Chapter 11: The DNA Report That Changed Everything
I gripped the edge of Rebecca's dining table.
"Say that again.""
Dr. Morris's voice trembled through the phone.
"The original genetic report shows that Vanessa was the biological mother of the baby discharged to you. You are not that child's biological father.""
Grace stared at me.
Rebecca covered her mouth.
Michael took the phone from my hand and put it on speaker.
"Dr. Morris, this is Michael Reeves, Daniel's attorney. We need the full report, including the laboratory identification number and chain of custody.""
"I understand.""
"Can you send it directly to an independent laboratory?""
"Yes. I've already requested a certified copy.""
Michael paused.
"Who authorized the original test?""
"Emily did.""
My stomach tightened.
"When?""
"Three years after Maya was born. She brought samples to the hospital and asked us to compare them with the original maternity records.""
"Why did she wait three years?""
"Because the hospital had refused to investigate the discrepancy. Emily found a private laboratory willing to conduct preliminary testing, but she wanted confirmation through the hospital before taking legal action.""
I looked at the photograph on the table.
Emily had spent three years trying to discover whether Maya was biologically hers.
Then she had found Grace.
And someone had taken Grace away.
"Why wasn't I told?"" I asked.
Dr. Morris went quiet.
"Emily asked us not to contact you until she understood what had happened.""
"Why?""
"She believed you might try to correct the records immediately. She was afraid both children would be removed from their homes while the authorities investigated.""
I closed my eyes.
"She made that decision for me?""
"Yes.""
"And then she died.""
"Yes.""
I pulled the phone closer.
"Did she know who Maya's biological father was?""
Dr. Morris hesitated.
"The report did not identify a biological father. It only compared the samples provided.""
"Then how do you know I'm not Maya's father?""
"Because the original test excluded you as the biological father of the child tested.""
The distinction was important.
I forced myself to ask the question I'd been avoiding.
"Which child did Emily test?""
"The child registered as Maya Hayes.""
My knees weakened.
I looked at Grace.
She was no longer watching me. She was staring at the bracelet in her hands, her expression empty.
I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't know how.
I couldn't even understand what I was supposed to be feeling myself.
Maya was my daughter. I knew that.
But if she wasn't biologically mine, then who was her father?
And if Vanessa was her biological mother, how had Maya come to resemble Emily's photographs so closely?
Michael interrupted my thoughts.
"Dr. Morris, was another child tested?""
"Not through our laboratory.""
"What about Grace?""
"No sample was ever submitted under that name.""
Michael exchanged a look with me.
"Then the question remains whether Grace is biologically related to Daniel or Emily.""
"Correct.""
I took the phone back.
"Doctor, I need you to tell me everything you remember about the night Maya was born.""
She exhaled.
"I remember two emergency deliveries. I remember an identification error. I remember Emily asking me to help her find the child who had been transferred out of the hospital.""
"Did she know that child was Grace?""
"Not at first. She found Grace through the Rosewood House records later.""
"And Vanessa?""
"Vanessa was told that her baby had been placed in temporary care. She was never informed that a second infant had been transferred.""
I stared at the bracelet.
"Who authorized the transfer?""
"Richard Cole.""
"Why?""
"I don't know.""
"Was it legal?""
"No.""
The answer was immediate.
Michael stopped writing.
Dr. Morris continued.
"The transfer authorization was incomplete. There was no valid consent form from either mother. When I raised concerns, I was told the administration had obtained permission through a separate legal arrangement.""
"Which arrangement?""
"I never saw it.""
"Then why didn't you report it?""
Her voice broke.
"Because I was young, I was afraid of losing my medical license, and I believed the children were safe. I told myself I would correct the records when I had enough evidence.""
I felt a bitter laugh rise in my throat.
"Everyone was waiting for someone else to do the right thing.""
No one answered.
Finally, Dr. Morris said, "Daniel, I am sorry.""
I ended the call.
For a long moment, the room remained silent.
Then Grace stood.
"I need some air.""
