Chapter 8: The Daughter Nobody Told Me About
"Andre had a daughter?""
The question came out of my mouth before I realized I was speaking.
My father stoodAndre had a daughter?""
The question came out of my mouth before I realized I was speaking.
My father stood frozen.
My mother slowly turned toward him.
"Richard?""
He didn't answer.
I looked from one parent to the other.
frozen.
My mother slowly turned toward him.
"Richard?""
He didn't answer.
I looked from one parent to the other.
"Does Andre have a daughter?""
My father finally sat down.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I gripped the back"Does Andre have a daughter?""
My father finally sat down.
"Yes.""
The room seemed to tilt.
I gripped the back of the chair.
"Where is she?""
He rubbed both hands over his face.
"She's alive.""
"Where?""
"I of the chair.
"Where is she?""
He rubbed both hands over his face.
"She's alive.""
"Where?""
"I don't know.""
I stared at him.
"You don't know?""
My mother began shaking her head.
"Richard, you don't know.""
I stared at him.
"You don't know?""
My mother began shaking her head.
"Richard, you told me she was being taken care of.""
He looked at her.
"She was.""
"Then where is she?""
My father looked toward Angela told me she was being taken care of.""
He looked at her.
"She was.""
"Then where is she?""
My father looked toward Angela.
"This is no longer a family conversation.""
Angela closed the folder in front of her.
"Actually, Mr. Carter, it became.
"This is no longer a family conversation.""
Angela closed the folder in front of her.
"Actually, Mr. Carter, it became a legal matter when you admitted knowing about the circumstances surrounding Andre's death. I strongly recommend you answer a legal matter when you admitted knowing about the circumstances surrounding Andre's death. I strongly recommend you answer carefully.""
Marcus stepped closer to me.
"Who is this child?""
My father sighed.
"Andre had carefully.""
Marcus stepped closer to me.
"Who is this child?""
My father sighed.
"Andre had a daughter with a woman named Monique.""
I felt a strange wave of sadness.
"How old?""
"She would be around seven now a daughter with a woman named Monique.""
I felt a strange wave of sadness.
"How old?""
"She would be around seven now.""
Seven.
A little girl.
Seven years old.
I thought about Andre's letter.""
Seven.
A little girl.
Seven years old.
I thought about Andre's letter, where he had written about wanting children. I remembered how he used to talk about teaching a little boy to ride a bicycle.
I, where he had written about wanting children. I remembered how he used to talk about teaching a little boy to ride a bicycle.
I had never known he had actually become a father.
"Did he know about her?"" I asked.
My father nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did he love her?""
My father looked down.
"Very much.""
I covered my mouth.
"Why didn't anybody had never known he had actually become a father.
"Did he know about her?"" I asked.
My father nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did he love her?""
My father looked down.
"Very much.""
I covered my mouth.
"Why didn't anybody tell me?""
My mother looked at me.
"Because by the time we found out about her, Andre was already dead.""
"How did you find out?""
My father tell me?""
My mother looked at me.
"Because by the time we found out about her, Andre was already dead.""
"How did you find out?""
My father hesitated.
"Monique contacted me.""
"When?""
"About a month after the funeral.""
I stared at him.
"And what did she want hesitated.
"Monique contacted me.""
"When?""
"About a month after the funeral.""
I stared at him.
"And what did she want?""
"She said Andre had been supporting her and the baby. She wanted to know what would happen now that he?""
"She said Andre had been supporting her and the baby. She wanted to know what would happen now that he was gone.""
"Did you help her?""
My father looked away.
"I gave her money.""
"How much?""
"Enough to help her get settled.""
Marcus was gone.""
"Did you help her?""
My father looked away.
"I gave her money.""
"How much?""
"Enough to help her get settled.""
Marcus frowned.
"Where is the documentation?""
My father didn't answer.
I felt sick.
"Did you tell frowned.
"Where is the documentation?""
My father didn't answer.
I felt sick.
"Did you tell her who you were?""
"No.""
"Did you tell her about me?""
He shook his head.
"Why?""
"Because I didn't her who you were?""
"No.""
"Did you tell her about me?""
He shook his head.
