Chapter 7: The Second Baby
For several seconds, my mother couldn't lookFor several seconds, my mother couldn't look at any of us.
The hospital bracelet lay on the coffee table, its faded plastic at any of us.
The hospital bracelet lay on the coffee table, its faded plastic curled at the edges. Someone had written three words across the curled at the edges. Someone had written three words across the back in black ink.
*SECOND BABY: ALIVE.*
My father stared at it.
Then he turned toward Letreya.
“You back in black ink.
*SECOND BABY: ALIVE.*
My father stared at it.
Then he turned toward Letreya.
“You told me we lost one daughter.””
Mom pressed a trembling hand against her mouth.
“We did.””
“No told me we lost one daughter.””
Mom pressed a trembling hand against her mouth.
“We did.””
“No.”” Charles pointed at the bracelet.
“You told me Danielle died. Now you're telling us there was another baby?””
.”” Charles pointed at the bracelet.
“You told me Danielle died. Now you're telling us there was another baby?””
“I didn't know what happened to her.””
“You just said Robert took her!””
“I said Robert took her before I“I didn't know what happened to her.””
“You just said Robert took her!””
“I said Robert took her before I could stop him!””
The distinction sounded ridiculous, even to her. I could see it in the way her shoulders sag could stop him!””
The distinction sounded ridiculous, even to her. I could see it in the way her shoulders sagged after she spoke.
Jaylen stood beside the couch, his phone clenched in his handged after she spoke.
Jaylen stood beside the couch, his phone clenched in his hand. Malachi slept in the carrier beside me, one tiny fist resting against his pale blue onesie. Every few seconds.
Malachi slept in the carrier beside me, one tiny fist resting against his pale blue onesie. Every few seconds, I checked his breathing and adjusted the blanket without covering his face.
Across the room, Danielle held Isaiah close.
She had stopped, I checked his breathing and adjusted the blanket without covering his face.
Across the room, Danielle held Isaiah close.
She had stopped crying.
That frightened me more than the tears.
“Mom,” she said, “look at me.””
Let crying.
That frightened me more than the tears.
“Mom,” she said, “look at me.””
Letreya lifted her eyes.
“Was I one of the twins?””
“Yes.””
“And the other baby?””
Mom's mouth trembled.
“I don't know.””
Daniellereya lifted her eyes.
“Was I one of the twins?””
“Yes.””
“And the other baby?””
Mom's mouth trembled.
“I don't know.””
Danielle stared at her for a long moment.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I never saw the other child again stared at her for a long moment.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“I never saw the other child again!””
“Then how do you know Robert took her?””
“Because he came to the hospital that night and told me he'd found someone!””
“Then how do you know Robert took her?””
“Because he came to the hospital that night and told me he'd found someone who could take care of her.””
Charles gripped the back of a chair.
“Why would my brother take a newborn without telling who could take care of her.””
Charles gripped the back of a chair.
“Why would my brother take a newborn without telling me?””
Mom turned toward him.
“Because he said the child would be safer away from us.””
“ me?””
Mom turned toward him.
“Because he said the child would be safer away from us.””
“Safer from whom?””
She didn't answer.
My father struck the chair with his palm.
“Letreya!””
SheSafer from whom?””
She didn't answer.
My father struck the chair with his palm.
“Letreya!””
She flinched.
“From David,” she whispered.
Marcus slowly lowered himself into a chair.
“No flinched.
“From David,” she whispered.
Marcus slowly lowered himself into a chair.
“No.””
Mom nodded.
“David was already threatening Robert. He wanted the trust. He wanted control of.””
Mom nodded.
“David was already threatening Robert. He wanted the trust. He wanted control of the business. He believed Robert had hidden money that belonged to him.””
“And the baby?”” I asked.
“David found out about the twins before the business. He believed Robert had hidden money that belonged to him.””
“And the baby?”” I asked.
“David found out about the twins before they were born. He said Robert couldn't keep secrets forever they were born. He said Robert couldn't keep secrets forever. He wanted to know which child would inherit what.””
Danielle's face tightened.
“Babies don't inherit anything just because they're born.””
“This wasn't about the law,” Mom replied.
“. He wanted to know which child would inherit what.””
Danielle's face tightened.
“Babies don't inherit anything just because they're born.””
“This wasn't about the law,” Mom replied.
“It was about David believing Robert owed him everything.””
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“My father never told me anyIt was about David believing Robert owed him everything.””
