Chapter 10: The Daughter Who Came Home
Three days later, Jasmine returned to Thomas's house.
She came alone.
She Came Home
Three days later, Jasmine returned to Thomas's house.
She came alone.
She wore the same yellow dress, the same silver heart pendant, and the same expression she had worn when she first entered the wore the same yellow dress, the same silver heart pendant, and the same expression she had worn when she first entered the living room and watched Thomas drop his glass.
Only now, she understood why he had looked living room and watched Thomas drop his glass.
Only now, she understood why he had looked at her as though he were seeing a ghost.
Thomas opened the door.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he stepped aside.
“ at her as though he were seeing a ghost.
Thomas opened the door.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he stepped aside.
“Come in, sweetheart.””
Jasmine entered the living room.
The old photograph of Amelia sat on the coffee table beside theCome in, sweetheart.””
Jasmine entered the living room.
The old photograph of Amelia sat on the coffee table beside the DNA report. Thomas had placed a second photograph next to it: the image of the twins DNA report. Thomas had placed a second photograph next to it: the image of the twins taken in the hospital nursery.
Two babies.
Two lives.
One family torn apart by a decision no child should ever have had to bear.
Jasmine sat on the sofa.
“Did taken in the hospital nursery.
Two babies.
Two lives.
One family torn apart by a decision no child should ever have had to bear.
Jasmine sat on the sofa.
“Did you find anything else?””
Thomas nodded.
“Arthur has agreed to cooperate with the investigation. He's admitted falsifying the hospital records, diverting money from your grandfather's trust you find anything else?””
Thomas nodded.
“Arthur has agreed to cooperate with the investigation. He's admitted falsifying the hospital records, diverting money from your grandfather's trust, and helping conceal the twins' identities.””
“Does he know where my sister is?””
“He says he does.””
Jasmine's heart began to pound.
“Where?””
Thomas sat opposite her.
“He says she was adopted by a family in, and helping conceal the twins' identities.””
“Does he know where my sister is?””
“He says he does.””
Jasmine's heart began to pound.
“Where?””
Thomas sat opposite her.
“He says she was adopted by a family in Savannah. He has given the police the names of the people who arranged it.””
Jasmine stared at him.
“ Savannah. He has given the police the names of the people who arranged it.””
Jasmine stared at him.
“Why didn't he tell you before?””
“Because he was protecting the people involved. And because he believed that if theWhy didn't he tell you before?””
“Because he was protecting the people involved. And because he believed that if the truth came out, the entire family would lose everything.””
Jasmine shook her head.
“He let you believe your daughter was dead truth came out, the entire family would lose everything.””
Jasmine shook her head.
“He let you believe your daughter was dead.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
“And he let me grow up believing I was someone else.””
“Yes.””
She looked toward the window.
“I don't know how to forgive that.””
“You.””
Thomas lowered his eyes.
“Yes.””
“And he let me grow up believing I was someone else.””
“Yes.””
She looked toward the window.
“I don't know how to forgive that.””
“You don't have to.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“Forgiveness isn't something you owe anyone just because they finally tell the truth.””
Jasmine looked don't have to.””
Thomas leaned forward.
“Forgiveness isn't something you owe anyone just because they finally tell the truth.””
Jasmine looked at him.
“Did my mother know where I was?””
Thomas swallowed.
“According to Arthur, Evelyn knew that at him.
“Did my mother know where I was?””
Thomas swallowed.
“According to Arthur, Evelyn knew that one daughter had been placed with Denise. She believed it was temporary. She thought she could bring you home once the clinic scandal was resolved.””
“ one daughter had been placed with Denise. She believed it was temporary. She thought she could bring you home once the clinic scandal was resolved.””
“Did she know about my sister?””
“Yes.””
Jasmine's eyes filled.
“Then why didn't she bring us both home?””
Thomas looked at the photograph of the twins.
“Because she was threatened.Did she know about my sister?””
“Yes.””
Jasmine's eyes filled.
“Then why didn't she bring us both home?””
Thomas looked at the photograph of the twins.
“Because she was threatened. Arthur told her that if she exposed the clinic, the people involved would destroy the evidence and make both children disappear permanently.””
Jasmine's voice Arthur told her that if she exposed the clinic, the people involved would destroy the evidence and make both children disappear permanently.””
Jasmine's voice cracked.
“She should have trusted you.””
“I know.””
“She should have told you.””
