Chapter 8: The Sister## Chapter 8: The Sister Who Gre Who Grew Up Hating Her
The name Amara Bennettw Up Hating Her
The name Amara Bennett stayed in Kiara's mind long after the officers left.
Amara.
Her twin sister had lived eighteen stayed in Kiara's mind long after the officers left.
Amara.
Her twin sister had lived eighteen years somewhere in the same city, breathing the same Atlanta air, growing older beneath the same Georgia sun years somewhere in the same city, breathing the same Atlanta air, growing older beneath the same Georgia sun, without either of them knowing the other existed.
And Patricia Sloan had apparently helped make, without either of them knowing the other existed.
And Patricia Sloan had apparently helped make that possible.
Robert sat beside the living-room window, staring at the photograph of the newborn girls. The afternoon light fell across his hands, revealing that possible.
Robert sat beside the living-room window, staring at the photograph of the newborn girls. The afternoon light fell across his hands, revealing the tremor he had been trying to hide.
Thomas stood near the kitchen, the tremor he had been trying to hide.
Thomas stood near the kitchen, unwilling to approach his brother without permission.
Marcus sat at the dining table with unwilling to approach his brother without permission.
Marcus sat at the dining table with his head bowed.
For the first time since arriving at Robert's apartment, he had nothing to say.
Kiara his head bowed.
For the first time since arriving at Robert's apartment, he had nothing to say.
Kiara held the photograph carefully by its edges.
“Uncle Thomas, tell me about held the photograph carefully by its edges.
“Uncle Thomas, tell me about her.””
Thomas looked up.
“Amara?””
“Yes. What do you know about my her.””
Thomas looked up.
“Amara?””
“Yes. What do you know about my sister?””
He pulled a chair closer but remained standing until Robert gave a sister?””
He pulled a chair closer but remained standing until Robert gave a small nod.
Then Thomas sat.
“When Denise delivered you, the doctors discovered that the hospital small nod.
Then Thomas sat.
“When Denise delivered you, the doctors discovered that the hospital's records didn't match the documents submitted during her prenatal visits. There was's records didn't match the documents submitted during her prenatal visits. There was a dispute over the trust, and somebody had already started changing the paperwork.””
“Why would my birth a dispute over the trust, and somebody had already started changing the paperwork.””
“Why would my birth affect a trust?”” Kiara asked.
“Because your grandfather's will included affect a trust?”” Kiara asked.
“Because your grandfather's will included a provision for the first female descendants born to the Hayes family. The money a provision for the first female descendants born to the Hayes family. The money was supposed to be held until those children reached adulthood.””
Kiara frowned was supposed to be held until those children reached adulthood.””
Kiara frowned.
“But you said the trust was divided between Dad and the other branch of.
“But you said the trust was divided between Dad and the other branch of the family.””
“It was. The girls' portion was separate.””
Robert finally turned the family.””
“It was. The girls' portion was separate.””
Robert finally turned away from the window.
“Why didn't I know any of this?””
Thomas's expression away from the window.
“Why didn't I know any of this?””
Thomas's expression crumpled.
“Because I made a terrible decision.””
“Which one?””
“I agreed to help Denise crumpled.
“Because I made a terrible decision.””
“Which one?””
“I agreed to help Denise keep the existence of the trust quiet while she figured out how to protect the children.””
Robert stared at him.
“You helped keep the existence of the trust quiet while she figured out how to protect the children.””
Robert stared at him.
“You helped hide my own daughters from me?””
“No.”” Thomas leaned forward.
“I helped hide my own daughters from me?””
“No.”” Thomas leaned forward.
“I helped your wife protect both girls from people who wanted access to their inheritance your wife protect both girls from people who wanted access to their inheritance. I didn't understand how far Patricia and Evelyn were willing to go.””
“You. I didn't understand how far Patricia and Evelyn were willing to go.””
“You could have told me.””
