Chapter 7: The Woman in the Photograph
Maya stared at the photograph until the edges began to blur.
The woman holding the newborn baby was unmistakably her biological mother.
She had seen that face hundreds of times in old family photographs. Dark brown hair. Gentle eyes. A small beauty mark beneath her left cheek.
But the woman standing beside her was the person Maya couldn't stop looking at.
Vanessa.
Twenty-four years younger, wearing a white nurse's uniform, one hand resting on the hospital bed.
Maya slowly turned toward her father.
“You said you never knew Vanessa before you married her.””
Richard looked at the photograph.
His mouth opened, but no words came.
“Dad?””
He lowered himself into the chair.
“I didn't know her personally.””
“Then why is she standing beside my mother?””
“I don't know.””
Maya laughed once, without humor.
“You don't know anything, do you?””
Richard flinched.
Mrs. Harper stood beside the window, visibly shaken.
Daniel Harrison took the photograph and examined the back.
“There's a date written here.””
Maya leaned closer.
It was the date of her birth.
Below it, someone had written:
Room 214. Keep the original record.
Daniel looked at Grace, who remained on speakerphone.
“Grace, do you recognize this photograph?””
A trembling voice answered.
“Yes.””
“Can you explain what happened?””
Grace took a long breath.
“Vanessa worked at St. Catherine's Hospital when Maya was born. She wasn't assigned to the maternity ward. She was working in administration, but she had access to the records.””
Maya frowned.
“Why was she near my mother?””
“Because she knew your mother.””
Richard suddenly stood.
“That's impossible.””
Grace's voice sharpened.
“Richard, I was there. I saw her.””
He paced toward the window.
“Why didn't you tell me?””
“I tried. Your mother wouldn't let me.””
Maya looked between them.
“Why?””
Grace hesitated.
“Because your mother was frightened.””
“Of Vanessa?””
“Yes.””
Maya's stomach tightened.
Grace continued.
“Your mother, Amelia, had discovered that someone was altering patient records at the hospital. She believed money was being paid to employees to change medical documents.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“Do you have evidence?””
“I kept copies of everything I could. Eleanor asked me to preserve them.””
“Where are they?””
“Some are in my possession. Others were placed in storage.””
Maya closed her eyes briefly.
“Please tell me what happened to my mother.””
Grace's voice softened.
“Amelia had complications after giving birth. She was transferred to another room for observation. You were healthy, but she wasn't allowed to see you immediately.””
“Why?””
“I don't know the full reason. Vanessa told the staff that Amelia had requested privacy.””
Maya felt sick.
“My mother didn't want to see me?””
“No, sweetheart. She begged to hold you.””
Maya covered her mouth.
Grace continued.
“I remember because she kept asking for her baby. She was crying, and Vanessa kept telling her everything was being handled.””
Maya looked at the photograph again.
“Then what happened?””
“Your grandmother arrived. She had been contacted by a doctor who was concerned about the paperwork. By then, Amelia had been transferred.””
“Where?””
Grace was silent.
Richard slowly turned from the window.
“St. Catherine's recovery wing.””
Maya looked at him.
“How do you know?””
Richard's eyes filled.
“Because I went there.””
The room became completely still.
Maya approached him.
“You told me my mother died two days after I was born.””
Richard nodded.
“That was what I was told.””
“By whom?””
He looked toward the photograph.
“Vanessa.””
Maya stepped back.
Richard continued.
“I had been working out of state. Your mother went into labor early. By the time I arrived, she was already in intensive care. Vanessa was there when I reached the hospital.””
“Why was she there?””
“She said she was helping the medical team.””
Maya shook her head.
“You didn't think that was strange?””
“I was terrified. Your mother was unconscious, and I was told her condition was critical.””
Richard sat down again.
“Vanessa told me there had been complications. She gave me papers to sign. She said they were medical consent forms and documents allowing Eleanor to take care of you if something happened to Amelia.””
Maya stared at him.
“Did you read them?””