“I know.””
Thomas closed cracked.
“She should have trusted you.””
“I know.””
“She should have told you.””
“I know.””
Thomas closed his eyes.
“I've spent years asking myself the same questions. I wish she had told me. I wish she'd trusted me enough to let me help her.””
his eyes.
“I've spent years asking myself the same questions. I wish she had told me. I wish she'd trusted me enough to let me help her.””
He opened his eyes.
“But your mother was frightened, Jasmine. She made a terrible choiceHe opened his eyes.
“But your mother was frightened, Jasmine. She made a terrible choice under pressure. That doesn't make what happened right. It means she was human.””
Jasmine wiped her cheeks.
under pressure. That doesn't make what happened right. It means she was human.””
Jasmine wiped her cheeks.
“Did she ever stop looking for me?””
Thomas reached for a folder.
Inside were letters, photographs, and handwritten notes recovered from unit 317.
He handed Jasmine a“Did she ever stop looking for me?””
Thomas reached for a folder.
Inside were letters, photographs, and handwritten notes recovered from unit 317.
He handed Jasmine a thick bundle.
“These were your mother's.””
Jasmine opened the first letter.
*My thick bundle.
“These were your mother's.””
Jasmine opened the first letter.
My sweet girls,
I don't know whether either of you will ever read these words. I write them because I cannot bear the thought sweet girls,
I don't know whether either of you will ever read these words. I write them because I cannot bear the thought that one day you might believe I chose to abandon you.
I didn't.
I loved you both before I knew your faces. I loved you when I heard your first cries that one day you might believe I chose to abandon you.
I didn't.
I loved you both before I knew your faces. I loved you when I heard your first cries. I loved you when I held you in my arms and promised I would never let anything happen to you.
Jasmine began to cry.
. I loved you when I held you in my arms and promised I would never let anything happen to you.*
Jasmine began to cry.
She read the next paragraph through trembling breaths.
*I made a decision that I believed would keep one child safe. I told myself I wouldShe read the next paragraph through trembling breaths.
I made a decision that I believed would keep one child safe. I told myself I would fix everything later. But every day that passed made it harder to undo what I had done.
If you are reading this, please understand that I was wrong to fix everything later. But every day that passed made it harder to undo what I had done.
If you are reading this, please understand that I was wrong to let fear decide your future.
You were never unwanted.
Jasmine pressed the letter against her chest.
Thomas sat beside her.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Jasmine whispered, “ let fear decide your future.*
You were never unwanted.
Jasmine pressed the letter against her chest.
Thomas sat beside her.
For several minutes, neither spoke.
Then Jasmine whispered, “I wish I could have met her.””
Thomas wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“So do I.””
She leanedI wish I could have met her.””
Thomas wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
“So do I.””
She leaned against him.
For the first time, she allowed herself to cry without trying to control the sound.
She cried for the mother she against him.
For the first time, she allowed herself to cry without trying to control the sound.
She cried for the mother she had known, for the mother she had lost, for the sister she had never met, and for the years stolen from all of them.
When she finally lifted had known, for the mother she had lost, for the sister she had never met, and for the years stolen from all of them.
When she finally lifted her head, Thomas handed her another document.
“This is the adoption record.””
Jasmine read the name of the family who had taken her sister.
**Eleanor and James her head, Thomas handed her another document.
“This is the adoption record.””
Jasmine read the name of the family who had taken her sister.
*Eleanor and James Price.*
Beneath it was an address in Savannah.
Jasmine stared at the page.
“Is this where we go?””
Thomas nodded.
“The police have confirmed that Eleanor Price is alive. James died Price.**
Beneath it was an address in Savannah.
Jasmine stared at the page.
“Is this where we go?””
Thomas nodded.
“The police have confirmed that Eleanor Price is alive. James died several years ago. Eleanor has agreed to meet us.””
Jasmine rose.
“When?””
“Tomorrow several years ago. Eleanor has agreed to meet us.””
Jasmine rose.
“When?””
“Tomorrow.””
She looked at the silver pendant resting against her dress.
“Then tomorrow, I meet my sister.””
Thomas smiled through his tears.
“Yes.””
.””
She looked at the silver pendant resting against her dress.
“Then tomorrow, I meet my sister.””
Thomas smiled through his tears.
“Yes.””
But when Jasmine turned toward the door, he called her back.
“There is something else.””
She faced him.
“What?””