“I should have.””
“Instead, you disappeared.””
Thomas looked down at his hands.
“The could have told me.””
“I should have.””
“Instead, you disappeared.””
Thomas looked down at his hands.
“The night of the fire, I discovered that somebody had obtained a copy of the original birth night of the fire, I discovered that somebody had obtained a copy of the original birth records. I took the remaining documents and tried to contact Denise. By the records. I took the remaining documents and tried to contact Denise.
By the time I reached her, she was already frightened. She told me Patricia had threatened to have time I reached her, she was already frightened. She told me Patricia had threatened to have the children taken away if she challenged the amendment.””
Kiara felt a the children taken away if she challenged the amendment.””
Kiara felt a chill.
“Taken away how?””
“Through a court petition claiming that you and chill.
“Taken away how?””
“Through a court petition claiming that you and your sister had different legal parents. If the petition succeeded, the trust could your sister had different legal parents. If the petition succeeded, the trust could be transferred to the other beneficiary.””
Robert shook his head.
“That makes no sense. Denise would never have agreed to that.””
“She didn't be transferred to the other beneficiary.””
Robert shook his head.
“That makes no sense. Denise would never have agreed to that.””
“She didn't agree to it,” Thomas said.
“She fought it. But she was sick, and the legal documents agree to it,” Thomas said.
“She fought it. But she was sick, and the legal documents were already being processed.””
He opened the envelope and removed a photocopy of a hospital were already being processed.””
He opened the envelope and removed a photocopy of a hospital report.
“Amara was placed temporarily with a couple who had been approved as report.
“Amara was placed temporarily with a couple who had been approved as emergency guardians. The paperwork said it was for her protection while the court reviewed the trust emergency guardians. The paperwork said it was for her protection while the court reviewed the trust.””
“Who were they?”” Kiara asked.
Thomas hesitated.
“Patricia and her.””
“Who were they?”” Kiara asked.
Thomas hesitated.
“Patricia and her husband.””
Kiara stared at him.
“So my sister grew up with the woman who helped take her away?””
“Yes.””
“Did husband.””
Kiara stared at him.
“So my sister grew up with the woman who helped take her away?””
“Yes.””
“Did Patricia know who she was?””
“She knew exactly who Amara was.””
Kiara pressed the photograph Patricia know who she was?””
“She knew exactly who Amara was.””
Kiara pressed the photograph against her chest.
“What did she tell her?””
Thomas's silence was answer enough.
Robert's against her chest.
“What did she tell her?””
Thomas's silence was answer enough.
Robert's voice became low.
“What did that woman tell my daughter about her family?””
Thomas swallowed voice became low.
“What did that woman tell my daughter about her family?””
Thomas swallowed.
“I don't know everything. But I found a letter written by Patricia to Evelyn. She described Am.
“I don't know everything. But I found a letter written by Patricia to Evelyn. She described Amara as a child who needed to be protected from a father who couldn't provide for her.””
Robert's faceara as a child who needed to be protected from a father who couldn't provide for her.””
Robert's face tightened.
“I was working two jobs.””
“I know.””
“I was taking care of Denise.””
“I know.””
“I tightened.
“I was working two jobs.””
“I know.””
“I was taking care of Denise.””
“I know.””
“I would have given that child everything I had.””
Thomas looked directly at his would have given that child everything I had.””
Thomas looked directly at his brother.
“I know, Robert.””
The three words carried twenty years of regret.
Robert brother.
“I know, Robert.””
The three words carried twenty years of regret.
Robert looked away, his eyes wet.
Kiara knelt beside him.
“Daddy, none of this is your looked away, his eyes wet.
Kiara knelt beside him.
“Daddy, none of this is your fault.””
He covered her hand with his.
“I should have known.””
“You were lied to.””
“I should fault.””
He covered her hand with his.
“I should have known.””
“You were lied to.””
“I should have fought harder.””
