Chapter 5: The Baby in Room 307
The lobby seemed to tilt.
I grabbed the edge of a nearby table.
“What does that mean?””
Alicia looked toward Vanessa.
“Tell him.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“Don't.””
“Tell him what happened in Room 307.””
I turned to Vanessa.
“Room 307?””
She pressed both hands against her wedding dress.
“Daniel, I can explain.””
“Then explain!””
Alicia stepped forward.
“Three years ago, I gave birth at St. Mary's Hospital. You were in the waiting room. You remember?””
Of course I remembered.
I remembered every second.
The smell of disinfectant.
The vending machine coffee.
The nurse who brought me a cup of water.
The clock above the reception desk.
And the moment someone finally told me I was a father.
I nodded.
Alicia continued.
“I was exhausted. They told me Lily needed additional monitoring. A nurse took her away.””
“Evelyn Cross,” I whispered.
Alicia nodded.
“She came back several hours later and told me everything was fine.””
I frowned.
“What's wrong with that?””
Alicia looked at me.
“Because the baby she brought back wasn't the baby I gave birth to.””
I stared at her.
The lobby noise faded.
“What?””
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Alicia continued.
“I noticed something was different. The baby had a small birthmark near her left shoulder. Our daughter didn't.””
I shook my head.
“That's impossible.””
“I told the nurse.””
“What did she say?””
“She said I was confused because of the medication.””
Alicia's eyes filled.
“I asked to see the doctor. Evelyn told me the doctor had already approved the discharge.””
I took a step backward.
“No.””
“Daniel—”
“No. I was there. I saw Lily. I held her.””
Alicia nodded.
“You held the baby they gave us.””
I felt sick.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Before I disappeared.””
My mind returned to the months before Alicia vanished.
She had been quieter.
She had started making phone calls outside the house.
She had locked her laptop.
I had asked whether something was wrong.
She had always answered the same way.
I'm just tired.
Alicia took another breath.
“I started investigating the hospital records. The birth certificate had been changed twice. The original identification bracelet was missing.””
I looked at Vanessa.
“Why is she involved?””
Alicia turned.
“Because Vanessa worked at St. Mary's.””
I stared at my bride.
She lowered her head.
“You were a nurse?””
Vanessa nodded.
“Before I moved into hospital administration.””
I felt my stomach turn.
“You never told me that.””
“You never asked.””
“You told me you worked in medical management!””
“I did.””
Alicia laughed.
“She was the nurse assigned to my room.””
I couldn't speak.
Vanessa finally looked up.
“I didn't know what Evelyn was doing.””
Alicia's voice sharpened.
“You signed the transfer paperwork.””
“I was following instructions!””
“You held the baby while Evelyn changed the identification bands!””
Vanessa began shaking.
“Stop!””
I looked at her.
“Is that true?””
She didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Vanessa. Is that true?””
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Yes.””
I felt something inside me collapse.
The woman I had planned to marry had been in the room when my daughter was born.
She had known Alicia.
She had known about the missing records.
And she had allowed me to spend three years believing my wife was gone.
“Why?”” I asked.
Vanessa looked at Alicia.
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of what?””
“Evelyn.””
Alicia shook her head.
“You could have told the police.””
“I tried!””
“When?””
Vanessa reached into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
She handed it to me.
It was an old hospital incident report.
The date matched Lily's birth.
At the bottom were two signatures.
Evelyn Cross.
Vanessa Reed.
But there was another name written in the margin.
Dr. Samuel Whitmore.
I recognized it.
He had delivered Lily.
I remembered him smiling at me in the hallway.
I remembered him shaking my hand and saying, “Congratulations, Dad.””
My fingers tightened around the paper.
“Where is he now?””
Alicia answered.
“Dead.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“He died six months after I disappeared.””
“How?””
“Car accident, according to the report.””
She paused.
“But the police never found his medical bag.””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“That's because Evelyn took it.””
I turned toward her.
“How do you know?””
“Because I saw her leave with it.””
“Why didn't you report that?””
Vanessa's eyes filled again.
“Because she told me she had copies of everything. She said if I went to the police, she'd make sure I lost my nursing license and went to prison.””
Alicia stepped closer.
“She threatened me too.””
I looked at my wife.
“What happened after you discovered the baby switch?””
Alicia took a deep breath.
“I found another woman. Her name was Rachel Morgan. She gave birth the same night I did.””
I felt cold.
“Where is she?””
“Missing.””
“Like you?””
Alicia nodded.
“Her baby was recorded as stillborn.””
I stared at her.
“Was it?””
“No.””
The words came slowly.
“Rachel's baby was the one they gave us.””
My mind struggled to process it.
I looked at the silver star in my hand.
Then I looked toward the elevators.
“Where is Lily's biological mother?””
Alicia closed her eyes.
“I don't know.””
I felt my knees weaken.
“Then whose child is Lily?””
Alicia looked directly at me.
“She is Rachel's biological daughter.””
I couldn't breathe.
“And the baby you gave birth to?””
Alicia's face crumpled.
“She disappeared.””
For a moment, I thought I might fall.
I had spent six years loving Lily.
I had changed her diapers, held her through fevers, taught her to ride a bicycle, and kissed her goodnight.
She was my daughter in every way that mattered.
But I suddenly understood why Alicia had been desperate to uncover the truth.
Somebody had taken her baby.
And somebody had placed another child in her arms.
I turned to Vanessa.
“Why did you agree to marry me?””
She looked at me helplessly.
“Because I wanted to protect Lily.””
“From whom?””
“Evelyn.””
I laughed bitterly.
“You expect me to believe that?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I know how it looks.””
“It looks like you knew my wife was alive, knew about the hospital, and used my grief to get close to my family.””
She lowered her eyes.
“I didn't start dating you because of the hospital.””
“Then why?””
She looked at Alicia.
“Because I was told your wife would never come back.””
Alicia went completely still.
“Who told you that?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she answered.
“Evelyn.””
I looked between them.
“Why would Evelyn care whether Vanessa married me?””
Vanessa began crying again.
“Because she needed access to Lily.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
“She told me that once Lily turned six, she would be able to collect something from her.””
Alicia grabbed Vanessa's arm.
“What something?””
Vanessa pulled away.
“I don't know!””
“Don't lie!””
“I swear!””
I stepped between them.
“Enough. Nobody touches anybody.””
Alicia looked at me.
“Daniel, Lily's birthday is next month.””
I frowned.
“What does that have to do with anything?””
Vanessa stared at the floor.
Then she whispered:
“Evelyn said the transfer would happen before then.””
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
It showed the entrance to the hotel.
A woman stood outside, holding a black umbrella.
Even through the rain, I recognized her.
Evelyn Cross.
Below the photograph was a message.
*You have something that belongs to me. Bring the silver star. Come alone. Or the truth about Lily will disappear forever.*
I looked up.
Alicia was staring at the screen.
“Daniel,” she whispered.
“What?””
“Don't go.””
I looked at her.
“Why?””
She pointed at the photograph.
“Because Evelyn isn't the person who arranged the hospital switch.””
I felt my blood turn cold.
“Then who did?””
Alicia swallowed.
May you like
And before she could answer, Vanessa whispered a name.
“Your mother.””
