Chapter 8: The Second Baby
"Twins?""
The word came out as a whisper.
Detective Bennett nodded.
I stared at the photograph.
Two tiny babies.
Two bracelets.
One marked Amara.
The other marked a name I had never seen before.
My name appeared beneath both records.
I looked at Marcus.
He seemed as confused as I was.
"How is that possible?"" I asked.
The detective placed the document on the table.
"We haven't confirmed the authenticity of every record. But the hospital's archived database shows two live births registered under your name.""
I shook my head.
"No. I had one baby.""
"Your medical discharge summary lists one surviving child.""
"Because I was told the other baby died.""
The detective looked at me.
"Who told you?""
"My mother. The doctors. Everyone.""
She nodded slowly.
"Then we need the original medical records.""
Richard approached.
"I can request those through the appropriate legal channels.""
Detective Bennett looked at him.
"We'll handle the criminal investigation independently.""
I barely heard them.
My mind was somewhere else.
I remembered the night Amara was born.
The bright hospital lights.
The sound of nurses moving quickly.
The doctor telling me I had experienced complications.
And then the darkness.
I had woken up the following afternoon.
My mother was sitting beside my bed.
She was crying.
When I asked about my baby, she told me the child had died.
She said there had been complications during delivery.
She said I had only one child.
But what if there had been two?
What if I had been grieving one baby while the other had been taken somewhere else?
I gripped the edge of the table.
"Where is the second child?""
Nobody answered.
Detective Bennett looked at the paperwork.
"That's what we need to find out.""
Marcus took a step toward me.
"Imani, sit down.""
I pulled away.
"Don't touch me.""
He stopped.
"I know this is overwhelming.""
"Overwhelming?""
I pointed toward the photograph.
"Someone took one daughter from me. Now you're telling me there may have been another?""
He lowered his eyes.
"I don't know what to say.""
"Then stop talking.""
I turned toward the detective.
"Can we contact the hospital tonight?""
She nodded.
"We've already requested an emergency review. The hospital's legal department is cooperating.""
Richard looked at the second bracelet.
"There may be another record associated with this name.""
He pointed to the identification number.
"Can I see that?""
Detective Bennett handed him the document.
He examined it carefully.
Then his expression changed.
"What's wrong?"" I asked.
"This number appears in the original trust correspondence.""
I frowned.
"What does that mean?""
Richard took out his phone.
"I need to check something.""
He stepped away and made a call.
Several minutes passed.
Then he returned.
"Mrs. Carter, I found a reference to the second child in your father's estate file.""
My heart began racing.
"What reference?""
Richard placed his phone on the table.
A scanned letter appeared.
It was dated six months before my father's death.
The letter read:
The two children must remain protected. Neither child should be separated from the other, regardless of what happens to the estate.
I stared.
"Why would my father write that?""
Richard looked at me.
"Because he knew there were two babies.""
I covered my mouth.
"Did he know where they were?""
"Apparently not.""
"Then why didn't he tell me?""
Richard hesitated.
"Your father died before the birth. But the letter suggests he had been informed that the pregnancy involved twins.""
I turned toward Denise.
She was sitting with an officer nearby.
Her eyes were fixed on the floor.
I walked toward her.
"Mom.""
She didn't look up.
"Did I have twins?""
The officer stepped aside.
Denise closed her eyes.
"Yes.""
I felt the air leave my lungs.
"Where is the other baby?""
She began crying.
"I don't know.""
"Don't lie to me!""
"I don't!""
"You knew Amara was alive. You knew about the inheritance. You knew about the hospital records. Where is my other child?""
Denise covered her face.
"She was supposed to be placed with another family.""
"Which family?""
"I don't know.""
I grabbed the back of a chair.
"What do you mean you don't know?""
Denise looked up.
"Your husband's mother arranged it.""
Marcus went completely still.
"My mother?""
Denise nodded.
"Patricia handled the second transfer.""
I turned toward Marcus.
"Your mother took my other baby?""
He shook his head.
"She died years ago.""
"That doesn't answer my question.""
He looked toward Denise.
"Tell her what you told me.""
My mother wiped her face.
"Patricia believed the second child was a threat to the family.""
I stared.
"Why?""
"Because the second baby had a medical condition.""
"What condition?""
Denise shook her head.
"I don't know exactly.""
"Then what happened?""
She took a trembling breath.
"Patricia said the child needed long-term treatment. She arranged for the baby to be transferred to a specialized care center.""
"Which one?""
"I never knew.""
I stepped closer.
"You accepted money for Amara. Did Patricia accept money for the second baby too?""
Denise looked away.
That was answer enough.
I felt physically sick.
Detective Bennett intervened.
"Mrs. Carter, this is important information. We need the name of the medical facility.""
Denise shook her head.
"I don't remember.""
The detective's voice became firm.
"Think carefully.""
My mother looked toward Marcus.
Then she whispered:
"Your mother kept a second file.""
Marcus frowned.
"Where?""
"In her old house.""
"That's been sold.""
"Not everything.""