“You didn't know there was a fight.””
Robert closed his eyes.
Kiara have fought harder.””
“You didn't know there was a fight.””
Robert closed his eyes.
Kiara kissed his cheek, then rose and turned toward Thomas.
“How do we find Amara?””
Thomas took kissed his cheek, then rose and turned toward Thomas.
“How do we find Amara?””
Thomas took out a small notebook.
“I found an address connected to her legal guardianship. It's an apartment in Buckhead. out a small notebook.
“I found an address connected to her legal guardianship. It's an apartment in Buckhead. I believe she still lives there.””
Marcus lifted his head.
“Buckhead?””
Thomas nodded I believe she still lives there.””
Marcus lifted his head.
“Buckhead?””
Thomas nodded.
“Her legal name is Amara Bennett. She attended private schools and was listed as the.
“Her legal name is Amara Bennett. She attended private schools and was listed as the sole beneficiary of Evelyn's estate.””
Marcus stared at the notebook.
“My mother left everything to sole beneficiary of Evelyn's estate.””
Marcus stared at the notebook.
“My mother left everything to Amara?””
“Not everything. The trust assets were transferred to accounts associated with Amara?””
“Not everything. The trust assets were transferred to accounts associated with Patricia and Evelyn. Amara received a residence, tuition payments, Patricia and Evelyn. Amara received a residence, tuition payments, and a private investment account.””
Kiara's expression hardened.
“So she grew up wealthy while Dad sold and a private investment account.””
Kiara's expression hardened.
“So she grew up wealthy while Dad sold his car to pay my school fees.””
Thomas looked stricken.
“Yes.””
“And she thinks she's an only child?””
“I believe so.””
Ki his car to pay my school fees.””
Thomas looked stricken.
“Yes.””
“And she thinks she's an only child?””
“I believe so.””
Kiara turned toward the window.
For a moment, she imagined another girl growingara turned toward the window.
For a moment, she imagined another girl growing up in a beautiful house, opening birthday presents, attending school dances, and wondering why she up in a beautiful house, opening birthday presents, attending school dances, and wondering why she sometimes felt like an outsider in her own family.
She imagined Amara looking into a mirror and seeing the same eyes sometimes felt like an outsider in her own family.
She imagined Amara looking into a mirror and seeing the same eyes, the same nose, perhaps the same smile.
She imagined that girl being, the same nose, perhaps the same smile.
She imagined that girl being told stories about a father who had supposedly abandoned her.
The thought made Kiara's chest ache.
“What told stories about a father who had supposedly abandoned her.
The thought made Kiara's chest ache.
“What did Patricia tell her about Robert?””
Thomas hesitated.
“She told Amara that her did Patricia tell her about Robert?””
Thomas hesitated.
“She told Amara that her biological father had died before she was born.””
Robert's face crumpled.
Kiara reached for his biological father had died before she was born.””
Robert's face crumpled.
Kiara reached for his hand.
“And what did she tell her about me?””
Thomas's voice dropped.
“Nothing. As hand.
“And what did she tell her about me?””
Thomas's voice dropped.
“Nothing. As far as the records show, Amara was told she was an only child.””
The apartment fell silent.
Then Marcus stood far as the records show, Amara was told she was an only child.””
The apartment fell silent.
Then Marcus stood abruptly.
“I have to tell Amara the truth.””
Robert looked at him.
“You don't get to walk into abruptly.
“I have to tell Amara the truth.””
Robert looked at him.
“You don't get to walk into her life and decide what she needs to hear.””
Marcus stopped.
Robert continued.
“You her life and decide what she needs to hear.””
Marcus stopped.
Robert continued.
“You've all made decisions for these girls. You've decided what they could've all made decisions for these girls. You've decided what they could know, where they could live, and who they could love. You're not doing it again.””
Marcus lowered know, where they could live, and who they could love. You're not doing it again.””
Marcus lowered his head.
