Chapter 5: The Woman Outside the Hospital
The next morning, Dad received a call from an unfamiliar number.
He answered while standing beside the kitchen window.
"Daniel Carter.""
A woman's voice came through.
"Mr. Carter, my name is Eleanor Hayes.""
Dad stopped moving.
Michael, who was pouring coffee, immediately looked up.
Dad put the call on speaker.
"How did you get my number?""
"Your attorney contacted the hospital yesterday. They asked whether I could be reached.""
Dad looked at Rebecca.
She nodded.
"Eleanor," he said carefully, "do you know why we're looking for you?""
There was a long silence.
Then the woman replied.
"Because Vanessa found the papers.""
Dad's expression hardened.
"What papers?""
"The original birth records. The adoption agreement. The letter Sarah left with me.""
My heart started pounding.
Dad gripped the edge of the counter.
"Are you saying you have documents about my daughter?""
"Yes.""
"Why didn't you contact us?""
"I tried years ago.""
Dad frowned.
"When?""
"After Sarah died. I sent a letter to your house, but it was returned. Later, I called your office. Someone told me you didn't want to be contacted.""
Dad looked at Michael.
"That never happened.""
Eleanor's voice trembled.
"I know that now.""
Rebecca moved closer.
"Eleanor, this is Rebecca Lawson, Mr. Carter's attorney. We would like to meet you and examine the original documents.""
"Of course.""
"Where are you?""
"At St. Mary's Hospital. I'm receiving treatment this morning, but I can meet you afterward.""
Dad immediately asked, "Are you all right?""
"I'm managing.""
Then her voice softened.
"Is Lily there?""
I stepped closer.
Dad looked at me.
"Yes. She's here.""
"May I speak to her?""
My father hesitated.
Then he handed me the phone.
"Hello?"" I whispered.
There was a small, shaky breath on the other end.
"Hello, Lily.""
"Do you know me?""
"Not the way I wish I did.""
I didn't know what to say.
Eleanor continued.
"I've seen photographs of you. Sarah sent me pictures every year.""
"Why?""
"Because she wanted me to know you were happy.""
I looked at Dad.
He was listening carefully.
"Are you my mother?"" I asked.
The silence lasted several seconds.
Then Eleanor answered.
"I gave birth to you, sweetheart.""
My throat tightened.
"But Sarah raised me.""
"Yes.""
"Did she love me?""
Eleanor's voice broke.
"More than anything in the world.""
I handed the phone back to Dad.
I couldn't speak anymore.
We met Eleanor at the hospital that afternoon.
She was sitting near a large window overlooking the parking lot. She wore a pale blue cardigan and had a knitted blanket across her knees.
She looked smaller than the woman in the photograph.
But her eyes were the same.
When she saw me, she slowly stood.
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then she whispered, "You have Sarah's smile.""
I didn't know whether I should hug her.
I didn't know whether I should call her anything.
So I simply stood there.
Eleanor didn't force me.
She held out a small envelope.
"These belong to you.""
Dad stepped forward.
"Let's let Rebecca review them first.""
Eleanor nodded.
Inside the envelope were several photographs, a hospital bracelet, and a handwritten letter.
Rebecca examined the documents.
The first was an official birth record.
The second was a court-approved adoption order.
The third was a document signed by Eleanor and Sarah.
Dad looked at it.
"Sarah adopted Lily?""
Eleanor nodded.
"Yes. Legally and properly. She was your wife, Daniel. She wanted to become Lily's mother, and I wanted Lily to have a family.""
I stared at her.
"Why couldn't you raise me?""
Eleanor lowered herself into the chair.
"Because I was very sick when you were born. I had no stable home, and I was dealing with a serious medical problem. I knew I couldn't give you the childhood you deserved.""
She paused.
"Sarah had been my closest friend for years. She and I had talked about this possibility long before you were born.""
Dad looked stunned.
"You knew Sarah before Lily's birth?""
Eleanor nodded.
