone shook her head.
Marcus answered.
“Nia wasn't supposed to be born.””
Darius stared at him.
“What the hell does that mean?””
Marcus took a breath.
“Your father believed she was dead.””
Simone covered her face.
Darius turned toward her.
“You're saying Nia is—”
“Don't,” Simone whispered.
“Who is she?””
“Our daughter.””
“I know she's our daughter.””
Darius's voice broke.
“Why did my father think she was dead?””
Simone looked at Nia.
Then at Darius.
“Because she wasn't born when he disappeared.””
Darius stared.
“What?””
Simone's hands trembled.
“Your father didn't know I was pregnant.””
Marcus closed his eyes.
Darius looked between them.
“Then why was there a baby bracelet with her name?””
Simone whispered, “Because that wasn't Nia's bracelet.””
Darius froze.
“What?””
“The third bracelet belonged to another baby.””
Marcus nodded slowly.
“And that's where everything went wrong.””
Darius's phone buzzed.
The second phone displayed another message.
*ASK SIMONE WHY NIA'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE HAS TWO DIFFERENT DATES.*
Darius looked at Simone.
Her face changed.
“You knew.””
“I found out recently.””
“About what?””
“That her records were changed.””
“By whom?””
“I don't know.””
Marcus said, “I do.””
Darius turned.
Marcus looked at Nia.
“Your father.””
Darius's eyes widened.
“Dad changed Nia's records?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because he was hiding her.””
“From who?””
Marcus's answer was barely audible.
“From the woman who was looking for her.””
Darius stared at Nia.
“Why would anyone be looking for a six-year-old?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Darius stepped toward him.
“Why?””
Marcus finally said, “Because Nia isn't the only child.””
Simone's eyes closed.
Darius stared at his brother.
“What?””
“There's another child.””
“Where?””
“I don't know.””
“When?””
“Six years ago.””
Darius's breathing became shallow.
“You're telling me Simone had twins?””
“No.””
“Then what?””
Marcus looked toward the second phone.
“The third baby in the photograph.””
Darius stared at him.
“What are you saying?””
Marcus pulled a folded document from his jacket.
“I found this three months ago.””
Darius took it.
It was a hospital record.
He scanned the page.
*DELIVERY: SIMONE HARRIS.*
*LIVE BIRTHS: TWO.*
His eyes stopped.
*CHILD ONE: FEMALE.*
*CHILD TWO: FEMALE.*
Darius looked up.
“Nia has a twin.””
Simone began sobbing.
Darius turned toward her.
“You told me we had one baby.””
“I was told the other one died.””
“Was she dead?””
Simone couldn't answer.
Darius's voice became desperate.
“Was she?””
“No.””
The word came from Marcus.
Darius looked at him.
Marcus's eyes were full of tears.
“She wasn't dead.””
Simone whispered, “Marcus…”
“She was taken.””
Darius's face went blank.
“Taken by who?””
Marcus looked at the windows.
“The same person who sent you these messages.””
Darius looked at the second phone.
A new notification appeared.
*YOU WANT TO KNOW WHERE SHE IS?*
Then another.
*LOOK UNDER SIMONE'S CHAIR.*
Darius slowly looked down.
Simone's chair stood beside the dining table.
He crouched.
There was a small envelope taped beneath it.
His hands shook as he pulled it free.
On the front, in black ink, were four words:
*FOR DARIUS. ONLY.*
He looked at Simone.
She whispered, “I didn't put that there.””
Darius opened the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
A little Black girl, around six years old.
Curly hair.
A pink bow.
Standing beside an unfamiliar woman.
The girl's face looked exactly like Nia's.
Darius's eyes filled.
On the back of the photograph was a handwritten sentence:
*SHE'S BEEN WATCHING YOU ALL DAY.*
Darius slowly turned toward the windows.
The sunlight was bright.
The glass reflected the dining room.
May you like
And in the reflection, behind the family—
a woman stood outside.