“What should I do?””
“Help us establish the facts. Give our lawyer everything you have his head.
“What should I do?””
“Help us establish the facts. Give our lawyer everything you have. Let Amara decide what happens next.””
Marcus nodded.
“I will.””
Kiara looked at Thomas.
“I'm. Let Amara decide what happens next.””
Marcus nodded.
“I will.””
Kiara looked at Thomas.
“I'm going to meet her.””
Robert's grip tightened around her hand.
“Not alone going to meet her.””
Robert's grip tightened around her hand.
“Not alone.””
“I won't.””
“And not without a lawyer knowing where you.””
“I won't.””
“And not without a lawyer knowing where you are.””
“Okay.””
Robert studied her face.
“Baby, you understand she are.””
“Okay.””
Robert studied her face.
“Baby, you understand she might not want to see you?””
Kiara swallowed.
“Yes.””
“She might be angry. She might think you're lying might not want to see you?””
Kiara swallowed.
“Yes.””
“She might be angry. She might think you're lying.””
“I know.””
“She might hate us before she even knows us.””
Kiara looked down at the photograph.
“.””
“I know.””
“She might hate us before she even knows us.””
Kiara looked down at the photograph.
“Then I'll give her time. But I won't let her spend another dayThen I'll give her time. But I won't let her spend another day believing she's alone if I can help it.””
The next morning, Denise Carter, the attorney Thomas had recommended, arrived believing she's alone if I can help it.””
The next morning, Denise Carter, the attorney Thomas had recommended, arrived at Robert's apartment.
She was in her early forties, with close-c at Robert's apartment.
She was in her early forties, with close-cropped natural hair and a calm, direct manner. She listened without interrupting while Thomas explained the history ofropped natural hair and a calm, direct manner. She listened without interrupting while Thomas explained the history of the trust, the warehouse fire, the disputed birth records, and Patricia's unexpected appearance.
When he finished, Denise opened the trust, the warehouse fire, the disputed birth records, and Patricia's unexpected appearance.
When he finished, Denise opened her legal pad.
“I'm going to be very clear,” she said her legal pad.
“I'm going to be very clear,” she said.
“We have serious allegations, but we need authenticated documents, verified identities, and an independent review.
“We have serious allegations, but we need authenticated documents, verified identities, and an independent review of the court records. We will not confront anyone based on assumptions.””
Robert nodded.
“That's all I'm of the court records. We will not confront anyone based on assumptions.””
Robert nodded.
“That's all I'm asking.””
Denise looked at Kiara.
“Do you want to contact Amara?””
“Yes asking.””
Denise looked at Kiara.
“Do you want to contact Amara?””
“Yes.””
“Then we'll send a letter through a neutral channel. No threats, no accusations.””
“Then we'll send a letter through a neutral channel. No threats, no accusations, and no demand that she believe us immediately.””
Kiara agreed.
But before Denise could draft, and no demand that she believe us immediately.””
Kiara agreed.
But before Denise could draft the letter, her phone rang.
She answered, listened for several seconds, then looked up.
“I the letter, her phone rang.
She answered, listened for several seconds, then looked up.
“I've just received a call from an attorney representing Amara Bennett.””
Kiara sat've just received a call from an attorney representing Amara Bennett.””
Kiara sat straighter.
“What did they say?””
Denise covered the phone's microphone.
“Amara has seen straighter.
“What did they say?””
Denise covered the phone's microphone.
“Amara has seen the photograph circulating among the people involved in the trust dispute. She knows someone is claiming to be her the photograph circulating among the people involved in the trust dispute. She knows someone is claiming to be her uncle.””
Thomas shook his head.
“She's seen the photograph?””
Denise nodded.
“And uncle.””
Thomas shook his head.
“She's seen the photograph?””
Denise nodded.
“And she has agreed to meet us.””
Robert looked at Kiara.
“Are you ready?””
