Chapter 10: ## Chapter 10: The Man Who Raised My Brother
"Your: The Man Who Raised My Brother
"Your brother has been living with you for the last eight years brother has been living with you for the last eight years.""
My mother's words.""
My mother's words kept repeating in my head.
I stood in the doorway of the lake house, holding the phone kept repeating in my head.
I stood in the doorway of the lake house, holding the phone against my ear, unable to move.
"Mom, what do against my ear, unable to move.
"Mom, what do you mean?""
There was a faint sound of breathing.
"Daniel, listen carefully. Your brother you mean?""
There was a faint sound of breathing.
"Daniel, listen carefully. Your brother is closer than you think.""
"Who is he?""
"I is closer than you think.""
"Who is he?""
"I can't tell you over the phone.""
"Why not?""
"Because Robert may can't tell you over the phone.""
"Why not?""
"Because Robert may still be listening.""
I looked toward my father.
He stood several feet away, his face still be listening.""
I looked toward my father.
He stood several feet away, his face expressionless.
"Mom, tell me his name.""
She began expressionless.
"Mom, tell me his name.""
She began crying.
"I've already lost too much time crying.
"I've already lost too much time with my children. I won't lose another one.""
"Then tell me where with my children. I won't lose another one.""
"Then tell me where you are.""
A long silence followed.
Finally, she you are.""
A long silence followed.
Finally, she whispered, "Go home whispered, "Go home.. Look at the photograph of Emma's first birthday.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Look behind the frame.""
Look at the photograph of Emma's first birthday.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"Look behind the frame.""
Then the call ended.
I tried calling back.
The number was unavailable.
Rachel touched my shoulder.
"Daniel?""
I looked at her.
"Mom says my brother has been living with me.""
Her face went pale.
Robert suddenly laughed.
"Your mother is very good at creating confusion.""
I turned toward him.
"What does that mean?""
"It means she's been telling storiesThen the call ended.
I tried calling back.
The number was unavailable.
Rachel touched my shoulder.
"Daniel?""
I looked at her.
"Mom says my brother has been living with me.""
Her face went pale.
Robert suddenly laughed.
"Your mother is very good at creating confusion.""
I turned toward him.
"What does that mean?""
"It means she's been telling stories for years.""
"Then why are you afraid of what Samuel Hayes might tell me?""
His smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw anger replace his carefully maintained composure.
"Get out of my house.""
"It's not your house anymore.""
"Daniel—"
I walked past him.
Lily and Rachel followed.
Outside, for years.""
"Then why are you afraid of what Samuel Hayes might tell me?""
His smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw anger replace his carefully maintained composure.
"Get out of my house.""
"It's not your house anymore.""
"Daniel—"
I walked past him.
Lily and Rachel followed.
Outside, the afternoon wind swept across the lake.
We reached the car before anyone spoke the afternoon wind swept across the lake.
We reached the car before anyone spoke.
Rachel climbed into the passenger seat.
Lily sat in the back, clutching.
Rachel climbed into the passenger seat.
Lily sat in the back, clutching the folder.
I started the engine.
"Where are we going?"" Rachel asked.
the folder.
I started the engine.
"Where are we going?"" Rachel asked.
"Home.""
"To look at Emma's photograph?""
I nodded.
Lily leaned forward.
"Who's Emma?""
"My daughter.""
She looked away.
I knew what she was thinking.
Another child.
Another family.
Another person who had grown up without knowing the truth.
I glanced at"Home.""
"To look at Emma's photograph?""
I nodded.
Lily leaned forward.
"Who's Emma?""
"My daughter.""
She looked away.
I knew what she was thinking.
Another child.
Another family.
Another person who had grown up without knowing the truth.
I glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
"You're welcome to come with us.""
She hesitated.
"Are you sure?""
"You're my daughter.""
Her eyes filled.
She turned toward the window.
We drove in silence.
When we arrived, Emma her in the rearview mirror.
"You're welcome to come with us.""
She hesitated.
"Are you sure?""
"You're my daughter.""
Her eyes filled.
She turned toward the window.
We drove in silence.
When we arrived, Emma was still at school was still at school. I unlocked the front door and went straight to the living room.
The photograph stood on the mantel.
Emma's first birthday.
She was sitting in a pink high chair, covered in chocolate cake. I unlocked the front door and went straight to the living room.
The photograph stood on the mantel.
Emma's first birthday.
She was sitting in a pink high chair, covered in chocolate cake, laughing while I held her tiny hands.
Sarah had taken the picture.
I lifted the frame.
There was a small envelope taped to the back.
My name was written on it.
Mom's handwriting, laughing while I held her tiny hands.
Sarah had taken the picture.
I lifted the frame.
There was a small envelope taped to the back.
My name was written on it.
Mom's handwriting.
Again.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of two newborn boys.
Both were wrapped in identical white blankets.
One had a hospital bracelet.
The other had a small.
Again.
I opened it.
Inside was a photograph of two newborn boys.
Both were wrapped in identical white blankets.
One had a hospital bracelet.
The other had a small crescent-shaped birthmark near his left wrist.
I turned the picture over.
One of these boys is Daniel.
