Chapter 8: The## Chapter 8: The Nurse Who Changed Everything Nurse Who Changed Everything
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
I read the
For several seconds, I couldn't speak.
I read the document again.
*Nia Carter — Biological Mother: Rebecca Miller.*
Then document again.
*Nia Carter — Biological Mother: Rebecca Miller.*
Then I looked at Rachel.
"Explain this.""
She glanced toward Lily.
"Not in front of her.""
"She's my daughter. I looked at Rachel.
"Explain this.""
She glanced toward Lily.
"Not in front of her.""
"She's my daughter. Whatever you have to say about her, you can say it in front of me.""
Rachel nodded reluctantly.
Officer Reynolds returned Whatever you have to say about her, you can say it in front of me.""
Rachel nodded reluctantly.
Officer Reynolds returned to the room and closed the door.
"Go ahead," he said.
Rachel placed the folder on the dressing table.
" to the room and closed the door.
"Go ahead," he said.
Rachel placed the folder on the dressing table.
"Nine years ago, Rebecca Miller arrived at St. Mary's in labor. She was unmarried, frightened, and had no family with her.""
"ExceptNine years ago, Rebecca Miller arrived at St. Mary's in labor. She was unmarried, frightened, and had no family with her.""
"Except my father," I interrupted.
Rachel nodded.
"Thomas was the father of her babies. He had my father," I interrupted.
Rachel nodded.
"Thomas was the father of her babies. He had promised to help her, but when the twins were born, he became terrified.""
"Of what?""
"His financial problems. His criminal associates. He believed promised to help her, but when the twins were born, he became terrified.""
"Of what?""
"His financial problems. His criminal associates. He believed having two children connected to him would make it easier for people to find him.""
I stared at the folder.
"So he arranged for one baby to disappear?""
"Not exactly.""
having two children connected to him would make it easier for people to find him.""
I stared at the folder.
"So he arranged for one baby to disappear?""
"Not exactly.""
Rachel opened the first page.
"Rebecca gave birth to two girls. One was healthy. The other had respiratory complications and needed additional care.""
"Which one was Lily?""
Rachel opened the first page.
"Rebecca gave birth to two girls. One was healthy. The other had respiratory complications and needed additional care.""
"Which one was Lily?""
Rachel shook her head.
"We don't know yet.""
"Then what happened?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Your wife arrived at the hospital that evening.""
I frownedRachel shook her head.
"We don't know yet.""
"Then what happened?""
She took a shaky breath.
"Your wife arrived at the hospital that evening.""
I frowned.
"Nia wasn't pregnant?""
"No.""
The room went silent.
Rachel continued.
"She had been trying to adopt a child.
"Nia wasn't pregnant?""
"No.""
The room went silent.
Rachel continued.
"She had been trying to adopt a child for months. She and Thomas had been discussing an arrangement behind your back.""
I felt something twist inside my chest.
for months. She and Thomas had been discussing an arrangement behind your back.""
I felt something twist inside my chest.
"My father arranged an adoption without telling me?""
"Yes. He believed you would eventually accept it.""
"Why would Nia agree"My father arranged an adoption without telling me?""
"Yes. He believed you would eventually accept it.""
"Why would Nia agree?""
Rachel looked down.
"Because Rebecca was dying.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"She suffered severe complications after delivery. Her condition deteriorated?""
Rachel looked down.
"Because Rebecca was dying.""
I stared at her.
"What?""
"She suffered severe complications after delivery. Her condition deteriorated rapidly. Before she died, she asked Nia to promise that her daughters would never be separated permanently rapidly. Before she died, she asked Nia to promise that her daughters would never be separated permanently.""
I looked at the two bracelets.
"Then why were they separated?""
"Because Thomas had already made other arrangements.""
Rachel.""
I looked at the two bracelets.
"Then why were they separated?""
"Because Thomas had already made other arrangements.""
Rachel opened another document.
It was a handwritten statement signed by Rebecca.
*I want both my daughters to grow opened another document.
It was a handwritten statement signed by Rebecca.
I want both my daughters to grow up knowing they belong together. If I cannot raise them, I want someone who will love them without using them to settle up knowing they belong together. If I cannot raise them, I want someone who will love them without using them to settle a debt.
My throat tightened.
"Who was the second family?""
Rachel hesitated.
"That's where things became complicated.""
Officer Reynolds leaned a debt.*
My throat tightened.
"Who was the second family?""
Rachel hesitated.
"That's where things became complicated.""
Officer Reynolds leaned forward.
"Continue.""
Rachel pointed to a discharge form.