"Why?""
"Because I didn't want another family situation getting complicated.""
I laughed through my tears.
"You didn't want another family situation?""
My mother covered her face.
My father continued.
"Monique was young want another family situation getting complicated.""
I laughed through my tears.
"You didn't want another family situation?""
My mother covered her face.
My father continued.
"Monique was young. She had a baby. She didn't want trouble. I thought it was best to help her quietly.""
"Where. She had a baby. She didn't want trouble. I thought it was best to help her quietly.""
"Where did she go?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at the old photograph of Andre and my mother.
Then at did she go?""
"I don't know.""
I looked at the old photograph of Andre and my mother.
Then at the letter.
Then at my father.
"Did Andre know I was his sister when he died?""
"Yes.""
"Did he know about the baby?""
My father nodded.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
He had been the letter.
Then at my father.
"Did Andre know I was his sister when he died?""
"Yes.""
"Did he know about the baby?""
My father nodded.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
He had been carrying so many secrets.
His adoption.
His feelings.
His fear for Darius.
His daughter.
And he carrying so many secrets.
His adoption.
His feelings.
His fear for Darius.
His daughter.
And he had died without getting the chance to explain any of it.
Marcus placed a hand on my back.
"One thing at a time.""
I nodded.
Then had died without getting the chance to explain any of it.
Marcus placed a hand on my back.
"One thing at a time.""
I nodded.
Then I turned to Darius.
"Did you know about the little girl?""
Darius nodded.
"Yes.""
"What's her name?""
" I turned to Darius.
"Did you know about the little girl?""
Darius nodded.
"Yes.""
"What's her name?""
"Amara.""
The name settled over the room.
Amara.
I whispered it.
"Amara.""
Darius reachedAmara.""
The name settled over the room.
Amara.
I whispered it.
"Amara.""
Darius reached into his bag.
"I have something else.""
He removed a small photograph.
It showed a little girl sitting on Andre's shoulders at into his bag.
"I have something else.""
He removed a small photograph.
It showed a little girl sitting on Andre's shoulders at what looked like a park.
She had two puff ponytails, a pink jacket, and a wide smile.
Andre was laughing.
Not the posed smile from the old photograph.
A what looked like a park.
She had two puff ponytails, a pink jacket, and a wide smile.
Andre was laughing.
Not the posed smile from the old photograph.
A real laugh.
The kind I remembered.
My fingers trembled as I took the picture.
"How old was she here?""
"About real laugh.
The kind I remembered.
My fingers trembled as I took the picture.
"How old was she here?""
"About two.""
I looked at her face.
She had Andre's eyes.
And his smile.
I began crying.
"Does she know he's two.""
I looked at her face.
She had Andre's eyes.
And his smile.
I began crying.
"Does she know he's dead?""
Darius nodded.
"Yes.""
"Does she know who he was?""
"She knows he was her father.""
I pressed dead?""
Darius nodded.
"Yes.""
"Does she know who he was?""
"She knows he was her father.""
I pressed the photograph against my chest.
"Where is she now?""
Darius looked at my father.
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
My father stood abruptly.
"This needs to stop.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
the photograph against my chest.
"Where is she now?""
Darius looked at my father.
"That's what I've been trying to find out.""
My father stood abruptly.
"This needs to stop.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
"You don't know Monique. You don't know what she's like. You can't just walk into that child's life.""
I stared at him.
""You don't know Monique. You don't know what she's like. You can't just walk into that child's life.""
I stared at him.
"She's my niece.""
"She's a child who needs stability.""
"Then help me find her.""
MyShe's my niece.""
"She's a child who needs stability.""
"Then help me find her.""
My father shook his head.
"Danielle, please.""
I took a step toward him.
"Did you make sure she was safe?""
He said father shook his head.
"Danielle, please.""
I took a step toward him.
"Did you make sure she was safe?""
He said nothing.
"Did you make sure she had everything she needed?""
Silence.
"Did you even check on her birthday?""
My mother nothing.
"Did you make sure she had everything she needed?""
Silence.
"Did you even check on her birthday?""
My mother started crying again.
My father looked at the floor.
I understood then.
