Chapter 8: The Person Everyone Protected
The name on the DNA report followed me everywhere.
Even when I closed my eyes.
Even when I tried to think about anything else.
It was there.
Cole’s mother.
Margaret.
The woman who had hugged me at my wedding.
The woman who had cried when I told her she was going to be a grandmother.
The woman who had called my baby “our little miracle.””
I couldn’t understand it.
Why would Cole’s mother be connected to me?
And why would everyone hide it?
I drove straight to her house.
She opened the door with a smile.
That smile disappeared when she saw my face.
“Emma?””
I held up the report.
Her expression changed instantly.
“Where did you get that?””
Not denial.
Not confusion.
Fear.
“Why is your name on my DNA report?””
Margaret stepped backward.
“Come inside.””
“No.””
She looked around nervously.
“Emma, please.””
“You don’t get to ask me for anything.””
She swallowed.
“You’re right.””
I waited.
She looked older suddenly.
“I knew this day would come.””
Everyone kept saying that.
Like my entire life had been a countdown to a truth everyone else knew.
“How are you connected to me?””
She sat down.
“I was Rachel’s sister.””
The world went quiet.
“What?””
“She was my younger sister.””
I stared at her.
“No.””
She nodded slowly.
“I was there when you were born.””
I felt dizzy.
“You knew me?””
“I held you.””
My eyes filled with tears.
“You knew where I was.””
“Yes.””
The anger came back.
“You all knew.””
Margaret cried.
“I was young too.””
“You were an adult.””
“Yes.””
She looked down.
“And I made the worst choice of my life.””
I stepped closer.
“What choice?””
She looked at the floor.
“I helped Darla.””
My chest tightened.
“With what?””
“Keeping you away from Rachel.””
The words were almost impossible to hear.
“Why?””
Margaret shook her head.
“Because Darla convinced me Rachel was unstable. She told me you would be taken away by social services. She said she was finding you a safe home.””
“And you believed her?””
“I wanted to.””
That answer broke something inside me.
Because people didn’t always hurt you because they hated you.
Sometimes they hurt you because they wanted to believe a lie.
I left before I said something I couldn’t take back.
Outside, my phone rang.
Cole.
I almost ignored it.
But I answered.
“What?””
“Emma.””
His voice was different.
Urgent.
“What happened?””
“I found out something about my mother.””
I froze.
“I already know.””
Silence.
“What do you mean?””
“Margaret told me.””
Another pause.
Then he whispered:
“She told you?””
“Yes.””
A long breath.
“Emma, there’s something you need to know about the DNA report.””
I tightened my grip.
“What?””
“It wasn’t about your identity.””
“Then what was it about?””
His voice lowered.
“It was about our daughter.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“The report wasn’t testing whether you were related to Margaret.””
I felt cold.
“Then why?””
“Because someone tested the baby.””
I couldn’t speak.
Cole continued.
“And Emma…”
“Who ordered the test?””
Silence.
Then:
“Your mother.””
My hand moved to my stomach.
The same way it had in the pantry.
Protecting my baby.
“What did she find?””
Cole’s voice broke.
“She found out our daughter has a genetic condition.””
I closed my eyes.
Fear rushed through me.
“But why would she hide that?””
“I don’t know.””
I heard papers moving.
“Emma, there’s more.””
“What?””
“The test wasn’t done after the baby shower.””
My breathing stopped.
“When was it done?””
A pause.
“Before you even told us you were pregnant.””
The world went silent.
May you like
Because that meant one thing.
Someone had been watching my pregnancy before I knew it existed.