Thomas took a small envelope from his pocket.
“This was foundBut when Jasmine turned toward the door, he called her back.
“There is something else.””
She faced him.
“What?””
Thomas took a small envelope from his pocket.
“This was found inside the lining of your mother's old jewelry box. It was addressed to me, but I never saw it until yesterday.””
Jasmine opened it.
Inside inside the lining of your mother's old jewelry box. It was addressed to me, but I never saw it until yesterday.””
Jasmine opened it.
Inside was a photograph of Evelyn holding two newborn girls.
The date on the back was October 18, 2004.
Beneath the photograph was a handwritten message.
*Tom, if you ever find our was a photograph of Evelyn holding two newborn girls.
The date on the back was October 18, 2004.
Beneath the photograph was a handwritten message.
Tom, if you ever find our daughters, look closely at the child wearing the silver heart.
Jasmine frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Thomas daughters, look closely at the child wearing the silver heart.*
Jasmine frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Thomas turned the photograph over.
There was a second line beneath Evelyn's message.
*The necklace was never meant to identify Amelia. It was turned the photograph over.
There was a second line beneath Evelyn's message.
The necklace was never meant to identify Amelia. It was meant to identify the child who had been switched.
Jasmine's face drained of color.
Thomas stared at the photograph.
For twenty-two years, he had believed the silver heart belonged meant to identify the child who had been switched.*
Jasmine's face drained of color.
Thomas stared at the photograph.
For twenty-two years, he had believed the silver heart belonged to Amelia.
But Evelyn had bought two identical necklaces.
One for each twin.
And someone had used the necklace to create a false identity.
Jasmine touched the pendant at her throat.
to Amelia.
But Evelyn had bought two identical necklaces.
One for each twin.
And someone had used the necklace to create a false identity.
Jasmine touched the pendant at her throat.
“Dad?””
Thomas looked at her.
“What if I'm not the daughter they think I am?””
He took both of her hands.
“Then we'll find out who“Dad?””
Thomas looked at her.
“What if I'm not the daughter they think I am?””
He took both of her hands.
“Then we'll find out who you are. And we'll make sure nobody can ever take that away from you again.””
The following you are. And we'll make sure nobody can ever take that away from you again.””
The following morning, Thomas, Ryan, and Jasmine drove to Savannah.
The Price residence stood on a quiet street shaded by old oak trees. A white porch wrapped around the front morning, Thomas, Ryan, and Jasmine drove to Savannah.
The Price residence stood on a quiet street shaded by old oak trees. A white porch wrapped around the front of the house, and a wind chime moved gently in the morning breeze.
An elderly woman opened the door.
Her hair was white, her eyes tired, and her hands trembled when she saw Thomas.
“ of the house, and a wind chime moved gently in the morning breeze.
An elderly woman opened the door.
Her hair was white, her eyes tired, and her hands trembled when she saw Thomas.
“Mr. Carter,” she whispered.
Thomas nodded.
“Mrs. Price.””
Eleanor looked at Jasmine.
Then she began to cry.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
Jasmine stepped forward.
“Do you knowMr. Carter,” she whispered.
Thomas nodded.
“Mrs. Price.””
Eleanor looked at Jasmine.
Then she began to cry.
“Oh, sweetheart.””
Jasmine stepped forward.
“Do you know who I am?””
Eleanor covered her mouth.
“Yes.””
“Who am I?””
Eleanor looked toward the hallway.
A young woman appeared in the doorway behind who I am?””
Eleanor covered her mouth.
“Yes.””
“Who am I?””
Eleanor looked toward the hallway.
A young woman appeared in the doorway behind her.
She was twenty-three years old, with curly hair, warm brown eyes, and a small crescent-shaped birthmark beneath her left ear.
She wore a silver heart-shaped pendant.
Jasmine stared at her.
The young woman stared her.
She was twenty-three years old, with curly hair, warm brown eyes, and a small crescent-shaped birthmark beneath her left ear.
She wore a silver heart-shaped pendant.
Jasmine stared at her.
The young woman stared back.
For a long moment, neither moved.
Then Eleanor whispered, “Girls, this is the truth I was back.
For a long moment, neither moved.
Then Eleanor whispered, “Girls, this is the truth I was told to hide.””
She turned toward Jasmine.
“You are Amelia Carter.””
Jasmine told to hide.””
She turned toward Jasmine.