He shook his head.
“No.””
The answer hung in the room.
Maya felt something inside her break.
“You signed documents about my mother without reading them?””
Richard buried his face in his hands.
“I thought I was helping her.””
“You thought?””
His shoulders shook.
“I was twenty-seven. I was terrified of losing your mother. Vanessa told me the doctors needed everything immediately.””
Maya's voice became quieter.
“And you believed her.””
Richard nodded.
Daniel interrupted gently.
“Richard, do you remember signing anything regarding a transfer of medical records or a declaration of death?””
Richard looked up.
“There was a declaration.””
“What did it say?””
“I don't remember.””
“Did you see a doctor?””
Richard hesitated.
“No.””
Maya felt cold all over.
“You never saw a doctor?””
Richard shook his head.
“I was told Amelia had died before I arrived.””
Grace began crying through the phone.
“That isn't true.””
Richard froze.
“What?””
Grace's voice trembled.
“Amelia was alive when you signed those papers.””
Maya gripped the edge of the desk.
“How long?””
“Three days.””
Nobody spoke.
Then Grace added:
“She was conscious. She asked for you. She asked for Maya.””
Richard looked as though he had been struck.
“No.””
“I'm sorry.””
“No. That's not possible.””
“I saw her, Richard.””
“Why didn't anyone tell me?””
Grace's answer came slowly.
“Because Vanessa said you had agreed to let Eleanor take the baby. She told Amelia you had chosen not to see her.””
Maya stared at the photograph.
A terrible realization began forming.
“Did my mother believe Dad had abandoned her?””
Grace whispered, “Yes.””
Richard covered his face.
“Oh, God.””
Maya stepped away from him.
All her life, she had believed her mother died after childbirth and that her father had simply been too devastated to talk about it.
Now she was learning that her mother might have spent her final days believing her husband had abandoned her.
Daniel stood.
“Grace, we need those records. Can you come to my office tomorrow?””
“I can.””
“Bring everything you have.””
“I will.””
Maya returned the phone to the table.
Then she looked at her father.
“Why did Vanessa marry you?””
Richard shook his head.
“I don't know.””
“Did she ever mention my mother?””
“No.””
“Did she know Grandma had the trust?””
He hesitated.
“Yes.””
Maya's eyes narrowed.
“When?””
“About a year into our marriage.””
Maya slowly nodded.
It was beginning to make sense.
Vanessa hadn't simply entered their family and decided she disliked her stepdaughter.
She had arrived with knowledge.
Knowledge about Amelia.
Knowledge about Eleanor's estate.
And apparently, knowledge about a secret that could destroy everything.
Maya picked up the photograph.
“I'm going to find out what happened.””
Richard reached for her hand.
“Please, Maya. Let me help.””
She pulled away gently.
“You had twenty-four years to help.””
The words landed hard.
Richard lowered his hand.
At that moment, Maya's phone rang.
An unfamiliar number.
She answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice spoke.
“Miss Maya? My name is Dr. Samuel Bennett.
I used to work at St. Catherine's Hospital.””
Maya sat down.
“How did you get my number?””
“Grace Whitmore gave it to me.””
“What do you know about my mother?””
The man paused.
“I know Vanessa has been telling a story that isn't true.””
Maya's heart raced.
“What story?””
“The official record says Amelia died two days after giving birth.””
“Yes.””
Dr. Bennett lowered his voice.
“But I signed a transfer order for her three days later.””
Maya looked at Daniel.
He immediately began writing.
“Where was she transferred?””
“That's what I wanted to discuss.””
“Please tell me.””
The doctor took a breath.
“Your mother wasn't transferred to the hospital's morgue.””
Maya closed her eyes.
“Then where?””
“She was moved to a private rehabilitation facility under another name.””
The room seemed to disappear around her.
“Why?””
“Because someone paid to have her medical identity changed.””
Maya gripped the phone.
“Who?””
Dr. Bennett hesitated.
May you like
Then he said:
“Vanessa.””
