Chapter 3: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Gone
The name on the prescription was impossible.
Emily Carter.
Maya’s mother.
My first wife.
The woman who died six years ago.
I stared at the paper.
“No.””
The officer watched me carefully.
“Do you recognize this name?””
I couldn’t answer.
Because I did.
I knew Emily’s handwriting.
I knew her signature.
I knew the tiny curve she made on the letter E.
And the prescription in front of me had her name on it.
“This is fake,” I whispered.
The officer nodded.
“That’s one possibility.””
Claire sat silently.
Too silently.
I turned toward her.
“What is this?””
She looked terrified.
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know why my dead wife’s name is on medication found in our house?””
“I said I don’t know.””
The officer collected the bottle.
“We’ll need everyone’s cooperation.””
After they left, I stood in the middle of my living room feeling like the walls were closing in.
Claire finally spoke.
“Marcus, you have to believe me.””
I laughed once.
Not because it was funny.
Because I didn’t know what else to do.
“Believe you?””
“Yes.””
“You hid my daughter’s symptoms.””
“No.””
“She was scared of you.””
“She misunderstood.””
“You had medication in the house with Emily’s name on it.””
“I didn’t put it there.””
I looked at her.
“Then who did?””
She had no answer.
Later that afternoon, I went back to the hospital.
Maya was awake.
When she saw me, her face relaxed.
“Dad.””
I sat beside her.
“Hey, princess.””
She looked at the door.
“Is Claire here?””
“No.””
“Good.””
That hurt.
Not because Maya didn’t want Claire there.
Because I realized she had been afraid.
I took her hand.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
She stared at the blanket.
“Because she said you wouldn’t believe me.””
“Why would she say that?””
Maya swallowed.
“She said you loved her more.””
My chest tightened.
“I never loved anyone more than you.””
“I know.””
“Then why didn’t you tell me?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Because I thought maybe she was right.””
That sentence broke me.
A child should never wonder if her own father will choose someone else.
I held her hand.
“I’m sorry.””
She looked at me.
“You didn’t know.””
“I should have.””
A nurse entered with some paperwork.
“Mr. Bennett?””
“Yes?””
“There’s someone here asking to see you.””
I frowned.
“Who?””
The nurse looked at Maya.
Then back at me.
“She said her name is Olivia Carter.””
My blood turned cold.
Carter.
Emily’s last name.
I stood slowly.
“Where is she?””
“Waiting outside.””
I walked into the hallway.
A woman stood near the window.
She looked about forty.
Dark hair.
Tired eyes.
And a face I had never seen before.
But then she turned.
And my heart stopped.
Because she looked exactly like Emily.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
Her voice trembled.
“I should have come sooner.””
I couldn’t speak.
She stepped closer.
“My name is Olivia.””
May you like
Then she whispered:
“Emily was my sister.””