"Thomas arranged for one twin to be placed with a family under a forward.
"Continue.""
Rachel pointed to a discharge form.
"Thomas arranged for one twin to be placed with a family under a private adoption agreement. The other was supposed to go to Nia and Marcus.""
"But I never agreed private adoption agreement. The other was supposed to go to Nia and Marcus.""
"But I never agreed to adopt a child.""
"Thomas signed documents using your information.""
I felt anger surge through me.
"And Nia?""
to adopt a child.""
"Thomas signed documents using your information.""
I felt anger surge through me.
"And Nia?""
"She discovered the arrangement after the babies had already been separated.""
"Then why did she keep Lily?""
Rachel's"She discovered the arrangement after the babies had already been separated.""
"Then why did she keep Lily?""
Rachel's eyes filled.
"Because she loved her.""
I looked at my daughter.
Lily was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the eyes filled.
"Because she loved her.""
I looked at my daughter.
Lily was sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the little wooden ballerina.
"Was I adopted?"" she asked quietly.
I crossed the room and knelt in front of her.
"Sweetheart, I little wooden ballerina.
"Was I adopted?"" she asked quietly.
I crossed the room and knelt in front of her.
"Sweetheart, I don't know all the answers yet.""
"Does that mean Mommy wasn't my real mommy?""
My eyes burned.
I took don't know all the answers yet.""
"Does that mean Mommy wasn't my real mommy?""
My eyes burned.
I took both her hands.
"Your mommy was the woman who held you when you cried. She was the woman who stayed awake when you were sick both her hands.
"Your mommy was the woman who held you when you cried. She was the woman who stayed awake when you were sick. She was the woman who kissed your forehead every night.""
I swallowed.
"Nothing in these papers can change that.""
Lily nodded slowly.
"But. She was the woman who kissed your forehead every night.""
I swallowed.
"Nothing in these papers can change that.""
Lily nodded slowly.
"But who is my other mommy?""
I had no answer.
Rachel stepped closer.
"Your biological mother was Rebecca who is my other mommy?""
I had no answer.
Rachel stepped closer.
"Your biological mother was Rebecca Miller. She died shortly after you were born.""
Lily looked at me.
"Did Mommy know?""
I glanced at Miller. She died shortly after you were born.""
Lily looked at me.
"Did Mommy know?""
I glanced at Rachel.
"Yes," she answered gently.
"And she loved you very much.""
Lily lowered her head.
Then she asked Rachel.
"Yes," she answered gently.
"And she loved you very much.""
Lily lowered her head.
Then she asked the question that broke my heart.
"Did she know I wasn't really hers?""
Rachel started crying.
" the question that broke my heart.
"Did she know I wasn't really hers?""
Rachel started crying.
"She knew you needed her. And she promised Rebecca she would never let anyone take you away.""
She knew you needed her. And she promised Rebecca she would never let anyone take you away.""
I pulled Lily into my arms.
For the next several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Officer Reynolds picked up another document.
"RachelI pulled Lily into my arms.
For the next several minutes, nobody spoke.
Then Officer Reynolds picked up another document.
"Rachel, you said the original records showed which baby went home with which family. Why are these records inconsistent?""
Rachel rubbed her forehead.
"Because someone switched the identification, you said the original records showed which baby went home with which family. Why are these records inconsistent?""
Rachel rubbed her forehead.
"Because someone switched the identification bracelets.""
"Who?""
"Dr. Ethan Cole.""
I stood.
"Why?""
"Because Thomas paid him.""
Officer Reynolds immediately bracelets.""
"Who?""
"Dr. Ethan Cole.""
I stood.
"Why?""
"Because Thomas paid him.""
Officer Reynolds immediately began writing.
Rachel continued.
"Thomas wanted the healthier twin placed with the family he had selected. But Rebecca began writing.
Rachel continued.
"Thomas wanted the healthier twin placed with the family he had selected. But Rebecca had already signed an agreement naming the girls' future guardians. When Thomas realized the original documents could expose him, he ordered had already signed an agreement naming the girls' future guardians. When Thomas realized the original documents could expose him, he ordered Cole to switch the bracelets.""
I looked at the yellowed hospital bands.
"So the names on the bracelets are wrong Cole to switch the bracelets.""
I looked at the yellowed hospital bands.
"So the names on the bracelets are wrong?""
"Not necessarily. The bracelets were switched after the babies were born. The original identification numbers were recorded in a?""
"Not necessarily. The bracelets were switched after the babies were born. The original identification numbers were recorded in a separate delivery log.""