Kiara took a slow breath.
she has agreed to meet us.””
Robert looked at Kiara.
“Are you ready?””
Kiara took a slow breath.
“I've been ready since I learned she existed.””
Two hours later, they met“I've been ready since I learned she existed.””
Two hours later, they met Amara at a quiet café near a glass-fronted office building in Buckhead.
Kiara arrived wearing Amara at a quiet café near a glass-fronted office building in Buckhead.
Kiara arrived wearing jeans, a simple white blouse, and the silver bracelet her mother had left her. Robert sat jeans, a simple white blouse, and the silver bracelet her mother had left her. Robert sat beside her in his wheelchair, dressed neatly in his charcoal suit.
Thomas waited beside her in his wheelchair, dressed neatly in his charcoal suit. Thomas waited across the table, looking as though he hadn't slept.
Marcus remained outside with across the table, looking as though he hadn't slept.
Marcus remained outside with Denise, respecting Robert's insistence that the meeting should not become Denise, respecting Robert's insistence that the meeting should not become a confrontation.
At exactly eleven o'clock, a young woman entered the café.
She a confrontation.
At exactly eleven o'clock, a young woman entered the café.
She had dark braids pulled into a low ponytail, medium-brown skin, and a small gold pendant had dark braids pulled into a low ponytail, medium-brown skin, and a small gold pendant resting against her collarbone.
Kiara stopped breathing.
It was like looking into a mirror that had grown resting against her collarbone.
Kiara stopped breathing.
It was like looking into a mirror that had grown up in another house.
The woman approached their table.
“I'm Amara Bennett,” she said.
Kiara stood.
“ up in another house.
The woman approached their table.
“I'm Amara Bennett,” she said.
Kiara stood.
“I'm Kiara Hayes.””
Amara's eyes moved over her face.
“I know.””
For a moment, neither spokeI'm Kiara Hayes.””
Amara's eyes moved over her face.
“I know.””
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Amara looked at Robert.
“You're the man Patricia told me was dead.””
Robert's.
Then Amara looked at Robert.
“You're the man Patricia told me was dead.””
Robert's hands tightened on the wheels of his chair.
“I'm very much alive.””
hands tightened on the wheels of his chair.
“I'm very much alive.””
Amara pulled out a chair but didn't sit.
“Then explain why my entire life has been built around a lie.””
Amara pulled out a chair but didn't sit.
“Then explain why my entire life has been built around a lie.””
Robert opened his mouth.
No words came.
Kiara reached toward her, then stopped whenRobert opened his mouth.
No words came.
Kiara reached toward her, then stopped when Amara stepped back.
“Don't,” Amara said.
“Please don't touch me.””
Ki Amara stepped back.
“Don't,” Amara said.
“Please don't touch me.””
Kiara lowered her hand.
“Okay.””
Amara looked at Thomas.
“And you're the uncle whoara lowered her hand.
“Okay.””
Amara looked at Thomas.
“And you're the uncle who supposedly died in a warehouse fire.””
Thomas nodded.
“Yes.””
“Were you actually dead?””
“No.””
“Did you know supposedly died in a warehouse fire.””
Thomas nodded.
“Yes.””
“Were you actually dead?””
“No.””
“Did you know I existed?””
“Yes.””
Amara's eyes filled with tears, but her voice remained sharp.
“Then you all I existed?””
“Yes.””
Amara's eyes filled with tears, but her voice remained sharp.
“Then you all knew about me. You all knew where I was, and nobody came.””
Thomas looked devastated knew about me. You all knew where I was, and nobody came.””
Thomas looked devastated.
“I tried to find you.””
“That's not an answer.””
“No,” he admitted.
“.
“I tried to find you.””
“That's not an answer.””
“No,” he admitted.
“It's not.””
Amara finally sat down.
She opened her handbag and removed a folded letterIt's not.””
Amara finally sat down.
