Chapter 4: The Truth My Mother Hid
I drove home without remembering the drive.
My mother’s words repeated in my head.
Your daughter isn’t the only child connected to that family.
When I arrived, Darla was sitting on my front steps.
Waiting.
I almost kept walking.
But she stood.
“Emma.””
I stopped.
“What child?””
Her face changed.
Fear.
Not guilt.
Fear.
That confused me.
“Come inside.””
“No.””
The woman who raised me looked smaller than she ever had.
“Please.””
I crossed my arms.
“You lost the right to ask me for anything.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
For once, she didn’t defend herself.
That hurt more.
Inside the house, she sat at the kitchen table.
The same table where she had helped me plan the baby shower.
“I had a daughter before you.””
I frowned.
“What?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I was nineteen.””
I said nothing.
“She was adopted.””
The room felt unreal.
“Why are you telling me this now?””
“Because Cole found out.””
My stomach dropped.
“What does Cole have to do with that?””
She looked at me.
“Because the baby’s father was his father.””
I couldn’t breathe.
No.
That didn’t make sense.
“What are you saying?””
“Your husband’s father had a child with me before he married Cole’s mother.””
I backed away.
“You’re lying.””
“I wish I was.””
The walls felt like they were closing in.
My mother reached for a folder on the table.
“I kept records.””
I opened it.
Inside were old documents.
Hospital papers.
Letters.
A birth certificate.
A name.
A name I had never seen before.
Darla’s voice cracked.
“I came back because I found out my daughter was searching for me.””
I looked up.
“And Cole?””
She covered her face.
“I was lonely.””
The honesty made me angry.
“You destroyed my marriage because you were lonely?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“I destroyed it because I was weak.””
I stared at the papers.
Everything was becoming more complicated.
But one thing remained simple.
She betrayed me.
Cole betrayed me.
That would never change.
That night, I called Cole.
He answered immediately.
“Emma?””
“I know.””
A pause.
“You know what?””
“About your father.””
Silence.
Then his voice changed.
“You talked to her.””
“Yes.””
“Emma, there’s something else.””
I closed my eyes.
“What?””
“I didn’t go to your mother because I wanted her.””
“Then why?””
His breathing became uneven.
“Because she contacted me first.””
My heart stopped.
“She said she could prove something about your baby.””
“What?””
“She said the paternity test would destroy you.””
I gripped the phone.
“Cole.””
“I know how it sounds.””
“No.””
I whispered.
“Tell me what she showed you.””
He didn’t answer.
Then I heard paper moving.
“I’m looking at it right now.””
“What is it?””
His voice became barely audible.
“An old DNA report.””
My knees weakened.
“Whose DNA?””
A long pause.
May you like
Then:
“Yours.””