Denise looked at him.
"She had a storage unit. She kept important documents there.""
Marcus stared.
"How do you know?""
"Because I helped her move the files.""
Detective Bennett immediately took out her notebook.
"Do you know the location?""
Denise nodded.
"Near Marietta.""
Richard wrote down the address from her instructions.
The detective contacted another officer.
Within an hour, arrangements were being made to secure the storage unit.
I wanted to go with them.
But Detective Bennett insisted I remain at the mansion until the situation was safer.
I returned to the living room.
Amara was sitting beside Maya.
Sarah had found some coloring books.
Maya was drawing a pink house.
Amara was drawing two little girls holding hands.
I sat beside them.
"That's beautiful, sweetheart.""
Amara looked up.
"It's our family.""
I smiled weakly.
"Yes, it is.""
She pointed to the picture.
"Where's the other baby?""
I froze.
"What other baby?""
Amara shrugged.
"Mommy Evelyn said I had a little brother or sister, but Grandma Denise said we weren't supposed to talk about it.""
I looked at her.
My heart began pounding again.
"Did she say anything else?""
Amara nodded.
"She said the baby went somewhere far away.""
Maya leaned closer.
"Can we find the baby?""
I wrapped my arms around both girls.
"Mommy is going to try.""
For the first time that night, I allowed myself to cry.
Not because I had lost something.
But because I had begun to understand how much had been taken from me.
At 11:38 p.m., Detective Bennett called.
"We've located the storage unit.""
I stood immediately.
"What did you find?""
"Several boxes of financial records, medical correspondence, and old photographs.""
"Was there information about the second baby?""
A pause.
"Yes.""
My heart raced.
"What?""
"We found a hospital bracelet, a birth certificate copy, and a document naming a temporary guardian.""
"Who?""
The detective took a breath.
Then she said:
"Your husband's older sister.""
I looked toward Marcus.
His face went white.
He shook his head.
"That's impossible.""
I stared at him.
"You have a sister?""
He nodded slowly.
"An older sister. Her name is Victoria.""
I had met Victoria only twice.
She lived outside Atlanta and rarely attended family events.
Marcus had always described her as private.
She was forty-one years old, unmarried, and worked as a pediatric specialist.
I looked at the detective.
"Are you saying Victoria raised my second baby?""
"We haven't confirmed that yet. But her name appears on the temporary guardianship document.""
I closed my eyes.
Another family member.
Another secret.
Another person who had apparently known more than I did.
The detective continued.
"We also found a recent photograph.""
"Of whom?""
"Victoria.""
"Why is that important?""
"Because she's standing beside a young woman who appears to be approximately eighteen or nineteen years old.""
I swallowed.
"Could that be my daughter?""
"Possibly.""
"Where was the photograph taken?""
The detective paused.
"At a private medical facility in Atlanta.""
I looked at Marcus.
He was staring at the floor.
Then he whispered:
"Victoria told me she had a daughter once.""
I turned.
"What?""
He swallowed.
"She said the baby died shortly after birth.""
I felt my stomach drop.
I looked at the detective.
"Can you identify the young woman?""
She checked her notes.
"Her name is Olivia.""
I repeated it silently.
Olivia.
My second daughter.
If the records were true, she had grown up only a few miles away.
I had spent years wondering why my family seemed so determined to keep me from certain places, certain people, and certain conversations.
Now I understood.
The secret wasn't buried in another state.
It had been living inside my husband's family.
And before I could ask another question, the detective said:
"Mrs. Carter, there's something else.""
I tightened my grip on the phone.
"What?""
"The young woman in the photograph appears to have a medical identification bracelet.""
"What kind?""
"One associated with a long-term neurological care program.""
I closed my eyes.
Then she added:
"Her records suggest she may have been receiving treatment under a different identity.""
I looked at Marcus.
He was already reaching for his phone.
"Call Victoria," I said.
He nodded.
He dialed.
It rang four times.
Then a woman's voice answered.
"Marcus?""
His voice trembled.
"Victoria, where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"Are you alone?""
A pause.
"Yes.""
He looked at me.
Then asked:
"Is Olivia with you?""
Silence.
Long, terrifying silence.
Finally, Victoria whispered:
"How do you know that name?""
Marcus closed his eyes.
I took the phone from his hand.
"Victoria, this is Imani.""
Her breathing changed.
"Oh God.""
I swallowed.
"Did you raise my second daughter?""
A soft sob came through the speaker.
Then Victoria said:
"I didn't know she was yours.""
I gripped the phone.
"Then whose child did you think she was?""
Victoria began crying.
And before she could answer, another voice came through the background.
A young woman.
"Mom? Who are you talking to?""
Victoria whispered:
"Olivia, go upstairs.""
But the girl replied:
"Is it Grandma Denise again?""
I felt my blood turn cold.
Victoria said nothing.
Then Olivia spoke directly into the phone.
"Mrs. Carter?""
I couldn't breathe.
"Yes?""
She paused.
May you like
Then asked:
"Are you the woman who gave birth to me?""