Marcus rubbed both hands over his face.
“My father never told me any of this.””
“Robert was trying to protect you,” Mom said.
“By hiding an entire child?””
“By keeping David away from the people of this.””
“Robert was trying to protect you,” Mom said.
“By hiding an entire child?””
“By keeping David away from the people he could hurt!””
Charles turned toward his wife.
“And you let me believe my daughter was dead.””
he could hurt!””
Charles turned toward his wife.
“And you let me believe my daughter was dead.””
Mom's eyes filled.
“I thought I was protecting you, too.””
He shook his head.
“You keep using that word as though itMom's eyes filled.
“I thought I was protecting you, too.””
He shook his head.
“You keep using that word as though it excuses what you've done.””
For once, Mom had no answer.
I picked up the hospital bracelet.
There excuses what you've done.””
For once, Mom had no answer.
I picked up the hospital bracelet.
There was a number printed beneath the faded name, followed by a date that matched Danielle's birth certificate.
But the name was a number printed beneath the faded name, followed by a date that matched Danielle's birth certificate.
But the name was almost impossible to read.
I moved closer to the window, tilting the plastic toward the daylight.
“Marcus, can was almost impossible to read.
I moved closer to the window, tilting the plastic toward the daylight.
“Marcus, can you see this?””
He stood beside me.
The faded letters were clearer now.
Not a name.
A code you see this?””
He stood beside me.
The faded letters were clearer now.
Not a name.
A code.
He took out his phone and photographed it.
“My father used to keep hospital records in a locked cabinet at the warehouse,” he said.
“If.
He took out his phone and photographed it.
“My father used to keep hospital records in a locked cabinet at the warehouse,” he said.
“If this bracelet belongs to the second baby, there may be a matching record.””
“Then we go there,” Jaylen said.
Charles this bracelet belongs to the second baby, there may be a matching record.””
“Then we go there,” Jaylen said.
Charles shook his head.
“David has Jamiya.””
“Exactly. We can't sit here.””
“Charging shook his head.
“David has Jamiya.””
“Exactly. We can't sit here.””
“Charging into a warehouse won't help your sister.””
Jaylen's jaw tightened.
“Neither will standing around talking about what Mom into a warehouse won't help your sister.””
Jaylen's jaw tightened.
“Neither will standing around talking about what Mom did twenty-eight years ago!””
Malachi stirred at the raised voices.
did twenty-eight years ago!””
Malachi stirred at the raised voices.
I crouched beside the carrier and gently settled his head into a more comfortable position. His eyelids fluttered, then closed again.
“KeepI crouched beside the carrier and gently settled his head into a more comfortable position. His eyelids fluttered, then closed again.
“Keep your voice down,” I told Jaylen.
He looked at the baby and immediately lowered his head.
“ your voice down,” I told Jaylen.
He looked at the baby and immediately lowered his head.
“Sorry.””
Danielle walked toward us.
“I'm going to the warehouse.””
Marcus stood.
“Absolutely not.””
“Jamiya isSorry.””
Danielle walked toward us.
“I'm going to the warehouse.””
Marcus stood.
“Absolutely not.””
“Jamiya is my sister.””
“She may be your sister, but David has already threatened the babies.””
“And that means my sister.””
“She may be your sister, but David has already threatened the babies.””
“And that means I should sit here while he decides what happens to her?””
Marcus hesitated.
Danielle's eyes shone with I should sit here while he decides what happens to her?””
Marcus hesitated.
Danielle's eyes shone with anger.
“I spent years believing I was an unwanted child. I spent more years believing I had no family at all. I'm anger.
“I spent years believing I was an unwanted child. I spent more years believing I had no family at all. I'm not letting another sister disappear because the people around her are afraid.””
Charles looked at her.
For the first time since she'd not letting another sister disappear because the people around her are afraid.””
Charles looked at her.
For the first time since she'd entered the house, he seemed to see not a stranger, not a scandal, but a daughter he had entered the house, he seemed to see not a stranger, not a scandal, but a daughter he had never been given the chance to know.
“You shouldn't have to go,” he said softly.
Danielle swallowed.
“Neither should Jami never been given the chance to know.
“You shouldn't have to go,” he said softly.
Danielle swallowed.
“Neither should Jamiya.””
The room fell silent.
Then my father's expression changed.
He looked at the photograph of Robert and the documentsya.””
The room fell silent.
Then my father's expression changed.