"Where is it?""
Rachel opened the folder.
"It's missing.""
Officer Reynolds frowned.
"Missing?""
"I separate delivery log.""
"Where is it?""
Rachel opened the folder.
"It's missing.""
Officer Reynolds frowned.
"Missing?""
"I looked everywhere. The hospital says the archive was destroyed during a computer migration.""
"Convenient.""
Rachel nodded.
"That's why I came here. I found a duplicate reference in an old nursing looked everywhere. The hospital says the archive was destroyed during a computer migration.""
"Convenient.""
Rachel nodded.
"That's why I came here. I found a duplicate reference in an old nursing notebook.""
She pulled out a photocopy.
It contained two handwritten entries.
Infant A.
Infant B.
Beside them were two notebook.""
She pulled out a photocopy.
It contained two handwritten entries.
Infant A.
Infant B.
Beside them were two sets of medical identification numbers.
Rachel pointed to one.
"This number belongs to the baby who was sets of medical identification numbers.
Rachel pointed to one.
"This number belongs to the baby who was discharged with Nia.""
I leaned closer.
"Which one?""
Rachel swallowed.
"Infant B.""
I stared at the paper.
The same designation discharged with Nia.""
I leaned closer.
"Which one?""
Rachel swallowed.
"Infant B.""
I stared at the paper.
The same designation as the bracelet hidden in Nia's music box.
But before I could speak, Rachel pointed to the second number.
"This one as the bracelet hidden in Nia's music box.
But before I could speak, Rachel pointed to the second number.
"This one belongs to the baby who was sent to the other family.""
"Who was that?""
Rachel looked toward Lily.
"Vanessa.""
I closed belongs to the baby who was sent to the other family.""
"Who was that?""
Rachel looked toward Lily.
"Vanessa.""
I closed my eyes.
The two girls had been deliberately separated.
And now one of them was trying to take the other one's family my eyes.
The two girls had been deliberately separated.
And now one of them was trying to take the other one's family, home, and future.
Officer Reynolds took the photocopy.
"Rachel, I need you to come with us. We have, home, and future.
Officer Reynolds took the photocopy.
"Rachel, I need you to come with us. We have to establish exactly who authorized these changes.""
She nodded.
Then her phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
Her face went pale.
"What's wrong?"" to establish exactly who authorized these changes.""
She nodded.
Then her phone vibrated.
She looked at the screen.
Her face went pale.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
She didn't answer.
She turned the screen toward me.
A photograph showed a hospital room.
A bed.
A small I asked.
She didn't answer.
She turned the screen toward me.
A photograph showed a hospital room.
A bed.
A small table.
And a handwritten message taped to the wall.
**STOP TALKING ABOUT THE TW table.
And a handwritten message taped to the wall.
*STOP TALKING ABOUT THE TWINS.*
Below it was a second line.
*OR THE LAST PERSON WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH WILL DIEINS.*
Below it was a second line.
*OR THE LAST PERSON WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH WILL DIE.*
Rachel began shaking.
Officer Reynolds immediately called for backup.
I took the phone from her.
"Who sent this?""
Rachel whispered:
"Someone from the hospital.""
"Who?""
She looked directly at.**
Rachel began shaking.
Officer Reynolds immediately called for backup.
I took the phone from her.
"Who sent this?""
Rachel whispered:
"Someone from the hospital.""
"Who?""
She looked directly at me.
"Dr. Ethan Cole.""
At that exact moment, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke calmly me.
"Dr. Ethan Cole.""
At that exact moment, my phone rang.
The caller ID showed an unfamiliar number.
I answered.
A man's voice spoke calmly.
"Marcus, I understand you've been asking questions about my patients.""
"Dr. Cole?""
"Yes.""
"Did you switch my daughter's identity?""
He sighed.
"Marcus, I understand you've been asking questions about my patients.""
"Dr. Cole?""
"Yes.""
"Did you switch my daughter's identity?""
He sighed.
"I think we need to have a conversation.""
"Where are you?""
There was a brief pause.
Then he said:
"At your.
"I think we need to have a conversation.""
"Where are you?""
There was a brief pause.
Then he said:
"At your wife's grave.""
My blood ran cold.
"Why?""
His voice dropped.
"Because Nia left something there that you haven't found yet.""
The call ended.
And before Officer Reynolds could stop me, I was already running toward the wife's grave.""
My blood ran cold.
"Why?""
His voice dropped.
"Because Nia left something there that you haven't found yet.""
The call ended.
May you like
And before Officer Reynolds could stop me, I was already running toward the door.
door.