*The other is crescent-shaped birthmark near his left wrist.
I turned the picture over.
One of these boys is Daniel.
The other is the reason Robert chose you.
Rachel leaned over my shoulder.
"What's that supposed to the reason Robert chose you.*
Rachel leaned over my shoulder.
"What's that supposed to mean?""
I read the message again.
There was a second line.
* mean?""
I read the message again.
There was a second line.
The boy you call your brother is not the boy you think he is.
My stomach tightened.
I hadThe boy you call your brother is not the boy you think he is.*
My stomach tightened.
I had no brother.
At least, not one I knew.
My parents had always told us the second no brother.
At least, not one I knew.
My parents had always told us the second boy had died.
But I had grown up believing my childhood was ordinary.
Until eight years boy had died.
But I had grown up believing my childhood was ordinary.
Until eight years ago.
Eight years earlier, my wife Sarah and I had moved into a house in ago.
Eight years earlier, my wife Sarah and I had moved into a house in Connecticut.
We had a neighbor named Michael.
Michael Carter.
Connecticut.
We had a neighbor named Michael.
Michael Carter.
He was a quiet man in his late twenties who lived alone inHe was a quiet man in his late twenties who lived alone in the house across the street.
He had helped us carry furniture inside.
the house across the street.
He had helped us carry furniture inside.
He had fixed our broken fence.
He had even driven Sarah to the hospital when EmmaHe had fixed our broken fence.
He had even driven Sarah to the hospital when Emma was born because I had been stuck in a traffic jam.
He became part was born because I had been stuck in a traffic jam.
He became part of our family.
Emma called him Uncle Mike.
He had of our family.
Emma called him Uncle Mike.
He had been at every birthday party.
Every Christmas dinner.
Every summer barbecue.
I felt the been at every birthday party.
Every Christmas dinner.
Every summer barbecue.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Michael.""
Rachel frowned.
"Who blood drain from my face.
"Michael.""
Rachel frowned.
"Who?""
"Michael Carter. Our neighbor.""
I grabbed my phone and searched?""
"Michael Carter. Our neighbor.""
I grabbed my phone and searched his contact.
No answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Lily leaned forward.
" his contact.
No answer.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Lily leaned forward.
"Why do you think he's your brother?""
I showed her the photograph.
She studiedWhy do you think he's your brother?""
I showed her the photograph.
She studied the two babies.
Then she pointed to the second one.
" the two babies.
Then she pointed to the second one.
"Because of the birthmark?""
I nodded.
She looked at me.
Because of the birthmark?""
I nodded.
She looked at me.
"Daniel, you have the same birthmark.""
I stared at her.
Then I"Daniel, you have the same birthmark.""
I stared at her.
Then I remembered something.
Michael had a crescent-shaped scar on his wrist.
He had once told remembered something.
Michael had a crescent-shaped scar on his wrist.
He had once told me he'd fallen against a broken window as a child.
But what if me he'd fallen against a broken window as a child.
But what if it wasn't a scar?
What if it was a birthmark?
I called him again.
This time it wasn't a scar?
What if it was a birthmark?
I called him again.
This time, the phone rang.
Once.
, the phone rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
"Hey, Dan.""
Michael's voice.
Casual.
Familiar.
The voice of a man who had helped me build a treehouse for my daughter.
I swallowed.
"Mike, where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"I need to ask you something.""
He laughed.
"That sounds serious.""
"ItTwice.
Then someone answered.
"Hey, Dan.""
Michael's voice.
Casual.
Familiar.
The voice of a man who had helped me build a treehouse for my daughter.
I swallowed.
"Mike, where are you?""
"At home. Why?""
"I need to ask you something.""
He laughed.
"That sounds serious.""
"It is.""
A pause.
Then he said, "What's going on?""
I looked is.""
A pause.
Then he said, "What's going on?""
I looked at the photograph.
"Do you know anything about the night I at the photograph.
"Do you know anything about the night I was born?""
Silence.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
Finally, Michael whispered:
" was born?""
Silence.
Not confusion.
Recognition.
Finally, Michael whispered:
"How did you find out?""
My heart stopped.
"Mike?""
He exHow did you find out?""
My heart stopped.
"Mike?""
He exhaled.
"I was hoping your mother would tell youhaled.
"I was hoping your mother would tell you herself.""
I closed my eyes.
"Are you my brother?""
Another silence herself.""
I closed my eyes.
"Are you my brother?""
Another silence.
Then he answered.
"Yes, Daniel.""
The phone nearly slipped.
Then he answered.
"Yes, Daniel.""
The phone nearly slipped from my hand.
Michael continued.
"But there's something else you need from my hand.
Michael continued.
"But there's something else you need to know.""
"What?""
"I wasn't the baby your father gave away.""
to know.""
"What?""
"I wasn't the baby your father gave away.""
I felt my knees weaken.
"Then who was?""
Michael's voiceI felt my knees weaken.
"Then who was?""
Michael's voice dropped.
"Your father didn't give me away, Dan.""
He paused.
"He dropped.
"Your father didn't give me away, Dan.""
He paused.
May you like
"He gave me to the people who gave me to the people who raised you.""
raised you.""
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