The Test She Planted

“Someone has been asking for Maya's birth records.””

Aunt Rebecca still held the telephone against her ear when she said it. Her face had gone so pale that Malik reached for her elbow.

Dad stood beside the table, the silver key marked 214 clenched in his fist.

“Who called you?”” he demanded.

“The hospital records department. They said someone came in this afternoon asking about Laura's medical history and Maya's birth certificate.””

“Who?””

“They wouldn't give me a name over the phone. But they said the woman left a message for Daniel Carter.””

Dad snatched the receiver.

“This is Daniel Carter. Who was asking about my daughter?””

A woman's voice answered faintly through the line.

Dad listened, his expression changing with every passing second.

“Did she leave an address?””

Another pause.

“An email?””

He closed his eyes.

“Then tell me what she said. Every word.””

I watched his fingers tighten around the receiver.

When he finally hung up, he looked as though he'd aged ten years.

“What happened?”” Malik asked.

Dad rubbed his mouth.

“The woman at the hospital said someone came in asking whether Maya had a sibling born before her. She claimed she had information about a child whose records were sealed.””

My aunt sank into a chair.

“And they told you this because?””

“Because the woman specifically asked them to contact me if I called.””

I stared at the photograph of my mother holding me as a newborn.

“Did she say her name?””

Dad hesitated.

Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper.

The hospital clerk had given him a number to call. Beneath it was a handwritten message.

Please tell Daniel that I know what happened to the first baby.

My throat tightened.

“What does that mean?””

Dad knelt beside me.

“I don't know yet, sweetheart.””

“Is she my sister?””

He looked at the photograph.

“I don't know that either.””

I hated those words.

All day, every adult in my life seemed to know something I didn't. Vanessa had secrets. My mother had secrets. Even Dad had memories he couldn't explain.

And now a stranger was asking about my birth.

I wanted one person to tell me the truth.

“Call the number,” I said.

Dad nodded.

He dialed from his cell phone and placed the call on speaker.

It rang four times.

Then a young woman's voice answered.

“Hello?””

Dad swallowed.

“I'm Daniel Carter. Someone left a message about my daughter.””

Silence.

Then the woman whispered, “Maya?””

I sat up straight.

“How do you know my name?””

A shaky breath came through the speaker.

“Because I've been trying to find you for years.””

Dad's expression hardened.

“Who are you?””

“My name is Claire.””

“Claire what?””

“Hayes.””

The room went still.

My aunt covered her mouth.

Dad gripped the phone.

“Are you Margaret Hayes's daughter?””

“Yes.””

“Are you the baby in the photograph?””

“No,” Claire said quickly.

“That was someone else.””

“Then who are you?””

“I think I'm your daughter.””

Dad stopped breathing.

Malik muttered a curse under his breath.

I stared at my father, waiting for him to deny it. To tell the stranger she'd made a mistake.

Instead, he sank into the nearest chair.

“That isn't possible,” he whispered.

“I know how it sounds.””

“Laura never told me about another child.””

“She told my mother that you didn't know.””

Dad's face twisted.

“Why would she hide a child from me?””

“I don't know everything. I was adopted when I was a baby. My mother told me that my biological parents couldn't raise me together and that the arrangement was private.””

Claire's voice trembled.

“She died last year. Before she died, she gave me a box of letters. One of them had your name on it.””

Dad looked at Rebecca.

My aunt was crying silently.

“Why are you contacting us now?”” he asked.

“Because I found a photograph of Laura holding a newborn. On the back, she wrote a date, a hospital room number, and a sentence that made me realize I might have a sister.””

“What sentence?””

Claire paused.

“She wrote, If you ever find the other girl, tell her she was loved before either of us knew how to explain it.”

I pressed my hand over my mouth.

My mother had written that.

My mother had thought about another girl.

A girl who might be my sister.

Dad leaned forward.

“Claire, I need proof.””

“I understand.””

“Do you have the original documents?””

“Yes. Birth records, adoption papers, letters. I can show you everything.””

“Where are you?””

“About forty minutes from your sister's school.””

Dad glanced at me.

“Can we meet you tomorrow?””

“I'd prefer tonight.””

“Why?””

Claire's voice dropped.

“Because Vanessa found me yesterday.””

Dad shot to his feet.

“What?””

“She came to my apartment. She said I needed to stop asking questions about Laura. She offered me money to leave town.””

My aunt stood.

“Did you take it?””

“No.””

“Did she threaten you?””

Claire hesitated.

“She told me that if I contacted Daniel, Maya would be the one who paid for it.””

My stomach dropped.

Dad's face turned frighteningly calm.

“Where are you right now?””

“In my car, parked outside a diner. I didn't know who else to call.””

“Stay there. Don't go anywhere alone. I'm coming to get you.””

“Daniel?””

“Yes?””

“If Vanessa knows you're looking for me, she might try to stop you.””

Dad glanced at the photograph on the table.

“Then she should have told the truth before she had the chance.””

He ended the call.

Malik was already reaching for his jacket.

“I'm coming with you.””

Dad nodded.

Rebecca took my hand.

“You're staying with me.””

I looked at her.

“I want to meet her.””

“You will, sweetheart. But not until we know it's safe.””

I wanted to argue, but Dad was already moving toward the door.

Before leaving, he knelt in front of me.

“I know I've asked you to trust me too many times today.””

I swallowed.

“Yes.””

“I won't ask you to believe anything about Claire until we have proof. But I promise you this: nobody is sending you away, and nobody is going to use you to hide their secrets again.””

I nodded, although I wasn't sure I believed him.

Dad and Malik left.

Rebecca made tea neither of us drank. She sat beside me on the sofa while the old clock ticked away the minutes.

At 9:42 p.m., Dad sent a message.

We found her. We're bringing her home.

I stared at the screen.

Then another message arrived.

There's something you need to know. Claire has a photograph of Vanessa holding a newborn baby.

My fingers went cold.

I typed back.

What baby?

The reply came almost immediately.