“You are Amelia Carter.””
Jasmine's breath caught.
Then Eleanor looked at the young woman beside her.
“And she is your twin sister, Jasmine.””
The world seemed's breath caught.
Then Eleanor looked at the young woman beside her.
“And she is your twin sister, Jasmine.””
The world seemed to stop.
Thomas gripped the porch railing.
Ryan stared at the two women.
The woman who had been raised as Amelia began to cry.
“My name is Jasmine,” she whispered to stop.
Thomas gripped the porch railing.
Ryan stared at the two women.
The woman who had been raised as Amelia began to cry.
“My name is Jasmine,” she whispered.
Eleanor nodded.
“Yes.””
“And she's Amelia?””
“Yes.””
Jasmine—who had grown up believing she was an only child—looked at her twin sister.
Eleanor nodded.
“Yes.””
“And she's Amelia?””
“Yes.””
Jasmine—who had grown up believing she was an only child—looked at her twin sister.
Amelia reached for her hand.
“I've been looking for you,” she said.
Jasmine's eyes filled.
“I.
Amelia reached for her hand.
“I've been looking for you,” she said.
Jasmine's eyes filled.
“I didn't even know you existed.””
They stood facing one another, their identical birthmarks visible beneath their didn't even know you existed.””
They stood facing one another, their identical birthmarks visible beneath their ears, their matching necklaces catching the morning light.
Then Amelia pulled Jasmine into her arms.
For the first time in twenty-two years, the twins were together.
Thomas sank onto ears, their matching necklaces catching the morning light.
Then Amelia pulled Jasmine into her arms.
For the first time in twenty-two years, the twins were together.
Thomas sank onto the porch step and covered his face.
Ryan knelt beside him.
“Dad?””
Thomas shook with silent sob the porch step and covered his face.
Ryan knelt beside him.
“Dad?””
Thomas shook with silent sobs.
“I found them.””
Ryan wrapped an arm around his father.
“You found them.””
But the reunion was not the final revelations.
“I found them.””
Ryan wrapped an arm around his father.
“You found them.””
But the reunion was not the final revelation.
Inside the house, Eleanor placed a thick folder on the dining table.
“These are the original records,” she said.
“The adoption papers were.
Inside the house, Eleanor placed a thick folder on the dining table.
“These are the original records,” she said.
“The adoption papers were falsified, but I kept the documents I was given when the girls were brought to me.””
Thomas falsified, but I kept the documents I was given when the girls were brought to me.””
Thomas opened the folder.
The first page was a hospital transfer authorization.
The second was a signed statement from Arthur Whitmore.
The third was a letter from Evelyn.
And the fourth was a photograph of the twins taken hours opened the folder.
The first page was a hospital transfer authorization.
The second was a signed statement from Arthur Whitmore.
The third was a letter from Evelyn.
And the fourth was a photograph of the twins taken hours after their birth.
Thomas stared at it.
Both babies were wearing silver heart necklaces.
But one of the pendants had a tiny scratch near the clasp.
The same scratch he after their birth.
Thomas stared at it.
Both babies were wearing silver heart necklaces.
But one of the pendants had a tiny scratch near the clasp.
The same scratch he had recognized on Jasmine's necklace when she first entered his living room.
Thomas looked at Amelia.
“Which necklace had recognized on Jasmine's necklace when she first entered his living room.
Thomas looked at Amelia.
“Which necklace were you given?””
Amelia touched the pendant at her throat.
“This one. Eleanor told me it had belonged to my were you given?””
Amelia touched the pendant at her throat.
“This one. Eleanor told me it had belonged to my mother.””
Thomas examined it carefully.
The tiny scratch was absent.
He looked at Jasmine's necklace.
The scratch was there.
Then he understood.
The pendant mother.””
Thomas examined it carefully.
The tiny scratch was absent.
He looked at Jasmine's necklace.
The scratch was there.
Then he understood.
The pendant Jasmine had worn for twenty-three years had belonged to the baby originally recorded as Amelia.
The other Jasmine had worn for twenty-three years had belonged to the baby originally recorded as Amelia.
The other pendant had belonged to Jasmine.
The necklaces had been switched before the girls left the hospital.
The false identity had not been created years later.
It had begun on the night they were born pendant had belonged to Jasmine.
The necklaces had been switched before the girls left the hospital.
The false identity had not been created years later.
It had begun on the night they were born.