He had paid Monique to disappear.
He had treated Andre's daughter started crying again.
My father looked at the floor.
I understood then.
He had paid Monique to disappear.
He had treated Andre's daughter like another problem to be buried.
Marcus looked at him.
"Richard, did you make her sign something like another problem to be buried.
Marcus looked at him.
"Richard, did you make her sign something?""
My father didn't answer.
Darius suddenly stood.
"He did.""
Everyone turned.
Darius looked furious.
"I found the papers.""
My?""
My father didn't answer.
Darius suddenly stood.
"He did.""
Everyone turned.
Darius looked furious.
"I found the papers.""
My father glared at him.
"You don't know what you're talking about.""
"I saw them. You paid Monique to move out of state and sign an agreement not to contact anyone connected father glared at him.
"You don't know what you're talking about.""
"I saw them. You paid Monique to move out of state and sign an agreement not to contact anyone connected to Andre.""
I stared at my father.
"You did what?""
He raised his voice.
"She wanted money! She wanted to Andre.""
I stared at my father.
"You did what?""
He raised his voice.
"She wanted money! She wanted to make sure her daughter was taken care of!""
"Then why did she have to disappear?""
My father had no answer.
Angela asked Darius to explain what he had found.
to make sure her daughter was taken care of!""
"Then why did she have to disappear?""
My father had no answer.
Angela asked Darius to explain what he had found.
He described a document dated several weeks after Andre's funeral. It contained a financial agreement and a confidentialityHe described a document dated several weeks after Andre's funeral. It contained a financial agreement and a confidentiality clause.
My father had arranged for Monique to receive money.
In exchange, she agreed not to contact the Carter family.
I clause.
My father had arranged for Monique to receive money.
In exchange, she agreed not to contact the Carter family.
I felt physically sick.
"She was raising Andre's child.""
My father looked at me.
"I thought I was doing what felt physically sick.
"She was raising Andre's child.""
My father looked at me.
"I thought I was doing what was best.""
"No. You were deciding who deserved to be remembered.""
I turned away.
Marcus placed his hand on my was best.""
"No. You were deciding who deserved to be remembered.""
I turned away.
Marcus placed his hand on my shoulder.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Danielle, we need to find her.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
My father shook his head.
"You're making a mistake.""
I looked at him.
"Maybe shoulder.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Danielle, we need to find her.""
I nodded.
"Yes.""
My father shook his head.
"You're making a mistake.""
I looked at him.
"Maybe. But at least this time, it's going to be my decision.""
Later that afternoon, Angela helped. But at least this time, it's going to be my decision.""
Later that afternoon, Angela helped us contact an investigator who could locate Monique through lawful records.
We didn't have an address.
We didn't have a phone number.
All we had was her full us contact an investigator who could locate Monique through lawful records.
We didn't have an address.
We didn't have a phone number.
All we had was her full name, an old photograph, and a copy of the agreement my father had kept.
Darius offered to help.
He said he had spent years trying to find name, an old photograph, and a copy of the agreement my father had kept.
Darius offered to help.
He said he had spent years trying to find her but had stopped after receiving a warning from someone connected to Raymond's former business her but had stopped after receiving a warning from someone connected to Raymond's former business.
Marcus remained quiet during the entire process.
When we finally returned home, I found him standing in the nursery.
Our son was asleep.
Marcus remained quiet during the entire process.
When we finally returned home, I found him standing in the nursery.
Our son was asleep.
He was holding the little photograph of Amara.
I stopped in the doorway.
"What are you thinking.
He was holding the little photograph of Amara.
I stopped in the doorway.
"What are you thinking?""
Marcus looked at the little girl.
"That your son has a cousin he doesn't know exists.""
I nodded.
"And an uncle he never got to meet.""
Marcus?""
Marcus looked at the little girl.
"That your son has a cousin he doesn't know exists.""
I nodded.
"And an uncle he never got to meet.""
Marcus placed the photograph on the dresser.
"How much more is there?""
I sat in the rocking chair.
placed the photograph on the dresser.
"How much more is there?""
I sat in the rocking chair.
"I don't know.""
He looked at me.
