Chapter 3: The Secret She Buried
The next morning, my house didn’t feel like home.
It felt like a crime scene.
Nobody touched breakfast.
Nobody turned on the television.
Nobody said the normal things people say when they’re pretending life is normal.
Nicole came downstairs wearing yesterday’s clothes.
Her eyes were swollen.
“Maya…”
I looked at her.
For years, hearing my mother say my name had made me feel safe.
Now it made me tense.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“I need to talk to you.””
Dad stood immediately.
“No.””
She looked at him.
“Richard.””
“You don’t get to control the story anymore.””
Her face hardened.
“I’m not trying to.””
“Then tell the truth.””
She looked at me.
“Maya, I never wanted this to happen.””
I almost laughed.
“Which part?””
Her eyes filled.
“All of it.””
I crossed my arms.
“You blamed me for your pregnancy.””
“I was scared.””
“You were scared, so you destroyed me?””
She had no answer.
Dad placed the hospital bracelet on the table.
“Explain this.””
Nicole looked at it.
Her entire body froze.
“Where did you get that?””
“The question is,” Dad said, “why were you at a hospital three weeks ago?””
She sat down slowly.
“I lost the baby.””
The room went silent.
Even with everything that happened, the words still hurt.
My father stared.
“You were pregnant three weeks ago?””
Nicole nodded.
“I didn’t know how to tell you.””
I looked at her.
“You knew how to accuse me.””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I thought if everyone believed it was you, I would have time.””
“Time for what?””
She looked away.
“To figure out what I was going to do.””
Dad stood.
“You were going to let your daughter carry your shame?””
Nicole started crying.
“No.””
“Yes.””
His voice was quiet.
“That’s exactly what you were going to do.””
A knock interrupted us.
Everyone turned.
Nobody was expecting anyone.
My father opened the door.
A man stood outside.
Tall.
Dark hair.
Older than me, younger than Dad.
Daniel Carter.
My stomach dropped.
Nicole stood up.
“Daniel, what are you doing here?””
My father looked between them.
“You have some nerve showing up.””
Daniel didn’t look angry.
He looked tired.
“I know.””
“Then leave.””
“I can’t.””
Dad stepped forward.
“Why?””
Daniel looked at Nicole.
Then at me.
“Because Maya deserves the truth.””
My mother whispered:
“No.””
Daniel pulled something from his jacket.
A folder.
“I should have told you months ago.””
Dad stared.
“What is that?””
Daniel opened it.
Inside were documents.
My name was written at the top of the first page.
I felt cold.
“What is that?””
Daniel looked at me.
“It’s about your birth.””
The room stopped.
I looked at my father.
He looked confused.
“Don’t.””
Daniel shook his head.
“Richard, you need to know.””
My mother grabbed the folder.
“Daniel, please.””
But it was too late.
Dad took the papers.
His eyes moved across the page.
Then his expression changed.
“No.””
I had never seen him look that scared.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
Then at Nicole.
“What did you do?””
My mother began crying.
“I was young.””
“What did you do?””
Daniel lowered his voice.
“The test results were hidden for eighteen years.””
My hands went numb.
“Test results?””
Dad stared at the paper.
Then he whispered:
“Maya…”
May you like
I could barely hear him.
“Your DNA test.””
