Chapter 14: The Girl Who Raised My Family
I stared at Adrian.
“Nia?””
He nodded.
“The woman Who Raised My Family
I stared at Adrian.
“Nia?””
He nodded.
“The woman who works in your house.””
My mind raced back to the bedroom.
N who works in your house.””
My mind raced back to the bedroom.
Nia holding the babies.
The cloth around her wrist.
Her terrifiedia holding the babies.
The cloth around her wrist.
Her terrified expression when Eleanor entered.
The way she had begged me not to expression when Eleanor entered.
The way she had begged me not to let anyone take the children.
“You're telling me Nia is related to us?””
Adrian let anyone take the children.
“You're telling me Nia is related to us?””
Adrian laughed weakly.
“Not just related.””
My mother slowly stood.
“That's enough laughed weakly.
“Not just related.””
My mother slowly stood.
“That's enough.””
But Adrian continued.
“Ask her about the hospital. Ask her what name.””
But Adrian continued.
“Ask her about the hospital. Ask her what name was written on her first birth certificate.””
I looked at Officer Bennett.
“Can you contact Nia?””
He nodded and was written on her first birth certificate.””
I looked at Officer Bennett.
“Can you contact Nia?””
He nodded and spoke into his radio.
I turned toward my mother.
“Why would you hide this from me?””
She looked exhausted spoke into his radio.
I turned toward my mother.
“Why would you hide this from me?””
She looked exhausted.
“Because I didn't know.””
“Everyone seems to know something except me.””
“Marcus, please.””
.
“Because I didn't know.””
“Everyone seems to know something except me.””
“Marcus, please.””
“No. I want the truth.””
My mother sat beside the desk.
“After your“No. I want the truth.””
My mother sat beside the desk.
“After your father died, Richard showed me records suggesting there had been several embryo transfers. Some were legitimate father died, Richard showed me records suggesting there had been several embryo transfers. Some were legitimate.
Others were not. He told me one child had been placed with another family.””
“And. Others were not. He told me one child had been placed with another family.””
“And that child was Nia?””
She nodded.
“He said the baby had been abandoned at a hospital.””
I that child was Nia?””
She nodded.
“He said the baby had been abandoned at a hospital.””
I stared.
“Why would Richard arrange that?””
“Because the child was evidence stared.
“Why would Richard arrange that?””
“Because the child was evidence of an affair involving your father.””
I looked at the laboratory report.
“Was Nia my father's daughter of an affair involving your father.””
I looked at the laboratory report.
“Was Nia my father's daughter?””
My mother hesitated.
“That's what we need to establish.””
An officer approached.
“Mr. Bennett, we have someone?””
My mother hesitated.
“That's what we need to establish.””
An officer approached.
“Mr. Bennett, we have someone on the phone.””
He handed me his mobile.
Nia's voice came through immediately on the phone.””
He handed me his mobile.
Nia's voice came through immediately.
“Sir?””
“Nia, where are you?””
“I'm at the.
“Sir?””
“Nia, where are you?””
“I'm at the police station. They brought me here after the hospital.””
“Are you safe?””
“Yes.””
I swallowed.
“There's something I need to ask you police station. They brought me here after the hospital.””
“Are you safe?””
“Yes.””
I swallowed.
“There's something I need to ask you.””
She went quiet.
“Do you know a woman named Margaret?””
A.””
She went quiet.
“Do you know a woman named Margaret?””
A long silence followed.
Then Nia whispered, “Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“How?””
“Because long silence followed.
Then Nia whispered, “Yes.””
My chest tightened.
“How?””
“Because that's the name on my first hospital bracelet.””
I closed my eyes.
“Nia, that's the name on my first hospital bracelet.””
I closed my eyes.
“Nia, did you ever meet Richard Hayes?””
“Yes.””
“Did he tell you anything about your birth did you ever meet Richard Hayes?””
“Yes.””
“Did he tell you anything about your birth?””
She began crying.
“He told me my mother had abandoned me.””
My mother covered?””
She began crying.
“He told me my mother had abandoned me.””
My mother covered her mouth.
I asked, “Did he ever tell you who your father was?””
Nia hesitated.
Then she said, “Your father.””
I couldn't her mouth.
I asked, “Did he ever tell you who your father was?””
Nia hesitated.
Then she said, “Your father.””
I couldn't speak.
Nia continued.
“Mr. Bennett, I didn't know who you were when speak.
Nia continued.
“Mr. Bennett, I didn't know who you were when I started working at your house. I only knew that Richard had asked me to watch your wife.””
I felt my I started working at your house. I only knew that Richard had asked me to watch your wife.””
I felt my blood run cold.
“Watch Eleanor?””
“Yes. He said she was involved in something dangerous. He told blood run cold.