"That's what scares me.""
I stared at our son.
His tiny fingers were"I don't know.""
He looked at me.
"That's what scares me.""
I stared at our son.
His tiny fingers were wrapped around the edge of his blanket.
"Marcus, I need to ask you something.""
He came closer.
"Go ahead.""
"If wrapped around the edge of his blanket.
"Marcus, I need to ask you something.""
He came closer.
"Go ahead.""
"If we find Amara, will you let her be part of our family?""
He looked surprised.
"Of course.""
"Even with everything that's happened?""
"Danielle, she's a little girl. She didn't we find Amara, will you let her be part of our family?""
He looked surprised.
"Of course.""
"Even with everything that's happened?""
"Danielle, she's a little girl. She didn't do anything wrong.""
I started crying.
Marcus crouched in front of me.
"But I need you to promise me something.""
"What?""
"We do anything wrong.""
I started crying.
Marcus crouched in front of me.
"But I need you to promise me something.""
"What?""
"We're going to build our own family. We're not going to make our son carry Andre's past. We're not going to make Amara're going to build our own family.
We're not going to make our son carry Andre's past. We're not going to make Amara carry it either.""
I nodded.
"Okay.""
"And we're going to stop letting your parents decide what truth we deserve.""
I reached for his hand.
"Okay.""
He held it.
For the carry it either.""
I nodded.
"Okay.""
"And we're going to stop letting your parents decide what truth we deserve.""
I reached for his hand.
"Okay.""
He held it.
For the first time in days, he kissed my forehead.
It wasn't a complete reconciliation.
There were still questions between us.
There was still the first time in days, he kissed my forehead.
It wasn't a complete reconciliation.
There were still questions between us.
There was still the matter of our son's name.
But something had shifted.
We were no longer fighting over a photograph.
We were trying to save a family from the lies matter of our son's name.
But something had shifted.
We were no longer fighting over a photograph.
We were trying to save a family from the lies that had surrounded it.
Then Marcus's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
It was Angela.
He answered that had surrounded it.
Then Marcus's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
It was Angela.
He answered.
"Hello?""
I watched his expression change.
"What do you mean?""
He listened.
Then he looked at.
"Hello?""
I watched his expression change.
"What do you mean?""
He listened.
Then he looked at me.
"Are you sure?""
Another pause.
"Okay. Send us the address.""
He ended the call.
I stood.
"What happened?""
me.
"Are you sure?""
Another pause.
"Okay. Send us the address.""
He ended the call.
I stood.
"What happened?""
Marcus swallowed.
"They found Monique.""
My heart jumped.
"Where?""
He looked down at his phone.
"She's in CharlotteMarcus swallowed.
"They found Monique.""
My heart jumped.
"Where?""
He looked down at his phone.
"She's in Charlotte.""
I exhaled shakily.
"And Amara?""
Marcus hesitated.
"She's with her.""
I pressed my hands.""
I exhaled shakily.
"And Amara?""
Marcus hesitated.
"She's with her.""
I pressed my hands together.
"Can we talk to them?""
"Angela says we can try.""
I smiled through my together.
"Can we talk to them?""
"Angela says we can try.""
I smiled through my tears.
Then Marcus added something.
"There's a problem.""
My smile disappeared.
"What?""
He turned the tears.
Then Marcus added something.
"There's a problem.""
My smile disappeared.
"What?""
He turned the phone toward me.
Angela had sent a photograph.
It showed a woman standing outside a small house, holding a little girl's hand.
But the woman wasn't phone toward me.
Angela had sent a photograph.
It showed a woman standing outside a small house, holding a little girl's hand.
But the woman wasn't looking at the camera.
She was looking over her shoulder.
And in the doorway behind her stood a man.
A man whose looking at the camera.
She was looking over her shoulder.
And in the doorway behind her stood a man.
A man whose face I recognized from the old police report.
Vincent Hale.
The man accused of shooting Andre.
I stared at the screen.
Marcus whispered face I recognized from the old police report.
Vincent Hale.
The man accused of shooting Andre.
May you like
I stared at the screen.
Marcus whispered, "Danielle, I think he found them before we did.""