Thomas turned to Eleanor.
“Who switched them?””
Eleanor lowered her head.
“Your wife.””
Jasmine stared at her.
“No.””
Eleanor began.
Thomas turned to Eleanor.
“Who switched them?””
Eleanor lowered her head.
“Your wife.””
Jasmine stared at her.
“No.””
Eleanor began to cry.
“Evelyn knew the clinic intended to take one of the babies. She believed the child with the more distinctive birthmark would be easier to identify later. She switched the necklaces so that the girl to cry.
“Evelyn knew the clinic intended to take one of the babies. She believed the child with the more distinctive birthmark would be easier to identify later. She switched the necklaces so that the girl who remained with the family could be recognized if the records were ever altered.””
Thomas's voice broke.
“She was who remained with the family could be recognized if the records were ever altered.””
Thomas's voice broke.
“She was trying to protect them.””
“Yes,” Eleanor whispered.
“But the plan went wrong. Arthur moved the babies trying to protect them.””
“Yes,” Eleanor whispered.
“But the plan went wrong. Arthur moved the babies before Evelyn could bring them home. By the time she realized what had happened, the records had been changed and the girls were separated.””
Amelia looked at Jasmine.
“So before Evelyn could bring them home. By the time she realized what had happened, the records had been changed and the girls were separated.””
Amelia looked at Jasmine.
“So which one of us was supposed to be Amelia?””
Eleanor opened the final page.
The original birth record listed the twins in the order they were delivered.
which one of us was supposed to be Amelia?””
Eleanor opened the final page.
The original birth record listed the twins in the order they were delivered.
*Baby A: Jasmine Carter.*
*Baby B: Amelia Carter.*
Thomas stared at the names.
Then he looked at the two women standing before him.
The daughter he had raised as his missing*Baby A: Jasmine Carter.*
*Baby B: Amelia Carter.*
Thomas stared at the names.
Then he looked at the two women standing before him.
The daughter he had raised as his missing child was Jasmine.
The daughter who had grown up believing she was Jasmine was Amelia.
The DNA test had never child was Jasmine.
The daughter who had grown up believing she was Jasmine was Amelia.
The DNA test had never been wrong.
The necklace had never been wrong.
The mistake had been the assumption that the child wearing the been wrong.
The necklace had never been wrong.
The mistake had been the assumption that the child wearing the necklace must be the child whose name appeared on the photograph.
For twenty-two years, the family had searched for Amelia.
And necklace must be the child whose name appeared on the photograph.
For twenty-two years, the family had searched for Amelia.
And all along, Amelia had been living under another name.
Jasmine turned toward her twin.
“Then we all along, Amelia had been living under another name.
Jasmine turned toward her twin.
“Then we were both missing.””
Amelia nodded.
“Just in different ways.””
Thomas rose slowly.
He looked at the two girls, now women, standing were both missing.””
Amelia nodded.
“Just in different ways.””
Thomas rose slowly.
He looked at the two girls, now women, standing side by side.
“I am so sorry.””
Jasmine took his hand.
“You didn't know.””
“I should have found you.””
Amelia side by side.
“I am so sorry.””
Jasmine took his hand.
“You didn't know.””
“I should have found you.””
Amelia reached for his other hand.
“You found us now.””
Thomas pulled both daughters into his arms.
Ryan joined them, wrapping his arms around the three people he had spent his reached for his other hand.
“You found us now.””
Thomas pulled both daughters into his arms.
Ryan joined them, wrapping his arms around the three people he had spent his life believing he had lost.
Outside, the morning sun spilled across the porch.
The silver heart pendants rested against the twins' dresses, identical in shape but marked by different life believing he had lost.
Outside, the morning sun spilled across the porch.
The silver heart pendants rested against the twins' dresses, identical in shape but marked by different scratches, different memories, and different lives.
For twenty-two years, a family had been divided by a lie.
Now the truth scratches, different memories, and different lives.
For twenty-two years, a family had been divided by a lie.
Now the truth had finally brought them home.
And when Thomas looked at the photograph of his daughters one last time, he understood the had finally brought them home.
And when Thomas looked at the photograph of his daughters one last time, he understood the cruelest part of the mystery.
He had never lost one daughter.
He had lost both.
And neither girl had ever stopped belonging to him. cruelest part of the mystery.
He had never lost one daughter.
May you like
He had lost both.
And neither girl had ever stopped belonging to him.