“Watch Eleanor?””
“Yes. He said she was involved in something dangerous. He told me to report anything unusual.””
“Did you know about the babies?””
“No. I found them in the bedroom after Mrs. me to report anything unusual.””
“Did you know about the babies?””
“No. I found them in the bedroom after Mrs. Eleanor brought them upstairs.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Why did you stay?””
“Because I wanted to Eleanor brought them upstairs.””
I rubbed my forehead.
“Why did you stay?””
“Because I wanted to understand why Richard kept asking me about your family.””
I lowered my voice.
“Nia understand why Richard kept asking me about your family.””
I lowered my voice.
“Nia, did Richard ever tell you that you were his daughter?””
“No.””
She paused.
“Mrs. Eleanor did.””
I looked toward, did Richard ever tell you that you were his daughter?””
“No.””
She paused.
“Mrs. Eleanor did.””
I looked toward my wife.
She was standing in the doorway, listening.
“What did Eleanor my wife.
She was standing in the doorway, listening.
“What did Eleanor tell you?””
Nia whispered:
“She told me that Richard had arranged my adoption tell you?””
Nia whispered:
“She told me that Richard had arranged my adoption because he didn't want another child connected to your father.””
I felt sick.
“So you're my because he didn't want another child connected to your father.””
I felt sick.
“So you're my father's daughter?””
“I don't know.””
Then Nia said something unexpected.
“But I have something that father's daughter?””
“I don't know.””
Then Nia said something unexpected.
“But I have something that might help.””
“What?””
“A letter. Richard left it with the adoption papers.””
might help.””
“What?””
“A letter. Richard left it with the adoption papers.””
“Where?””
“In the house. Behind the loose“Where?””
“In the house. Behind the loose panel in the laundry room.””
I turned toward Officer Bennett.
“We need to go back panel in the laundry room.””
I turned toward Officer Bennett.
“We need to go back.””
He nodded.
But before we could leave, Adrian began shouting.
“You don't.””
He nodded.
But before we could leave, Adrian began shouting.
“You don't understand! None of you understand!””
Officer Bennett pushed him toward the door.
“Save understand! None of you understand!””
Officer Bennett pushed him toward the door.
“Save it for the interview room.””
Adrian turned toward me.
“Marcus it for the interview room.””
Adrian turned toward me.
“Marcus! You think finding another sister solves anything?””
I looked at! You think finding another sister solves anything?””
I looked at him.
“What do you want?””
He laughed.
“Richard wasn't the only one who changed the records.””
Then him.
“What do you want?””
He laughed.
“Richard wasn't the only one who changed the records.””
Then he looked at Eleanor.
“Ask your wife who signed the original adoption papers.””
Eleanor he looked at Eleanor.
“Ask your wife who signed the original adoption papers.””
Eleanor went completely still.
I turned toward her.
“Eleanor?””
She shook her head.
went completely still.
I turned toward her.
“Eleanor?””
She shook her head.
“I didn't.””
Adrian smiled.
“She did.””
I stared at my wife.
“Did“I didn't.””
Adrian smiled.
“She did.””
I stared at my wife.
“Did you sign Nia's adoption papers?””
Eleanor began crying.
“I was eighteen.””
The words you sign Nia's adoption papers?””
Eleanor began crying.
“I was eighteen.””
The words barely came out.
I felt as though someone had punched me.
“What barely came out.
I felt as though someone had punched me.
“What?””
She covered her face.
“My parents told me there was a baby who needed a family. They said the mother had died.?””
She covered her face.
“My parents told me there was a baby who needed a family. They said the mother had died. I signed the paperwork because I was told it was the right thing to do.””
“Was that baby I signed the paperwork because I was told it was the right thing to do.””
“Was that baby Nia?””
She nodded.
“Then why did you hire her?””
“I didn't know it was her at Nia?””
She nodded.
“Then why did you hire her?””
“I didn't know it was her at first.””
“When did you realize?””
“Two months ago.””
I stared at her.
“And you kept her in first.””
“When did you realize?””
“Two months ago.””
I stared at her.
“And you kept her in our house?””
“I wanted to make sure she was safe.””
“You locked her in a bedroom!””
“I panicked!””
I stepped our house?””
“I wanted to make sure she was safe.””
“You locked her in a bedroom!””
“I panicked!””
I stepped away.
I couldn't look at her.
The woman who had betrayed me had also been responsible for away.
I couldn't look at her.
The woman who had betrayed me had also been responsible for hiding a girl who might have been my half-sister.
And that hiding a girl who might have been my half-sister.
And that girl had spent months working in our home, unaware of her own history.
We returned to the house under police girl had spent months working in our home, unaware of her own history.
