Chapter 5 - My Mother’s Secret
My mother had died eleven months earlier.
Her name was Evelyn Carter.
She had been a nurse for forty-two years.
Quiet.
Practical.
Almost painfully honest.
At least that was what I believed.
Three weeks before the birthday party, I had been cleaning out her storage unit.
At the bottom of an old cedar chest, I found an envelope with my name on it.
The paper was yellowed.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Claire, if Margaret Hayes ever accuses you or your child of being unfaithful to Daniel, call the number below before you defend yourself.
I had read that line ten times.
The number belonged to attorney Howard Bell.
He had represented Samuel Reed’s estate.
When I called, Bell asked me to come alone.
He showed me a statement my mother had signed thirty-eight years ago.
My mother had been working as a maternity nurse when Daniel was born.
Margaret came into the hospital under a different last name.
Richard Hayes arrived later.
But another man had visited first.
Samuel Reed.
My mother had witnessed a private conversation between them.
Samuel wanted to acknowledge Daniel.
Margaret refused.
Richard had agreed to raise the baby as his own.
Samuel paid Margaret a substantial sum and created a future trust.
Years later, when my mother realized I was dating Daniel Hayes, she recognized Margaret.
She confronted her privately.
Margaret begged her never to tell Daniel.
My mother agreed on one condition.
Margaret was never to use questions of paternity to hurt our future children.
Daniel sat across from me listening without blinking.
“She promised your mother?”
“Yes.”
“And then she did exactly that.”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t your mother tell me?”
“I asked Bell the same question.”
“What did he say?”
“My mother believed Richard loved you and that exposing the truth while he was alive would destroy your family.”
Daniel stood and walked toward the window.
“Richard died when I was twelve.”
“I know.”
“So she had twenty-six years.”
“She was afraid.”
He turned.
“Everyone was afraid except Lily.”
I had no answer.
Daniel opened another document.
It was Samuel’s trust memorandum.
The terms were straightforward.
If Daniel could establish biological paternity, he would become entitled to a beneficial share of Reed Family Holdings.
That share would also protect Lily.
“How much?”
Daniel asked.
“I don’t know exactly.”
“Mark says millions.”
“Bell wouldn’t give me a figure without proof.”
Daniel looked at the DNA report.
“So you chose Pierce Genetics because they could cross-reference Samuel’s archived sample.”
“Yes.”
He seemed hurt.
I understood why.
“You should have told me.”
“I tried telling you your mother was destroying our family for five years.”
“That isn’t the same.”
“No.”
I met his eyes.
“It isn’t.”
The truth between us was uncomfortable.
I had withheld something enormous.
Daniel had spent five years withholding protection.
Neither could pretend only one betrayal mattered.
Before he left, he asked one question.
“Do you still want to be married to me?”
I looked toward the stairs.
“I don’t know.”
He nodded.
For once, Daniel didn’t argue.
The next morning, Howard Bell called.
His voice was urgent.
“Claire, do not let Margaret or Mark access the original report.”
“Why?”
“Because Mark called my office last night.”
My stomach tightened.
“What did he want?”
“To know whether DNA confirmation automatically activates Samuel’s beneficiary clause.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Nothing.”
Bell paused.
“Then someone broke into our records room at three this morning.”
I stood.
“Were documents taken?”
“One file.”
“Daniel’s?”
“No.”
Bell took a breath.
“Lily’s.”
And ten minutes later, when I checked Lily’s backpack before school, I found something I had never placed there.
A copy of the DNA report.
May you like
Across the front, someone had written five words in black marker.
THE FIRST TEST WAS WRONG.