He looked at the photograph of Robert and the documents scattered across the table.
“Marcus, what did your father leave in the warehouse besides the journal?””
Marcus took a moment scattered across the table.
“Marcus, what did your father leave in the warehouse besides the journal?””
Marcus took a moment to answer.
“An old filing cabinet, several business ledgers, and a locked metal box. He told me never to open the to answer.
“An old filing cabinet, several business ledgers, and a locked metal box. He told me never to open the box unless I had verified DNA records from all his biological children.””
Charles stared at him.
“Why?””
“I never knew.””
box unless I had verified DNA records from all his biological children.””
Charles stared at him.
“Why?””
“I never knew.””
Mom suddenly rose.
“Don't open that box.””
Everyone turned toward her.
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Why notMom suddenly rose.
“Don't open that box.””
Everyone turned toward her.
Marcus's expression hardened.
“Why not?””
“Because Robert put something in it that should never have been found.””
Charles stepped toward her.
“What?””
She backed away.
“I don't know exactly.””
“You just said he?””
“Because Robert put something in it that should never have been found.””
Charles stepped toward her.
“What?””
She backed away.
“I don't know exactly.””
“You just said he put something inside.””
“He told me what it was.””
“And?””
Mom closed her eyes.
“It put something inside.””
“He told me what it was.””
“And?””
Mom closed her eyes.
“It was a confession.””
Marcus went still.
“What kind of confession?””
Mom looked toward the front door.
“The kind that could send was a confession.””
Marcus went still.
“What kind of confession?””
Mom looked toward the front door.
“The kind that could send someone to prison.””
Before anyone could ask another question, Jaylen's phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from Jamiya.
*I'm someone to prison.””
Before anyone could ask another question, Jaylen's phone vibrated.
A message had arrived from Jamiya.
I'm alive. Don't come alone. David wants the bag, but he doesn't know what's hidden inside it.
A alive. Don't come alone. David wants the bag, but he doesn't know what's hidden inside it.*
A second message followed.
Please don't trust Mom.
Jaylen showed us the screen.
Charles read the words twice.
Then second message followed.
Please don't trust Mom.
Jaylen showed us the screen.
Charles read the words twice.
Then he looked at Letreya.
Mom began to cry.
“I deserve that.””
“No,” Jaylen said.
“You deserve to explain it.””
He called he looked at Letreya.
Mom began to cry.
“I deserve that.””
“No,” Jaylen said.
“You deserve to explain it.””
He called Jamiya.
This time, she answered.
Her voice was strained, but she was Jamiya.
This time, she answered.
Her voice was strained, but she was speaking clearly.
“Jay?””
“I'm here. Where are you?””
“I can't tell you exactly. David took my phone for a while. I'm using someone else's.””
“Are you hurt?””
“No. Not yet.””
The two words made speaking clearly.
“Jay?””
“I'm here. Where are you?””
“I can't tell you exactly. David took my phone for a while. I'm using someone else's.””
“Are you hurt?””
“No. Not yet.””
The two words made my stomach twist.
Charles leaned toward the phone.
“Jamiya, it's Dad.””
She went silent.
“Please listen to me,” he said.
“We're my stomach twist.
Charles leaned toward the phone.
“Jamiya, it's Dad.””
She went silent.
“Please listen to me,” he said.
“We're going to get you home.””
“Dad, don't come here.””
“Why?””
“Because David wants you going to get you home.””
“Dad, don't come here.””
“Why?””
“Because David wants you here.””
“Then I'll come.””
“No!”” Her voice cracked.
“You here.””
“Then I'll come.””
“No!”” Her voice cracked.
“You don't understand. He's been planning this for years. He knows about Danielle. He knows about the twins.
And he knows something about Robert don't understand. He's been planning this for years. He knows about Danielle.
He knows about the twins. And he knows something about Robert's death that none of us knows.””
Marcus gripped the edge of the table.
“Jamiya, what did you find in the journal's death that none of us knows.””
Marcus gripped the edge of the table.
“Jamiya, what did you find in the journal?””
A pause.
Then she whispered, “A photograph.””
“What photograph?””
A pause.
Then she whispered, “A photograph.””
“What photograph?””
“One of Robert standing beside a woman outside the hospital. She was holding a newborn. On the back, he?””
“One of Robert standing beside a woman outside the hospital. She was holding a newborn. On the back, he wrote a name and a date.””
Mom covered her mouth.
Charles looked at her.
“What name?””