We returned to the house under police escort.
In the laundry room, Officer Bennett found the loose panel.
Behind it was a metal box.
Inside were adoption records escort.
In the laundry room, Officer Bennett found the loose panel.
Behind it was a metal box.
Inside were adoption records, old photographs, and a letter addressed to Nia.
I opened it carefully.
My daughter,
*If you are reading this, then the, old photographs, and a letter addressed to Nia.
I opened it carefully.
My daughter,
If you are reading this, then the people who raised you have finally failed to keep the truth hidden.
You were people who raised you have finally failed to keep the truth hidden.
You were born Margaret's child. Richard Hayes was your biological father.
I looked at the date.
Nia was born Margaret's child. Richard Hayes was your biological father.*
I looked at the date.
Nia was not my father's daughter.
She was Richard's daughter.
My mother sat down.
“Then Adrian and Nia are not my father's daughter.
She was Richard's daughter.
My mother sat down.
“Then Adrian and Nia are half-siblings.””
I looked at the photographs.
There were three children.
Adrian.
N half-siblings.””
I looked at the photographs.
There were three children.
Adrian.
Nia.
And a little girl with dark hair.
Helen Morrow.
The doctor.
The three childrenia.
And a little girl with dark hair.
Helen Morrow.
The doctor.
The three children Richard had hidden from the world.
But the letter continued Richard had hidden from the world.
But the letter continued.
I did not abandon you. I was forced to leave you because Richard threatened to expose your mother's past.
Your mother loved you. She wanted you to have a safe life.
At the bottom was a.
I did not abandon you. I was forced to leave you because Richard threatened to expose your mother's past.
Your mother loved you. She wanted you to have a safe life.
At the bottom was a signature.
*Margaret Hayes.*
I looked at the adoption papers.
The date of Nia's adoption signature.
*Margaret Hayes.*
I looked at the adoption papers.
The date of Nia's adoption was the same date Eleanor had signed the documents.
My wife had unknowingly adopted the daughter of the man who was the same date Eleanor had signed the documents.
My wife had unknowingly adopted the daughter of the man who would later manipulate her.
The irony was almost unbearable.
Then Officer Bennett's phone rang.
He listened for would later manipulate her.
The irony was almost unbearable.
Then Officer Bennett's phone rang.
He listened for several seconds.
His expression changed.
“What happened?”” I asked.
He covered several seconds.
His expression changed.
“What happened?”” I asked.
He covered the receiver.
“Dr. Helen Morrow has been located.””
“Where?””
“At St. Catherine's.””
“Is she safe?””
He hesitated.
“She the receiver.
“Dr. Helen Morrow has been located.””
“Where?””
“At St. Catherine's.””
“Is she safe?””
He hesitated.
“She asked to speak with you.””
“Why?””
The officer lowered his voice.
“Because she says she asked to speak with you.””
“Why?””
The officer lowered his voice.
“Because she says she has the original medical records for all four children.””
“Four?””
He nodded has the original medical records for all four children.””
“Four?””
He nodded.
“Apparently, there was another baby.””
My heart sank.
“What baby?””
The officer looked at me.
“Your father and.
“Apparently, there was another baby.””
My heart sank.
“What baby?””
The officer looked at me.
“Your father and Margaret had a fourth child.””
Before I could ask another question, a message arrived from Helen Margaret had a fourth child.””
Before I could ask another question, a message arrived from Helen.
**Marcus, I know you have discovered the truth about Nia. But there.
*Marcus, I know you have discovered the truth about Nia. But there is one final secret. The baby your father believed had died was never dead.*
A is one final secret. The baby your father believed had died was never dead.**
A second message followed.
*That baby is the person who has been protecting Oliver.*
I stared at the screen.
Then I heard second message followed.
*That baby is the person who has been protecting Oliver.*
I stared at the screen.
Then I heard Nia whisper behind me.
“Sir…”
I turned.
She was holding an old photograph.
A young woman stood beside Margaret.
In Nia whisper behind me.
“Sir…”
I turned.
She was holding an old photograph.
A young woman stood beside Margaret.
In her arms was a newborn baby.
And on the back, written in my father's handwriting, were five words.
**Our her arms was a newborn baby.
And on the back, written in my father's handwriting, were five words.
*Our youngest child. Never tell Richard.*
Nia looked up.
“Who is youngest child. Never tell Richard.**
Nia looked up.
“Who is this baby?””
I stared at the photograph.
Because I recognized the hospital bracelet.
It was identical to the one this baby?””
I stared at the photograph.
Because I recognized the hospital bracelet.
It was identical to the one Richard had left in the study.
The name printed on it was:
**M Richard had left in the study.
May you like
The name printed on it was:
*MARCUS BENNETT.*