"We met through a community support program. She helped me when I was pregnant. She visited me almost every week.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The woman beside Mom.
The woman who had been there when I was born.
"Did you give me away because you didn't love me?""
Eleanor's eyes filled.
"No, darling. I signed those papers because I loved you enough to choose a future I couldn't provide myself.""
She reached into her handbag.
"There's something else.""
She removed a small red notebook.
"Sarah asked me to keep this safe. She said that if anything happened to her, I should give it to Daniel when the time was right.""
Dad accepted it.
The first few pages contained dates and medical notes.
Then came a letter.
Daniel,
If you're reading this, Eleanor has finally found a way to reach you.
I need you to understand something. I didn't hide Lily's adoption because I was ashamed. I protected the details because Eleanor was afraid that someone from her past would use them against her.
Dad stopped reading.
"Someone from her past?""
Eleanor looked down.
"Vanessa.""
The room fell silent.
Rebecca slowly closed the folder.
"What does Vanessa have to do with you?""
Eleanor took a deep breath.
"Before Sarah and I became friends, I worked for a family-owned property company. I was a junior accountant. Vanessa was employed there too.""
Dad frowned.
"Where?""
"At the Carter Development Group.""
Michael sat forward.
"That's my family's company.""
Eleanor nodded.
"Vanessa and I worked in the same department.""
Dad stared at her.
"How did you know my family?""
Eleanor looked at me before answering.
"Because Vanessa knew about Lily before you married her.""
I felt my stomach twist.
"What?""
Eleanor opened the red notebook to a marked page.
"Vanessa found out about the adoption when she was working for the company. She discovered that Sarah had protected Lily's inheritance through a trust.""
Dad stood.
"That's impossible. Vanessa told me she had never met Sarah.""
"She lied.""
Eleanor's voice became firmer.
"Vanessa knew Sarah. She knew about the property. And she knew that Lily was the beneficiary.""
Rebecca asked, "Do you have evidence?""
Eleanor pointed to the notebook.
"Sarah kept copies of the original correspondence. I also have a letter Vanessa sent me shortly before she married Daniel.""
Dad looked shocked.
"She contacted you?""
"She threatened me.""
"What did she say?""
Eleanor opened her handbag again and removed a yellowed envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter.
Rebecca took it carefully.
The message was short.
Eleanor,
You have no reason to interfere with the Carter family. Sarah is gone. The child has a home. If you contact Daniel or attempt to change the arrangements, I will make sure everyone learns why you gave up your daughter.
Stay away.
The letter was signed:
*Vanessa.*
Dad's face turned white.
"She knew the entire time.""
Eleanor nodded.
"She didn't marry you by accident, Daniel.""
Michael stood.
"Are you saying she targeted our family?""
"I'm saying she knew exactly what Lily would inherit.""
I looked at the letter.
Suddenly, Vanessa's hatred made a terrible kind of sense.
She hadn't simply resented me because I reminded her of Dad's first marriage.
She had known I stood between her and something she wanted.
Dad sat down slowly.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?""
Eleanor looked at him.
"I tried. I swear I tried.""
She reached for my hand.
"Your mother made me promise that if you ever came looking for me, I would tell you everything.""
I let her hold my fingers.
For the first time, I didn't feel like I had lost one mother to discover another.
I felt like two women had made different sacrifices to give me a life.
But then Eleanor said something that changed everything.
"There's one more thing Sarah never wanted Daniel to know.""
Dad looked up.
"What?""
Eleanor glanced at Rebecca.
Then she lowered her voice.
"Vanessa didn't just work at your family's company. She was involved in the original property transfer investigation.""
Rebecca's expression sharpened.
"What investigation?""
Eleanor opened the notebook to its final page.
There was a handwritten list of names.
One name had been circled in red.
Beside it was a date from eight years earlier.
Dad read it.
Then he slowly looked at Michael.
May you like
"Why is your name on this list?""
Michael's face went completely still.