Jamiya hesitated.
“E wrote a name and a date.””
Mom covered her mouth.
Charles looked at her.
“What name?””
Jamiya hesitated.
“Evelyn.””
Marcus went pale.
“My father's first wife.””
“There's more,” Jamiya continued.
“The photograph was tucked inside a letter addressed to David. It says Robert didn't just hide one child.””
Myvelyn.””
Marcus went pale.
“My father's first wife.””
“There's more,” Jamiya continued.
“The photograph was tucked inside a letter addressed to David. It says Robert didn't just hide one child.””
My father closed his eyes.
“Who was the second baby?””
Jamiya's breathing became uneven.
“I don't know. The letter doesn't father closed his eyes.
“Who was the second baby?””
Jamiya's breathing became uneven.
“I don't know. The letter doesn't name her. It says Robert arranged for the baby to be raised by someone he trusted.””
“Who?”” I asked.
Jami name her. It says Robert arranged for the baby to be raised by someone he trusted.””
“Who?”” I asked.
Jamiya didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered, “A woman who lived in this house.””
Every eye turned toward Mom.
ya didn't answer immediately.
Then she whispered, “A woman who lived in this house.””
Every eye turned toward Mom.
She shook her head.
“No.””
Jamiya's voice broke through the phone.
“MomShe shook her head.
“No.””
Jamiya's voice broke through the phone.
“Mom, stop lying. David already knows.””
Charles took the phone from Jaylen.
“Letreya, tell, stop lying. David already knows.””
Charles took the phone from Jaylen.
“Letreya, tell us what happened.””
Mom backed toward the hallway.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because if I tell you, you'll us what happened.””
Mom backed toward the hallway.
“I can't.””
“Why?””
“Because if I tell you, you'll never forgive me.””
Charles's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm not sure there's anything left to forgive.””
The words seemed to never forgive me.””
Charles's eyes filled with tears.
“I'm not sure there's anything left to forgive.””
The words seemed to break something inside her.
She sank into the chair and buried her face in her hands.
“I raised her,” break something inside her.
She sank into the chair and buried her face in her hands.
“I raised her,” she whispered.
Danielle's lips parted.
“Raised whom?””
Mom lifted her head.
“The second baby.””
My she whispered.
Danielle's lips parted.
“Raised whom?””
Mom lifted her head.
“The second baby.””
My heart stopped.
“You raised the missing twin?””
Mom nodded, crying.
“I raised her in this family. She heart stopped.
“You raised the missing twin?””
Mom nodded, crying.
“I raised her in this family. She grew up here. You all knew her.””
Jaylen stared at her.
“Tiana? Jamiya?””
Mom shook her head.
grew up here. You all knew her.””
Jaylen stared at her.
“Tiana? Jamiya?””
Mom shook her head.
“No.””
Charles gripped the table.
“Then who?””
Mom looked toward the hallway.
And for the first time, I noticed“No.””
Charles gripped the table.
“Then who?””
Mom looked toward the hallway.
And for the first time, I noticed the old family photograph hanging above the stairs had been turned faced the old family photograph hanging above the stairs had been turned facedown.
Mom whispered a name.
A name that made Marcus stumble backward.
Aown.
Mom whispered a name.
A name that made Marcus stumble backward.
A name none of us had expected to hear.
“Evelyn.””
The room went cold.
Because Evelyn wasn't merely the name on Robert's photograph.
It was the name of the woman who had helped raise Marcus.
The woman everyone name none of us had expected to hear.
“Evelyn.””
The room went cold.
Because Evelyn wasn't merely the name on Robert's photograph.
It was the name of the woman who had helped raise Marcus.
The woman everyone believed had moved away years ago.
The woman who, according to the records, had died before Jamiya was born.
And if believed had moved away years ago.
The woman who, according to the records, had died before Jamiya was born.
And if my mother was telling the truth, then someone had spent nearly three decades pretending to be dead.
Someone who might still be alive.
Someone who might my mother was telling the truth, then someone had spent nearly three decades pretending to be dead.
Someone who might still be alive.
Someone who might be standing closer to this family than any of us realized.
Then the front door latch clicked.
We all be standing closer to this family than any of us realized.
Then the front door latch clicked.
We all turned.
A woman's voice came from the hallway.
“Letreya, you should have kept your mouth shut.””
turned.
May you like
A woman's voice came from the hallway.
“Letreya, you should have kept your mouth shut.””
