Chapter 12 - THE SECOND TWIN
The files recovered from the estate revealed the location of Lily’s twin.
Her name was Rose.
She had been placed with a wealthy couple in another state after Richard forged adoption records.
The couple had no knowledge that she had been stolen.
They believed the adoption was legal.
Lucas traveled with Margaret and a child welfare specialist to meet them.
Rose lived in a quiet house near the ocean.
She wore her hair in two braids.
When she opened the door, Lucas saw Lily’s face.
Rose’s adoptive parents, David and Hannah Miller, were devastated by the truth.
They had loved her since infancy.
Lucas did not want to tear Rose from the only parents she remembered.
Richard had already destroyed enough lives by treating children as possessions.
Lucas asked for a gradual process.
Rose would meet Lily and Clara with therapists present.
No one would force her to choose between families.
Their first meeting took place in a garden behind a counseling center.
Lily carried two matching bracelets.
Emily had purchased them before giving birth.
She placed one around Rose’s wrist.
“We match.”
Rose studied Lily’s face.
“You look like me.”
“You look like Mommy.”
Rose had seen photographs of Emily in the files Lucas shared with the Millers.
She looked toward Lucas.
“Are you really my father?”
Lucas knelt several feet away.
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you find me?”
The question broke him.
“Because I believed people I should have questioned.”
“I am sorry.”
Rose looked toward David.
He nodded gently.
Lucas continued.
“I will never ask you to stop loving the parents who raised you.”
“They are your family.”
“I hope there can be room for us too.”
Rose touched her bracelet.
Clara stood apart from the twins.
She had spent her entire life without loving parents.
Watching Rose return to David and Hannah filled her with conflicting emotions.
Lucas approached her.
“You do not have to pretend this is easy.”
Clara looked away.
“They both had someone.”
“Lily had you.”
“Rose had them.”
“I had Richard.”
Lucas could not deny it.
Clara’s voice became bitter.
“And now everyone expects me to become part of a perfect family.”
“We are not a perfect family.”
Lucas looked toward his daughters.
May you like
“We are a damaged one.”
“But damaged does not mean finished.”