She opened her handbag and removed a folded letter.
“Patricia gave me this yesterday. She said it was written by my biological mother.””
Kiara stared at the envelope.
The.
“Patricia gave me this yesterday. She said it was written by my biological mother.””
Kiara stared at the envelope.
The handwriting was Denise's.
Amara slid the letter across the table.
“I want to handwriting was Denise's.
Amara slid the letter across the table.
“I want to know whether this is real.””
Kiara read the first line.
*My precious Amara, if know whether this is real.””
Kiara read the first line.
My precious Amara, if you are reading this, then the people I feared have finally allowed you to learn you are reading this, then the people I feared have finally allowed you to learn the truth.
Tears blurred the page.
Amara watched her.
“Do you recognize the truth.*
Tears blurred the page.
Amara watched her.
“Do you recognize the handwriting?””
Kiara nodded.
“It's our mother's.””
“Our?””
Kiara looked up the handwriting?””
Kiara nodded.
“It's our mother's.””
“Our?””
Kiara looked up.
“Yes. She's your mother, too.””
Amara's mouth trembled.
She stared at Robert, then at Ki.
“Yes. She's your mother, too.””
Amara's mouth trembled.
She stared at Robert, then at Kiara, then at the letter.
For the first time, the anger on her face gave way to something moreara, then at the letter.
For the first time, the anger on her face gave way to something more painful.
Hope.
“Does he have any photographs of her?”” painful.
Hope.
“Does he have any photographs of her?”” Amara whispered.
Robert reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph of Denise holding two Amara whispered.
Robert reached into his jacket and removed a small photograph of Denise holding two newborn girls.
He placed it on the table.
Amara stared at it.
Her fingers moved toward the photograph, stopping newborn girls.
He placed it on the table.
Amara stared at it.
Her fingers moved toward the photograph, stopping just short of touching it.
Then she noticed something written on the back.
Two names.
Two just short of touching it.
Then she noticed something written on the back.
Two names.
Two dates.
And a sentence in her mother's handwriting.
*No matter what they dates.
And a sentence in her mother's handwriting.
No matter what they tell you, you were both wanted.
Amara began to cry.
Kiara sat quietly beside her, tell you, you were both wanted.*
Amara began to cry.
Kiara sat quietly beside her, allowing the silence to remain.
Finally, Amara wiped her cheeks.
“I want allowing the silence to remain.
Finally, Amara wiped her cheeks.
“I want a DNA test.””
“Of course,” Kiara said.
“And I want the original hospital records.””
“We a DNA test.””
“Of course,” Kiara said.
“And I want the original hospital records.””
“We'll get them,” Denise assured her from the nearby table.
Amara nodded, then'll get them,” Denise assured her from the nearby table.
Amara nodded, then looked directly at Robert.
“If you're really my father, I need you to answer one question.””
Robert leaned looked directly at Robert.
“If you're really my father, I need you to answer one question.””
Robert leaned forward.
“Anything.””
“Did you ever know I was alive?””
“No,” he said.
“I forward.
“Anything.””
“Did you ever know I was alive?””
“No,” he said.
“I swear to you, I didn't.””
Amara searched his face.
For the first time, she seemed to believe swear to you, I didn't.””
Amara searched his face.
For the first time, she seemed to believe him.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out another document.
“This is the reason I agreed him.
Then she reached into her handbag and pulled out another document.
“This is the reason I agreed to meet you.””
She unfolded it.
It was a notice from a law to meet you.””
She unfolded it.
It was a notice from a law firm informing her that the trust assets associated with her name were under investigation.
At the bottom was a handwritten note firm informing her that the trust assets associated with her name were under investigation.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
Your inheritance belongs to the child who was supposed to die.
Amara looked at Kiara.
“I think.
Your inheritance belongs to the child who was supposed to die.
May you like
Amara looked at Kiara.
“I think someone has been trying to make me disappear, too.””