Rebecca rose immediately.
"Sweetheart—"
"Please.""
She walked outside.
I followed her onto the porch, keeping a respectful distance.
Grace stood beside the garden fence, staring at the street.
"Did you know?"" she asked.
"No.""
"Did Emily know?""
"She knew something was wrong. I don't know how much she understood.""
Grace wiped her eyes.
"I spent my entire life believing my birth mother didn't want me. Every birthday, I wondered whether she remembered me. Every Mother's Day, I wondered whether she was alive.""
She turned toward me.
"And now you're telling me that she might have been looking for me?""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
"Why didn't she find me?""
"Someone moved you.""
"Who?""
"I don't know yet.""
Grace laughed bitterly.
"That seems to be the answer to everything.""
I couldn't argue.
She looked down at the bracelet.
"Do you think Vanessa knows?""
"I think she knows more than she's told us.""
Grace's eyes hardened.
"Then I want to talk to her.""
I hesitated.
"That might be difficult.""
"Why?""
"Because Vanessa has been living in my house. She was engaged to me.""
Grace stared at me.
"You were going to marry my biological mother?""
"We don't know that she's your biological mother.""
"But the bracelet says Carter.""
"Names can be changed. Records can be altered. We need a DNA test.""
Grace looked away.
"Fine. But I want the truth from her own mouth.""
I nodded.
"I'll arrange it.""
Two hours later, Michael called me into his office.
He had received a preliminary response from the independent laboratory.
The original DNA report was authentic.
It confirmed that Vanessa was Maya's biological mother and excluded me as Maya's biological father.
But the laboratory had also identified a second sample attached to the original testing request.
A sample labeled *G. Lewis*.
Michael turned the screen toward me.
"Daniel, this sample was submitted by Emily three years after Maya's birth. The report indicates a close biological relationship between the child registered as Maya Hayes and the child registered as Grace Lewis.""
I leaned forward.
"What kind of relationship?""
"The preliminary analysis suggests they may be half-sisters.""
I stared at him.
"Meaning they share one biological parent.""
"Possibly. We need additional testing to establish the relationship conclusively.""
I felt the room spin.
If Maya was Vanessa's daughter and Grace was related to Maya, then Grace might share Vanessa's biological family.
But Emily's letter had suggested she believed Grace was her daughter.
How could both things be true?
Unless Emily had been wrong about one of the children.
Or unless the records concealed something more complicated.
Michael pointed to another line.
"There's a notation here. The second sample was never processed to completion.""
"Why not?""
"It was withdrawn by the person who submitted it.""
"Who withdrew it?""
Michael enlarged the document.
The authorization carried a signature.
*Daniel Hayes.*
I stared at it.
Another signature I had never made.
Someone had been using my name to shut down the very investigation that might have revealed the truth.
"Who had access to my records?"" I asked.
Michael shook his head.
"We need to establish that.""
I looked at the date.
The withdrawal had occurred six months before Emily died.
She had still been alive.
I thought of her locked box, the letters, and the desperate sentence she'd written about saving one daughter by losing the other.
Perhaps she'd been trying to tell me.
Perhaps someone had stopped her.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Vanessa.
*We need to talk. I know you have the report.*
A second message followed.
*Before you accuse me of anything, you need to know what Emily asked me to do with Maya.*
Then a third.
*She made me promise that if the truth ever came out, I would take my daughter away from you.*
I read the message twice.
My fingers went numb.
Vanessa had spent years pretending she wanted to become Maya's stepmother.
But according to her own words, she'd never stopped believing Maya was her daughter.
And now she was telling me that my dead wife had asked her to take the child away.
I called Vanessa.
She answered immediately.
"Did Emily really ask you to take Maya away from me?""
Vanessa was silent.
Then she said, "Yes.""
"Why?""
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Because she knew who Maya's real father was.""
I stopped breathing.
"Who?""
May you like
Vanessa began to cry.
"Daniel, the man who fathered your daughter is someone you've trusted your entire life.""
